A/N: A long time coming. I know, but me trying to wait for someone else has caused this huge lapse in time. So remember everyone. Bungie and Activision own Destiny, not me.
CH. 1 - Back in the Saddle
Waves of water crashed against the remains of a pier in the ruins of what was once part of America. A place called Oregon, if the three on the pier had read the charts correctly. The repetitive sounds of the waves accompanied by the calls of the seagulls had an almost calm and lulling aspect to it, if it wasn't for the constant grumbling of one of the three people on the pier.
The three were withstanding a light drizzle from the gray clouds above them and staring out into the water in front of them. Two of them looked miserable while the other was braving the storm quite well. The heavy plasteel plates of the shortest gave her away as a Titan, while the other two had their cloaks wrapped around them and hoods drawn. The two Hunters grumbled about the weather and being dragged out there with the Titan who was too busy griping about other issues to care about the weather.
"Tell me again, Jo, what in the Hell are we doing out here?" The Hunter groaned with an obvious Exo undertone in his voice. He gestured to the fishing rod in his hand and glanced at the other Hunter who was huddled in his robes and hunched over his rod. Refusing to look them in the eye.
"This shit is supposed to be therapeutic! All I'm getting is more frustrated since no damn fish are biting! How do Raz and Sushi come out and do this at hours at a time?!" The woman roared as she squeezed and twisted her hands in a way to appear as if she was throttling someone, the handle started to crack under the pressure her hands were putting out. "Seriously! They leave in the morning and come back later in the day, and they have been doing it for weeks! Gaaah!"
The small woman finally snapped in both rage and even snapped her fishing rod like a twig before hurling it into the waves beneath her. The Exo Hunter sighed before launching his own rod like a spear with a nasty snarl. It sailed pretty far before plunking into the water a dozen or so feet away.
"I think I see why this is calming, I need another rod to throw." The Hunter dusted his hands off and let out a mock sigh of relaxation.
"Oh calm down Jo, Entity, you two are acting like children." A new voice chided them as a Warlock dropped behind them. Her helmet swiveled to the other Hunter still sitting silently with his fishing rod. "Travis? Nothing to say?"
The man sullenly shook his head before he held out his rod towards Entity. The Exo took it and examined it briefly before sending it hurtling into the deep. Satisfied with the day's activities, Entity planted his hands on his hips and watched the waves toss a bit more before turning to the Warlock.
"So what brought you here, Archivia? I didn't expect to see you leaving the library so soon." The other two soon joined the Exo as Archivia stepped closer. Travis grunting as he stood up and dusted off his cloak and pants. Jo snickered at him before imitating his motions in cleaning her Titan Mark and armored legs.
She was promptly ignored.
"Well I've been following up on the request that Jo has made with you about the strike you all participated on the moon." There was a palpable silence that was occasionally broken by the churning sea below. "Trying to figure out what that altar was and how it turned Guardians." Entity nodded and Travis folded his arms as he watched on.
"There isn't much on the altar, and I have requested to go in with other teams of Warlocks to study the remains. All we have managed to gather so far is that it was somehow connected to the Traveler. Our theories are pointing to that it is acting as an anchoring point for a signal of sorts."
"A signal?" Travis finally spoke.
"Exactly."
"Alright, but who was transmitting and from where?" Entity quietly asked, "and why was it connected to the Traveler?"
Those questions forced a hard silence on them as they tried to ponder the meaning of this. Archivia shook her head as she held a hand to her chin in thought. With a few words muttered to herself she looked up and spoke up.
"The answers aren't in the Tower, but they will be out there. I think I will try to speak with that envoy of the Nine. He, or it, should be in the Tower in a few days. They are a body that exists outside of the Traveler's protection. They might have an idea. Jo can I ask you to bring back some of your old contacts in the Crows?"
Jo sighed and nodded slowly. She was never a crow per se, but she was part of the organization that became the Crows to prince Uldren when he promised the Tower he would reform their clandestine group. She luckily still had some friends in power within this group, since it remained largely the same.
"Yeah, I'll see what the Reef has on any of that altar nonsense and see what else I can dig up." She paused as she cocked her hip to one side. "Did you find out what Raz and Sushi have been up to lately?" Shaking her head, Archivia frowned as she looked towards the clouded sky.
"No, and when the two go off they get to Luna and their Ghosts stop transmitting on any frequency. I can't track them at all. I tried calling in a few favors but they just vanish. Don't even land on the moon, that's just where the signal dies." Archivia explained with a huff. She knew he had Sage with him, but Raz was clever. This situation however was vexing her to no end.
"Yeah, well we can't figure out anything just standing here in the middle of Speaker knows where." Jo complained before summoning her Ghost. The rest of the Guardians mirrored her motion before vanishing to their jumpships.
.
Erunan stared dully at the pad in front of him and his Kell, the tiny woman who he had somehow fallen for. His little Guardian, and his honored leader. Teira had insisted she go through several of the reports of her House personally to oversee the morale of her people. Noble of her, if not dangerous in how others could take advantage of that kindness. He may not be able to tell her what to do exactly, but he could guide her in the few bits and pieces he had picked up over the years.
Surprisingly he didn't have to do much, and for that he was proud of her. She was growing into the position well, showing much promise to her leadership abilities. His musings were cut short when he realized she was speaking to him. His mind raced and backpedaled to remember what was spoken. Something about visitors was it? Another Kell? A delegation from the Tower or the Reef?
"You paying attention there big guy?" She snapped her fingers a couple of times to drive her point home. "We need to finish up quickly so we can get ready for the dinner." Erunan's head tilted slightly in thought, dinner? "You know? It has been almost five years since I you know, became a Guardian. So I wanted to invite the team that helped me get through the moon and back here. They should be here in about three hours."
She crossed her arms and leaned on her elbows of the small table they were working at. Exhaustion and apprehension somehow making it to her face at the same time, making her look rather… odd. Humans were complicated with the vast array of emotions they could show at one time. Sighing, she leaned into the sudden touch by her Eliksni partner. The large alien's rough hand rubbed small circles into her shoulder and she hummed in approval as his touch seemed to make her melt.
"Keep this up and you won't have the energy to make it to the table." Erunan chided lightly. "We can finish them later, besides, we don't have many left."
"Well that's because the House of Thunder are late again. Has it always been this way with them?" Teira asked suddenly.
"Well, Priest Durnisk is an odd one, at best. He does things at his own pace, so it is safe to assume that the Kell awaits for him before sending off any reports. To not waste your time coming back for more messages." The logic made sense to him, and Teira nodded after a brief moment of thought.
It hadn't taken them very long to power through the last of the reports and then to retire to their quarters to prepare for the dinner party. Teira was not surprised at all when Starr was the first to show up, the Exo Huntress was always glad to drop by and see how the fireteam's little protégé was holding up. Shortly after Prometheus had docked on the ketch with Veritas. Both of them had been polite and Veritas extended his apologies for not keeping in contact for the last few months. He followed it up by elbowing the Warlock and forcing him to apologize as well.
The two had formed a temporary team to tackle several research missions for the Warlock and had even seemed to enjoy working with one another for more than a mandatory suicide mission to the moon.
A few more minutes passed by and two more jumpships entered the Ketch's airspace and soon docked with the King's flagship. Entity and Echo dropped from their ships and offered their greetings. Echo gave Teira a hug while Entity offered her and Erunan an awkward handshake each. He was more sociable, but his demeanor towards the Eliksni was still reserved. Even after working alongside the Kings for five years.
After a solid ten minutes had passed and the gathered Guardians had been lead to the dining room and seated they began to become restless. Teira started to fidget as well as she waited for the last one of the fireteam to appear. She had even radioed to the control room to check on any jumpships in the vicinity. Nothing she had been looking for. She turned to her Ghost and it had even less to report about the missing Titan. The man had simply vanished.
With a defeated slump in her shoulders she turned from the hangar and made her way to the other Guardians with Erunan in tow. She stopped before the door, one of her guards, Kalyvaaz was waiting for her. There was a silent nod and he triggered the door sensor and Teira put on a smile before entering to enjoy the time with her friends. She didn't miss the slight twitching of Echo's mouth as he gazed past her. But he had schooled his emotions quickly and they all invited her to join them in their boisterous entertainment.
.
A small holo-emitter clicked shut as the darkness took over the small chamber once again. The slight shuffle in the low atmosphere of Luna could be heard through the filters of Snow's helmet. His helmet still poised and looking at where the holographic light had broadcasted Raz's position in the small Hive constructed hallway to him and the other member of the fireteam. The small glow-lights from the odd chandeliers didn't really show much of a silhouette of anybody from this fireteam.
It didn't bother any of them, they knew this was to be a dark operation in more ways than one.
Raz's larger form lumbered ahead of the two members, taking point and slowly guiding them along the crackling flakes that made up the stone floor. The crumbling floor was definitely designed for the far lighter forms of the Hive, and not a several hundred pound Human in heavy gear and carrying an arsenal to rival a platoon. But Snow was never going to say anything against that to the massive man. Especially here in the Hellmouth where there were no number of places for the Hive to leap out and attack them.
"Just up ahead, we are almost there."
Raz's voice was a hushed whisper over their closed unit comms. But it felt like a shout and Snow subconsciously raised his rifle in anticipation, this place was creepy. In the low lights that the Hive did have Snow managed to spot a slight reflection of the light off of the third member's helmet, the obviously Warlock modeled metal plating with a small visor. Sage had impressed Snow with the vast amount of knowledge stored in his memory about almost everything there is to know, and with his own combat prowess was another feat. The old Exo was skilled in CQC, which made him invaluable in the tight tunnels in this network. He almost felt ashamed for his choice of weapon, his trusty scout rifle.
The tunnel abruptly opened up into a larger chamber that had, for lack of any other words, been very nearly blown to pieces. The term warzone was not even close to what lay before him. Rubble and destroyed Vex lay everywhere and some were sprawled in very odd positions. How did a Hobgoblin end up with half of it attached to a wall while the other half seemed speared by a stalagmite. Odd. The battle in here must have been ferocious, brutal and chaotic.
The team silently swept into the room and seeing nothing was ready to leap out at them and try to murder them yet, they had relaxed. Still always ready for anything, if the distant howls of Hive was any indicator to what lay further in the depths of this nightmare brought to life.
He made a mental note to not slip on all the spent bullet casings littering the floor. It really was like a warzone. He paused in his speculations to watch as Raz stopped by some rubble to look in the dead optics of a Minotaur. The Titan dusted off a small spot, to reveal a massive dent in the upper chassis. The force required to do that to Vex metals was supernatural, Titan level strength. Raz was originally classified as a Striker Titan, this must have been his kill and he was getting nostalgic.
The memories must not have been that great as Arc energy started crackling around the larger man's fist. Snow's eyes caught the edge of brightly colored metal in the dust. When he got a closer look he could tell that it was a shattered piece of a Hunter helmet. He looked back at the disabled Minotaur to try and make the connection. All the Guardian's came back, didn't they?
"Through here, it's just inside."
Snow almost missed the comment as he was examining the dead machine and being lost in thought. Attempting to catch up he stopped to gaze at once had been a balcony was now just collapsed rock and buried Vex. He swore he spotted an auto rifle sticking out, but he didn't have enough time to analyze it. A massive opening in wall opening to the Hellmouth projected enough light for him to catch the Titan striding through what was the remains of a door. Sage was close behind the man and Snow was forced to jog after them so not to miss anything that could be gleaned from the other two.
"So this is the Altar?" Sage questioned quietly as he approached the dark obelisk. According to the reports it had been destroyed when the shard of the Traveler had been placed inside, but it was still relatively whole. It was strange object and it gave the old Exo an ominous feeling. Something he knew he shouldn't be feeling in a room that was called cleansed by the Vanguard and the Speaker.
Snow glanced around the room quickly and thought he caught some movement. When he looked again all he could see was the roughly hewn wall shrouded in darkness. This place was just wrong. Shadows seemed to bend and twist even in his sight. The feeling of being watched never abated when the trio approached the sole object in the room.
For all the chaos that was just in the next room, this one seemed to have been untouched. Cleaned up even, to Hive standards. Sage snapped his mind away from that thought train and chided himself for being paranoid. He started humming to himself to ease his mind, Sage examined the altar and pulled out a small device they had retrieved from Sanctum before their trip.
"Is that-?"
"A frequency reading unit from the Sanctuary? Yes it is, and it is only getting one signal. An incoming one, no broadcasts." Sage informed them as he stared at the device. Pushing a few of the dimly lit buttons he restarted his humming and Snow could feel the other Warlock narrow his eyes.
"Why?"
"A report from a Guardian indicated that there was a shrine somewhere in the Hellmouth to something out in the unknown space, it was acting as a long range transmitter. After pouring over the details of the reports of that shrine and this altar I had to confirm if they were the same."
Snow slowly shook his head, this was disturbing. The Hive had more of these altars or shrines? It had corrupted Guardians! How many more were there? Since it wasn't transmitting anything they couldn't see where all it could be going.
"I am running a trace on the signal and I'm not getting much, just something out of known space." He turned a few more dials and after a moment he stepped back. Nodding as he shut the machine down. "Alright Raz, do your thing."
Raz nodded as he approached the altar. Cracking his knuckles he seemed to focus really hard and swung out his arm to the side. A glowing, flaming hammer exploded into his hand and filled the room with a massive clanging sound. Not only did the sound make all three cringe in anxiety, Raz was also a glowing beacon of flame. His body was wreathed in it and he illuminated the whole room.
Making it alarmingly clear that this room had new tenants. Several Hive Thralls were currently detaching themselves from the far wall and one reared it's head back and screamed at the Guardians. Before it was launched into a wall from a single bullet punching through the top of it's skull. Sage stood with a hand cannon and sighted the next Hive before yelling at Raz.
"Destroy it now! We don't have time to fight whatever else will be joining us!" Raz nodded as he shook off his stupor. Raising his hammer high above his head he brought it down with an earth shattering crash. Flames exploded out of the hammer and the altar as it spread through the room and consumed the nearest of the Thralls.
Snow had sighted down his scout rifle and picked a few of the stragglers off after the Solar wave had subsided. The altar was cracked and several glowing lines could be seen, and he knew he didn't have to say anything as Raz raised his weapon to strike again.
Snow was fixated on the Titan as he seemed to be doing the impossible, until an Acolyte appeared from one of the tunnels and fired a small boomer cannon at the Titan. The man lowered his shoulder and his shields absorbed the damage and he shrugged it off as if it was nothing. Slamming his hammer into the altar again and sending another wave of Solar energy cascading around the room. Incinerating Thralls and Acolytes in the orange wave of energy.
The cracks grew and the altar had started to crumble as more energy started to leak out of it. The Hive at this point took more initiative and several more Acolytes and a few Knights dropped from holes in the upper part of the chamber. One Knight landed beside Raz and raised his sword in an attempt to bisect the tiny warrior.
Raz's hammer flew up and he used the haft to stop the Darkness infused blade above him. The Knight had grunted in annoyance and started to raise it's blade to strike again, but Raz used that to push up and send the Knight stumbling before he struck it in the knee and followed with an upward strike to it's jaw. Sending the monster back and disappearing in a burst of flame and ash.
Snow would have applauded him if he wasn't busy using his rifle to pick off the Acolytes shooting at the trio. Mostly the one's shooting in Raz's direction. Cursing he dropped his spent clip and reached an arm back and calling on the void energy he had been building in his body he channeled it into his hand and with a roar he lobbed it forward. The Nova bomb crashed into the chest of a Knight with a large Arc Boomer. Instantly ripping it apart at a molecular level, along with the Acolytes that were standing near it.
Sage's cry of pain drew his attention to the other Warlock and he paused as he witnessed the Exo ripping an arm out of it's socket from a Thrall. The mindless creatures were swarming over Sage as he was using his abilities in CQC to keep them from tearing into his more exposed areas. His motions could be compared to a river with how he dodged strikes or entered an opening one of the Hive had given him. Snow was confident the other man had it under control.
"One more time!" Sage called out and Raz complied. Giving a sharp pull, Raz dislodged a Thrall that had mounted on his back and was tearing into the man's shoulders and neck. The creature howled as it was thrown across the room and silenced suddenly by a sickening crack when it collided with the wall.
With this opening Raz swung one last time, the fires flowing around him dying as the hammer started to dull. This was it, the last swing no matter if it destroyed the altar or not. Snow wasn't sure how the Titan had kept his Light feeding the Hammer of Sol for so long, but it allowed him to do this last act. There was another resounding ring as the hammer connected with the altar and everything seemed to freeze for a moment. Everything seemed to be frozen in place as they all turned to the altar. The cracks widening and more energy leaking out and into the room.
Then the altar couldn't contain it anymore.
The resulting explosion forced Snow to cover his eyes, and he wished he hadn't. If he hadn't he would have seen the massive object that was blown into him from the exploding altar. Him and the obscenely painted object crashed to the floor outside the door they had entered and they remained on the ground as a groaning pair. Raz was definitely a large man, Snow deduced, after the Titan had rolled off of him.
"Time to go."
Snow couldn't agree more to that statement and grunted as he accepted Sage's hand to clamber up to his feet. Raz had bought them a few moments of reprieve, and also had possibly awoken every Hive that was still dormant on Luna. Snow paused to catch his breath before he was roughly jostled by something and before he could yell at someone Sage's voice called out and silenced him.
"The tunnel is collapsing! We need to go now!" The trio took off at a dead sprint through the catacombs they had so carefully made their ways through beforehand. Now it didn't matter about stealth, with the quake they had started Snow was certain that the entirety of the moon knew that something had happened.
As they sprinted there was spots of light resistance, but true to what they had wanted. They never stopped to fully confront their opposition. Snow watched as an Acolyte took a flame infused fist to it's face and the Titan who threw it never turned to finish off it's friends. Snow's own rifle barked a few times as he killed the few who were directly in their path.
The cave system was rumbling and falling apart as they made their mad dash towards the surface. Luckily it didn't take too long as they emerged into the faint light of the lunar surface. The three tore off their jammers and summoned their Ghosts so they could leave. They never spoke of what happened in there, and they never would to any other without the jammers active. The Ghosts would ask and inquire about why there was a discrepancy in the time files. But they would keep it from the machines, and in turn, the Traveler.
.
"You have several pending messages and missed communication attempts."
"I know, and I know where they came from. Plot a course for the Ketch of the Kings. I'm late to the party as it is."
"Understood, jumping." There was a pause. "Should I notify them that we are on route?"
"No Twinkles. I'll surprise them. Well, for the most part. The Ketch's control tower will know I'm there. Ah well."
.
Teira was once again standing in the hangar saying her goodbyes to the five Guardian's assembled before her. They all meant so much to her and she really didn't want them to leave yet. But she had duties that she had to attend to and so did they. They would meet up again. As they started to filter out, she also could feel her energy draining from the stresses of the day. She would definitely need to attend to her duties in the morning.
Starr was the last to leave, alongside Echo. The two stood their silently before the Exo approached Teira.
"Look, I'm sorry not all of us could be here for you today. No one could seem to find the muscle-head. But when we do find him-" Starr's rant and promise of swift vengeance was cut off as a sonic boom was heard followed by the sound of a rapid deceleration from a jumpship.
All three turned to look outside the hangar door and spotted a yellow and grey ship trying to slow itself down from colliding rapidly with the Ketch.
"Speak of the oversized Devil himself."
"I'm sure we are all aware he is the furthest thing from a Devil, aside from the Speaker." Echo commented quietly. The man was still sporting a frown from the tardiness of his friend.
The jumpship landed heavily on the pad and the bay doors opened to allow the brightly colored Titan to disembark with a package in his hand. But they stopped focusing on that when they saw the condition of his gear. His armor was scratched and had deep gouges in several places. His visor was cracked and the majority of his yellow and green shader paint had been singed off.
"Raz! You're late!" Starr shouted at him.
P/N: As you know, Teira, Starr and the named Fallen that I know belong to RC. Thakji and Entity belong to Reilly. Travis belongs to LazyPersons. My next chapter is done and ready, but to keep myself ahead with some nice breathing room I will wait a week before submitting it. Thank you and remember, Guardians! Keep on keepin' on!