Chapter 1
The Hallowed Lair
"NOW DIE, FOR THE LAST TIME!"
Corrupted ether flowed over the floor of the Hollowed Lair as the Fanatic's Scorn hordes began to pour forth. Arc energy crackled through the air as Fikrul brandished his staff. Alzav dropped a rally barricade and started to spin up his Sweet Business. Jadyah readied her Drang and double checked her holster to confirm that her Sturm was ready to quickly swap to, and Daichi powered up his Telesto.
Howling madly, the Scorn charged.
"Hold your ground!" Alzav yelled over the whir of his auto rifle as it tore through the approaching ranks. Jadyah laughed. "Hey! Just because you're Zavala's son doesn't mean you get to order us around!" Still popping away with her sidearm, she lobbed a knife into an approaching Raider's face and ran headlong into the horde.
"Stupid Hunters" Daichi groaned, continuing his barrage of energy bolts on Fikrul. The Baron roared and slammed his staff, making the ground seethe with lightning, coursing through the two Titans' bodies, making them stagger. And the Scorn kept coming, shooting, biting, clawing.
Pausing to yank a knife out of a Ravager, Jadyah looked back as the angry tide engulfed her friends. Laughing, she hollered at them "who's stupid now?" Suddenly, a wave of void energy surged through the mass of Scorn bodies, and they evaporated in vaporous explosions. Void energy shimmered around Daichi's clenched Doomfang gauntlets from the devastating punch. Alzav lobbed a pulse grenade at Fikrul, then yelled "Jadyah, behind you!"
She turned in time to see a swarm of Screebs rushing her. She got of a couple rounds with her Drang, but it was too late. The Screebs exploded, the blast ripping her apart and sending bits of her body all over the Lair.
"That… could not have felt good" said Daichi. Fikrul laughed.
"Think that's funny?" snarled Alzav. "Let's see you laugh this off!" His arc energy surged, and he rocketed towards the Scorn Baron, fists out and braced for impact, but Fikrul caught him midflight with a tether from his staff and threw him into a pillar. The impact cracked it, electricity dancing over the dent. Daichi summoned his Banner Sheild and ran to his friend's side, blocking enemy fire as he helped him to his feet. "You good bro?" Alzav grabbed his Wardcliff Coil and sprayed the entire room with rockets. "Yeah yeah, I'm fine, now let's nuke this sucker." Daichi hurled his sheild like a frisbee, taking out the last of the Scorn, and both Titans pulled out their shotguns. They charged with a battle cry and started to empty their magazines into the Fanatic's torso, but he shielded himself. He grabbed them with his staff-tether, hurling them across the Lair.
Groaning, Alzav pushed himself to his feet, the damage to his body and armor regenerating. Daichi leapt up and started firing his grenade launcher, but Fikrul was already shielded again. "Rrrraaaaaaargh! Stop hiding behind a sheild and fight us!" the Titan raged. Fikrul laughed and lashed out with another tether and flailed both Guardians around the lair, bashing them against the walls. "This is starting to get annoying!" Alzav yelled. "TELL ME ABOUT IT!" Daichi shouted back, struggling to keep a grip on his gun.
"RAHAHAaa!" Fikrul's laughter boomed throughout the lair. "There issss no escaaaape for you. You will diiiie, like your frieeeend Cay-
A bolt of brilliant golden flame flashed by, vaporizing Fikrul's head. His massive body slumped to the ground, lifeless. Alzav and Daichi fell as well, finally free of the tether.
"Man, you Titans sure make good punching bags. That was a lot of fun to watch." Jadyah stepped out of the smoke, fiery light still dancing along the edges of her Celestial Nighthawk mask, a Golden Gun flickering in her hand.
Daichi scoffed. "You kidding me? Aside from his annoying shields, Fikrul is easy. I could have soloed this strike no problem." He walked up to the Fanatic's body and kicked it. Jadyah let the glow of her gun dissipate and kicked it harder. "Cut your crap Daichi. You always act like you're better than me just because you can rack up kills on ads. Remember, I've won every sharpshooting competition we've had."
"Girl, you just proved that ad clearing is important by DYING TO A GODDAMN SCREEB!"
They eyed eachother angrily, and both went for their holsters.
Alzav slammed down in between them in a burst of arc energy, knocking them apart. "Guys, save it for the Crucible! We finished the mission, lets radio in and get back to the Tower."
Daichi shook his head to clear it. "Shut up. The only reason you're fireteam leader is because your dad is in charge."
Alvaz bristled. "My dad is no nepotist!"
Jadyah stepped in. "Ok guys, we had our little spate, but Alvaz was right. It's time to head home." Daichi bowed his head. "Yeah. We've been a team since the end of the Red War. My pride in my kill count isn't more important than that." Alvaz smiled and nodded. "Thanks man. Now let's grab this loot and get out of here."