Nettle-11 is found on the open tundra by the Six Coyotes after successfully surviving for 5 months. Her ghost is more excited than her. Nettle is fairly certain that they would have eventually made their own way to the City, but if the Coyotes are willing to give her a ride, she won’t say no. Her time on the Bandwagon is informative. The exo had developed many blade habits as they were more dependable on the open tundra than the resource draining bullets and this confirms for them that she’s a young hunter in the making.
Lee-4 is familiar to her. She’s comfortable sitting next to her fellow exo in silence as Therin Vai chats at her and Micah-10 converses with her ghost. Her ghost admits that they don’t really know if they’re doing their job right, because Nettle hardly speaks, displays little emotion, and can act almost robotic at times. Therin asks if Nettle is a frame or an exo. It’s Lee who sticks up for her.
“Not all Exo’s are friendly like Cayde-6,” she points out. “Like people, we’re all individuals. Some of us prefer the quiet.”
Nadiya finally speaks up, looking at Nettle’s ghost, “what’s your name?”
“I don’t know...” the ghost murmers, “I had always hoped that I would help my guardian choose their name, and they would help me choose one, but Nettle already has a name.”
The ghost is always trying their best to be helpful. Nettle understands this. She also knows that she is difficult to get along with. She prefers quick interactions to trade important information as efficiently as possible. Wasted seconds could mean injury. Ignorance could cause mistakes. Incorrect intel could create failure. And her ghost wants to help her. It’s why they scan her after every enemy encounter, why at the end of a sleep cycle then give a current time and weather report, and why they stare at the sky seeking signals while she rests. The little light is always darting around, trying so hard to fill a void.
“Would you like me to give you a name?”
Her ghosts whips around flashing to her side in a stream of particles.
“It’s alright, I’m your ghost! I don’t need you to give me a name. We’re partners, I’ll always be there to help you.”
“But you would like a name.” It’s no longer a question.
The Coyotes are quiet now. Therin is grinning while Nadiya rolls her eyes and Micah gives the ghost an encouraging smile. There are other ghosts appearing.
“Would the name Dart be satisfactory to you?”