Author's Note: This is a continuation of Please Don't Let Me Sleep... I'm going to write two versions. The Nightmare and The Pleasant Dream versions. Enjoy the trip down memory lane.

The dream always starts the same. It never changes for it's a constant. The Exo wakes up lying on the frozen plains of an icy moon. The stars innumberable as they light the night sky and the chilling winds biting against the metal plating of the his face. As he stands up to look around the winds continue to blow against him and in the distance a lone spire stands tall beckoning him to its embrace. He's experienced this over a hundred times and every time it's never the same dance twice but the end is always the same. No matter how close he gets. He will always somehow fail his mission to enter the empty tower that calls his name. His name was Viper-7 and this was The Deep Stone Crypt Subroutine that he experiences.

As he takes his first step. His first obstacle always appears in front of him and is always the same. It's his ghost Aria. She floats there blocking his passage forward. No matter what Viper did he can never get past her unless he does one thing specifically everytime. He stands silent as she speaks, "Welcome Back V." Even though it looks like Aria and it speaks like Aria it never feels like her. There is an emptiness in the voice no matter how much it mimics her mannerisms and vocal tics it never truly feels like it's Aria who speaks to him and as always she says the same thing, "Your journey begins anew today. But you can't pass till you've done the most important thing. As always your weapons will be your greatest friends. The Light may guide you and it may help you in your battle to reach the end. But it will not save you. So Viper...do what you must to proceed."

If he could he'd be biting his lips in frustration to the point they'd be bleeding. It was always the same speech everytime and it hurts equally as much as the first time. It didn't matter if he tried running past her, trying convince her otherwise to change the outcome, or even killing himself with his own weapon cause she'd revive him over and over until he did the deed. The end was always constant but how it would end was up to him. He would touch her gently and whisper, "I'm so sorry..." If she could smile she would and answers, "I know." In a single flash of fluid movement Aria is split in two by Viper's Quickfang Sword. A burst of light flashes from her body as the origin point as the two pieces of her ghost shell fall quietly and quickly get buried beneath the snow.

He sheathes his sword and continues forward. No matter how much he tells himself it's just a dream his body and mind can't process it as one. Eveything feels real from snow his legs trudge through, to the cold winds blowing against his face, to the feeling of his blade cleaving his ghost in two. Everything is real whether he wants it to be or not and it makes him sick everytime. The Crypt always looked so far away. He couldn't call a Sparrow to take him through the snow. Not that it'd probably matter. Something would find a way to make him fail. It always did.

Further ahead he saw a campfire with a pot hanging over it with some clearly cooking inside of it and someone sitting by the fire. Their back was turned from Viper but he instantly knew who it was. The tattered black cloak with the distinct red markings. Any Hunter would know that Cloak instantly and who was wearing it. It was Cayde-6. Whatever was the Exo equivalent of feeling his heart sinking into his chest was happening to him right now. No matter how many times he had this nightmare Cayde was always one of the first people he'd see after Aria. Today was looking to be one of the calmer encounters though. His legs felt like lead weights...wait couldn't his legs possibly be made of lead? Not the point. That first step is always the worst. No matter how he approaches this Cayde will try to kill him and he will have to try and kill Cayde. The first step is taken and nothing happens. Viper inches closer and closer till Cayde turns around and says, "Geez it took you long enough. What's wrong V? Does my breath stink?" Viper smiles and takes a seat, "So how we doing this today Cayde?"

"Simple my fine metal friend. You and I..." He reaches over and removes the lid from the pot, "Are going to enjoy a nice relaxing meal and talk." Viper was surprised and looked inside to see Ramen cooking in the pot. It looked just like the usual shops they'd go to after long days in the field. He always wondered if Cayde ever tried to learn the recipe but a thought came to mind and he voiced that opinion with some sarcasm as he took a seat across from his former mentor, "Probably tastes like crap." Cayde pulls out a wooden spoon and twirls it between his fingers almost like he's getting ready to throw it like a trusty Hunter knife, "Don't you go and badmouth my cooking with that sass of yours!" V can't help but chuckle at that sound of Cayde's attitude it was refreshing to hear in all honesty, "I'm not sassing ya. It's just you know...we kinda have no sense of taste as robots and all." Cayde inches that spoon a little closer, "...You make a fair point. But I'M. THE. BEST. If any Exo could cook a good meal it'd be me." Viper laughs hard holding his sides. It'd been too long since he had a laugh this good and looks at Cayde, "You and fire just never mix. Remember the flares incident?" Cayde scoffs mockingly, "I had nothing to do with that and you know it!" Viper rolls his eyes, "Please. By the time we managed to put out the fire caused by those flares I was almost postive Shaxx and Zavala were going to combined Fists of Havoc you off the tower in one glorious combined punch of electricty."

Cayde stares down his young scout and chuckles before he goes to stir the pot, "Fire and I mix great thank you. Do you see the way I wield The Golden Gun? Shin wishes he had moves like mine." V smiles before finally relaxing. Any tension he felt was finally gone and it just felt nice being able to relax and reminisce with Cayde, "I will admit. It does look pretty damn good." Cayde smiles and looks up at V while still stirring the pot, "You know that cloak looks pretty good too. Always knew it'd fit you very well." V goes silent for a second before looking at his hunter cloak, "It feels heavy someday's to be honest." Cayde chuckles, "I know the feeling. Felt the same way when I first wore it after receiving it from Andal." Viper smiled and looked back at his mentor, "Does it ever feel lighter?" Cayde shakes his before smelling the food, "Not really. You're carrying the memory of a fallen friend. It never gets lighter but it never has to feel bad ya know?" Viper sits back and looks at his mentor, "What do you mean?" Cayde sits back, "Remember when I first met you? You were quiet as they came that I almost thought your voice box was permentantly damged or something since Aria did all the talking." Viper scratches the back of his head, "Haha yeah. I was so nervous and confused. First ressurections ya know? Suddenly dying only to learn your ghost can bring you back from the dead. It was too much to take in." Cayde chuckles, "Yep. You looked like a lost puppy who had no idea. I felt like as your Vanguard leader I really had to show you the ropes. Make you the best damn Hunter ever." V smiled sheepishly, "Aw come on. You really thought that much of my pathetic ass?" Cayde tastes the brooth and smiles, "Damn that's good." He looks back to V and points the spoon at him, "Give yourself some credit once in a while V. You had a lot of potential and just needed a good teacher. Namely me."

The two smiled at each other before Viper chuckled, "Good is debatable. I'll definitely say you had the most unorthodox methods of teaching me how to be a Hunter." Cayde shrugs, "Aw come on V you're killing me here. I wasn't that bad of a teacher." V smirks confidently, "You throwing knife lessons literally consisted of telling me to throw the pointy end into the other guys head or the juicebox if it was a Vex." Cayde shoots back, "And what did you do?" V sighs, "...Threw the pointy end into the other guys head." Cayde points, "See!? You got it in one." Viper shakes his head, "You always had a way of twisting things in your favor." Cayde shurgs and smiles, "It's one of the first lessons I taught you." V chuckles, "I remember. A Hunter always needs to keep the odds in his favor. You'll never be as durable as a Titan or as smart a Warlock. So as a Hunter you prove yourself by twisting the odds in your favor. Nothing's off the table to win." Cayde nods triumphantly, "I taught you well. It's especially true for us Hunter Vanguard's. You don't have a lot of friends. So the few you can trust are who you rely on the most."

V smiles, "So what did you consider me then?" Cayde grabs two bowls and begins filling them with Ramen, "You? Heh. I saw a lot of things in you V. A trusted friend. My little protégé. One of my best scouts and regulars I could call on when we implemented Flashpoints." V feels comfored but his smile fades when a thought crosses his mind. Cayde hands over a bowl and some chopsticks to the sullen Hunter, "But something is still bothering you isn't it V?" V took the bowl and looked at his mentor, "I wear this Cloak in memory of you. Never changed it once since you passed. And I know you recorded some tapes for people as part of your will...Why wasn't I one of them." Cayde slurps up some noodles, "That's easy V. Because I knew you never could kill me." V looks at Cayde as he begins to explain, "Every tape I made was strictly for people I thought would kill me as part of my Vanguard Dare. I even had one eventually lined up for you but I never recorded it for one good reason." V listens intently, "...And that is?" Cayde looks pissed, "I'll tell ya after you eat some of your damned soup." V looks down at his bowl and apologizes.

The first bite he took...it really did taste like the shops Ramen. He felt happy because it felt like the old days when he'd meet Cayde to give his reports over a bowl of Ramen, "Told ya I'm the best." V nods in agreement, "My compliments to the Master." Cayde smirks triupmhantly, "Back to your question. I never recorded you tape because I knew you never would kill me. V looked up confused, "Viper my last wills were for those who I thought would kill me and you were never one of those people. I knew I went all doom and gloom evil. You'd be with me every step of the way." V looks at Cayde intensely, "Unlike most Hunters V. You're not a loner. You're very emotional and get attached to lots of people and mourn those close to you for a long time. You hide it well though. Except when you have a sniper in your hands." V looks uncomfortable at how well Cayde can see through him but answers honestly, "I did have a good teacher for hiding those feelings." Cayde intejects, "Your damn right you did. But back to my point. Out of all the Hunters I knew I think you're the only one I could honestly believe would have my back no matter how far I might've fallen. I could've gone off the deep end and became the next Dredgen Yor and somehow you'd still have stayed by my side." V takes another slurp of the delicious ramen while listening to Cayde go on, "My point is V. I knew you could never kill me because you cared too much about me."

V sits back and puts his empty bowl down, "I can't deny that. I would've happily done anything for you. You meant the world to me and honestly felt like family Cayde. You were an insane maverick with a knack for insane hairbrained schemes that somehow always worked and I admired that. You were so chipper and on point with that silver tongue I yours I did my best to emulate that because despite it annoying some it always put a smile on many faces. If I was even half as good as you I felt like I accomplished something big." Cayde also puts his bowl down, "You have Viper. If anything I think you've become better then what I ever could've been. You have a big heart kid and I hope you never lose it."

Viper was gripping his pants tightly he felt like he was on the verge of tears over Cayde's words, "I miss you so much everyday." He words were all choked up and he just couldn't hold back how much pain he was in, Cayde moved in and sat beside Viper and put an arm around him, "You're a good kid you know that? If my Dare wasn't already set in stone. I'd say you might've been a good Hunter Vanguard one day." V sits up and takes a deep breath to clear his head, "You're just saying that cause I want to hear that." Cayde chuckles, "Maybe. But I really think you'd make a good Hunter Vanguard if you just had a little more self-confidence and stopped avoiding everyone at the damn tower." Viper chuckles, "I should say Hi to Big Blue, Ikora, Tess, Banshee, and Poncho one of these days." Cayde smacks Viper on the back, "That's the spirit. By the way how is my old girl doing?" Viper smiles, "The Colonel? She's doing good. I go to feed her everyday. Somebody's gotta take care of her and Wolfie sure ain't doing a good job of it." Cayde looks at him, "Good to hear. By the way whatcha feeding her?" V rolls his eyes, "Sesame Seed Muesli and Purified Spring Water you insane bucket of bolts." Cayde looks proudly at V, "That's my talented protégé. I knew I taught you well."

The two kept reminiscing for what must've been hours because the fire had went completely out. V told Cayde about Saint's return, how Saint loves The Colonel, visiting Amanda and checking in on her every day, and how he had been helping some new Hunter's he'd run into and give them the same basics that his mentor taught him and even how everyday he'd work harder and harder to be the best Hunter he can be out in those wilds. V told every joke he could think off with every adventure he had since Cayde's passing, how Aria keeps him on his toes still with all her backtalk, how he's made some bad choices siding with Drifter, and participating in Calus' Menagerie's all the while Cayde was listening intently the whole time.

"Sounds like you've been having quite the adventure. I do like how Saint has officially given Colonel the triumphant title of "The Pigeon Lord" old girl has definitely earned her place." V smiles, "Yeah. Saint's been good to me." Cayde nods, "He's definitely the best of all of us. I'm glad he's been there for you. Well what's say you and me head on off to the Crypt now?" V looks sullen once more, "Do we have too?" Cayde nods, "Call it my final order." Viper smiles, "I know we Hunters hate the touchy-feely crap but..." Viper stretches out both of his arms, "Can I at least say goodbye properly this time?" Cayde looks annoyed by softens up and opens his arms, "Bring it in V." Viper hugs his former Vanguard Leader and chokes up a little again before saying, "Thank you for everything Cayde." Cayde pats Vipers back with one hand before briging it back down to his side, "I know V. I know...and I'm sorry." Viper sighs deeply and smiles, "I know...it's okay." The sound of a Hand Cannon goes off.

Cayde had fired the Ace of Spades into Viper stomach. Cayde dropped the gun and held his young protégé as his body started going limp, "I'm so proud of you Viper." Viper smiles as his vision begins to fade.

I really don't want it to end he thought but as he closed his eye peacefully they open just as fast back to his jumpship. He sees Aria and smiles, "Thanks Aria." Aria can see he had a pleasant dream, "Your welcome V. To the tower?" Viper grins as best as an Exo can, "To the tower! Full throttle!!!"