Destiny 1. Chapter 1

_I approached this fic as a sort of narrative study, which I assume didn't turn out that awesome. Nonetheless for my records its id is:_

_Relationship Dynamic Study I (RDS I) : Human/Robotic_

_In terms of reviews, along with the standard mix I wouldn't mind knowing if the conversation flowed well._

_Does it make sense with the context of Destiny and beyond? Is this a healthy conversation? Did it have an acceptable resolution?_

_Does this need any continuation to resolve anything that seems unfinished or vague?_

_Any-who if this turns out to an enjoyable read: thank you. If the whole thing is a steaming pile, please tell me why._

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"There I was, surrounded by Vex, their numbers too massive to count! I stood fast, with the holy item the Speaker entrusted me with retrieving; I gathered every bit of Void light I had left within me as their demonic battle cry shook the valley. And thus ignited the most impressive Ward of Dawn I've ever constructed! The hordes rushed towards me as I slammed in the last clip to my rifle. I brought down the machines in droves as they tried of force their way into my barrier-"

The eloquent and no doubt slightly exaggerated story of the boisterous Titan was interrupted as one of his comrades raised his hand.

The Titan's turquoise face couldn't help but produce a small smile. The little human was young; he'd only been a Guardian for almost a year. But anyone be damned if they knew a more clever, if not innocence Warlock that truly cared for his fellow man.

"Can we, um, maybe not use the specific term 'machine'?" he asked timidly, his glance darted to their fire team's leader before settling back on the Titan.

His comrade in arms gave him a peculiar glance before continuing his tale.

"Where was I?"

"You were tellin' about when you 'ad just ran outta ammo and was getting tha poop beatin' out of ya before me an' Bristol had ta come save yer lame ass." came the hardy and extremely drunken voice of a female Guardian.

"That is most certainly not how it happened." the Titan huffed glaring at the two other members of their group.

"Yeah, no shit, we killed most a the Vex." the woman said with a laugh just as she slipped from her stool. But before her form could touch the ground, the mighty arms of their sixth fire team member caught her.

"Maybe I should just take her home, it is getting late." the Guardian said with a sigh as he stood up cradling the inebriated human.

"Perhaps that is for the best." said a towering Exo as he gathered up the woman's auto rifle and helmet.

"Hey...HEY BRISTOL don't be touchin' ma shit." she spat before the last tugs of unconsciousness took her.

"We're gonna get going, see you in the morning." the awoken male said as he carried her out of the bar.

"Yes, have a good night friends." Bristol nodded gathering up the rest of the woman's equipment and stepping out of sight.

"Well I supposed it is late" the Titan said as he stood. "Perhaps later I can finish my story of dashing heroism on the lands of Venus."

"Mh, hm." the Warlock replied with a skeptical smirk.

"See! Alas they poison your mind with lies and fabrication Raj." her exclaimed, "Soon we rectify this predicament with proper tales of my solo exploits in field. But for now I bid thee farewell."

The Titan bowed theatrically before giving Raj a small pat on the shoulder and the fire team leader a snappy salute.

As he left the bar, she stood, walking toward the couch where the Titan had been sitting. Raj watched her as she picked up a small tablet that lay on a nearby table. She placed it on the small round coffee table before dropping down on the seat.

"Rave." she spoke, summoning her ghost. The mechanical spectre appeared near her head, its angular body moving about as if stretching after a long slumber.

"These files are damaged, see if you can piece them back into something that's readable." the Guardian demanded.

"Something on your mind?" the ghost chuckled as its blue light began to scan the tablet.

"Yeah, why the sudden adherence to machines being called machines Raj?" she said without looking up.

The young Warlock still jumped in his seat from being suddenly addressed. He looked at the woman that sat across from him, he tried once to respond before quickly biting it down.

"You shouldn't show sympathy to our enemies, they will show you no such respect." she added before looked up at her fellow Guardian.

"It's not that," he quickly replied, his eyes darting away from hers.

"Then what is the issue? You know I won't tolerate such things on my fire team." she growled.

Raj instantly looked up, "NO, no its nothing that would make you consider that. Trust me. You know I take my role here as a Guardian very seriously."

"I know Raj, that why you're one of the few I can count on. But that's why I'm questioning your new found concern for the Vex."

"It's not the Vex, really. It's just...I...recently I've come to, or I think I've come to a realization about-"

"Machines?" she finished.

"Yes." he said with a sigh.

"So, humor me. What's the epiphany that's got you so rattled."

"It's about you, Nila"

"What? About exos? True we are technically machines, I don't-"

"You are not a machine!" Raj interrupted loudly, drawing an odd glance from his team leader.

"You can't be...there's so much more to you than just wires and programming."

"Well machine sentience is still somewhat of a touchy subject, even today." she replied, placing her attention upon file that now filled the tablet.

"Nila, please don't call yourself that."

"Why? I am an exo, an autonomous mechanical war machine designed by the humans of the Golden Age. How else am I to see myself than as such?"

"No, no, you're more complex than that, you have likes and dislike, quirks, personality traits that are all your own. You're a person."

"We were designed in humanity's image for familiarly and quicker assimilation into human methods, technology, and tools."

"No, you're a unique consciousness that was grown and shaped by your environment."

"Raj stop." Nila said as she looked up again, "Are we really trying to argue about the philosophy of if I'm really alive or not?

"There is no argument, you can feel warmth, sense cold, dislike pain, you are alive Nila."

"I am not getting into this debate with you Raj." the exo snarled, "politics aside, if I see that this new found love of robots you have in any way impacts your performance in-"

"Nila." Raj said, his expression steadfast and solemn.

"Don't interrupt me again Raj that's an-."

"No! Nila I think I…no I know I do. I love you."

Whatever was coming out of the exo's mouth next was cut to a very abrupt halt, leaving the room with a thick new found silence. Even Nila's ghost Rave stopped scanning to look up at the Warlock.

"What did you just say to me?" her metallic face not betraying any emotion.

"I'm in love with you Nilanna-26, and I'm ashamed to admit it's taken me this long to realize it."

Her face stayed frozen for only a few more moments before cracking into a bit of a smirk.

"Did Wrecker put you up to this? I swear the next time I see that idiot, I'm going to kick her over the side of the Tower."

"No one put me up to this Nila, it's just taken me so long to realize it."

"Yeah, well sorry if I have a tough time believing you."

"Why? I've never lied to you before, I never could even if I wanted to."

"I know, that's what bugs me."

"What's not to like about you? You're the most skilled Hunter I've ever seen. You're a natural leader...and well" Raj looked away, suddenly uncomfortable with looking her in the eyes. "I suppose if I've come this far, it goes without saying that you're absolutely beautiful."

"My entire chassis is blood red you imbecile." Nila snapped. "And I seem to be to only sane one right now. For future reference why don't we run through the reasons why you have no idea what you're saying."

"One, I possess very few qualities that a human male would find attractive at all, the biggest being I cannot bear children. Two, you're not attracted to me, you're just infatuated with the fact that I'm based off a humanoid female. If you were to strip me down to my bare chassis you would be extremely disappointed. And three, what are you expecting? For me to just jump into your arms after you confessed to me? Which I should point out, would suck since I weight approximately two and half times more than you."

"Of course not, I expect nothing from you Nila. I just, I wanted to get this off my chest because it's something that's been...affecting me recently. And, well you know how horrible I am with keeping secrets." the Warlock smiled.

"Ain't that the truth," the Hunter deadpanned. "Trust me I'm flattered that you would see in that way, it's just imperative that you realize everything you're thinking, everything you assume right now is wrong."

"Wrong?"

"What you want is an intimate relationship do you not?"

"...not necessarily."

"But that's part of it, right?"

"I suppose, but that's not all I think about."

"I realize that Raj, what you want is for us to be together." Nila said, meshing her fingers together for emphasis.

"Yes, absolutely."

"So what would that entail, hm? How would our dynamic change? We can't have sex, I possess no genitalia. I'm already around you and the fire team 70% of your waking hours. While Guardian couples are not unheard of, they're immature and fleeting. We're warriors first and for most, our time together could end the moment we step back on the battlefield."

"I know, I know, I just-"

"Just what? Are you beginning to realize how foolish this is? That this is nothing but a blind carnal desire for my form not some higher level of emotion you're confusing it with."

"NO!" Raj cried, slamming his fist down on the table, surprising the Hunter from the sudden outburst.

"Every time I close my eyes I see you, every time I dream it's not about horrors we face everyday, it's of you. It's true I wake up every morning wishing you were there beside me, but in that I begin to realize I can't stand the thought of not being with you." He held out his hand letting a bit a Solar Light congregate around it. "This Light, this power would mean nothing to me, this endless battle against the Darkness would be utterly pointless if it meant living a life without you."

Raj's last speech must have tweaked a sub-routine or something of the like for the exo sat speechless. At that moment all she could do was stare at this Guardian as he poured his heart and soul out to her. But try as she might, she couldn't seem to comprehend this, emotion, the human was feeling so strongly about. The technical definition of "love" was not alien to her, no that wasn't it, no maybe...

"Raj it's not that I dislike you. This feeling, this need you have for me, I don't think I can feel the same because-"

"Don't you dare say it's because you're an exo. That's not true and you know it."

"What if it is true, what would you do then?"

"I won't have to. I've seen you show compassion, I've watched you have sympathy, you have doubts, you have concerns, you have a wider range of emotions than I think you're willing to admit."

"Well I certainly won't argue with that." Nila replied, trying to reel the conversation into her control.

"See, you're even sarcastic like Cayde, expect you know, you're a bit more mature about it."

"Agreed, my Vanguard is a bit of a character to say the least."

"But there's also no doubt in my mind he has the capacity to show love."

That once again quieted Nilanna as she sat back on couch. She studied the Warlock who truly seemed content just being in her presence. But as she pooled information from her sensors she found fidgeting and an elevated heart rate. He was nervous, anxious even.

"You really think over the course of this conversation I would have come to definite decision?"

"Maybe." Raj said slowly and hesitantly.

"I forget how obvilivously positive you can be sometimes. You know affection is based off an initial and often instinctual physical attraction to another organic being."

"Stop that."

The exo gave the human a perplexed look. "Stop what?"

"Why do you assume the majority of any relationship is only about sex?"

The gynoid stifled a laugh, drawing a frown from the Warlock.

"Wait, I know you've mentioned it before but is that truly how you believe I see you? As some sex object?" Raj asked sincerely.

"For the most part, yes. While not as common in this time, robot fetishism is still considered an issue by some elder circles, especially the groups that parallel the Monist."

"You think I like you just because you're...inorganic?"

"No, but it's a possibility I won't ignore."

"Why would you...?"

"Because Raj, the causes and mechanics behind lust and the need to pursue a mate are a characteristic of sentient beings such as humans or awoken. I meet none of the criteria needed to become applicable for copulation."

"I think you are."

"Of course you do." she deadpanned.

"Tell me this, why do you think you're not? Why do you think you shouldn't be the object of anyone's affection?" was Raj's slightly smug reply.

"BECAUSE!" Nila screeched while jumping to her feet, suddenly enraged by the man's line of questioning.

Raj on the other hand could barely suppress his fear of the powerful Hunter looming over him.

"If I may." said a third voice that Nila shouldn't have forgotten was there.

"I've finished decrypting the files you requested." Rave spoke as her form floated in between the two Guardians.

"I will admit I'm not very well versed when it comes to these sorts of matters. But it would appear that Raj is dissatisfied with your vague and impersonal answers, when he is trying to address your thoughts on the matter directly."

Nila coiled up as if to reprimand her Ghost but deflated within moments.

"But I insist we leave, it is getting rather late and all Guardians need their rest, no matter what species they are." Rave continued before floating to the exit, not bothering to see if her Guardian had followed.

The couple stared at each other for moment before Nila moved to pick up her equipment.

"I'm sorry!" Raj blurted, causing the exo to pause for only a moment.

"Why? You've done nothing wrong." she replied while slipping her cloak back on.

"But I have, this discussion has been wildly inappropriate, and I've been nothing but selfish."

"You said it, not me."

The Warlock gave her a look before speaking.

"You are frustratingly sarcastic sometimes, you know that?"

"Absolutely." she replied while gesturing for them to leave.

The duo stepped out into the cold night air of the Tower's hangar. The late night lull was an odd change of pace to hustle and bustle of day time affairs. Their shipwright had turned in leaving the graveyard shift to man the post, even the frame that over saw the trading of Vanguard weapons was gone for the evening.

Silence still gripped Raj and Nilanna-26 as they made their way onto the Tower's main courtyard. Although it was not as barren as the hangar, its two remaining vendors were the ever diligent bounty tracker for Vanguard and Banshee who seemed deeply engrossed in fixing the scout rifle before him. The only Guardian resident was a Hunter who currently napped in the soft grass of courtyard.

Within the stair well that lead to the north tower, it would seem Nila had come to a conclusion about the night's sensitive discourse.

"You know, I have no protocols, instructions, sub-routines, absolutely nothing for when it comes to feeling an emotional or physical attraction to another being."

"Yeah I'm beginning to realize that."

"But that doesn't mean I can't"

Raj looked at her expectantly for a moment.

"Let me rephrase, I sense there's nothing to stop me from learning to like a person for the traits others find attractive. As I stated before, it's not as if I dislike you for any reason."

"Are you saying you'll give, this, a chance?"

"I'm saying you're not a completely despicable person, so how hard could it be to learn to like the positive things about you?"

"Evening Guardians."

Raj and Nila spun around, caught completely off guard be the voice behind them. But the tension was soon laid to rest when all they found was the Speaker before them.

"My apologies, I did not mean to startle you." he added.

"It should be we who apologize, our conversion must have disturbed your work." Raj replied.

"Think nothing of it, I'm glad to see two Guardians once locked in debate come to an understanding."

"And perhaps this is an opportunity to probe the wisdom of the Speaker." Nila thought aloud.

"What? No, don't ask him about this, it will certainly seem trivial to him." Raj said immediately.

"Nonsense, there is no matter too small for which I will try to provide aid." the Speaker reassured him.

"Do think it possible for an organic being such as a human or awoken to find or have a romantic connection with a non organic one such as an exo?" Nila asked rather bluntly.

"Hm, a matter of the heart? Not my strongest area of expertise. You seek the factor that defines the connections of two souls. And yet" he said as he placed a hand on each of their shoulders, "I already sense a strong bond between the two of you."

It was only Nila that gave the speaker a surprised look.

"You define the consciousness of both man and machine as separate, yet what I see before me is two souls re-forged of light, stronger together than they ever where apart."

He then gently grasp their arms, Nila's left and Raj's right, guiding their hands together causing them to intertwine.

"You were gifted new life from the power of the Traveler's light, yet it was never said that this responsibly had to be burdened alone. For that is why we have multiple Guardians protecting our city. To find solace in someone who shares your triumphs and burdens I believe is not just a facet of previous lives but this one as well."

Raj attempted to move his hand away, but Nila stood fast keeping them together.

"But how?" the exo asked, "How can there be this deep connection when I don't even know what it looks or feels like?"

"Do you like this Warlock?" the Speaker asked.

"I suppose..."

"Do you find him reliable, responsible, a true strength when things are dire?"

"Well he hasn't failed our fire team yet, so yes."

"Does his absence strain you, do you find his proximity important."

At was at this point that Nila released Raj's hand and stepped away.

"Nila?" Raj asked a bit hurt at her sudden repulsion.

"It would seem one of you has indeed reached a revelation. I hope I could be of some assistance Guardians. Keep your light strong." the Speaker said with finality before leaving the two at the entrance to elevator. Leaving the two to sit in another cold silence. It took a moderate amount of time before Nila's voice broke through the night air

"I realize how cold my hands must feel." the exo said quietly, almost a mumble.

"No, they're warm, very warm." Raj reassured her.

But the Hunter didn't respond as she hailed the elevator.

"Nila?" Raj asked again.

"I dedicated some memory to running a simulation of your absence in non-combat situations." she started, not looking towards Raj in the least.

"For the past several months you've been within audible distance of me, not at your discretion, but at what appears to be mine."

"Is that bad?" Raj commented, "So we spent a large amount of time together, you yourself already said that."

"It was when the sim' brought back a negative value that the details got...anomalous."

"Anomalous?"

Nila nodded as they stepped on to the elevator.

"One example: I seem to prioritize your presence above the rest of the fire team when I clearly shouldn't, there's no reason for it."

"I do too Nila, I don't a reason, only to know that you're there. Isn't that enough?"

"I don't know, but..." the exo paused to let out a sigh," If it's alongside you Raj, I suppose I wouldn't mind your help finding that reason."

Raj lit up immediately, a ridiculous grin creeping across his face. But before he move he look to the Hunter for confirmation. The exo slowly nodded but still barely had enough time to steady herself from the tight embrace that came moments later. She let them stay like that for a short time, she figured she could spare the man a small bit of intimacy.

"Aaaannnnd enough of that." Nila said as she grasped the back of the man's collar, lifting him into the air.

"Sorry." Raj said sheepishly.

"Whatever this is, let's try to take it a little slow, okay?" she smirked

"Oh so I guess that means we can't make out yet?" Raj asked, half-jokingly.

"Make out?"

"Old slang term for prolonged kissing, also can put me down please?"

But Nila only glared at him.

"Sorry." he said again as the Hunter set him down, just as the elevator doors opened to his floor.

"I know Raj," she replied with a small pat on his shoulder, "now go before I change my mind."

"Yes ma'am." Raj replied playfully as he started down the hall.

Nila watched him leave as the sliding doors eventually blocked him from view. During the rest of her descent she held out her hand, the hand that Raj held while the Speaker had given them his blessing. She hadn't the heart to tell him she felt no spark or other worldly connection, but this was a new chapter in her life. He didn't see her as some tireless war machine, but as a companion, a woman, maybe even a lover.

Nilanna-26 would be damned if she couldn't find this, whatever it was the Speaker said was between them. If it existed, this thing could be discovered, learned, and perfected so that she could one day return the gracious affection that Raj had offered her this day. She would push forward to make sure this became part of her legend.

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_Edit v1.1_


	2. Chapter 2

_RDS I-II_

_Should provide a closer look on the more machine side of the issue._

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_The battle was hard and long fought Guardians, but you prevailed. Against immeasurable odds you overcame the enemy that walked our lands. Your light..._

_LEFT FLANK LEFT FLANK! DO NOT LET THOSE DREGS MOVE UP! Rolo! Advance your team that way, keep pressure on..._

_Although we lost many of our friends this day, rest easy knowing that we have scored a major victory against the encompassing hands of the Darkness. We are one step closer to reclaim our earth, and one day closer to..._

_"THE LAST ONE IS DOWN, FOCUS FIRE ON THE PRIEST! WE'VE LOST TOO MUCH ALREADY! DON"T GIVE THESE BASTARDS ANYTHIN-_

Nilanna-26 was thrust awake by the sudden shock of her dream, a residual side effect courtesy of the synaptic like processes of her mechanical mind. But fear was soon replaced with frustration; post-traumatic stress was an enigmatic but malleable piece of code. She thought she had purged it's triggers long ago, but still it seemed to manifest in these fragmented "dreams" that occurred during her system's equivalent of sleep.

The Speakers resounding praises upon their return was appreciative if not grating. The battle in Old Russia had been the largest coordinated assault since the attack on the Black Garden several months ago. It was painful to be reminded of the losses, Guardians killed in action, unable to be revived by ghosts that were either lost in battle of destroyed by the conflict.

And that was even before the final assault when the Darkness reared its weakened, abet still powerful presence. It enveloped it's minions, protecting them while barring the automatic resurrection of Guardians. The fight was difficult indeed; their fire team had almost lost-

"Raiden." Nilanna said to herself.

She sat up a bit from where she lay to get a better view. She resided in her team's private infirmary within the tower, a perk of being a senior fire team. Especially for a group of guardians known to take as much damage as they dished out.

It didn't take long to locate her injured teammate, who lay in the gurney next to her. His sleeping form lay slightly propped up, an IV drip feeding him during rest. The burly awoken Hunter had done more than his fair share in the battle. It was pure luck, or lack thereof that he had been blindsided by that Fallen sniper. But Nilanna knew him well, he'd rise again more than eager to dive in to a horde of enemies when the time came.

Curious about the rest of her fire team, the exo attempted to sit completely up, but found the task extremely difficult. She tried again, but still failed in her endeavor. Odd, she didn't remember anything happening to her during the...wait.

She ran a diagnostic on herself, but nothing came up. This, of course, was wrong which meant her ghost Rave manually disabled something without updating her memory. She'd attempted to move all four limbs simultaneously to try and begin gauging what was wrong.

She immediately realized that she was numb, very numb. Which would typically mean her sensory array was either damaged or disabled...disabled? Oh no...

She moved both hands into her field of view, but only the left appeared. The memories began to flood back as she recalled the Fallen Captain that blew her right arm off.

"Goddamnit." she muttered as she examined her right side, the arm had been removed from the shoulder. Rave had probably borrowed a Frame and was repairing the damage right now.

She used her good arm to remove the sheet used to cover her form. She was alarmed to find that her left leg was also missing, but memories of why eluded her.

_"Great." _she thought, _"now I can't even walk."_

At least the rest of her seemed okay, just spotted with the usual amount of scorch marks and bullet holes.

There was rather glaring gash on her right breast though. Normally she could less about her appearance, especially these stupid breasts she had. They weren't even compressible like those of a human or awoken. They were just large, hard, and in the way. That's why a number of female exo have had theirs modified, changed or outright removed.

But these last few days she couldn't help but feel a little self-conscious. It was a nagging feeling, this dirty feeling that if she changed into something...if she somehow appeared less human, he wouldn't like her anymore. Although he himself had made it clear that this wasn't at all the case, she couldn't help but have doubts.

A knock at the infirmary door quickly brought her out of her uneasy thoughts.

"Come in" Nila called as she tried in vain to sit back up, giving up by the time the nurse had made it in. But relief swept over her when she caught a glimpse of her leg sitting on the cart the nurse brought in.

The nurse first made sure Raiden was in good condition before turning to address Nilanna.

"I just wanted you to know you guys are amazing." the Nurse said as she began to prep the leg for reattachment.

"Thanks" Nila replied hesitantly.

"No really, to know that we can be victorious after a hard battle like that fills me with hope that a better time is just ahead."

The exo only nodded as the nurse lined up the appendage with her lower torso. It adhered itself with a loud clank and a hiss of flowing coolants.

"Could you tell me what happened to my leg." Nilanna asked," I don't remember damaging it."

"Oh, one of your fire teammates, I can't recall his name but he thought you were beginning to lose some torque in the primary servo. He asked me to have some technicians take a look at it, and truth be told both your legs needed a bit of maintenance. But that's all fixed now."

"What about my arm?"

"Yes about that, your same teammate took it upon himself to repair it since all of our engineers are swamped with repairing not just injured exos but damaged drops ships, combat frames, you name it. Your legs where processed quickly because there wasn't much to do. But your arm, that's another matter entirely."

"Thanks, that's all I needed to know." Nila replied as she swept her new legs over the gurney to stand.

"Wait." the nurse the said, holding up her hands, "you still need a bit of rest, plus you need time to recalibrate your legs."

"I'll be fine." the exo replied as she gathered up the bit of her gear that sat on the table next to her.

The nurse however didn't look so convinced.

"Look, my personal quarters are a short distance from here, I'll be fine." Nila reassured her.

"Good, cause I'm walking you there."

Nila only rolled her eyes. Although the sentiment didn't last long, as she found she did need a bit of assistance, stumbling once or twice on the way.

By the time she arrived at her dormitory she felt stable enough to proceed on her own, bidding the nurse farewell she entered the premises and was met with what she feared.

In back of her dwelling where she kept her desk sat Raj, hunched over welding something as sparks kicked up around him. Orbiting him she immediately recognized Rave and Raj's ghost Gato-R, but she was surprised to see the matte black form of Raiden's ghost Viira.

"The mistress returns." Viira's brutal yet feminine voice spoke prompting Raj to stop and swivel around.

"Nilanna!" he exclaimed as happy as he could be. Raj stood to embrace her but she held up her hand to stop him.

"What are you doing?" the Hunter snapped a bit, bringing a worried look the Warlock's face.

"He's obviously repairing your right arm." Viira deadpanned.

Nila glared at the ghost before Raj spoke, "Sorry, I knew it would take too long for Tower's engineers to fix it, plus I wanted you to have fully mobility as soon as possible, so I started the repairs myself."

"It may not look it but from the fragments of memory Raj can recall from his previous life, he was an engineer of sorts, and it shows. He has steady hands and learns very quickly." Gato reassured her.

"Get out." Nila growled, seeming to have ignored everything said. This unfortunately was not surprising, so many calculations ran through her mind that moment, many of them featured fear and uncertainty.

"But-" Raj started.

"I said get out." she snapped again, louder this time and pointing toward the exit.

Raj looked toward Rave for backup, but the ghost could only provide him with a sympathetic look.

Hurt, Raj trudged out of Nila's quarters, trying once more to plead for a case he didn't know existed before giving up and turning away.

Nila dropped down onto her bed, and stared intensely at the ceiling above her.

"That was mature." Rave chided.

"And completely unprovoked." Viira added.

But their words fell on deaf ears as Nila's coded thoughts ran a mile a minute.

He hadn't just seen a part of her she wished would never come to light, he had been fully exposed. The difference between them now fully revealed.

She was a machine, he was not.

This fear was irrational, she was well aware of that. The very fact was brought up when Raj opened himself up to her. But that didn't stop it from happening, this wasn't normal.

_They_ weren't normal.

She'd never heard of a relationship where the male had taken time to repair his girlfriend's arm. That didn't happen, it never happens. But now Raj had shattered this dark secret that only she knew about, or cared to keep for that matter.

"You're being ridiculous you know." Rave spoke, drawing Nila's attention and a glare at the invasion of privacy.

"It's not me," the ghost reminded her," you still have this tick where broadcast some of your thoughts on wider frequencies when you're upset. It's not like I was trying to read them."

"Gee, thanks" Nila griped.

"You know he loves you right? He was so eager to jump at the chance to learn something about you because still offer so little about yourself."

"I know Rave, I just...I just can't understand why."

"Then stop."

"What?"

"Stop trying to understand. Clearly trying to rationalize this has caused you to fabricate these terrors over the most trivial things."

"Trivial? How?" the Hunter snarled.

"Good lord Nilanna-26, I have literally no stake in this relationship yet even I can see that what he feels for you despite the fact you're an exo, shouldn't that mean something within itself?"

Nila wanted to retort but she had nothing, not even a bit. Everything her ghost said was true, but that didn't make the sting any less.

"I feel no sympathy for you, do you know that? Raj tries so hard and yet all you do is push him back because of this idiotic fear that one day he'll wake up realize you're not human. Why did you even accept his offer? You told me you would make progress but it only seems like you're moving backwards."

"You think I don't know that?!" Nila sat up, her one fist clenched, "You think I haven't tried? What do you care anyway?"

"Because I'm your friend too, Nilanna." Rave said softly. "And I care about you, we all do, even Viira who probably shouldn't even be here right now."

"Why? I do find this rather amusing." the black ghost chuckled.

"Shut up." Rave and Nila replied together.

"Although...I do have a valid point to add." Viira purred as she floated in between the two, "Raiden and I, we speak very little but listen quite often."

Both Rave and Nila and looked at Viira skeptically, her off-beat personally was nothing new, but what information would she really have. Like her guardian, she was as introverted as they came.

"I've heard the other lady guardians talking about your Raj. A handsome, kind, and gentle Warlock known to look past outward appearance. Your Raj is lusted after by male and female alike, I would not be surprised if he was scooped up by a beautiful awoken warrior or a human, just like himself."

"Raj wouldn't...would he?" Nila said aloud.

"I think the point small, dark, and brooding is trying make is how long do you think Raj's large and sometimes blinding devotion to you will last if you don't try to meet him half way like you claimed you would." Rave explained.

Nilanna glanced at Rave, then back to Viira before dropping back in bed and resuming her scrutiny of the ceiling.

"Nila, I'm going to call Raj back here so he can finish your arm." Rave announced causing the exo to visibly tense.

"Do it" Nila said after a long pause, not averting her glaze.

"So are we finally having a change of heart?" Rave asked.

"No, I want my right arm back."

Although hard to tell, the Hunter's ghost threw a look all to akin to a glare.

"I'd say that's close enough." Viira spoke.

Rave released an exasperated sigh before contacting Raj's ghost Gato-R.

* * *

Several minutes passed before there was soft knock at the door.

"You don't have to knock Raj." Nila called as she turned over in her bed to face the wall.

The Warlock entered with a still saddened look on his face.

"Listen Nilanna, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have just barged into you room like that without asking you first."

"I'm not mad about that."

"Oh, um. Well I sorry abou-"

"Raj, stop apologizing." Nila said with a little edge a she rolled back over and out of bed.

She stood there for a moment, studying him, processing something, trying to establish a concrete idea, but it needed something...a catalyst. She began stripping what little hunter garb she adorned to make the trip back from the infirmary.

Raj looked quite taken aback at the random action before quickly averted his eye, a blush slightly visible even under his brown skin.

"Raj, look at me." Nila demanded.

"But you nak-"

"I'm not naked, we both know that no matter what you think, my "skin" is still a type of armor."

Reluctantly Raj looked up to glaze up the most attractive woman he'd ever had the pleasure of viewing.

Nothing on her form looked slender or fragile, like many female exos her chassis was designed to emulate a human female athlete in their prime. Human like metallic muscles coupled with traditional electromagnetic motors were tucked in to the chiseled perfection of her body. Her legs were long and powerful, her tampered torso provided her hips with a sway that could draw the eyes of any male.

Her flat stomach housed the life blood of every exo, a Golden Age micro-reactor, its functions and capabilities understood by only the ghosts and the Last City's most brilliant physicists. Her pert yet static breasts that made Raj feel ashamed every time he got lost in a fantasy about them. A particular, angular, almost androgynous face that Raj wouldn't trade for anything else. Quick and precise arms...well arm that could aim a rifle with pinpoint accura-.

"Look at me Raj, tell me what do you see." Nila asked again, ripping the Warlock from his trance.

"Uhhhh...what was the question?"

"What do you see." Nila growled.

"That you're still the most beautiful woman in the solar system, even though you're missing an arm." he replied sheepishly.

"Try again Raj, except not with the same line you fed me every week."

"But how?" Raj replied with complete honesty, "You are nothing less than stunning."

"Let's start with this." Nila scowled, pointed to the mechanical socket were her arm should be.

At this point realizing what she was doing, he refused to get short.

"I'm not going to say it." Raj said, crossing his arms.

"Why not?"

"Because that's not how I see you." he said finality, causing Nilanna to deflate a little. Pushed back but not defeated she slipped on the lower parts of her Hunter wear.

She sat back on the bed with a bit of a slump and just looked at him, willing for the answers to spew forth. Although her expressions where limited, Raj could see the pained contemplation she was doing. He sat down beside her, grasping her hand in his.

"You can talk to me you know." he said quietly, "I now this whole being together thing still bothers you sometimes."

"No…it doesn't bother me Raj. If I tell you anything now, it's that everything I'm working through, none of it is your fault."

"I disagree, any problem you have is a problem of mine too. Just tell me how I can fix it."

"If only it were that simple."

"Maybe it is, you do have tendency to over think things sometimes."

"What? No I don't."

"You think you're some emotionless machine, but we just spent last ten minutes trying to validate your insecuri-OW!"

Raj rubbed his shoulder from where Nila punched him.

"I wasn't trying to validate anything."

"Of course not." he replied sarcastically, "also you're made of metal, getting hit by you hurts a lot more that you think."

"Perks of being an exo," she smirked, "I get to turn off the pain."

"Well that's good to know, are you at least feeling a bit better?" he smiled.

"Yeah a bit, thanks Raj."

"Anytime."

"I guess I've been unfair to you." she started in a serious tone again.

"A bit of understatement."

"Really Raj? Who's the sarcastic one now?"

"Sorry." he smirked, beckoning her to continue.

"I'm glad you chose me Raj, but still I fail to grasp all that it truly entails. Parts of my processes still think this is some sort of farce, that some part of you hasn't realized that I'm a just a machine."

"Ugh, not this again" Raj sighed.

"No!" Nila said as stood before him, "This time I need to know why, it's paradox I can't solve on my own. Look at me, and tell me what you see? Tell why Raj, why me?"

Her luminous eye shown with an intensity Raj had assumed was only reversed for her enemies, but now burned towards him.

What could he say that he couldn't already? What had he left out of his tale? What could finally convince her that he didn't care she was an exo?

But the more the questions began to swirl around the more the same old answer keep surfacing. In fact he bit back down so hard on his default his normally cheery disposition kicked out a frown. He sat back against the wall that was next to her bed and crossed his arms, returning her scowl in turn.

This is something the exo had not expected. Raj angry? Had she stepped over a line? Clearly she had, but why this time?

_"Don't play coy." _she thought to herself, _"You brought this on yourself, everyone but you accepts that he loves you, expect for you. In fact, you know what he's about to say."_

"You still don't need or want a reason to love me do you?" Nila spoke.

"Exactly."

"But I do, when I truly shouldn't"

"Wrong." Raj replied drawing a confused look from the gynoid.

"Every day you think the smallest problems into the ground; you try to find an explanation to everything. To you every problem has a rational solution." Raj said as his features softened. "That's just who you are, so it doesn't surprise me that you keep asking me the same question. The problem is I've already given the correct answer."

He grasped her good arm, guiding her in front of him. She gave him a look as he beckoned her to move closer, when she would only lean in he pulled her into him until she had reluctantly straddled his lap. She could feel his Solar Light shielding him from her weight which washed a very apprehensive feeling over her. If he weren't a guardian her mass could have injured him, just another reason why...

Wait, what is he doing?

It would appear he had brought her all the way down here just to embrace, and that they did. They just sat there, for how long perhaps only the Traveler knew. But Nila stood fast with him, within a tender hug she could have left at any time but couldn't. Although it's what happened soon after that nearly made her jump.

With the prolonged absence of her arm, her sensory array had since adjusted itself to ignore any information coming from the empty socket. So there was absolute nothing to dampen the sensation of the kiss Raj planted on her neck.

Electronic eyes that had fluttered closed now shot open at the action, this was a major leap from the casual embrace they usually shared. She nearly tensed again when he placed another one, farther up the nap of her neck.

This was...interesting. Never in this life or the past had anyone shown her this level of affection, she wasn't quite sure what to make of it actually. But even that began to gray as he moved his hands down to small of her back.

They stay together like that, no more advances made, only the soft sounds of Raj's breathing and Nilanna's body venting heat.

"Raj?"

"Mm, hm?"

"Are we...damnit what's the word I'm looking for?...Cuddling? Is that what we're doing?"

"I think so?" he replied in a very unsure tone.

"_He isn't sure what we're doing_?" she thought.

"I'm going to guess you're not much of a ladies man, are you?" she deadpanned.

"No." he sighed.

A snippet of code within her found that _very_ acceptable. "Honestly, I'm going to take that as a good thing." Nila said as she pulled apart just enough to look him in the eye.

"Thanks, I think." Raj replied. Several moments passed before he made verbal the issue that was on his mind.

"Uh Nila?" He grasped her a bit tighter when her expression remained even.

"Can you..." he whispered before pressing his lips to plates that defined her mouth. She was hard, metallic, but warm, so warm. A moment so euphoric he prayed for its eternity, but shortly only received its end.

Nilanna-26 pulled back within moments; surprise and fear. Those were the emotions Raj knew he saw flash through her electronic eyes.

"Can you, feel that Nila?" he asked, his anxiety beginning to intensify as his breath grew heavy.

"Yes, I can Raj. You know what else I can feel?"

"What else?"

"That fact that I have one arm." she purred, taking the first chance she could to completely shatter the moment and the tension.

His eyes flew open in shock as memories of the previous argument replayed themselves.

"Nila, crap, oh my god, I'm sorry." he fumbled over his words. He jumped to his feet the moment the exo slipped off his lap.

"Gato?" Raj asked when he couldn't summon his ghost. He turned back to look at Nilanna who only shrugged. She tried to contact Rave before scanning a few wave lengths for a signal given off by her thought patterns.

"They probably gave us a minute." she guessed as Raj slumped back onto the bed.

"I'm sure they know we're done with whatever it was we were doing, they'll be along soon." she added.

"What do think we were doing?" he asked.

"I don't know, I suppose you were trying to comfort me. She replied, bringing a small smile to the Warlock's face.

"But upon closer inspection, that seemed a little more self-gratifying." she smirked.

"I'm sorry...that is why I asked, I wasn't sure how, um, accurate an exo's sense of touch is."

"It's accurate enough Raj, but that being said, it's part of why I reacted the way I did. I have no clue how I'm supposed to feel right now. I have no reference, no instinct, nor previous experience."

"Oh, yeah I know but..."

"Tell me, how should I feel about this Raj?"

"I won't tell you that Nila." he replied, his expression rigid.

"Still? Something I should figure out for myself I suppose."

"Exactly."

She peered at him from the corner of her eye then looked back down. She unconsciously rubbed stump that was her right arm socket bringing a saddened look to Raj's face.

It was a few moments before she made eye contact with him and immediately brought her arm down, realizing what she doing. "I do genuinely feel better." she nodded bringing a small smile back to the human.

Maybe this was something, for the most part she knew a smiling Raj was better than a frowning one. And a comforting Raj was...

She rubbed the side of her neck Raj had caressed. Was that a good thing? Based on the biometric feedback she was getting during the event it was quite enjoyable for him, he was content, happy, and just a hint of, well, horny.

But there was joy, definite joy. And given their constant close proximity to one another perhaps this was the next logical step.

A new level of intimacy was the next logical step in an illogical relationship. Peculiar.

The exo's spirits lifted a bit as she continued her train of thought. It was peculiar, they were peculiar, strange, weird.

They weren't normal.

In the past she may have labeled this a negative, but now her systems could not define them as bad, only abnormal. And that had to mean something.

Nothing about them was bad, malicious, acidic, none of that.

And that was good right? Statistically yes. But statistics can be wrong, perhaps a test to confirm instead...

"Raj." Nilanna said after some time, the Warlock turned to face her expectantly. His eyes still brimming with hope, typical Raj.

"Show me how much progress you've made with repairing my arm." she said as she stood, beckoning him to return to the desk.

"Yes! Of course." he chirped as he bounded from the bed and onto the seat.

"I think I was almost finished." he said casting an orb of Solar energy above them to provide an supplementary light source. He pointed out where he was mending a support tube for her arm's tendons.

But he didn't seem at all shocked or disturbed in the least; in fact he truly was more eager than anything, just like her ghost claimed.

_"Of course he's fine you moron." _she thought to herself as he continued to highlight other repaired areas, _"you were the only one with the problem. And guess what? You were wrong...well that's crap," _she corrected herself,_ "I'm never wrong, only misinformed."_

"We'll, how is it?" Raj asked, ripping her from her thoughts.

"Not too bad, Rave did a good job teaching you."

"Hm, I don't know, I still don't feel too confident with it."

"You've done a fine job so far, and I think I may be able to walk you through the rest." she nodded.

"Really? You know Rave said you weren't the best at anatomy." he chuckled.

"She would say that." Nila replied, looked rather unoffended, "But she isn't the best creative problem solver I know either."

"For example." she said as she held out her left arm. Raj watched as she remained still for a few moments, he almost missed the slight waver within the violet hue of those luminescent eyes: the tell-tale sign of an exo studying something with a multi-spectrum scan.

"There is nothing wrong with my left arm, and I know for a fact that mechanically it's a reflection of my right." the Hunter explained.

She pointed out where to start anew, spurring the Warlock into action. The pair toiled into the night to complete the project at hand only stopping to let the young human's hand rest. Unbeknownst to them their guardians observed from a far, and one was very pleased with what she saw.

_"You two are still here? I'm not sure if this is quaint or pathetic." _Viira's voice bounced through their processors.

_"It's my job Viira." _was Rave's snippy retort.

_"Mine too." _Gato added.

_"Yeeessss, add the matchmaker to the long list of ghost responsibilities." _the black ghost sneered.

_"If I see fit to help my guardian's well-being, why not?" _Rave asked.

_"Because its trivial, especially in this case." _Viira replied.

_"We know you don't believe that." _Gato said, _"You're the one who pushed Raiden and Wrecker together."_

_"At least they're both compatible, you're oblivious guardian as fallen for a mechanical war machine." _Viira bit back, her telepathic signal nearing a shout.

_"And what's so wrong with that? You seemed for the idea no too long ago." _Rave interjected.

_"The foolish guardian is in love with a synthetic intelligence, why the notion is as ludicrous as a guardian being in love with a ghost." _Viira screeched silencing both ghosts.

Gato-R peered over at Rave who kept her monolithic gaze trained on the black ghost.

_"You're in love with Raide-"_

_"Shut up." _Viira growled as she started to drift away from the two, although she didn't make it too far when a voice caused them all to freeze.

_"I do find it reassuring that you 3 stuck around, but I really need you to shut up." _Nilanna's transmitter pinged_. "My boyfriend and I are trying to finish the delicate process of spot welding my arm with Solar Light, and now quite frankly, you're being as loud as hell."_

The rousing announcement slapped a profound silence across the trio, only to be disturbed by the still slightly bitter but cynical wit of Viira.

"_BLRAAG!" _the black ghost shouted out on every available frequency.

You could almost see her angular form smile at the pleasurable change reaction to Raj's shriek of pain and a muffed explicative from Nilanna.

_"Seriously?" _Gato and Rave deadpanned in unison.

_"Absolutely." _Viira purred as she drifted away.

* * *

_Was the discourse healthy and realistic given the context?_

_Do you feel this is a believable set of issues with exos?_


	3. Chapter 3

_RDS I-III_

_First I want to say thanks to all of those sending me reviews, it is greatly appreciated._

_I'm sorry that this addition to the story took so long. I was tossing around a lot of ideas in the wake of my writer's block (over a dozen pages of work along with, and I shit you not, 3 spin-offs were scrapped before I got this finished, and even now I'm still not happy with it)._

_I won't bother with my usual barrage of stupid questions, instead I'd like to have your options and thoughts flow naturally, because I will in no way claim I even have the foggiest idea about…_

_The definition of love..._

* * *

An elusive and impossible to solve equation, because it was at its core: unsolvable. And yet despite this constant, humans and awoken alike claim to be able to feel, sense, and express this equation as if were rudimentary.

Perhaps that was why he had no trouble saying it. Why he found it so easy to commit to an emotion he thinks he has a perfect understanding of. Maybe he did, perhaps it was just an instinctual facet of organic life.

But even if this sentiment was just speculation, its sister component: lust was fact. She knew how badly he wanted her but was unable to act because of any number of reasons. Yet at the same time she was aware that it wasn't just mindless self-satisfaction. During the occasional hug and even rarer kiss they shared she could sense the overwhelming care and adoration he would give to no one but her.

That's why he now lay behind her, clung tightly to her metallic form as he slept. This exo was always more a person of action than words, especially for the one that escaped her. But she knew she had to repay his overflowing kindness while something...substantial to say the least. She had to prove that she too could give him feeling he conveyed every day.

Although being the man that he was, his conservative reply was expected, but she knew it was a front. A small kiss on the cheek and a simple, gentle word was all that was needed to compel him to lay with her.

"Please."

As nerve racking as the initial contact was, the woman soon found her crimson panels soothed by the softness of his touch. It was wasn't long before his rhythmic caresses stopped and unconsciousness over took him, the exo, not wishing to be left alone soon followed, commanding her systems to sleep.

* * *

The morning was first to greet Raj as his eyes cracked open, trying in vain to filter out the light that shined from the small bay window. His body struggled to shake off the grogginess of sleep but his mind began to pester him, trying to feed him a list of reasons why he should stay put.

But as soon as his vision cleared he remembered why. The look of her slumbering form absolutely took his breath away, her smooth alloy skin assembled into a flawless figure of beauty.

He silently thanked whatever gods were up there that exos did move and shuffle in their sleep since she had managed to roll over, now facing him where she lay.

He also had to make a mental note to complete a blood sacrifice to those gods as well, to properly compensate them for failing to give her a sense of self-consciousness about being nude. He shamelessly lifted the cover off of them, letting his gaze travel down the length of her body. Always impressed and amazed about how such perfect, sensual, curves could adorn such a woman.

His hand trembled as it crawled towards her, tracing the line of her profile where it tapered down to her hips. It hovered there, battling between need and want, battling between-

"Why?" her voice slapped him awake as he recoiled, nearly falling off the bed.

"Nilanna, I...uh...how did you sleep?" his smile as forced as his question.

She sat up, seeming to have ignored his attempt at deflecting her.

"You said you found me physically attractive, and yet you wouldn't touch me. Why?" she asked, looking him right in the eye.

"Because you were asleep!" he exclaimed as if it was obvious. "I would never try to take advantage of you."

"And I thank you for that Raj." she said as she looked away from him, as if studying something he could not see.

"Then what's wrong?" he asked, scooting closer so he could take her hand.

"Do your really want to know?" she challenged.

"Absolutely."

"You annoy me Raj."

That had taken the man off guard, not once had he expected such a cutting comment.

"Almost every day I'm with you and I honesty enjoy it, every time you give me a hug or try to steal a kiss, I do genuinely look forward to it."

"Then what annoys you?" Raj hesitated to ask.

"When you say you love me."

"But I do." he tried to reassure her, giving her hand a gentle rub.

"Yes, I'm aware, yet you won't tell me why or even how."

"Well, if I were to list the reasons, we'd be here for a very long time." he smiled.

"So you say." she replied sounding just a bit skeptical.

"Would you prefer if I stopped?" he asked honestly.

"No!" the exo answered, perhaps a bit too quickly. "Its fine, it's just..."

She glanced up the young guardian, finding his calm, ever present expression full of patience and empathy.

"You say it so easily, despite the fact that I haven't returned the sentiment."

"And I'm perfectly okay with that."

"Of course you are." Nila replied sarcastically.

"Its because I love you."

That rendered the Huntress speechless for a short moment, when she tried to comment she ended up stopping herself. She looked away brief instant, contemplating his words. She had to remember who she was dealing with, this man before her. He presented a level of affection that bordered on unconditional and thus made very few attempts to quantify the why or how of this condition.

Yet he also appeared to be an incomprehensible combination of beliefs and post-modern ideals. Raj was opened minded enough to claim his undying love for a machine but conservative enough to avoid drug use, rampant cursing, the casual sex common among guardians, and even prolonged flirting with own girlfriend.

It was an odd amalgam of factors that made Raj, well Raj.

Granted, the overarching problem wasn't Raj himself, it was the fact that his traits, quirks, and personality as a whole weren't rationally quantifiable to a person that thrived on reason and mechanical precision.

Combined with a lack of hormones and very few perspectives on humanoid attractiveness the paradox began to present itself. She was a machine that was having to learn the parts of the human mind she never knew existed let alone be able to implement.

"Maybe, I should just be frank with you." Nila started.

"When aren't you?" Raj replied, half way between serious and joking.

She shot him a brief scowl before continuing. "It's my understanding that sentient beings, specifically organic ones like yourself consider being physically intimate a decisive and often ultimate event between those romantically involved."

"Is that what this is about?" he asked.

"Obviously it is Raj, while your species seems to have diminished its conceptual value; there are still those, like you, who hold the act of sex as a definitive event to be shared by two who are in love. Am I wrong in assuming that?" she asked, already sure of his answer.

"No, you're not." he sighed.

"Raj I...I want to say that I love you, but I don't know how to prove it you or myself."

"You don't have to." he exclaimed. "You never did, just being wit-"

"We both know you're lying, Raj." she interrupted, quite effectively shutting him up.

"As with almost all males of your race, you crave physical satisfaction, yet you still made the mistake of pursuing me."

"No! Loving you will never be a mistake." Raj shot back sternly.

"So because of your principles, you effectively took a vow of celibacy yet continue to lust after a body you _knew_ you could do next to nothing with?" Nilanna growled a bit.

"Why is that bad? That I don't wish to sleep with anyone out of respect for us?" he argued. "How could I betray you like that?"

"How can I consider it a betrayal when there's nothing I could offer you in the first place!?" Nilanna cried as she clenched her fists, staring right into the eyes of the other guardian.

"Why do assume there's nothing you can offer me?" Raj replied softly, almost a whisper.

"Have I not said just being with you is enough for me." he continued.

"But it isn't it Raj, you know it, and I know it." she replied much more sober now.

"If you're unsatisfied then I should be as well, because..." she stopped, suddenly realizing the very phrase she was about to say.

She looked up to find a tell-tale smirk on the young human's face.

"The definition can't be that simple." she said hesitantly.

"Why not?" he countered, "Love means different things to different people."

"But I can't be with you Raj," came a gloomy reply. "Have I not already betrayed this love in some way?"

"How? It seems you are with me already." Raj whispered as he leaned toward the gynoid.

Nilanna made no contrary movement as he placed a somewhat chaste kiss upon her metallic lips. He scooted closer as he began to nuzzle her neck, placing a hand on her thigh he went back for a less conservative touch.

As he coaxed her to change positions, she mused slightly at his preference for having her on top despite the large weight difference. Given that he typically had the sexual ferocity of a kitten, Nilanna, against her better judgment, let him continue with his new found aggression.

Even with her recent revelation, the exo's cynical side was curious to know how the young human would deal with truth behind her reactions. Although at the same time she knew she couldn't keep him from figuring it out, she could only keep the lack of sync hidden for so long.

As Raj began to work his way past the somewhat exposed caller bone of the exo, she gently pushed him back, deciding honestly was the best policy now instead of later.

"Nilanna?" he whimpered slightly.

"I'm sorry Raj, but the other reason I was so...apprehensive about this was that I..." she broke eye contact, somewhat ashamed to continue.

He gave the Hunter a sideways glance before starting to slowly rub her back, trying to convince her to finish.

"Even now I...even if I could be intimate with you Raj, I couldn't share it."

He gave her a questioning look.

"I can't feel anything Raj!" she cried, extremely dishearten. "I want to enjoy this like you do, but I can't."

"I thought exo's could-" Raj said only to stop himself

"We can feel, we can process four main senses but that's it Raj." she sighed.

"I feel your kisses Raj, when you hold me...but I can derive no pleasure from it." she continued, her voice trembling.

"Even if we can't make love Raj, I just want to be to feel what you do." she finished as his arms wrapped around her, cradling the exo in a tender embrace.

"I'm sorry Nila, I didn't realize..." he spoke.

"I'm a war machine, we were built to protect humanity not comfort it." she replied, returning the hug.

"It seems almost cruel doesn't it." she added, "We can think and act as you do, yet we'll never be able to feel as humans can."

"Then that's what we need to do." Raj said as he gave her another peck on the lips.

"Do what?" Nila asked, honestly confused.

"Give you some sensation." he smiled, beginning to rub her back again.

"It's not possible Raj." she glared back at him.

"I don't believe you."

"It's not a question of belief, it's just not physically possible."

"I don't care, this is important to you, so we're going to find some way to fix this."

"I wish I had your blind optimism sometimes." she sighed.

"Well that won't do." he smirked, "one of us has to be the reasonable one."

She replied with a critical glare.

"Also, I've been wondering about this for a while, but does your mouth need to light up every time you speak?" he asked.

"No." she answered, proving her point by keeping the illumination absent.

"Do you even need to move your mouth?"

"No. I don't." she replied again, this time keep her lips shut tight.

"Okay, maybe we first need to figure out what exactly on you is cosmetic and what isn't." he chuckled.

"Yeah maybe we should do that for you too." she scowled. "Humans don't need hair do they?"

"Good point, but back to the matter at hand. We need to figure out something for you."

"It's not as simple as you're making it sound Raj."

"Why not? You told me once that exos can delete bits of their own code if need be. Why can't you add something back?"

"Because this isn't something simple like learning a new word, this is the firmware and everything else needed to reproduce a complex system of bodily, _organic_ functions." she fumed.

"I know I know, it's just...there's no one you could go to for this?"

The question seemed to strike somewhere close, as Nilanna eyes flashed with the colors of uncertainty for a moment, before she looked down, away from the almost painful and ever present concern in his expression.

"I...you know a relationship like ours doesn't occur often...right?" she spoke, still not looking at the human.

"I suppose...I mean I've heard of it before, but just as-"

"Rumors." she finished.

"We appreciate humanity's respect for us as equals but the idea of an exo wanting to...humanize themselves is seen as a bit odd." she explained.

"I suppose I can understand that." Raj nodded.

"Especially for guardians who's occupation takes full advantage of our original propose." she added.

"Has someone talked to you about this?" Raj asked apprehensively.

"I may have mentioned it to Cayde..." she answered, giving the Warlock a hopeful glance.

"Huh…well that does make sense. I always felt he and Ikora had something going on behind the scenes."

"What!?" the exo exclaimed, "Where did you hear that?"

"Not really heard, just a feeling. You haven't gotten that impression from them?"

"No...well..." Nila paused.

"Yep, you see it now as well." Raj smirked, leaning in to give her another kiss on the cheek.

"Raj." she sighed as he pressed the subject, going for his favored spot on her neck. His Solar shielding cringed as he pulled more of her weight to his lower torso.

Her hand slowly made its way up to his bare chest as the other was placed against the wall supporting him. She paused for a moment when one of his caresses turned into a rather suggestive lick. She dipped down to return his nuzzle as her palm began to rub his form. Although she was more than certain he was enjoying this, they were in the middle of a rather important conversation.

"Raj...Raj...RAJ what did we just talk about?" she spoke as she brought up her hand, cupping his face while bringing it to look at her.

"God you're beautiful."

"So you tell me." she said as her metallic face did it's rendition of a smirk. "And I appreciate it but can you repeat what we just finished discussing?"

"You feel as though you are unable to complete an important component of this relationship because you lack erogenous zones. Yet at the same time you have anxiety over the prospect of drastically changing yourself."

"Uh..." she started, feeling a little off put about even slightly questioning his intelligence. She had to admit, he was rather clever.

"While I personally think you don't have to do this, if you really feel you do, you have my utmost support."

"I know Raj, thank you." she said as she leaned in. Pressing her mouth against his, saddened by her limited articulation, it was the closest she'd ever get to kissing her young human.

Even as she could feel his pressure contacting the bare metal in between her thighs, she stopped him before he could grow anymore aggressive. They'd done a lot that morning, much more than she would have expected when they lay together for the night. And there was no doubt they were both happy, it was closest they'd been since the one armed fiasco several weeks ago.

Not that either was counting the days, of course.

_"Sorry Nilanna, you know I never want to interrupt you two, but Commander Zavala is requesting Wrecker for a mission." _Rave broadcasted to the exo.

_"He's requiring her to deploy with at least two other members of her fire team..." _she continued.

_"Are Bristol, Mace, and Raiden back from Mars?" _Nilanna asked.

_"They won't for a couple more days." _her ghost replied.

_"That's to be expected I suppose." _she said, patting him on the chest. "Raj, duty calls, we need to move."

"You mean right now?" he whimpered.

"Yes." the exo sternly replied, sliding off of his lap.

* * *

The pair made short work of gathering and donning their gear. Leaving Nilanna's dorm, they made good time on the freight elevator, quickly meeting the crisp morning air. They traversed the Tower commons briskly finding their team mate and a few other soldiers of light within the Hall of Guardians.

Although the blur of the early morning rush was evident amongst the patrons, the efforts of shaking off last night's sleep was still clearly present in a few.

"Mornin' guardians." Cayde greeted the duo as they descended the stairs. He turned towards them, eager to ignore the paperwork before him.

"I bet you two had fun last night." he said as they approached, giving Raj a playful elbow.

Unfortunately both sides of the human-exo equation locked up immediately. Raj tried to feint ignorance, while Nilanna was a little less subtle.

"Impossible. How could you have known?" the crimson Hunter demanded.

"Well..." Cayde said as he leaned back against the table, "You kinda just told me."

Her hand hit her face with a soft 'clink' as Nila looked down in frustration. The Warlock gave her sympathetic pat on the shoulder.

"Hey if I need to keep it a secret, consider it safe with me." Cayde reassured them.

"Then don't speak so loud." Ikora said as she approached, placing her work on her section of the table.

"How much of that did you hear?" the exo asked the Warlock Vanguard.

"Hear? With the way he clings to you, it's a wonder if the entire Tower hasn't figured it out yet." Ikora said without looking up from a tablet she was holding.

"So what's up Nilanna? I've never known you to guard your image." Cayde pried.

The exo glanced toward Raj, silently signaling him to go meet with Zavala who currently stood near the bay window, still discussing something with Wrecker. He quickly complied, knowing the Commander would probably be a little cross if they had arrived but never attempted to tell him.

"I'm not trying to guard anything, I'm just...a little concerned is all." she explained.

"And why is that?" Ikora asked as she watched Raj approach the Titan Vanguard. "Because I know it can't be about his looks." she said as she gave Nilanna an approving nod.

"Ah, Ikora, how could you? I thought we had something." the exo chuckled as he grabbed his chested in mock heart ache.

"Wait, are you two really...?" Nila spoke with a skeptical glance.

"Not even if the oaf's life depended on it." the Warlock Vanguard answered with a slight edge in her voice.

Something incomprehensible, uncertain even, flashed across Cayde-6's optics, which was all the information Nilanna needed to know she had just over stayed her welcome.

"I'm going to go ahead and speak with Commander Zavala, enjoy the rest of your morning." the Huntress announced before bowing to excuse herself.

Rey admittedly found it hard to focus on the text before her, knowing a cord had just been struck. She looked up at the seasoned Hunter to find him looking back at her. Their glazes stood still for a hot second before exo looked back down, pretending to go through his paperwork.

"Cayde..." she began but stopped short.

"I know, I know Ikora you've told me a dozen times already..." Cayde said with sigh.

"And I'm sorry, I...I'm just not ready for anything like that, not yet." she replied.

"Then you know I'll be waiting for when you are...probably." Cayde said as he looked back at Warlock, trying in vain to seem aloof.

"I know you will." she said with the tiniest smile as she went back to her work.

Nilanna did leave some processing power for Zavala's briefing but couldn't help but hang back in order to listen the exchange between the other two Vanguards. Fillings in variables to the equation that was at its core: unsolvable.

An equation she was beginning to realize wasn't a cosmic anomaly, but a question with a countless number of answers, made even more confusing due to the fact that each one was correct.

It was a non-definitive concept, therefore undefinable.

Like the people residing within Earth's last city, each solution was different. All with their own unique constraints, an expression of emotion shared between two beings...or more?

Perhaps Raj's affection wasn't as simplistic as she thought it was. Sure he pretty much spelled it out when he first confronted her, but something always felt left out. It wasn't so much a 'why' but more of a 'in what way'? No, that's not it. She was able to understand what the young human was feeling, it didn't necessarily mean she could empathize with what he was feeling. At least not yet.

That was perhaps the core of her problem.

Although it was an issue that was beginning to solve itself with time. To feel what the man who loved her felt. To want him, as much as he wanted her. To have slight brush of his lips against her metal cheek mean as much to her as it does to him.

"...I expect you rearmed and in orbit within the hour guardians." the awoken Titan said with finality, wrenching the exo out of her thoughts.

"No problem boss man" their Titan chuckled, but still giving her commanding officer a proper salute.

"Good, you are dismissed fire team Arsenal." Zavala nodded before returned to his place at the Vanguard table.

"Goddamnit, I thought that would never end." Wrecker said once they were past Shaxx's station.

"Well at least this mission doesn't sound too strenuous." Raj replied.

"Meh, hopefully we'll get to shoot something." she added, dragging an anxious hand through her blonde locks.

"No doubt we will, hopefully we'll-" Raj started before he felt something brush against his arm.

He turned to glance at the Huntress as she grasped her hand in his, intertwining their fingers. Her unreadable expression softened as he gave her a reassuring squeeze. It was that instance she saved within her memory, because she knew it was important. Because part of her, somewhere in that now convoluted, or perhaps more infuriating code she called a mind, she knew she felt something for him.

It was there, she knew it was there. The more she felt it, the more concrete it became. Was it love? She wasn't so sure yet. But it was good...no it felt good. Right? Well she felt something, so what else could it be?

"Raj...tell me if this feels uncomfortable." she whispered as she leaned over, pressing her plate like lips against his cheek.

Had Nilanna not been tugging him along he probably would froze from shock. He rubbed the spot on his cheek as he looked at her, the whole event bordering on surreal. Nila? Being intimate in public? Would there be no end to the days' good fortune?

"Nothing you do could ever be uncomfortable." the Warlock replied, trying to hide his elation.

"Good." she smirked, "You never know, I might to try to mix it up a bit later."

And with that Raj found himself thanking unknown gods for the umpteenth time that day.

* * *

_Edit v1.1: Hopefully my 5th grade level writing is slightly more bearable._


	4. Chapter 4

_RDS I-IV_

_As far as I'm aware there has been no earth based society that accepts all those that live within it. Would the case be the same for The Last City? Perhaps, perhaps not._

_With this chapter I hope to explore both sides of the argument, but more critically the why not._

_And yes I know this chapter is a mess, but I wanted to get out a lot of information. Which is of course a lame excuse for "I wanted every crappy thing possible to happen all at once."  
_

_It's obvious the relationship depicted here would not be accepted in modern day, so more than the plausibility of it's current state in the Destiny universe, I'm interested to know would you the individual accept the choice made here by man and machine._

* * *

Glory won through the fires of the Crucible, a phrase and sentiment that reared the flames of competition in some and pain of discontent in others. For the guardians not currently deployed about the solar system battling the Darkness, at least half of their remaining free time had to be dedicated to conditioning and training.

And of course everyone loves that.

Fortunately the current sport being held within Bastion was rather low risk to say the least. A group guardians lounged atop the rectangular ruins of Vex architecture while taking in the view presented by the Martian terrain.

They should have been down in the arena, combating the team matched against them for the day, but it soon became obvious that the opposing team was severely out matched. They were a younger group of guardians randomly assembled by Shaxx in order to receive a bit more combat experience before the Vanguard sent them out into the field for the first time.

Unfortunately Shaxx hadn't paid close enough attention to their opposition, namely the elite fire team member that was on the roster.

The sole Titan of fire team Oxford bounded about the crimson sands of the Bastion like, much her team's disdain, a kid in a candy shop. The Titan didn't even bother to don her rifle as she hunted the younger guardians.

"Should we help?" asked their always optimistic Warlock.

"Who? Tsubaki? I think she's got it covered." one of the Huntresses answered, adjusting herself for more comfortable spot on the terrace.

"I sort of meant the other guardians, Dia." he replied, a slight look of worry now on his face. As if to emphasis his point, the scratchy cackle from the Titan flew across the team's comms.

"They're fine, they knew what they were getting into." Dia added.

"Pretty sure they didn't." said the other Huntress, a splitting image of her twin sister.

"I just feel like we need to give them a fighting chance. Besides they're not going to learn anything like this." the Warlock explained.

"Then by all means Raj, go stop her." Dia replied, her somewhat monotonousness tone making it hard to differentiate between seriousness and sarcasm.

An explosive plume of lighting flashed brightly on the other side of the arena, its force toppling a spire, and its power no doubt obliterated more guardians within its wake.

He could still feel the structure crumbling to the ground as he peered back the Hunter, who was more than likely giving him an amusing expression.

"Raj...Raj? Wait are you that guy?" the other Huntress asked, trying to rack her brain for ways to elaborate.

"Because that's not incredibly vague Ria." the twin sneered.

"Shut up Dia...You're...yeah that's it, you're totally doin' it with an exo, right?" Ria continued.

Even behind his helmet, the accusation had clearly taken the Warlock off guard.

"And incredibly immature." Dia added, receiving a not so heart felt punch from her sister.

"If you mean to say that I am seeing one, you would be correct." Raj answered with confidence.

"So how has that been going for you?" Dia asked, scooting closer to the Warlock and away from her rambunctious twin.

"It has been well." he said simply, wondering whether or not she knew he could hear the slight challenge in her voice.

"And you're content with all of it?" she asked, drawing critical glance from the male.

"Them me rephrase that: you're okay with this? Because I get the odd, and rather confusing feeling that you're settling." she explained.

"What!? I'm not settling for anything, and I find the very thought insulting." Raj fired back.

"Okay, okay...I'm just saying what others have been thinking."

"Others?"

"You may not know it Raj, but a lot of people have seen you with that helmet off, and whether you realize it or not, you are _very_ good looking." Dia purred.

"Uh, thank you?" he replied, honestly unsure of how to take the compliment.

"Well you know how fast information spreads around the Tower...normally I don't think anyone would have paid this any mind, but you're, well you." she said, gesturing at all of him.

"What does that have to do with anything?" he asked.

"You're an extremely attractive, well versed, respected, principled, loyal, considerate, and obviously the least shallow guardian to ever wall the halls." she listed, extending her fingers at each point.

"Do people actually see me like that?"

"Yes, but what bothers quite a few ladies and gentlemen is the fact that you chose an exo, over them." she explained.

"Why? It's not like I was holding some sort of contest. I have no obligation to those you just mentioned." Raj replied as he crossed his arms.

"No, I'm not saying you do, it's just when others get to talking, a ridiculous number of theories can pop up."

"I suppose that's true." The Warlock nodded slowly.

"Granted, I do have an interest in these sorts of anomalous things-"

"Why is it anomalous?" Raj interrupted her immediately.

"You mean besides you turning out to be robo-sexual? "

"Well, I'll have you know that I'm not."

"But to certain degree you are." Dia argued but without too much emphasis on the claim.

"Okay, let's say, hypothetically I am. What then?" Raj asked.

"Don't know…nothing I guess. It's just that some will be a little disappointed." she shrugged.

"Would you be disappointed if I was?" he said very solemnly, grasping the Huntress's full attention.

Even through his Warlock helmet, she could tell his eyes transfixed on hers. Would she be disappointed? That this man found comfort with a machine rather than another human or awoken?

"No...I can't say that I would be." she replied, slowly. "I guess I just found it odd is all."

The Warlock gave her another sideways glance before turning back to field of combat.

"I'm sorry if I offended you, but you can't blame me for being curious." she muttered.

"I'm not mad, I'm just a little upset that Nilanna and I won't always be perceived as normal." he replied with slight slump in his shoulders.

"She has a beautiful name." the Dia reassured him.

"She's a beautiful woman." Raj replied.

"It's just, your whole outlook on this seems so-" the Huntress paused mid-sentence as she watched a lone ghost float past them.

It stopped to look at the duo before reconstructing Ria beside them.

"When did you die?" Raj asked, shocked at what he had just seen.

"When did you leave?" Dia asked, conveying no such emotion.

"Your talking was getting on my nerves, so I split. I killed a couple of scrubs before the bitch RAN ME OVER WITH A TANK!" Ria said, screaming the last part out towards the crucible arena.

"God damn, I said I was sorry." came the voice of their Titan over the comms, before being muffled by gunfire.

"Yeah, I bet." the Huntress grumbled as she upholstered the sniper rifle from her back.

"Uh-" Raj began before Dia stopped him, she gave him small shake of her head before turning back to her sister.

"You know you could have just muted your radio." she spoke.

Her twin froze for a moment, half way to laying prone beside her weapon.

"Shut up." was the only reply she uttered before continuing about her plan for vengeance.

"Right." Dia replied sarcastically. "As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted." she said as she turned to Raj.

"Technically you weren't." he smiled.

"Whatever. I was saying your situation seems kind of surreal."

"I think its pretty average." He replied.

"Of course you do." she said, almost sneering. "But look at it from a logical third party perspective. What exactly can she provide that...let's say, I can't" she asked, suddenly leaning closer to the Warlock.

"That's a hard question to answer seeing as I don't know you."

"Assume you did, for just as long as she." Dia challenged.

"How am I supposed to simulate that? Knowing you doesn't necessarily mean I'll like you."

"Assume it does." the Huntress replied immediately.

"If you're trying to construct a sequence of events that puts you over Nilanna, then obviously I would like you more. But that's not how it happened; everything you've asked me is more or less irrelevant." Raj explained.

"It feels more like you're dodging the question." Dia said.

"No, I'm not. You just want me say I lust after organic woman." Raj fired back.

"Well do you?"

"Of course I do, but under no circumstance will I give in to it." Raj answered, "Besides I'm far more attracted to Nilanna anyway."

"Are you a virgin, Raj?" Dia suddenly asked.

The Warlock next to her locked up instantly. He slowly turned toward the female guardian, her even tone was making it extremely difficult to get a read on what she was thinking. Although her next line of questioning wouldn't be too hard to figure out based on the answer he gave.

Based on the tid-bits of memories Gato sorted through as he slept, he knew in his past life he did in fact have a child with someone, the who, when, and where were still lost to the decay of time. He knew with that minuscule amount of admittedly circumstantial evidence, that at least his pre-reconstructed body had done the deed.

"Yes." he sighed, as he glanced back at the Huntress.

Taken aback, Dia stared back at the young human. A part of her expected this answer but not with kinds of emotions that where swimming around it. And the reason began to don on her as she began to change out the series of biting comments she had ready for his initial answer.

"Have you not...hold on." she said as she summoned her ghost.

The Warlock couldn't help but notice it looked exactly like Ria's ghost. He heard a small pop of static suggesting Dia had just modified something between they're communication.

"We can hear them, but they can't hear us." she explained, Raj nodded. Thanking her for respecting his privacy.

"So, you haven't tried anything with her yet?" Dia asked.

"No I...it wouldn't matter right now anyway." he said as he looked away from her.

"Well it's no use not telling me, you've pretty much already opened up to a complete stranger." Dia scoffed.

"Thanks for reminding me." Raj deadpanned.

"Don't think about it too hard. Sometimes you just need to talk to someone, anyone." she said, giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

"Even if they're trying to get a rise out of me?" he replied sarcastically.

"Details, details." Dia smirked.

"I know, It's just..."

"Just what?"

"I...you want to help someone close to you achieve something, but at the same time you're not sure if they should." Raj spoke as he looked down, preoccupied with his fingers.

"Well worrying is normal, I'm worried about Ria all the time, but that's mostly because she's an idiot."

"I want to support her, but I want to make sure I'm doing it for the right reasons." Raj continued.

"Well that all depends on whether she's doing this for her, or doing this for you." Dia stated.

"I..." the young Warlock stopped for a moment.

She said she wanted to feel as he does, to want him like he did, to somehow legitimize their relationship. Raj didn't know how much of a change she would have to go through in order to achieve this, but it seemed as if it would be enough. But shouldn't he trust her? Nilanna is a very level headed person; she wouldn't do something that would somehow compromise a core part of her...would she?

But he had to consider that this is unfamiliar ground for her, even if she goes about it as rationally as possible. But is her need for a new level of sensation truly necessary? She certainly thought so.

"She's doing it for us." Raj answered.

"You don't sound too convinced of that yourself."

"I don't? I should, I have the utmost faith in her."

"Maybe you do, but that doesn't change the fact that _you_ believe you have no idea what you're doing."

"What?"

"I'll explain on the trip back to the Tower, because right now Shaxx is probably pissed that my sister just shot our mvp."

No sooner had she said that did the rumble of the Titan's voice roll across their comms, destroying Dia's override in the process. And as she predicted, he was not happy. Partially due to the friendly fire but mostly because of the team's willingness to let a single guardian do all of the work.

* * *

Unfortunately the warp back to the Tower was even more stressful as Dia laid out what she knew of he and Nilanna. Which was quite a bit as it turned out.

Despite Ria's interruptions she told him what others had said about them. About what she saw as an abnormal sexuality, and why even Raj couldn't rationalize his attraction to the exo.

Granted he did pose his side of the argument quite often, and the Huntress did commend the young human about have such a selfless love. But she would also point out it was just that, and as such reasoned that the relationship was slightly one sided.

Raj of course disagreed, claiming all the proof she would need would be presented when she saw the exo in question.

And that certainly wasn't too far from the truth as they made landfall, teleporting into the Tower's main court yard as their jump ships flew an automated path into the hanger.

Their search did not last long as they found Nilanna already engaged in conversation with another guardian near the vaults.

And he was a tall one at that, the exo stood nearly a head over Nilanna. Not only that there was something familiar about him, but the young Warlock couldn't immediately place what.

"Raj." the crimson Huntress greeted as the duo approached, she flashed a static yet anxious glance at the awoken next to Raj, prompting him to speak.

"This is Dia Topaz, she was one of my teammates in the Crucible today." the Warlock spoke.

"It's a pleasure, I've heard quite a bit about you." Dia said as she extended her hand.

"Well, knowing Raj, hopefully not too much of it was an exaggeration." Nilanna replied, returning the hand shake.

"Interesting, who's your friend" Dia asked.

"III-00." the low and slightly mechanical voice of the exo bellowed, it tone was as even as Dia's.

"Wait, you're-" Raj realized before he was loudly interrupted.

"TRIPLE I!" Tsubaki squealed as she bounded up to the group, sweeping the larger exo off his feet in fierce bear hug.

"Greetings, I take it you were successful in the Crucible today." the male exo said, completely unfazed by the Titan's actions.

"Forget that, how was Venus? You were gone for like a month." she said as she put him down.

"How did she do that? He weighs more than me." Nila whispered to the other two guardians, to which they both shrugged.

"I hope my _best friend _hasn't been too boring." Tsubaki beamed, giving him another hug.

"No, uh not at all." Nilanna chuckled uneasily.

"We are not best friends." III corrected.

"Sure we are." the Titan replied, obvious to his repulsion.

"Reins had something for us to do upon your return, we need to report to him soon." the male exo informed her.

"What? But I just got back." Tsubaki complained.

"Yes, can you imagine my disappointment." III grumbled as he began to tread away.

"Hey! I heard that." Tsubaki laughed as she followed him, giving the remaining guardians a wave goodbye.

"So that was kinda weird, right?" Dia asked as the couple nodded in response.

"Weirder than us?" Raj added, giving the awoken a critical glance.

"Not quite, you guys want to hit the bar? I need a drink." Dia replied, seeming to have ignored him.

"Uhhh..." the couple said in unison as they gave each other a skeptical look.

* * *

The functioning freight ship turned lounge acted as one of the tower's neutral meeting grounds for not just Hunters but all guardians despite their traffic coming in larger numbers. It sported comfortable atmosphere allowing guardians to rest and unwind after time spent in the field. No one is sure exactly when an unknown city patron began to serve food and drinks, and not many cared since it was served 24/7. So just like that one of Holiday's abandoned projects became a highly recommend place of relaxation and cheap beer.

What wasn't so obvious was why the couple decided to follow the awoken Huntress into the dim lights of the lounge. He didn't feel up to a drink and she couldn't drink even if she wanted to. Then again something must have nagged the Warlock enough to want a conclusion to their argument.

"So how long have you to known each other?" Dia asked as they sat in one of the newer booths.

"Why are we here exactly?" the exo asked ignoring the initial question, instead directing her query at the human who only shrugged. The exo couldn't help but respond with an apprehensive glare.

"Because I figured out something you've been trying to keep quiet, and because your boyfriend basically told me your biggest short coming." Dia smirked.

"And that would be?" Nilanna challenged as she crossed her arms across her chest.

"You're under the impression you two can't have sex." Dia replied with a confident look.

"I didn't say that at all." Raj defended, when Nila shot him a glare.

"You didn't have to; it was written all over your face." Dia said, "You know he's terrible liar, right?"

"I am painfully aware of that fact." Nilanna replied with a sarcastic nod.

"Then I guess you know that not too many people like you." Dia said as the bar tender placed a drink in front of her.

"I haven't sensed too much of a change in those around me, but I figured as much." the exo replied.

"Wait, would do you mean people have changed?" Raj asked.

"You know exactly what she means Raj, we were discussing earlier." Dia spoke before taking a sip at the froth in her glass.

"What? That you think there are people jealous of Nilanna?"

"You can't tell me you haven't noticed Raj." Nilanna said.

"I...well now that you mention it we have been a bit more open about our relationship." Raj said sheepishly.

"Don't worry, I already explained it to him since he seemed to be oblivious to his own attractiveness." Dia said with a roll of her eyes. "So he's already told me why he likes you, but I'm curious to know if the feeling is mutual."

Nilanna paused for a moment, debating how to answer the question which drew a rather concerned expression from the Warlock.

Its true Nilanna said she liked him, but the term love was still foreign to her at best.

Beneath the table, Raj slip his hand into hers, bringing the luminous eyes of the exo to look at his. She knew she liked the human before her, but defining why was still a self-appointed challenge for her. But at this point such answers where becoming much more trivial.

Raj was hers, mind, body, and soul simply because he said he was, and the longer they were together the more she began to believe that perhaps she was his as well.

The exo was quick to notice the anxious look on his face, even now he was worried that she might not accept all of him.

_"Well that's preposterous." _Nila thought as her free hand made its way around the back of his neck.

She could easily sense the slight tremble of excitement Raj emitted when they intimate, a joyous vibe that never seemed to subside or dull when they were close.

Nilanna didn't have to lean in much since Raj was more that eager to meet her half way as flesh and metal meet in harmonic caress between two souls.

The kiss only a lasted brief moment much to Raj's disappointment, as Nilanna turned to address the awoken.

"Yes it is mutual."

While the Warlock bathed in the moment, the exo paused to gauge the reaction of the other Huntress. If her still somewhat rudimentary understanding of psychology within human and awoken relationships was correct, she should have both answered the woman's question and broadcast a clear message that Raj was off limits.

A thought she didn't even have to be organic to know had crossed Dia's mind more the once already.

The exo was never one for being possessive in the context of such superficial matters, but seeing the direction the events of day pointed her, she began to get the feeling she couldn't avoid complete apathy on the subject for too much longer.

But Dia only chuckled as she took another sip of her drink.

"I'm glad you two _are_ getting along, I'm just intrigued by _how_ you to are getting along." Dia spoke.

Raj was quick to narrow his eyes at that comment, he knew what was coming next.

"Objectively you two are...quaint I should say." Dia continued.

"That's certainly not how you put it when we discussed it earlier." Raj grumbled.

"You think we shouldn't be together don't you?" Nilanna said, her voice beginning to fill with dread.

"What? No, not at all." Dia backpedaled when she noticed the exo's change in demeanor and the fact that Raj was currently giving her a rather venomous glare.

"Look I'll admit you two are odd, but I'm absolutely fine with it. I mean love is blind right?" Dia said offering the couple a smile.

"I suppose that's fair, I can't expect everyone to 100 percent okay with us." Nila nodded.

"Although you should probably keep your guard up for another reason." Dia said with a chuckle. The exo's only reply was a curious look.

"Not only are you human and exo," Dia explained, "You've got one of the...how should i say..."

"Apparently I'm still 'hot' right?." Raj said sarcastically, complete with air quotes.

"Damn right, you are tasty." Dia purred.

Both Nilanna and Raj stared at her like she'd grown a second head before the Huntress noticed she had already finished her glass and was working on another. As to when that happened, she had no idea but it was also painfully obvious that Dia couldn't hold her liquor.

"Dia, are you gonna be okay if we leave?" the Warlock slowly asked.

"Yeah yeah, Ria will probably come get me." Dia shrugged.

"But never mind that, serious question: how do you guys plan on doin' it?" the awoken smirked as she make an "o" with her left hand and proceeded to thrust a finger from her right into it repeatedly.

"Wow, this is how you are when you're buzzed." Raj said giving her lop sided yet still shocked look.

"Yep." she replied as if it was obvious, while taking sip from her second glass.

"Look I've got nothing against the whole interspecies thing, but somewhere along the line I would need something inside me, preferably a dude." Dia slurred slightly.

"Fascinating." Nilanna said, her eyes wavered as she scanned the awoken's biometrics. "I've never seen another guardian be affected by alcohol so fast."

"This shouldn't really surprise me at this point; my entire day has been this irregular." Raj commented.

"I does certainly seem that way." Nila agreed.

"Maybe we shou-" Raj began before they heard a soft thud in front of them. The awoken in question had fallen unconscious, drink still in hand.

"I'm going to assume she shouldn't have had any alcohol to begin with." Nilanna concluded.

Raj only nodded in agreement.

"You know, I don't like to think about it, but maybe we should prepare to receive criticism from other guardians." Nilanna spoke softly.

"What? No, I don't think we should take what she said too seriously." Raj replied.

"I don't think she was exaggerating Raj, maybe we sh-"

"No, I'm not going to let one person's opinion change what's between us." Raj interrupted.

"I know, I know, it's just..."

"Besides, we haven't been discriminated against yet." Raj continued, "I mean I haven't..." He looked at the exo with concern.

"No...I haven't...at least not yet." Nila offered him a smile.

"Then what are we worried about?" Raj chuckled.

"Maybe somethin' and maybe nothin'." Ria sneered as she approached the table.

The exo looked startled for a moment as she glanced at the awoken, she looked like perfect clone of the Huntress before them.

"Annnnd this is what happen when you give my stupid sister beer." the awoken added as she lifted Ria, draping her arm over her shoulder, stabilizing her.

"Hey Ria what's up?" Dia laughed using her free hand to poke her sister's cheek.

"You're an idiot." Ria frowned as she began to walk her sibling out of the lounge. The couple followed her out, and although nether would admit it, both were now a little apprehensive of doing so hand in hand.

"Sorry about this Raj, I probably should told you that under no circumstances should she be given alcohol." Ria explained.

"It's fine, she wasn't too much trouble." The Warlock replied with a weak smile.

There was a brief pause before the awoken spoke again.

"My sister probably told you I'm not one for clever ideas, but I like to think I'm just as observant." Ria began as they entered the hangar.

"Every society has had something, that at the time, is considered not normal, or weird. Even this community of soldiers we live among has them. The trick isn't learning to deal with it, it's how to go about doing it. Because if you want to continue on with your head held high, you don't have a choice."

Both Nilanna and Raj were struck speechless by the brutal relevancy of her words, full of emotion, but still true.

"If you're curious as to why Dia was so interested in you two, it's because we're a pair a strange ones as well." Ria said as she summoned her ghost.

Raj began to speak before seeing the fainted traces of a transmat.

"We both share the same ghost." she revealed before she and sister disappeared in small puff of blue dust.

"That was...cryptic." Nilanna said after a few moments, giving the Warlock a skeptical glance. He couldn't help but laugh a little as spoke.

"Good lord it has been a day and a half, you want to just turn in for the night?" Raj asked as they made their way back toward the courtyard.

She wanted to laugh along with him, but after what was just discussed she had to be sure. She had to know, if not for her sake but Raj's.

So she listened.

_...hey look it's those two, the one like Carol and..._

_...bitch, one of the few decent guys around here and she just..._

Nilanna didn't want to believe it, but as she began to reallocate more power and processing to her auditory panels, the ridicule came in strong and clear.

_...shut up, she got her man fair and square, your just mad cause you ain't her..._

_...that guy must be desperate..._

_...like how does that even work-OW, what? I'm just asking..._

These whispered couldn't have just started today, how could she have not noticed? What about Raj, even with her enhanced hearing, he too should have at least heard a few.

His hand brushed across hers and she recoiled instantly.

"Nila?" the human asked with a worried expression evident upon his face.

"I'm sorry Raj, sorry..." she sighed as they stopped atop the first set of steps to the North Tower.

"I wasn't trying to push you way, I was just thinking about what Dia said." she explained as she sat down, Raj quickly followed suit.

"Really? I'm more hung up on what Ria told us." he shrugged.

But before the Huntress could respond, she was bumped by a passerby.

"Sorry." the Titan quickly apologized as he turned to face the couple, but is face fell moments after he gazed upon them.

This did not go unnoticed by either of the offended party, nor did the look the Titan's partner was giving them.

"Watch where you're sitting." he sneered, but before he could spit at them again the Warlock beside him stepped forward with an accusing finger.

"Normally I'm not one to judge, but why the hell are you with an exo?" she asked.

"Why the hell do you care!?" Nilanna snapped first, surprising both Raj and herself. Despite her insecurities, it seemed gynoid could tolerate insults aimed at her back. But seemed curiously unable to put up with them when aimed towards her and the one she cared for the most.

Odd, the very topics that haunted her nightmares now turned into fuel for her fire. Her code never implied a quick temper, occasional moodiness yes, but not anger that flared _this_ fast.

"Because it's kind of pathetic really." the Titan answered, his voice betraying not a single emotion.

"I get that when you are revived you may have lost some of the minds social skills and etiquette. But it's those sorts of things that can be relearned instead of clinging to the artificial personality of a machine." he continued.

"And how do you know that's the case? You've never even met me." Raj frowned as he stood to face the opposing guardian.

"I don't need to know you, the sight of it is enough, and what I see disgusts me. You are a betrayal to not just those of organic origin but to your own species. You squander your ability to reproduce among a people that have literally been pushed to extinction." the Titan explained.

"Don't even try that, we are soldiers resurrected to protect the city, not repopulate it." the exo snapped.

"Of course you wouldn't understand it's not an option for you." the female Warlock cut in.

"You make it seem like a requirement." Raj said as he crossed his arms, prompting Nilanna to stand as well.

"Shut up kid, you know full well you've stepped within an ethical gray area." the Titan replied.

"And those are your grounds to criticize him?" Nilanna growled

"Of course it is, even as an exo you should be in agreement with me. I respect your race as equals but not when you ignore reality. What reason do you have to be with someone as incompatible as a human? How is it even possible for you to have cognitive capability to be attracted to him?" the Titan sneered as he bore down on the Huntress.

"And a better question, why are you attracted to machine? What, were none of the Frames available?" the female Warlock scoffed.

"Is that what everyone truly thinks..." Raj spoke quietly, throwing everyone expect his fellow Warlock off guard. Clearly the other Warlock's words where one jab too many for the young human.

"You're not the first person to claim that I'm only attracted to her because she's a machine." his voice trembled as he looked down.

"That's sure as hell what it looks like, and such a waste to." the woman said as she bumped her elbow against the Titan next to her, looking for some sort of agreement.

Instead she got a shake of his head.

"Look man, you've got to think a bit about what this looks like from another point of view." the Titan offered.

"Maybe he doesn't care about what others think, have you ever thought of that?" Nilanna spoke as she placed a comforting hand on Raj's shoulder.

"No." the female Warlock said sternly before turning to scowl at the Titan. "And what's with you Botell? You went from bashing them to agreeing with them?"

"I'm not agreeing with them, it's just been a rough day, and feel as though I snapped at them unjustly." the Titan explained.

"Well I don't." the female Warlock huffed.

"Why not? It's not as if we purposely tried to offend you." Nilanna growled.

"But you're still wrong." replied Botell.

That slapped a very uneasy look upon Raj's face as his gaze snapped back up to the Titan.

"I can tell you're young guardian, so I'll say this once: relearn how to interact properly with those closer to your own species before you forsake those specifically evolved to be compatible with you." Botell commanded before turning to the exo.

"Stop leading the kid on, I have it on good authority that exo possess no form of coding, sub-routine, or any kind of autonomous self-editing program that involves the physical attraction of humanoids. You possess nothing that simulates hormones, not even in the special edition or modified models." the Titan explained.

"And in the extremely unlike event you did somehow install it, lay off, you're stifling the kid." Botell finished, giving the couple a dissatisfied look. He motioned for his compatriot to leave with him, but she held up a single finger, beckoning him to wait a moment.

"When you come to your senses, no girl is going to take you seriously because you're with _it_." the Warlock snarled. "Which I image will be soon because I can only assume the sex you two are having is divine." she jeered.

The Titan snorted at her comment before she followed him past the Special Orders booth and out of sight.

"Well, that hurt." Nilanna sighed as she fell back upon the steps with a light clank. She glanced at Raj as he sat beside her.

Before a another word could even exit her mouth, his was against hers. He grasped the small of her back as he leaned into her.

At first the exo was caught off guard, but it soon dawned on her what he wanted: security, care, and confirmation that he wasn't alone.

That she wasn't alone.

He had truly been rattled by the words that were thrown at him today. And an even greater concern was that fact that is was Raj who seemed to affected the most by this and not her.

"Raj." she whispered as she gently pushed him back. It was odd to see him, the always happy-go-lucky Raj, cling to her like that. In fact it scared her a bit.

"Are you okay?" she asked, giving his shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

"You know I love you, right?" the almost pathetic look on his face moved something within her. What it was she couldn't quite say, but something did move.

"If only I had 3 glimmer for every time you've told me that." she chuckled.

"And yet I feel as though I don't say it enough." he offered a weak smile.

"Well you do Raj, enough for you to come parts shopping with me." she said as she gave him a small peck on the forehead.

He light up immediately, and she rolled her eyes in amusement. It still took very little effort to cheer him up.

"Really!? I can go with you this time?" he beamed.

"Yep." she nodded as they stood. "I'm thinking of trying to shed a little weight."

"Wait, why?" he peered at her inquisitively, not even noticing how easily her hand slipped into his.

"Not because of you." she teased. "I wanted to replace some of my upper body with the carbon fiber plasteel hybrid some Titans have been using recently.

"I can't believe I don't know this already, but what are you made of again?" Raj asked abashedly.

"I lot of different things, but the majority of my armor, er I guess my skin? That's made of a titanium alloy that's combined with some Golden Age metal." she explained as they stepped on the freight elevator that lead to the dorms.

"Should you really replace that?" the Warlock asked.

"I can, we have materials that can replace it now, plus it's heavy as hell. With my gear I weigh at least 250 kilos."

"Really, I've never noticed." Raj smirked.

"Your shielding usually mitigates some of it." the Huntress said, sounding a little ashamed.

But the Warlock only shrugged. "I'm not sure why, then again my Light is a little finicky sometimes."

That comment only rewarded him with a roll of her eyes as the elevator stopped on Nilanna's floor.

"C'mon Raj I need a little help anyway, we to check over the parts I maybe replacing." as she spoke she couldn't help but notice the bounce that was now in his step.

"This isn't cuddle time Raj, actual work needs to be done." the exo grumbled.

The human slumped immediately. And given the day's events, that was something Nila couldn't bear to see at this moment.

"Ah, one of the motor controllers in my hips has been bothering me." she lied, "maybe you can take a closer look at when we're done."

She knew it wouldn't take long for a smile to creep across his face again, since he discovered his new found talent for handy work, it always perked him up when he got to tinker with something mechanical, especially if it was her.

She wouldn't readily admit it but the words of Botell and his friend still wore one her mind. So right now, in this moment: a happy Raj was the best kind of Raj, and it was certainly the Raj that she needed.

* * *

_Edit v1.1 Special Thanks to **CurrySmuggler**_


	5. Chapter 5

_RDS I-V_

_Sorry for the condensed nature of this chapter, but I wanted to keep it short-ish._

_Thank you for the reviews as well, the feedback is much appreciated._

_Especially **riesling **who I will later thank with a blood sacrifice for being a badass and awesome in general. Seriously go read her stories, they are absolutely brilliant. Go right now, you can come back to my lame story later._

_Okay, now that you've returned, this particular chapter has an actual title since it will be split into parts._

_**Chimerical Truth Pt.1**_

* * *

In between the soft rain, tranquil winds, and the crisp warmth of azul lava plumes it's easy to forget that Venus belonged to the Vex. At any given time those cybernetic monstrosities committed the most ground troops onto the planet surface. And to make matters worse, to make up for their lack of air support they blocked hyperspace lanes using space-time anomalies projected from their portals, effectively bottle-necking incoming jump-ships for days at a time.

When new information about a recoverable relic left within the Vault of Glass surfaced, the Vanguard's response was instantaneous. Under no circumstances could they leave it to the Vex. Jump-ships were prepped, while fire teams sortied. Guardians already on patrol converged in mass to the entrance of the Vault.

Unfortunately the Vex response to the mobilization was enormous. Progress into the strong hold was slow at best, as the soldiers of light were bombarded with the heaviest armaments the Vex had in their arsenal.

The downpour did nothing to sooth the Venusian soil as a hail of bullets and plasma fire chewed it to pieces. A large number of guardians were able to dig in and begin repelling the mechanized force before them. But others were lost to the chaos of battle, separated from their fire team and left to their own devices. A few still hoping that today was the time their legend would be born.

As Darkness began to shroud the battlefield, guardian resurrections became less and less frequent. It wasn't long before a rather plucky Warlock became acutely aware of that fact. It would only be a matter of time until he and the hand full of guardians around him were pushed into a truly tight spot.

Fortunately the fire team that should have lead the initial charge arrived, fashionably late, as they will claim. Elite Fire Team Spartan, Commander Zavala's personal strike team, swooped in with a hail of gunfire. The Vex mind wailed in anguish as its forces began to fall. Enraged by not just this reality's nearly impossible to kill organic populace but the ability for the tide to turn by the appearance of a mere six guardians.

The chaos of battle became raw as the Titans pushed forward. Pressured by their advance the mechanical collective rearranged it's forces, trying to split the soldiers of light and scatter their new found resolve.

The Warlock and his seasoned partner, a Huntress, were already on their last leg. They were currently suppressed by heavy fire when the Vex mind updated it's tactics.

Then, as if it some how knew they would perfectly vulnerable at that very moment, a Minotaur of enormous portion appeared at their blind side.

The Warlock uttered a loud, but distinct grunt of pain as the ogre like Vex grabbed his arm, instantly breaking it.

The Huntress wheeled around just in time to see him tossed over the cliff side, still angrily putting round after round of his scout rifle into the Minotaur before disappearing.

The Huntress had very little time to express dismay before a concussive force pushed her like a bug hitting the side of speeding sparrow.

The explosion from a dying Hydra flung the Huntress over the cliff as well, obliterating the damaged Minotaur beside her.

The descent felt slow, almost surreal as the Ishtar cliff side as well as any hope for survival, grew smaller with each passing second. Every corner of her body screamed with pain as she hit the ground, a feeling so horrifying, so excruciating that despite her best efforts she blacked out moments later.

The light piter pater of rain on her helm roused the fallen guardian. Thankfully the impact had not claimed her, but her relief did not last long as thoughts of the Warlock flooded her mind.

She tried in vain to right herself only to find the fall had completely severed her left leg. The Huntress surveyed the area but her metallic limb was nowhere to be found. But it was of little consequence, she had to find the Warlock.

The guardian began to claw her way across the sand and rubble, desperately scanning for any life signs, fortunately her search did not last long.

She found his body lying motionless on the beach, lapped at by the Venusian waves. Fear gripped the Huntress as she continued to make her way towards him. She denied any thought of his death as she moved forward.

But a cruel god, ghost, or whatever you may call it had other plans. A brisk wave finally grabbed hold of injured Warlock, drawing his form closer to the sea.

Dread washed over the other guardian as she watch her partner being pulled further and further away. She tried anything she could to quicken her pace, but the damage sustained from the fall was great. Her body creaked and complained as she continued to drag herself toward the Warlock.

And in a moment, her world was lost.

She watched helplessly as the tide sucked him in, finally removing his body from the beach. He seemed almost peaceful, floating on the water. The muffled sounds of battle becoming a dull back drop to the hushed beat of the rain, and the frantic pleading of the Huntress as she finally reached the water's edge.

She was so close, he was right there.

She had to go to him, pull him back. She couldn't, no she refused to lose him here. But moments before she dove head first into the water a familiar voice stopped her.

It was a voice that was not her own. It had been speaking to her for quite a while, but chose now to fully assert itself.

It warned her of her impending folly. The Huntress knew it spoke the truth, but still she ignored the voice. She couldn't just give up. Hell bent on continuing towards the water, the Huntress began to move, only this time the voice didn't just speak, it stopped her cold.

"Nilanna, please." the voice begged, "I can't let you do this, please stop."

"NO NO NO, Shut up! He's right there, I can save him!" the Huntress pleaded, watching as the Warlock drifted further away.

"I'm sorry, but I just can't" the voice sighed, silently struggling to keep the guardian still as the Huntress tore through bits of data and possible proxies, anything to regain control of her body.

"Please try and be rational, even if you could retrieve him, you could do nothing to revive him. Raj wouldn't want you to foolishly throw your life away like this. He'd want you to live, to continue the fight."

But the exo remained speechless as if broken. The reality of the voice's words where like a jagged knife thrust in her back.

The voice appeared before her crumpled form, it's single eye reflected as much sorrow as the exo's two.

He was gone, lost not just by humanity's war, but her lack of humanity as well.

For first time in this life, or even the one before, the Huntress cried; a scratchy, tearless, wail that echoed across the Ishtar range.

* * *

"RAJ!" the exo jumped awake, met not by a calm, tranquil room but a searing inferno.

The very bed she lay on was engulfed flames, shrouding the room in smoke. Confused and just a little bit disoriented, the crimson hunter rolled out of the bed, frantically searching the area, looking for the one she cared for as the flames began to spread.

Nila looked back towards the bed, fearful that an offhand suspicion had come to fruition, and unfortunately it had. Raj was still on the bed, set ablaze as his Radiance continued to destroy the surrounding room.

"Damnit Raj!" she shouted as she jumped back atop bed, cradling the human as his light continued flow.

"Wake up!" she begged, giving the male a light shake.

How was this even happening? He activated his ability while asleep, she'd never heard of such a thing. It was obvious he wasn't in control, so what could this be doing to his body, his Light?

"C'mon Raj, you have to wake up." she said, giving his cheek a pat. For a moment, she thought he had begun to stir. The flames spilling from his body began to subside as the radiant power began to wear off.

The exo still held the human close when two service Frames burst in to extinguish the fire. But to Nilanna the roar of the flames and the cold hiss of the foam was nothing bit a dull gurgle in the back of her mind.

Raj, her Raj still lay in her arms. Motionless, frozen, a cruel replication of the nightmare she had just been ripped from. The only sign of a true reality was his slow yet steady breathing.

What if she had done this to him somehow?

That singular thought continued to repeat itself even as the medical Frames came to collect the Warlock. The insistent questions about the fire and her own injuries fell on deaf ears as the exo looked helplessly at the human.

The inside of their fire team's private medical bay bustled with activity as the doctors on call attended to Raj's unconscious form. A single Frame attended to the moderate burns and damage suffered to the Huntress's metallic skin, probing her for information every now and again.

It was quite a while before the nurses began to disperse leaving a rather tired looking Awoken doctor standing at the foot of the exo's gurney.

"Nilanna?" he asked softly.

Her piercing, luminescent eyes darted from the Warlock, causing the doctor to jump slightly.

"I know how straight laced you can be." he smiled, "So I won't beat around bush, do you want the good news first or the bad news?"

"Bad news." she replied quickly, and almost too quiet to hear.

"He's in a coma." the doctor sighed, and despite her limited articulation, the exo's devastation was obvious.

"Don't fret, we can wake him. Believe it or not this has happened before, I'm not sure if you're aware but Raj is one of a few Warlocks that possess the ability to resurrect themselves."

Nila only nodded in response.

"Well for reasons we're still not sure of yet, when one attempts to use this power when unconscious, say when asleep, it leaves the user in a coma."

She nodded again, intent on learning as much as she could.

"Now, like I said, before we can wake him, but that's the difficult part."

The exo gave him a questioning look.

"We will require a specific adrenal solution that contains smart matter."

"Smart matter?" Nila groaned, well aware of how rare the substance was.

"Yes." He said with a sympathetic nod.

"There's one other thing as well." the doctor continued, his expression now a bit sullen. The exo sighed, she'd already been through so much in such a short time, she honestly wasn't up to anymore of this. She just wanted Raj back.

"An outside stimulus is what causes the victim to initiate their Radiance subconsciously." he gave the exo a stern look. "The burn marks on his chest are consistent with electrocution."

And just like that everything came to a screeching halt.

It was her.

She did this to him. It was because she was machine that Raj was hurt. This is was the reality unfiltered. No matter how much he claimed to love her, they were different and nothing would change that.

"Nilanna?" the doctor asked with a worried tone. He knew a short circuit on one of her sensory meshes was likely the cause; it was a common problem with her particular model, and easily remedied. But what he hadn't expected was such a violently negative reaction.

Her gaze could very well have bored a hole through his skull. Her body trembled as a vicious mixture of emotions swept across her form.

"You can't blame yourself for this, it was an accident." the doctor reassured her

"No it wasn't!" she snapped, before she curled up with her knees to her chest, completely intent on just sitting there. Maybe if she no longer moved, she could no longer hurt him.

The doctor could hurl kind and soothing word at her until the ends time for all she cared, it didn't change the fact that this was her fault. She was source of Raj's pain.

"_This is not the Nilanna I know."_

But the exo stayed silent, ignoring the words of her ghost.

_"You've come so far, and yet you're willing to lose it all just because you let this little thing get to you?"_

_"How is this little?" _the exo's murmured, it was response so heavy that Rave paused for a moment. Exo's could grieve, feel sadness and remorse. But this, this was something alien to her as the nightmare and reality continued to weave itself into a sadistic tapestry of fact.

Nilanna was crying.

A quite, withdrawn sob that shook her body as unbridled despair gripped her mind, threatening to suffocate whatever light was left in her soul.

_"Well at least one thing is obvious now." _her ghost smiled inwardly. _"I can say for certain that you're truly in love with him."_

The gynoid slowly looked back up, taken aback by Rave's statement. The ghost itself blinked into the room behind puff a blue dust as it considered her guardian.

"And this is what it got me," Nilanna grumbled as she looked back down toward the gurney.

"But you do love him." the ghost spoken as it drifted down, forcing the exo to look into its eye.

Nilanna slowly, if not dejectedly nodded.

"And it only took a coma to figure that out." Rave chided.

With speed even her ghost hadn't seen before, the Huntress snatched the machine out of the air, clutching tightly as rage welled in her eyes.

"You can be cross with me all you want Nilanna, but you're still the one sitting here doing nothing even after you've been told the solution to the problem." Rave said, unaffected by her guardian's outburst.

"He'll be safe her Nilanna, all we need smart matter. It lies somewhere out in there in the old world, hidden, but it's there." the doctor said with a reassuring smile.

"Thank you." she whispered as she released her ghost. She got up, slowly at first but with each step, she quickened her pace until she was sprinting back towards her room.

Geared up again, the exo spent not a second longer in her dorm as her mind began to churn out thoughts at a lightening pace.

She loved him...although she hadn't explicitly said it, at all actually. That didn't matter, because she felt something, it was certainly something new when the revelation hit her. It was different, an odd sensation that she couldn't quite place. But she knew now, beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was there.

When had it happened? She wasn't entirely sure, herself. The Huntress refused to believe that it had occurred during this horrifying event, that it was only the catalyst. Was it when he began to repair her various parts and components, dispelling the idea that he would revolted by her mechanical form.

No no, that was too early, even if she had a new found respect for the warlock.

Perhaps when they first became intimate? Although that moment turned into a double edge sword even if he ignored her selfishness. Was it when she realized that she harbored just the smallest bit of jealously when he was around other women in tower or out in the field?

It was astounding that she couldn't find the exact moment. Her systems always maintained a very meticulous log of status changes, coding edits, fluctuations in quantum processing, you name it.

Although what she felt was now truth, there would time to mull over it later. Right now she had to ask...

The Huntress paused for a moment as she observed the happenings in the Hall of Guardians. A large number of guardians stood on the back steps at attention while Commander Zavala barked at them. Ikora and Cadye stood beside him, adding to whatever issue he had brought up.

But that isn't what caught her eye. Even single solider of Light being chastised by the Vanguard was part of elite fire team, in fact there was at least one from all 7 squads.

At this point the Hunter Vanguard noticed Nila's arrival, he gave her an unreadable look before whispering something to Zavala, who surprisingly nodded in agreement.

He signaled the exo over to the group, prompting her to quickly traverse the room.

"I'm sorry about what happened to Raj, and you can kill me for being nosey later, but I really think you need to be a part of this mission." Cayde said in a low voice before he quickly steered her toward the City's commander.

He gave her cordial nod before turning to address the other guardians.

"For those of you who don't know, this is Nilanna-26 of Senior Fire Team Arsenal." Zavala's voice boomed. "Michelle, present this guardian with a concise briefing on the current mission as to educate her on the current situation." he demanded.

"Sir, yes sir!" a young Titan stepped forward with a salute. "Approximately 5 days ago we lost a research facticity to the Cabal tasked with examining the location of III-00 death! Two days before that a confirmed cache of items containing smart matter and red ore was detected!"

The tiny Titan took large breath before going full speed again. "We are to retake the facility, but there are currently no elite fire team leaders available, and all of us here have had very little field leadership experience, thus presenting a difficulty in establishing a chain of command!"

She saluted Zavala again be stepping back in line.

"Kiss ass." someone coughed, clearly poking fun at the Titan's overzealous and rather unnecessary antics.

Zavala glared at the group before turning to Nilanna.

"You have my condolences on your personal situation, but your track record, even under stress has been exemplary. But given the timing of your unique situation, Cayde-6 thought it fit that perhaps you should lead this strike team."

If Nilanna needed to breathe, it certainly would have been taken away. Her? Lead an elite squad? At any other time this would be a tremendous honor, but Raj...

_"...would want you to do it." _Rave finished her thoughts.

"You don't think I'd be...emotionally compromised?" Nila asked slowly.

"Even if you were, I'd still trust you to get the job done." Cayde answered as he put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Don't squander this chance when someone close is counting on you." Ikora added, "I have it on good authority that he would trust you with such a task without hesitation."

Nila couldn't help but smirk, of course Raj would trust her. That idiot, even if his life depended on it, he would trust her for anything...

"I accept on one condition." Nila spoke, "I'll need a small portion of the smart matter."

"And you shall have it." Zavala nodded, already expecting such a demand. The slightest smile dancing across his face, glad that Cayde's praise of this one's tenacity had not been off base.

"What are my constraints." the Huntress asked as she began to scrutinize the guardians before her.

"8 persons maximum, I want a strong yet precise squad; we can't risk losing any of the research on site." Zavala answered as he handed the exo a layout of the facility and the surrounding area.

The group before her had quite a few faces she was surprised to see in it. Obviously some were renown for being unruly and unhinged, but with others she found it odd that they lacked leadership experience.

Some of the legends here were larger than life. Condor, a brilliant Warlock that helped recover and decipher pieces of Toland's journal. The fabled sniper of Fire Team Blacklist, the one claimed to not possess a face. Even Torus Green, the monster of the Crucible.

If Raj hadn't been her absolute priority, she would have time to revel in the sheer number of possibilities before her.

She could forge the prefect team...

_"But you already have a great team." _a little voice in the back of mind spoke. That startled the exo quite a bit, this couldn't be be a good development in the slightest since it wasn't Rave, in fact the little voice sounded quite a bit like Raj…

_"I'm going to be frank, you're imaging me right now." _the little voice laughed,_ "which is fairly strange because this doesn't normally happen to exos. Unless an enormous, almost lethal amount of stress is being put on you subconscious, causing your subsystems to manifest the feedback._

Definitely not Rave.

_"That would certainly explain why I sound like your lover but adhere to your speech pattern. Regardless of your new found insanity, your fire team is a brilliantly functioning group, don't abandon a proven system because of your fear of losing Raj. He doesn't need that right now, he needs you to be the rational, leveled headed machine that you are."_

_"You need guardians that best fit the roles of Fire Team Arsenal, and you need them to be on their best because the life of the man you love is at stake..."_

_"Well, it appears your internal performance subroutine is about to phase me out. You know what you have to do. Forget the rest, bring Raj back to us...please"_

Only Cayde and the other exos noticed the lag in Nilanna's system. It was the frustrating product of the intrinsic battle between inorganic rational and organic emotion. A conflict each of them had experienced at one time or another.

A battle won by some and lost by others.

It was a part of them not many where willing to accept. Some considered it a weak human flaw, while others ignored it completely. But it always returned, and for most, it always hurt. It was the loss of a friend, the repercussions of a decision in combat, the pining for another.

An anomaly that lasted nanoseconds yet stained the mind for years, an intrusive electronic conscience.

It was the side effect of having an artificial mind based off of a natural one.

The true consequence of being a machine with a soul...

But when the Huntress came to, it was business as usual. No amounts of self-doubt, momentary insanity, or insubordinate guardians were going to deter her from her mission.

Build the team, take back the base, and claim the smart matter…

She would save Raj even if it killed her, the Raj that she loved from the bottom of her mechanical heart.


	6. Chapter 6

_RDS I-V_

_The second part to this story arch, and personally it was joy to write so I hope you enjoy it as well as give some objective thought to the subject presented._

_As always, review and discuss, and don't feel hesitant to PM me with any questions you may have._

_**HeliumFilaments **_this one's for you._**  
**_

_**_**Chimerical **_Truth Pt.2**_

* * *

The warmth of another body against yours was one of life's greatest untold treasures. He couldn't quite put it into words, but Raj knew that this was one of the highlights of his day. Waking up to his exo lady was nothing short of euphoric. The sensual curves of her metallic body, the soft whirr of her internal components, the almost mind numbing feeling of her lower half pressed up against his.

The Warlock could preach chivalry and romanticism until his voice was hoarse, but at the end of the day he burned for her. He needed her touch and she knew it. That's why she continued to push herself, much to his concern. She seeks to change herself for their pleasure and it's most certainly a step he's not willing to risk.

But nestled in the deepest, darkest corners of his mind, he wanted it. He wants to make mechanical love to his exo goddess. He wants to know what she sounds like, what she feels like when they're truly together. Even when they fell asleep, just feeling the soft curves of her skin is-

Skin?

The Warlock's eyes flew open, which was enough of a mistake. He hissed softly in pain as the sun light stabbed his early morning irises. But he was quick to recover as he focused on the predicament at hand.

The body cuddled up next to him was not the one expected, but in some horrifying way was still familiar.

There was seamless skin in the place of metallic plates, flowing hair where there should of been a barren skull, shoulder blades instead of heat sinks...

Human instead of exo.

Raj slowly propped himself up to better gaze at the woman before him. He gentle tucked back the fiery red hair that obscured her features as he took in the slight of her pale, freckled face.

She seemed so comfortable, so serene as she slept. And try as he might, the Warlock couldn't deny that she was beautiful.

But who was she? And more importantly, why was she here?

The idea of betraying Nilanna made him sick to his stomach, but there had to be explanation to all of this.

A chill crawled up his spine as a new thought cross his mind. If she was here, where was Nila? He knew they both fell asleep in the same bed.

He needed answers, and he needed them now.

"Excuse me." he whispered as he gently placed a hand on the woman's shoulder. Only a slight shake was needed to stir the red head, as her eyes began to flutter open.

She stretched once, and let loose some odd combination of a yawn and a purr. When she leaned over to find him, she froze. The concerned look of bewilderment he was giving her was disturbing to say the least.

The woman frowned when the scrutiny did not cease, prompting the Warlock to speak.

"Hello," he started nervously, "um, this may sound odd but who are you?" he offered a weak smile.

"Isn't it a bit early for jokes Raj?" came the low silky smooth voice he come to know and love. A musically feminine sound that wouldn't have second thoughts about punching you to get a point across.

It was a voice he loved to hear no matter how it was aimed at him. A voice he loved to hear sigh when he hugged her just right. It was unmistakable and one of a kind because she had showed him the audio filter she had used to make it.

The voice of the exo Huntress, Nilanna.

Raj sat on the foot of his bed, alone, confused, and whether he would admit it or not: afraid. As "Nilanna" showered, he practically tore apart the room, searching for anything out of place. Anything to differentiate fact from fiction, to validate or reveal what the hell was going on.

Nilanna wasn't human, that he was one hundred percent sure of; he was also completely certain that he fell asleep last night next to an exo.

"Gato!" Raj spoke as he held out his hand. The ghost appeared before him but almost instantly shrunk back when he caught sight of the frantic look on the Warlock's face.

"What's wrong?" were Gato's concerned words.

The male looked around apprehensively before he whispered to the tiny machine.

"Is anything...strange to you?"

"Only that we're whispering sir."

He narrowed his eyes at the ghost, "So nothing at all, nothing you want to tell me?"

The ghost swayed back and forth as if shaking its head, "No, have you noticed something strange going on?"

"Er, no...just curious if anything seemed off." Raj replied sheepishly.

Gato threw him another sideways glance before he floated off to do whatever it was he did, replacing him was a very crisp, very clean, and very nude Nila.

The Warlock's entire body went painfully rigid as the sensual form of the Huntress moved toward him. With nothing but a towel around her hips and one to dry her hair, the Warlock wasn't actually sure what to make of this development.

By the gods she was gorgeous, her curvaceous frame alone could redefine the term 'sex appeal', and if he had to guess, even her dimensions matched that of her mechanical counterpart. She was attractive yes, but Raj couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt.

Was she more alluring than her exo version? If he were to go by his initial reaction, the answer would be yes. Even now he had to bite back the carnal instincts that bubbled within him.

But he couldn't help that right? Mankind evolved with the need to propagate, his body's reaction to a human Nilanna would be far more...assertive...right?

A brisk snap of the Huntress's finger lifted the trance away from Raj as she commanded him to prepare for the days rounds in the Crucible. And of course he obliged, even an organic Nila had him wrapped around her finger.

* * *

Raj was quick to learn that even as a human, Nilanna was no stranger to dominating the battlefield, although what bothered the Warlock was his ability to fall in line with this new Nila.

Their tactics, moves, and interactions where all the same, this huntress didn't just seem to be an average duplication, she was a prefect copy.

It was that very observation that stuck a terrifying cord with Raj. So much so that as soon as they were Tower side again the Warlock bolted. He made a b-line for the archives, chasing a ghost of a theory.

Perhaps the Patrols on Venus and Mars were beginning to take their toll and that prolonged exposure to Vex technology did have psychological effects. Perhaps an even more radical idea, what if he was trapped in some sort of space-time anomaly? But that seemed extremely unlikely, when or how could that have even happened?

But what other feasible explanation would there be? Everything else, people, places, the Traveler, even the Titan that always seemed to be hanging around Eris, it was all identical.

Expect for Nilanna. Should he just summon his courage and mention the oddity to his girlfriend?

That thought caused him to freeze for a moment. How would she process that information? Would she be upset, or more likely she would probably assume he was crazy. It was obvious that this reality was the one she was familiar with.

The Warlock once again stopped to consider a rather unmethodical idea. There was in fact one place that could definitely put at least one idea to rest.

The Vault of Glass.

With a fresh hop in his step Raj scurried as quietly as he could out the upper archives, trying do to disturb any of the patrons that were there as he made his way back to the Tower's main plaza. This plan, this off shoot of an idea could work, and he wouldn't even need to be inside for any extended length of time.

When Atheon was finished, the guardians, scholars, crytarks, everyone was able to enter and study the Vault as much as they could. It wasn't long after they theorized that the Vault was actually stuck in this reality. It no longer existed in any other timeline or dimension, a rational that was reinforced when the Vex network was rescanned and decoded.

There was no doubt in anyone's mind that Atheon had, for all intents and purposes, "saved" a backup of himself. Instructions for the Vex mind to reconstruct a new body of comparable power and ability. But to reassert himself as Time's Conflux, he would have to be reintroduced to Vault. Luckily that was probably a long was off, given the speculation of how long it took to build Atheon the first time, especially since it acted as the Vex's central management system.

Granted most of this information was inconsequential; all he needed to do is simply see for himself if the Vault of Glass was still active there. Easy enough, the difficult part-

"What are you reading Raj?" the Huntresses voice pierced his thoughts, surprising him enough to drop the journal that was in his hands.

Nilanna couldn't help but smirk as the Warlock fumbled with the scholastic writing, he certainly was more on edge than usual today.

"I, uh, was curious about something so I went to go do some research." he answered after he regained a bit of his composure, although he found it difficult to maintain eye contact with her.

"Just being your typical Warlock huh?" she said with a sly smile.

"Yeah.." he laughed uneasily, "Um, I going to head out actually, thought I'd do some patrol sweeps on Venus."

"Well then, I'll join you."

"Uh..." the Warlock mind moved at a blistering pace. Should she come? Would this somehow ruin something, or reveal untold information? Would it even matter if she accompanied him?

"Yeah, that'd be great" he lied, maybe it wouldn't make a difference whether she came or not, and if it did, hopefully he could come up with a clever way of explaining things when they got there.

The Huntress only cocked an eyebrow at his response, he knew she could sense something was off but to his relief had not yet decided to bring it up.

* * *

Unfortunately it did make for a somewhat quiet, and very awkward warp into Venusian space. As their ghost's tranmat put them planet side, Nila's typically even demeanor had become a little restless. That shouldn't have been a surprise to him, even as an exo Nilanna had an almost visible upper limit to how much tension she could tolerate between them, and that limit lowered drastically when he was the source of said tension.

"We're not here on patrol are we?" the human Hunter asked as the summoned their sparrows.

"No." Raj sighed as he lead them through what was now the fastest route to the Vault.

"Then why are we here Raj?" she asked rather sternly.

"It's not so much a hunch I have as it is a possible answer to a poorly defined question."

"And what question would that be?"

"That depends on the answer"

"Raj, you're being far more difficult that I ever recall you being. What's the problem?" Nila growled.

"I'm honestly not sure if you would believe me even I told you."

"Yes, and you being this cryptic has been oh so pleasant as well."

"Fair enough, there's something I need to find out, and I think the best way to do it is in the Vault of Glass."

"The Vault?" she said as they slide past the spiraling shots of a Fallen Vandal.

"Yes, I need to see it for myself."

"I thought you already had, didn't you go with a research team?"

"I did, but the circumstances are different now." he replied as they sailed past a trio of Harpies, signifying their entrance into Vex territory.

"Circumstances...wait." Raj cringed internally as he heard the Huntress's brakes flare. He stopped and turned to find the Nilanna looking back at him, no doubt wearing an expression of shock and concern at what the Warlock was attempting to discover.

"You...do you think you're not in the correct dimension or something?" she asked. His silent was the only answer she need.

"How is this even possible?" she exclaimed, "I thought the whole "Vault being grounded in this Reality" theory was just some old crytark exaggerating he findings.

"Well he wasn't" Raj replied grimly.

"How would you even know, how can you be sure?"

"The confluxes, if we activate a sync-plate inside the Vault and no confluxes appear, then it is extremely likely that I'm in the wrong dimension, because I know for an absolute fact it was the guardians of my timeline that killed Atheon."

"But so did we." Nila retorted, "You were with me when the announcement was made, that should be proof enough."

"Not necessarily" the Warlock said as he turned to complete their journey. The Huntress followed suite, curious to see this expedition to the end as well.

"Atheon is a central mechanism in space-time." Raj explained as the rounded the last corner that lead up to the Vault's entrance.

"As far as were aware only one of him exists, so regardless of how many realities he was projected across, when "one" died, they all fell" he continued as they slid to a stop at the Vault's circular gate.

Dodging the very few, but quite enraged Vex that were wondering the area, the duo slipped in. Traversing the rough terrain at a reasonable clip, they made their way deeper into the machine like depths of the cave.

As they progressed on their decent the Huntress felt that Raj's justification that the fire team destined to face Atheon was engaging all of his projections simultaneously in all realities seem flimsy at best. But what bothered her was the fact that he refused to tell her why he thought he was in the wrong dimension to begin with.

Nilanna's patience on the subject reached a breaking point as they descended a series of raised platforms.

"Raj!" she called, as she turned back to find the Warlock struggling to make his way down without breaking a limb.

"Hold on, this is far more difficult than I remember." he shouted as he rather ungracefully climbed down a nearby ledge.

"Obviously." she smirked before jumping down to the finally platform. A much larger area littered with lifeless Vex bodies, a grim reminder that this section had seen quite a prolonged battle.

"Oh crap!" the Warlock cried as he hit the platform with a thud, he rolled several feet and down a set of stairs before coming to rest on his back.

"Wow, that was...something" the Huntress chuckled as she strolled up to him, offering a hand to help pick himself up.

"You know, I've never actually been down here." she continued as she began to wander around taking in the sights. Supposedly the fire teams that made it down this far had to combat the fabled Templar.

But Raj only nodded as he looked over some of the research equipment that was left, anything really to avoid entering the actual Vault.

"Raj." she called, the change in her tone enough to make him flinch, before he slowly stood up to match her gaze.

"Why are we really here?" she asked sternly.

"Well, er, it's sort of..."

"What is so different Raj?" she growled.

The Warlock looked away for a moment, he wasn't ready for this. How would she react? It was a parameter he was not yet able to gauge. But perhaps it was time, he'd certainly keep her in the dark long enough, especially since they were this far down.

"It's...you." he mumbled, his voice barely audible over the her comms.

"Raj." she growled again, demanding that he speak up.

"It's you!" he shouted, fists clenched.

"What?" she replied, taken aback.

"It's you." he sighed, "You're what's different."

"...how so?" she asked hesitantly.

As he took a breath, the Warlock once again found it hard to look the Huntress in the eye.

"The Nilanna I know...she's...she's not human."

The femme guardian opened her mouth to respond but stopped short. How exactly was she supposed to anyway, she'd been the source his almost manic distress the entire day. And to make matters worse, this wasn't the Raj that said he loved her all those months ago.

"So I'm not the Nila you like am I?" she stated more so than asked.

"No, no, I like you!" he said nearly stumbling over his words, "It's just...it's just you're not the version of her I feel in love with."

The Huntress stayed quiet for a moment before something dawned on her.

"Should it even matter?" the commanding edge ever so slightly returning to her voice.

That question shot the Warlock down for a moment. Should it have mattered? Would he have fallen for Nilanna had she not been an exo? This Nila was the exact same in every way expect her species, so it's fair to say he would have come to love this version as well.

But the fact of the matter was that he didn't. He was in a relationship with Nilanna-26, not just Nilanna.

This uncomfortable knot that now grew in his stomach, was it because of his now contradictory principles, or was it because he now had two Nilas to choose between?

"Even if it did, that doesn't change the fact that I maybe in the wrong reality." Raj replied, putting on a very poor bravado.

He could feel her glare though her helmet as she brushed past him, making her way towards the circular gate at the back of the platform.

"Don't think this is over yet" she told him. Despite his deflection of the question, if he was in fact trapped in a time that was not his own she knew that she would want her version of Raj back if their roles had been reversed. For better or worse this mission needed to be seen through to its end.

The descent into the rocky labyrinth now became a silent one as duo continued their trek. Raj knew he had stuck a cord; he just wasn't sure how big it was. But what was he supposed to say exactly?

_'Sorry for being in love with another you, humans just don't do it for me'_

Okay so maybe his words wouldn't have been so crass, but the idea was the same. It was obvious she was used to a human Raj, what if this whole ordeal changed her opinion of him? He didn't want to drive a wedge in between that Raj and her.

And he certainly would have devoted more thought to the matter if it wasn't for those goddamn disappearing pillars. Who's idea was this? Did the Vex think this was funny? Luckily one of the research teams that went in was able to stabilize some of them, but still this was freaking nightmare. Gato had rebuilt the Warlock's battered body 5 times before he made it to the other side of the chasm. At least Nila was in a better mood now since she found the whole ordeal fairly entertaining.

But once they were past the massive triangular doors, Raj was like a new man, dashing about the area while Nilanna was left to her own devices.

It was quite something to behold, a wide variety of devices and equipment was scattered everywhere, giving a good impression of just how busy a research cell site this had been. There were even some old turrets still set up ward off any Vex that tried to interfere.

"So Raj, humor me. What's my awoken version like?" Nilanna asked as she found a comfortable seat on a ledge nearby."

The Warlock paused for a moment, but didn't immediately turn to address her, as if weighting the options in telling her the truth. Unfortunately that hesitation was all the time the Huntress needed to connect the dots.

"Your Nilanna is an exo?" she asked carefully, not sure what answer he was actually going to give her.

But Raj remained silent as flipped the switch on a nearby conduit, activating the equipment nearby. Soon a bright checker like pattern began to rise from the rings that where situated on opposite ends of the Vault. There was a low hum in the air as the conflux in the middle of the room began to glow, causing the tech surrounding it to respond to the anomaly.

"Yes she is." Raj sighed as he sat down next to Huntress, who looked first toward the obviously active conflux then back to the Warlock.

"Raj..."

"I sort of had a hunch something different was going on when we landed on Venus," he began, but this time he made sure to look at her directly.

"Some things weren't adding up, sure I could attribute that to being in the wrong dimension. But it was when we entered the Vault that thing started to change."

"Change? How?" she asked.

"Given a lack of information, the subconscious will fabricate an answer it thinks is correct in order to maintain a sense of stability or object awareness."

"You assume that you're not trapped in the wrong reality, but stuck inside your own mind?"

Raj only nodded in response.

"Then what the hell does that make me?" Nila fumed.

"I don't know, I realized that you were a figment of my imagination just a little while ago."

"Prove it" she challenged.

"Well, it's any number of things really, general movement, how you pilot your Sparrow, the fact that you're wearing armor more tailored to an exo."

The Huntress looked like she wanted to retort but simply couldn't.

"The fact that you don't have reason to justify this, because I don't." he continued, "What bothers me is that in my mind the depiction of Nila is human."

"Oh, really, it's not that you're stuck here in the first place?" she jeered.

"Well yeah, that's an alarming concern. But what can I really do about it?"

"Be hopelessly optimistic as usual."

"I think I have to be. I have to trust that whatever going on in the real world that Nilanna, my Nilanna, is finding a way to revive me."

"You trust her that much?"

"No, I love her that much."

"Well, for what's its worth, I believe she loves you too." Nilanna said she gave him a small pat on the shoulder.

"That is sort of funny, coming from you." he chuckled.

"Then you know it's true."

Raj gave the Huntress a sort of sideways smile as he thought about what he was really doing. That and the one issue, the one discrepancy that kept turning up, aside from the fact that he was more or less talking to himself. It was that his mind's rendition of Nilanna was human, why was this occurring?

Did he wish for her to be so?

Now that was an alarming thought, despite his adoration for her, was he still so insecure about her inhumanity. No, no, that couldn't be it; he wasn't so shallow as to want such a thing. But it had to be symbolic in some way right? Perhaps an internal conflict that was presenting itself before him.

He loved Nila the exo, but perhaps he liked Nila the human more...a very notable change since they could-

"No!" Raj shouted as he jumped off the ledge onto the platform below.

"I wouldn't do that...I couldn't" he mumbled.

"Raaaaj, you're talking to yourself, in what you assume is your own head." she warned.

"Sorry, sorry, I know." he turned to the Huntress. "It's just, I'm bothered by the fact that you're human."

"I know I mentioned it before, but why? Am I not still technically the one you love?"

"I...don't know, I just don't know anymore."

"Well clearly "you're" Nila won't be summoning you for some time." the Huntress smirked. "Let's take it one step at a time."

But the Warlock only looked at her skeptically.

"I've been called overly rational by some," she continued, bringing a small grin to the man's face. "So this doesn't make any damn sense, expect for one thing: you love me. I know because you've made it abundantly clear."

"I know, but how could I not?

"Because now the perception of your emotional attachment has been challenged."

"Your being human?"

"You tell me. Do you find your Nila to be less attractive than me?"

"...I think I do." Raj replied in defeat.

"Would you leave her for me?"

"No! Never, I couldn't betray her like that."

"Why not? According to you I'm the better version of her in anyway."

The Warlock peered back at the Huntress, a frown beginning to crawl across his face.

"You're certainly not sounding like her." he grumbled.

"Well, by your calculations I'm not Nilanna, I'm your abstraction of her."

"And I love her with everything thing I have, so why would I make her human!?" Raj cried.

"Clearly you don't love all of her, or can't-"

"No! We're not bringing this up again." Raj snapped. "Sex has nothing to do with this."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes!"

"Okay, okay! But it's has to be something..."

The Huntress was silent for moment before she posed another question to the Warlock.

"What is it that you love about your Nilanna?"

"She's kind yet commanding..." Raj started slowly. "Compassionate yet fierce, open yet-"

"Okay, you like her because she's an overall nice person, and enjoyable to be around." Nila interrupted. "I get that, is there anything else that drew you to her?"

Raj began to open his mouth but stopped, unable to respond.

"Your Nilanna couldn't have been the only straight forward and friendly-ish woman in the Tower."

The Warlock silently shook his head.

"My hope is that your attraction to her has evolved beyond, 'you're a great person, we should go out.'"

"It has...I know it has." the male finally spoke.

"I'm not so sure." the Huntress shook her head skeptically.

"No, we've stood together thought everything; we've grown closer during good times and bad." Raj argued.

"And yet despite braving both of your insecurities, incompatibility, and ridicule, your love is no stronger than when the relationship began." the Huntress replied.

"That not true and you know it." Raj pointed an accusing finger at the woman.

"And yet here we are." she said, trying to stifle a laugh.

"You can have that justification, nothing will ever overpower what I feel for the woman I love."

This time a chuckle did escape the Huntress's lips, she gave herself a moment before addressing the Warlock again.

"I'm not sure how to tell you this, but you're not in love with a woman."

"Huh? What does that even mean?" Raj snarled.

"Exactly what I said." she answered.

"And that entails what exactly?"

"You're not in love with a woman Raj, you're in love with a machine."

The normal outburst he would provide got caught in his throat as the words repeated in his head.

_'You're in love with a machine'_

Well...obviously...Nilanna-26 was an exo, and by all definitions a machine. Not a single part of her was carbon based. She was just a mass of wires, metal, electricity, and an impossible to comprehend Golden Age mind. She had a serial number, on the base of her neck, to denote the model specification and time of assembly. She wasn't unique, she was one of a thousand identical war machines to be ejected from a production line.

Like the exos before and after her, she was the prefect soldier, a relentless force with no need to eat or sleep, with no pesky hormones or libido to cloud their judgment. They were one of mankind's ultimate weapons forged to combat an enemy who's identity was lost to time.

This revelation was not new, yet somehow it was different to the Warlock.

He wasn't in love with a woman that happened to be a machine, an android if you will. He was in love with a machine that happened to be woman, or identified as female. But was there a difference between the two?

"Despite what we've been through, you don't think I love all of her, do you?" the Warlock asked.

"Only you know that answer to that question." the Huntress answered.

"Then what must I do to prove it?"

"I don't know. But I can only assume it is also something your Nilanna must have come to terms with."

"That she's an exo and I'm a human?"

"You already know that."

"Then am I not loving her for the right reasons anymore?"

"Knowing you, I doubt that."

"I accept the fact that she's and exo, I did long before I confessed to her."

"As I'm sure you accepted the fact that I was human long before you asked me to be with you."

"I don't understand." the Warlock cried as he fell to his knees. "I love her so much, yet you continue to plague me."

"I don't want you to be a human." he whimpered as his body sort of slumped in daze.

"I'm sorry Nila, I love that you're so powerful and kind, I love that you're an exo, I love-"

And that was the last word that echoed about the chamber as it dawned on the Warlock what he was saying.

"Hey! Are you starting to see thing from different angle now?" the Huntress called.

He wasn't just in love with a woman, he was in love with a machine, a wondrous, metallic, blood red gynoid. Being an exo shaped who she was and I why she did what she did. The human Nilanna was a thorn in his side not because he wished she was human, but because I deep dark part of him never truly accepted that she wasn't.

He continued to hide behind the excuse that he didn't need a concrete reason to love her. Nor could he recall ever saying "I love you because you're an exo." And if he did he didn't truly meant it.

And to him that was wrong. He dared to delude himself into thinking that her race was just novelty. This wasn't like the arbitrary ethnic variations within humanity; she was a completely different form of life. Why didn't he love that about her?

Why was her inhumanity not something he could love? Well he certainly knew the answer know.

She wasn't the most beautiful woman he'd ever laid eyes on, she was the most beautiful exo. And he wouldn't change that for the world.

"You know, I might just-" but as soon as he was back at attention, he stopped. The Huntress, the human Nilanna was gone.

He jumped up to the platform for a closer look, but found nothing. Not a single trace that she'd even been there.

In retrospect this must have been a good thing, correct? She was a somewhat malicious figment of his imagination. But he had to hand it to her...himself? Whatever.

A little introspection was just what he needed. To fully embrace the ideal with open arms, to love the woman as it was and the machine as it is, to change nothing and yet somehow everything.

Had anything really shifted within him? He certainly didn't feel any different. He still loved Nilanna-26, and not just the parts his subconscious picked and choose. He loved all of her, from the top of her hairless head all the down to her left little toe that constantly seized up due to an aging solder job.

She was 110% machine, made from pure, sexy, awe inspiring woman. What's not to love about that?


	7. Chapter 7

__The third and final part to this arch. It's a bit odd to read I think, but it should still be a suitable end to this chapter for my favorite couple.  
__

__So please enjoy, read, and review.__

_**_**Chimerical **_Truth Pt.3**_

* * *

The sands of Mars were not a forgiving terrain. Dust storms, extreme temperature drops, and decaying building now all played hazard to the inhospitable landscape. A wary guardian always came prepared, although extremely determined guardians weren't always so forward thinking.

Some paid such a trait no mind, others found it hard to ignore. It would certainly explain why some of the guardians were skeptical of the Huntress's initial attack plan as they surveyed the research facility from high atop a sand dune.

"It sounds cool and all, but dropping Dos from low orbit is just as likely to get us killed, eh?" one Titan spoke.

"Well we didn't expect to see a Goliath here." a Warlock replied.

"It's not going to make a difference if the subterranean elevators are blocked." another Warlock, one Nilanna was more familiar with, added.

"Look this will work, I've done something like this before in the past." the crimson Huntress announced.

"That's some bull, I would have heard of it." the Titan scoffed.

"Good for you, but I'm still in command here." Nilanna barked.

"Then how do you plan on following it up?" the first Warlock asked.

"I was going to lay that out before I was so rudely interrupted." Nila said as she glared at the Titan.

He only replied with a dismissive wave.

"As I was saying, when Dos makes contact, Ford and Rinna need to press forward on both flanks." the exo explained. "Hood, during all of that you need to find a way inside to see if we're able to get down to the facility."

The Huntress looked up for a moment; she panned the guardians as they looked back at her. But the distinct black trench coat of the Warlock affectionately named "Hoodie" was nowhere to be found.

"Where the hell is she?" Nilanna asked, but she got nothing but shrugs and a couple 'I don't know's'

"Well we didn't just lose a Warlock did we?" she snarled.

"We might have, you are kinda pissy today." Rinna snapped back.

"I'm trying to get the job done!" the crimson Huntress shouted.

"Yeah, but ya being an absolute arse." Ford huffed.

"I wouldn't have to be if we could keep track of one goddamn Warlock." Nilanna grumbled.

She turned to look back out over the dune only to get the jump of her life when the hooded figure of the Warlock in question filled her vision.

"I'm sorry, I thought, oh no, I'm sorry I already checked the entrance." Hoodie replied, her voice trembling.

Nila peeked over her shoulder to look at the Cabal below them, not a single patrol out of place, no alarms raised.

"Impossible." Nilanna spat.

That was the only thing keeping the small Warlock together. The stood Huntress motionless as she watched in shock as the little guardian crumpled over and sobbed.

"What is this?" Nila asked, at a loss for what was happening.

"You're being a bitch is what this is." Rinna said as she knelt down to give the Warlock a supportive hug.

"Tsk, Hoodie's just a crier." the voice of their last Hunter spoke. "But you are a bit on edge." he admitted.

Nilanna sighed in frustration and she rubbed her metallic temples, trying to piece together what Hoodie was saying in between her sobbing wails.

Apparently she had made it all the way to the facility, discovered all but one elevator was blocked, and then made it all the back to them without being detected. But that was impossible, right? There was at least 40 Cabal ground troops and a tank between them and the building.

Had she been underestimating the elite class of guardian that much? Or had she been so consumed with thoughts of Raj, she ignored their input entirely…

The Huntress twitched slightly when she felt a hand on her shoulder, she turned to find the helm of Condor looking back at her.

"Triple I wishes to speak with you." he smooth voice conveyed as he gave her a slight nod.

Nilanna looked toward the taller exo only to find him looking back at her, with his arms crossed.

"He suggested I take over for now, I will make certain our first assault is a success." Condor reassured her.

The exo sighed as she looked first back out to enemy forces then to the group of guardians that were trying in vain to console Hoodie.

She nodded in submission as Condor radioed to their single airborne member, suggesting she start her approach.

"How are you doing?" III-00 spoke as the Huntress came to stand next to him.

"I...I don't know. I just…I know I'm not being myself, but I can't help it right now." she replied.

"You fear for Raj, it is understandable." the taller exo nodded.

"Maybe this was a bad idea, I'm used to leading, but not with..." she trialed off, looking toward the other soldiers as they began to check over their weapons. Curiously, Hoodie and their lead sniper had already disappeared.

"A sound leader knows how to handle stress." Triple I commented.

"Aggression is one thing, but you find me to be unstable?"

"I am under the impression that something _else_ is affecting you."

The Huntress peered over at the Warlock, giving him a critical glance before turning back to the battle field.

"This mission is for Raj, nothing can deter me from getting my hands on that smart matter. It won't affect my performance, only enhance it, give it purpose." she explained.

"But it already has." Triple I argued.

"Maybe if you'd just come to the same conclusion I had recently, you'd be a little aggressive as well." Nila snapped.

The male exo looked over at the femme for a moment; that was a burst of emotion he wasn't quite expecting. The Nilanna he was familiar with did have her fair share of quips, but it was always under a level head.

He tilted his head back up in time to see his sister model make landfall, the impact of her sub orbital decent obliterated the Goliath tank. The plume of sand and dust kicked up made the whole event seem like a bomb had just been dropped.

"May I ask what has changed since we last saw each other?" Triple I asked as he held his arm up to keep the wave of sand from damaging his visor.

"I realized that I love him." she said simply.

"I...I don't understand." the Warlock replied after a moment's hesitation.

"There isn't much to."

"But, I was under the impression you already loved him."

"I...what?" she replied, somewhat startled from his accusation.

"The way you've spoken of him in the past, when you two are together within the Tower. To anyone looking on, it would seem as if you two cared a great deal for each other."

"Would you consider that love?" she asked hesitantly.

"I don't know for certain, it is not an emotion I have ever felt."

The crimson Huntress moved as if to bark back, but stopped short. Triple I's words had been simple, but deep within the darker corners of her mind something stuck. Was her recent revelation false?

No, that isn't what he was saying, he was implying that her revelation was over something else perhaps.

But to say she's been in love with him the entire time, that was...

"I think I would have noticed such a change." she argued.

"Maybe, maybe not." the Warlock shrugged before pointing out over the dune. "Perhaps we should assist our fire team first, they have almost broken through the Cabal's defenses."

Although Triple I could not see through her visor, she decided to shoot him a glare regardless before she leapt down the sand dune. Together she and the prototype rained fire down on the remaining Cabal foot soldiers.

* * *

"Ay, nice of you to finally join us." Ford sneered as Nilanna brushed past him.

She ignored him as she treaded into the decaying building, surveying the old equipment and structural design. It was easy to tell the Cabal where quick to clean the place out. When the Huntress walked up the smoking remains of the elevator doors, her emotions flared, but only for moment. She was, at the least, being unfair to her team, something she knew Raj would disapprove of.

"Can we still get down there?" Nila asked the group.

"Sure we can, it's the getting back up part you're not going to like." a Warlock spoke.

"You're right about that Condor, it's gonna be one hell of a climb." Ford nodded.

"Well we're not going to arrive there by talking about it." Dos, Triple I's sister exo added as she approached the ruined elevator. Where the Warlock was designed for maximum, abet unstable, energy output, Dos was designed for durability and strength. Although she required and exo-skeleton like suit to function optimally, with her enormous power she made short work of the elevator itself, ripping it from the shaft as if it were paper.

"Let's get the lead out guardians!" Rinna commanded as she was first to make the plunge, the other the elites where quick to follow until only III-00 and Nila remained

Nilanna stepped up to the shaft and froze. She'd never been one to fear heights, but this was close to a 500 foot drop straight down to the subterranean base. So she'd be lying if she said she wasn't just a little nervous.

"Cold feet?" the Warlock asked.

"Sorry if I'm not one for jumping into an abyss." she grumbled.

"I will help you down." Triple offered. "Then perhaps we can finish our conversation."

"Agreed." she nodded as she put an arm around the other exo's neck. He put a hand at her waist before diving into the elevator shaft, using a Warlock's typical mode of mid-air travel to slow their decent.

"I think I would have noticed if I had a realization such as this before." she spoke, resuming their discourse.

"True, but I don't think this revelation you speak of is love." Triple argued.

"Well what else could it be?"

The male was quiet for a moment, contemplating a response.

"Fear perhaps, for the one you love." he answered.

"Anyone with such a close comrade would be fearful if something bad happened to them."

"True again. Perhaps a form of redemption? You realized you can use this opportunity to right any wrongs suffered between you."

"I would like to think I'm not so cold as to rationalize my emotions in that way." Nila growled a bit.

"That's ironic coming from a very rational person."

"Shut up."

"Allow me to change my questioning. Why do feel you haven't been in love with him before know?"

"Because I had not yet found a way to define it, but I will admit that constraint loosened over time."

"As it should, I have been told many times that love is an emotion that must be felt." Triple I nodded.

"But that does not mean it can't be a definitive emotion, correct?" the gynoid argued.

"I suppose not."

"Then why should I not define my emotions as such?"

"Because you may have been wrong to begin with." the prototype replied.

Wrong? He was saying she may have been wrong about her feeling for Raj this entire time? That seemed highly unlikely or entirely untrue.

She knew exactly where she and the human stood in their relationship. Sure it had been a bit...murky in the beginning stages. But as she began to warm up to the idea, she began to realize how much she would come to care for the little Warlock.

Thanks in no small part to his undying adoration for her. Her reciprocation was something the Huntress didn't even know she was capable of. And for that very reason she felt as though being truly in love with the human would have imparted a more significant feeling.

But what if it wasn't? What if the exo before her had been correct and she'd actually forged this bond ages ago.

"Watch your step Nilanna." Triple I's voice rumbled as the duo touched down at the bottom of the shaft.

A mess wouldn't even begin to describe the state this place was in. The Cabal had damn near destroyed everything in their path in order to plunder what treasures hide below. It was a wonder then that the base hadn't simply caved in on itself. Equipment left by Warlocks and Tower scientists had been slew every which way, walls had been broken through, and very single piece of furniture had been over turned.

"Heh, this place looks like me flat mate's quarters." Ford laughed, as he kicked aside the charred remains of a computer.

"This is worrying." Condor added as he checked a nearby room "The Cabal may have very well taken the items we were sent here to protect."

"That is not good, the Vanguard will be very disappointed." Dos spoke with a slight sigh.

"Vanguard? What about the smart matter? That's the real reason we're here." Tyson, their last Hunter, grumbled.

"We're on your turf now Triple', where was the last cached discovered?" Nila said as she cocked her head back at the taller Warlock.

"Perhaps I can try and get us some more light." Condor offered.

"Good idea, Ford go with him." Nilanna nodded as she and the others followed III into a rather large metallic chamber.

"So this is where you died huh? I'm not sure I'd ever really want to know such a thing." Rinna said with a shiver.

"It is not something I find distressing, but rather enlightening. So many guardians are unaware of their past." Triple explained as he waved them over in order to take a slight detour.

"At least I have a sense of my origins, why I was made." he continued as he knelt down. Buried in rubble was a stone tablet marked with an etching from an ancient language.

"What does I say?" Hoodie sniffed, already on the verge of crying.

"I believe many of my designers where French born, so I learned what I could in order to give them a proper burial. It says: _'I regret my life has brought you death, but with your legacy I hope to reclaim what was lost in doing what I was created for: Protect Humanity. With love, your son III-00'". _

It didn't take the tiny Warlock long to become a sobbing mess of tears and snot as she wrapped her arms around the prototype. Triple I made sure the head stone was sitting back up right again before he lead the team further into facility.

Luckily the rest of their mission went undeterred. They were quickly able to recover the materials caches the Cabal hadn't found, and made quick work of securing anything that wasn't taken. Although the crimson Huntress was beginning to see why the Vanguard wanted an experienced leader on this mission, between Hoodie's anxiety, Ford's snark, and Tyson's cynicism, these Elites could be quite a handful. And it pained her to realize that perhaps she hadn't been the best choice after all, granted this was a fairly simply mission that probably didn't need her, it was nice none the less.

"Ma'am, I believe this is yours." Triple I said as he handed her a vial of sleek, blue smart matter.

"That it is." she nodded, now anxious to return to Raj.

"So what will you tell him when he awakes?" the prototype queried.

"That I love him. Something I can finally say beyond a shadow of a doubt."

"So you truly believe this was the event that brought you clarity."

"It must be, I cannot recall a time where I told him that with absolute sincerity."

"And I am happy for that, I suppose what I've been trying to say is that you don't have to tell him. I guarantee you he already knows." Triple I said before leaving the Huntress to her thoughts.

Was it really so noticeably before this whole ordeal. Could it really have been inferred that she'd been in love with him this entire time, but was too caught up in figuring out why to notice. Triple I was correct, Raj was a very empathic individual. But if he had noticed a change, why didn't he mention it? Or perhaps he did, and being who he is, he decided to keep her in the dark. Either way, it didn't matter now; all she would have to do is ask him when he awoke.

She looked down at the small vial of precious liquid she held. There was no time to speculate or wonder, she had a job to finish.

* * *

For the gynoid the warp back to the Tower couldn't have been any shorter, and before her ghost's transmat had her on the plaza grounds she was running. Sprinting down corridors, she pushed past anyone in her way as she skidded into her fire team's infirmary.

Luckily the awoken doctor was there making his rounds, but was quite unprepared for the Huntress's intensity as the smart matter was thrust into his hands. He smiled back at her, glad his faith had paid off, he'd already had the other half of the solution prepped and ready.

Once the adrenalin was in his system, all she could do was wait. Unfortunately she did that rather poorly, perhaps she had built up the peril within her own mind just a bit too much because she nearly tried to shake him awake when she though she saw his eyes flutter.

Seconds felt like hours, minutes like days, but it happened, it finally happened. When he began to stir the Huntress emitted the oddest sound, some cross between a sigh of relief and a nervous laugh.

Although not even the doctor's advisement could stop her from embracing the human.

"I'm so sorry Raj, I'm so sorry." her voice trembled as she held him tightly.

"About what?" he replied, his voice more than a little groggy.

"I did this to you, I...I'm sorry Raj." she apologized again as she looked at the Warlock.

"If I weren't an exo, this..." but her voice trailed off as he hand cupped her metallic cheek.

"Big deal, you know I still love you right?" he smiled.

"As do I...I love you Raj, I'm sorry I've never told." she sighed as she gently placed her hand over his.

But her confession earned the quietest chuckle from the human as he guided her face downward so that their lips could meet. She never knew how badly she had missed this soft sensation until that very moment.

"I know." Raj admitted bringing the exo out of her daze.

"You know?" she asked.

But the Warlock only nodded as he sat up on the gurney.

"But how, when could you have known?" she said, her voice a little shaky.

"I don't really think it's that simple, just more like a feeling." he replied as he gave her a quick peek on the cheek.

"A feel-...Raj I worried about this for so long. I wanted to find a way to truly love you, I can't just brush it off as a mere feeling"

"Well why not? I know I may have implied that you yourself needed to seek out a reason, but sometimes there really is no reason."

"Just like how you claimed to love me.' she smirked.

"True, but I don't quite think that's it anymore..." he frowned slightly.

The crimson Huntress moved away from him slightly, had his time in coma shifted his feels for her? Did he resent her now knowing the entire event was her fault? Her mind thought the worst, but seeing the hurt in her optics he was quick to kiss the exo again. Reassuring her that nothing had changed.

"Sorry I didn't mean it like, but I just feel...I don't know...refreshed somehow." he shrugged.

"Refreshed? I don't think comas do that." she gave him a skeptical glance.

"Maybe, maybe not. But somehow I feel as though I love you even more." he grinned. "Like a part of me…or now all of me loves you so much more."

That got a slight giggle out of the exo, Raj love her anymore that he already did? The very notion seemed impossible.

"Seriously Nila, I may not be able to show it. But I realized that I can't live without you"

That confession, that sincerity moved something within the exo. It was like a tickle almost, a weightless sensation from the way he said it. She'd felt this before, but it was never as...potent.

In fact she'd felt a variation of this sensation over the course of their relationship. Is this what III-00 meant? Had she reduced the emotion to a mere infatuation or adoration of the human's endearing qualities, had there been something more, something she over looked?

"If the ordeal I just went through is any indication, I cannot bear to live without you as well." the exo spoke quietly, almost a whisper.

"Ordeal?" the Warlock wondered aloud.

"I went through quite a lot to get the smart matter needed to wake you up." Nila explained.

Raj panned around a bit to find that the doctor had indeed left, no doubt giving them a moment alone. A fact he was very grateful for as he coaxed the Huntress into his lap. There was just something so satisfying about feeling her weight, no matter how heavy, atop his.

"So do I at least get the short of it?" he asked.

"I lead a team of elite guardians to take back a research base, it was rather exciting." she admitted.

"That certainly sounds exciting, sorry I caused so much trouble."

"No!" she cried, "You were never to blame for this. It was all my fault, everything that happened to you was because of me."

"Yeah, but you also saved me like I knew you would." he grinned.

"I also talked with someone while one that mission..." she electronic eyes took a moment to search his before she continued. "Do you truly believe I've loved you before this all happened?"

"Absolutely." Raj replied without hesitation. "If you were someone who didn't love me, you wouldn't have slept next to me on the coldest nights. You wouldn't have stuck by me when the rest of the world didn't want us together."

"If you didn't love me, I may have never come to realize that I don't just love you as person but as an exo."

The Huntress gave him an odd glance but said nothing.

"I think while I was under, my conscience had time to mull over why I was in love with you, a reason that is."

"So you need one as well?" she teased.

"I suppose, but I think the opposite applies to you."

"How so?"

"Hm, maybe it was my dashing good looks, or my irresistible charm?" he chuckled.

"Seriously Raj."

"Well..." he said as he planted a kiss on her plated lips. "you claimed this whole 'ordeal' was the tipping point for you, correct?"

Nila nodded slowly in response.

"Well I believe you would have already needed to love me in order to for this to be considered an 'ordeal' in the first place."

"I suppose that's one explanation...sort of..."

"But now that this is over, can't you just love me for me, like I do for you."

Love Raj for Raj? To love his just because? That sounded border line unconditional, and within the confines of human society, love is quite the opposite. He meant something else, something sensible, more empathic, more...Raj.

After everything they'd been through, everything that was discussed today and in the past. The Huntress was beginning to find it harder and harder to pin point why exactly his coma was the definitive reason for deciding her affection.

The claim was that she had fallen in love with the human some time ago, at some indistinguishable period in the past where she was not tracking nor paying attention to either of their actions. But then the Huntress thought, perhaps in the end, this was something she couldn't track.

"Raj, when were you so sure you loved me that you had enough confidence in your emotions that you pulled me aside to...confess your feelings?" the exo asked.

The Warlock opened his mouth slightly only to pause on the spot.

"I'm not really sure Nila." he replied slowly, "I just knew that I needed to tell you."

"And I'm certainly glad you did but..."

"There wasn't some big decision on my part. I just knew I loved you and it was going to eat me up inside if I didn't tell you. It just…felt right" he admitted.

Her argument was beginning to have less and less weight but she hunkered down for one last question, but one not so much about what she believed as much as something he mentioned earlier.

"What did you mean when you said you felt refreshed?"

Before he answered, Raj held the Huntress close, taking in the smell of hot oil and metal.

"It's hard to explain, but it almost feels like I'm in love with the real you now"

"The real me? What exactly is that supposed to mean?"

"Once again, it's hard to explain...maybe, before I loved the idea of you, but now I just love you?"

"The idea of me?" the Huntress asked.

"In a sense yes, but that's in the past, I love you, all of you, in the present." he answered with smile.

"As do I Raj, as do I"

"Then isn't that it?"

Nila only gave him a sideways look.

"Being in a coma, having you go out, probably risking your life just to help me..." he started as he nuzzle her neck a bit.

"It made me realize I love you here and now, and whatever has past, has past." he explained.

"You just want to ignore everything that's happened?" she replied a little upset.

"No no, I'm not trying to say all of it was unneeded, but rather you and I have achieved what we sought after. And that to me is what truly counts."

For some reason it was those words that burned into her memory banks. Everything from the tenderness they carried to the soothing honesty they bore. Maybe, just maybe, the past wasn't such an important thing to dwell on anymore. But to make the arguments and discussions they had trivial, it just seemed too nonchalant. She wouldn't be quick to admit it but the exo enjoyed those talks, no matter how uncomfortable the subject matter.

"Even though what's past is done, I will not so easily forget it. It shaped who we are as a couple and is the basis for where we go in the future." Nila replied.

"That's just another reason why I love you Nila. There's always that rational side that knows how to keep me honest."

"And it's you empathy that keeps me centered Raj." her static feature still managing to radiate a smile.

"For that reason I will let it be," she continued." Whatever revelation you have come to, I know it strengthened you as person and as a guardian. No matter what has happened, no matter how you claim you've come to care for a machine like me, you love me don't you? You always have-"

"And I always will." he finished.

While her face was struggling to express it, the exo seemed to be overflowing with a wealth of emotions, so much so that even her next words brought a tear to his eye.

"I love you Raj Patel. I love you so, so much, and I'm sorry it me so long to say it." she cried as she embraced the human.

"I love you too Nilanna-26" he whispered as he squeezed her back.

They sat together, basking in each others warmth for...honestly neither of them knew. Not that they cared either way, they were now two souls brought into the others misted by the Light. In that moment her legend and his legend were realized: an unbreakable union between not just man and machine, but the human Raj and the exo Nilanna.

From that day forward it would be the bond of _their_ legend that filled the years to come.

* * *

_Edit v1.1 Shout out to **Hawx-new Curry** for calling me out on my editing laziness, hopefully this is now a slightly better read, my apologies for the sub-par update._


	8. Chapter 8

_RDS I-VI_

_**Epilogue**_

* * *

The day that he awoke would be a day of infamy for them. A wealth of revelation and emotion traded over a very short time, the irrevocable moment of a lasting bond being formed. For a man that found love in a machine, and a machine that found it could love a man.

Together they had faced any and all adversity that came their way, meeting it head on as they blazed a trail for those that wished to follow. Even problems that stemmed from within themselves was dealt with in an uplifting manner, with a clarity and speed that was testament to such a strong partnership.

Although that's not to say, that even with such strength, that it didn't make their first truly intimate night together a little...awkward. Never the less the struggle was eventually overcome and she was able to adapt, able to share in his bliss sometime later.

Years passed as the world changed around them, the opening of the Reef, the capture of Skolas, the return to Jupiter, the death of Oryx, the destruction of a Cabal war machine, the reclamation of Earth...

Yes the world changed, but the two stayed the same, a rock solid constant of cold cunning and warm emotion. The pair was almost infectious, with an odd ability to spread compassion to those around them. Secret loves bubbled between guardians, and city patrons alike, spurring two particular Vanguard to finally begin to come out of their shells, even their resident Hive sorceress found that special someone.

For many, many years there was a stability, an unbreakable trust that weathered the greatest storms. No poor decision or petty argument, glimmer or part replacement, nothing could put even put a dent in what was forged. Or so the couple thought...

It was slow at first, and of course no one would have noticed it right away, in fact neither of them did despite one having the ability to read the bio-telemetry of the other. The very transition was an issue that other guardians hardly ever thought about, mostly because it rarely ever happened.

The concept of being a guardian was supposed to in some ways, negate the very notion, when in reality it didn't. The fight against the Darkness, the never ending war against it's minions and even those few god-like beings that seemed to have power that rivaled the enigmatic force itself.

In the end such a battle always took its toll.

When it became obvious to both, one was more than a little anxious, while the other took it in stride. They knew it was possible that this day may come, they were rather skilled warriors after all. But to theorize...to picture the image in one's mind versus seeing it unfold before your very eyes.

Anyone can attest that those two instances are very different things.

It soon became harder to cope with when their movements got sluggish and their timing fell just a bit off. A stubborn warrior would have paid it no mind even if a guardian retiring was not unheard of. Plus a solider of Light often had more to give than just their prowess on the battlefield.

While not up for candidacy in becoming the next Vanguard, a senior advisory role within the Tower could have just as much of an impact. So despite the still concerned looks his wife shot him, he jumped at the task, joining the ranks of tacticians and scientists as he began to help mold a new generation.

As a decommissioned guardian it was refreshing to lead and help new and old guardians alike, to arm them with knowledge for the trials ahead. It was a period to remember for certain, a period that the aging guardian cherished. To see the rugged look of determination on a fresh fire team heading out, and the humbled look of success blanketed over a seasoned fire team coming in.

A time truly fitting to a guardian who'd lived a life such as he.

But in the end, time still waits for no man.

Even the period of reminiscence and resolution had to come to a close. It was odd really that not even during the Golden Age, the very peak of humanity's achievements, did they discover a way to overcome the very fate of all beings.

Fortunately it is quite possible to find peace even as you neared your last destination, to know that your accomplishments mattered to at least one, perhaps only one individual. To know that you did not need to leave a behind an overwhelming discovery or be witness to a milestone achievement.

But rather to impart those with memories of the times you shared, the battles that were won, and a love so powerful it transcended the limits of what was thought possible between human and exo.

So when his time drew near, the Warlock harbored no regrets. He had fought on the side of good, made the best of friends, and he'd fallen in love with the most beautiful woman ever built.

He was at peace, perhaps a bit sad that he was one of the few guardians to die of natural causes, still he was content none the less. For in his dying moments, the crimson Huntress was at his side. He told her not to morn him, even though try as she might, she could not. He said she was too upstanding, too level headed to grieve over a man like him.

But to instead be happy, that he had a very fulfilling life which would have meant nothing had she not been in it. That she should move on, and live life for the both of them. The Huntress of course refused to comply, claiming she would be lost without him.

For such a long time she'd been ignoring the idea of his loss, even though the very reality of what he was had plagued the first months of their relationship. The idea of outliving him due to her inorganic composition had been so alien to her, so surreal, she had dismissed the thoughts as if they were a mere rumor.

"You're being ridiculous" he would say, he would explain why she was stronger than all of them, the true embodiment of life if you will, a shining example of power, pose, and cunning.

She couldn't help but grumble darkly to herself. Why, even now could he do nothing but praise her? She wanted to be reminded of him not herself. But somehow it still brought a little, genuine smile to her face, and soft laugh from her voice. He just couldn't help it could he?

"Raj, you know I love you right?" the exo whispered, letting a little sarcasm seep in for old times' sake.

"There was never a doubt in my mind Nilanna, never a doubt." he chuckled as he leaned up for one last kiss.

'I love you' were the words on his last breathe as the unbending laws of nature claimed him. Even despite what he asked, grief overcame her soul. But it was his memory that brought her back from the brink, A short but spiraling madness saved by the moments they shared.

Wearing his Bond across her arm, she would push forward for him and him alone. To respect his wishes, to continue the fight, push her own limits as he once did.

For his legend was finished, but a new chapter in hers was just beginning.

* * *

The sand laced wind of the Marian surface was at its usual amount of unforgiving that day. Navigating the dunes and Golden Age ruins were becoming a particular challenge, even for the more experienced of guardians.

The aging Huntress that stalked the desert was no exception. Her team's typical patrol mission had a few days tacked on as they were forced to take refuge from an enormous storm. Inevitably the guardians were eventually called back to the Tower, but the crimson Huntress opted to stay behind, it had been ages since the last time she'd been able to stroll out into the field alone.

So when the dusty monsoons started to wane, she began to walk, partaking in a journey for which she had no purpose. Perhaps it was her instincts as a Hunter beginning to flair once again, that unexplainable need to lurk about in the wilds.

Either way she now had the red planet more or less to herself, and for any Vex or Cabal stupid enough to approach, the quick expenditure of her hand cannon was all that was needed to deter their progress.

"Back to basics" her tiny partner would say, just a guardian and their ghost out in the field trying to reclaim what humanity had lost. A true test of-

"Wait moment Nila." he ghost said, causing the Huntress to skid slightly as she came to a halt.

"Problems Rave?" the guardian asked.

"I'm not sure..." the tiny mech said as it's angular parts suddenly expanded over a light blue sphere of energy. It had detected something faint, but what?

"The Cabal again perhaps?" the exo guessed.

"Hold on, hold on, whatever it was I heard it again." Rave snapped as she floated off to the side.

The Huntress brought her weapons close, creeping forward to check over the dune they stood atop, if anything was trying to get the jump on them out here, they would be in for a rude awakening.

"I got!" the ghost exclaimed as it disappeared, in cloud of azul dust. "We need to head for that building." Rave explained as a location was marked on Huntress's display.

"Do I at least get to know what I'm looking for?" Nila grumbled as she began to jog.

"It's another ghost."

Now that was something to put a spring in the Huntress's step, this could very well mean a new guardian was being revived. In recent years, and too many a joyous celebration, the Traveler had reawakened. Well partially, it was enough so that it could now repair any dead or damaged ghosts. It had suddenly become even more of a priority to recover newly revived guardians in the field as to not squander the gift the Traveler had bestowed them.

On swift legs the Huntress leapt into the decaying building, only to meet a dusty room shrouded in darkness.

"If you don't mind." Nila asked, spurring the ghost to appear in order to illuminate the way.

"I'm definitely getting a solid signal now." the ghost replied, it's little body flexing with excitement

Worn by time, it was impossible to determine the purpose of the complex they were in. Only that it had been large, and rather spacious. Sporting tall corridors and sizable windows designed to let light wash in. Various dust cover items seemed to have been thrown about, almost as if there had been a struggle to leave the facility before the Darkness swallowed it whole.

"Just a little further." Rave said as she floated through a small hole in the door before them. Nilanna was forced to shoot out the locks on the large entry way. Sometimes she envied a ghost's ability to travel thought the smallest air ducts or the thinnest cracks in the wall.

Although the petty complaint was quick to leave her thoughts as the door swung open to the reveal a beautiful, if not dilapidated atrium. It was obvious the Martian landscape had ripped its way into the structure, forcing itself into even nook and cranny it could find, but still it maintained a certain regal atmosphere around it. The over grown foliage and red tinting from the recent sand storm came together in a unique display of nature's power over the legacy of man.

"We're almost there Nila." Rave chirped as she floated into the garden, leaving the guardian to wander about until she was beckoned by the gasp of her ghost.

"Nilanna I found her!" the tiny machine exclaimed. The exo was quick to arrive on the scene; the sight of the new guardian spurred her on as she slid to slop next to them.

"Is she alright?" the Huntress asked as she knelt down next to the sleeping woman, still curled up after a night was braving the vicious Marian weather.

"She and her ghost appear to be stable." Rave replied as she scanned the guardian, until something made her freeze.

"Rave?" Nila asked, catching her ghost's sudden hesitation.

"It's not possible..." Rave replied as if she were breathless, "When Raj told me..."

Raj!? The exo had to stop in order to recenter herself before a well of emotions could consume her. He'd been gone a few years now but the pain still refused to subside.

Why would she bring up Raj up at a time like this? Was there nothing wrong with guardian before them, or perhaps something in his research, something about new guardians?

"What is it? Is there a complication with this guardian?" Nilanna asked, her tone a bit sharper. But when her ghost only turned to look at the exo, she knew.

The revelation was like a switch, a sudden realization filled with hope, confusion, wonder, and love. It was a testament to the Warlock's claim that their bond would not just surpass the limits of society but the very boundaries of time and space themselves. A silly notion she had dismissed without a though, just a boisterous claim made after a night of making love.

But lying in front of her now, call it chance, call it fate, call it destiny if you will. However it would come to be justified for the years to come, she didn't care. To her it was proof that even in death, Raj loved a little machine like her so much even the very gods themselves found a way to keep them connected.

Sure she would never bear any resemblance to her, or maybe even remember Raj for that matter. Regardless she would care for this woman as she and her lover wished they could, to raise the fruits of their love like any parents would. Nilanna would watch over and guide this woman for whatever time she had left in her aging and corroded metallic body.

She would love her as she knew Raj once did. She would cherish this remarkable, improbable, wonderful girl that lay before her.

For this woman reforged in the Traveler's Light, was his biological daughter.

Where his legend had ended, her's would begin, and for the exo Huntress to such an opportunity be by their side, nothing in this universe or any other could have made her happier.

For she may have been mechanical, but her love, that would never ever be any less real.

* * *

_Well there it is folks, the ending to Mechanical Love, I hope it's been a real pleasure for you because I've loved every minute of it. I can't thank everyone enough for making this my most successful story ever, one that I continue to claim is really just a giant philosophical argument, but still turned into what I hope was an enjoyable love story._

_And at least once I'd like to give all of my readers a round of applause, because believe it or not, a lot of you helped write this story. Whether it was PMing me or being a part of my many, many shameless arguments on the Bungie website, this story is just as much your work as it is mine._

_But on to the big heroes, my closest advisers and now good friends **riesling** and **HeliumFilaments **I cannot thank you enough, this story was literally not possible without you guys. Thanks for putting up with my crap and helping me get through even the most stubborn of writer's block._

_So once again, a big thanks to everyone, hopefully this story made you stop and think just a bit like I hoped it would. And perhaps you too happened to completely fall in love with both Nilanna and Raj in the process, because I know I have. And despite what you may think, this is not the end._

_I discussed a lot over the course of this story, but there is still so much to talk about. It's those very topics I hope to explore in this story's sequel: Mechanical Life._

_So fear not, you may get a glimpse of those two again (and their daughter too) along with many others as I try to explore a little more about the realities of having a mechanized significant other._

_So until then, keep your light and your love strong guardians._


End file.

Destiny, Drama, Romance