Shadows in Sunlight

by Yidra

Isolated from the Traveler's Light and reinforcements, two Guardians must traverse the dark halls of the Hellmouth and complete their mission before the Hive manage a resurgence. Will their discoveries deep in the fortress change them for the worst, or will they hold onto the guidance of the Light and rise above the temptations of the Darkness?

1. Introduction

Intro: Hellish Tunnels

Location: Unknown, Hellmouth, Luna

Approx. Time: 10:30, ca. 2700s

Fireteam: Shadow

Fireteam Status: Unknown

Ghost Status: Unknown

Objective Status: Unknown

Incoming distress signal

Sending distress signal…Vanguard received

Diablo-41 and Savage-13, self-proclaimed brothers and vaunted members of Fireteam Shadow. Five miles deep on the Moon, a passage of the Hellmouth and facing an open door leading to an abyss. It was going to be an easy job, or at least an easier job ever since The Guardian slew Crota, Son of Oryx. Slay a newly prominent member of the Hive and get out. Simple. Their arrogance made them think it was going to be simple.

The Summoning Pits was where everything fell apart. Phori Xunj, third member of the Fireteam, was trapped under fallen pillars not twenty minutes before they arrived at the door. A stray ogre marching through the fortress drawn by her Light, blasting at the Fireteam with its eye, destroying her Ghost, cracking the ground apart under its weight and roaring in its primal rage. Then the thrall came and consumed the incapacitated Awoken. Her screams could be heard through the halls as she was buried under the thralls and the brothers were forced to go deeper, slaughtering dozens of Hive as they traversed the treacherous landscape of the deep fortress, attempting to free themselves from the advancing horde.

"We are adrift in here," Savage-13 muttered several times, his voice deep and crackling, on the verge of growling.

"I am aware," his brother would respond in a whisper, hands gripping his pulse rifle tightly, green eyes hardened and set.

Screeches from the deep dark in front of them, from beyond the door, scattering footsteps, a thunderous boom of shifting rock and possible magic. The Hive, as much as the brothers refused to verbally admit it, frightened them, but they were loyal enough and confident enough to still fight. They would have to continue that trend. From the void before them came a swarm of thrall, each one felled by the brothers being replaced by four more. Chitin pieces and ooze plastered the walls like putty as the dark servants of the Hive were slaughtered in droves.

"More are coming," Diablo-41 muttered.

"Indeed," Savage-13 grimly chuckled as he swapped his hand cannon for his sword.

"Brave fools," Zavala would call them.

"Proper Guardians," Lord Shaax would laugh.

"The ones that work," Ikora would muse.

Diablo-41 would look down upon the halved form of a thrall, its face frozen in a scream. "Damn them to oblivion," he grunted.

His brother snorted and sheathed his blade, "Lest they are taken...they are."

Slamming a magazine into his pulse rifle, Diablo sighed and looked back beyond the door from where they ran, "For Phori...we must continue."

Savage nodded and reloaded the chamber of his hand cannon, "For Phori, we kill...Illus, give light."

On that order, a red and black spherical machine phased into view and gleamed light upon the dark halls.

Diablo grunted and rotated his shoulders, the wires sparking slightly with the movements, "We go on."

"Secron, we hunt," Savage clenched his jaw and began to move further in.