-The Tower-
"Today we honor these brave Guardians who stopped the Taken King Oryx and the Traitor Joseph!" Zavala said into the microphone. "Fire team leader a few words please."
A titan in Iron Banner armor approached the stand. "Today a servant of the darkness was vanquished from this world and a Rogue Guardian as well...I know you all knew Joseph as a caring, courageous, guardian. I considered him a brother until he tried to betray us to Oryx. It shows even the greatest of Guardians could fall to the Darkness and that means we Guardians must stay vigilant." He stepped down from the stand and went back to where he was standing.
"Let the Celebration begin!" Cayde yelled and everyone cheered.
-Saturn's Moon Titan, Weisshaught City, Industrial Sector-
I looked around for any sign of Fallen or Vex activity among the ruin buildings, we had linked up with the other pod. I met three more knights, Nocturn of the Silent Brood, who wielded a cleaver and Shredder, his armor was slightly darker than his Sect brothers and sisters. Next was Artanis of the Silent Brood and actual brother to Nocturn. Last but not least was Horus of the Spawn of Crota, wielding a Boomer and a Cleaver. We had got into a few skirmishes on the way into the city, we manage to lose none of our warriors to the Vex and the Fallen. Now we're setting up a base of operation within the city's industrial section. I could hear my Knights giving orders in the Hive's dialect and in the distance we all could hear the sound of battle erupting further in the metropolis. I could sense the shard within the city and something beneath it.
"Ashara…" I said.
"Yes, my king?"
"I wish to know more about my people."
"When you return I will show you the book of Sorrows."
"That would be nice, also one more question, it's natural that i can sense the shards and something under the planet?"
"When you sense something it is usually has Hive origins." She stated.
"Good...might be enough for us to take this moon." I said. "Ashara move the Dreadnaught behind Titan, we must make sure that we are not discovered by the Tower."
"As you wish my King." She said before cutting the link.
I walked back to where my forces were to find them done with the base. A lot of metal crates had been moved to make defenses in the Steel Factory, I had taught them how to use a welder and they covered windows with the metal. I watched as a group of acolytes welded the crates to the ground before trying to push it, it wouldn't budge.
"Nicely done, Acolytes!" I yelled at the group below.
They looked up and one with the welder pulled the trigger twice before they continued making more defenses. I headed down the stairs and ran into Nocturn as he was ordering acolytes to move some more crates.
"Nocturn."
He turned around and bowed. "Yes, my King?"
"Tell the others to meet within the control room with the Acolytes we sent out to scout." I said as I head for the main factory assembly line observation room.
"As you wish." I heard him say.
I entered the room within was a holo-map slash table. I turned it on and massive map of the city appeared above the table. I waited for about ten minutes before everyone was in the room and gathered around the table.
"Acolytes tell me what you have found?"
One of the acolytes step forward, his armor showed he was close to becoming a knight. He bowed and said. "M-My King, we discovered the Fallen... have a base within the Market sector and... th-the Vex are in the upper ward… also the underground entrance you….wanted, is ten miles outside the city…i-if you leave from the Market Sector."
"Forgive me for questioning you but why are you looking for an underground entrance, my King?" Archon questioned and the others nodded.
"To be honest, I've been feeling it since we arrived on this moon and as we got closer to the city, the feeling was getting stronger." I looked at them. "Do any of you feel it?"
They all shook their heads.
"Whatever it is, must want you to go alone." Bjorn said.
"I think you're right," I said. "...So be it I will go and seek it out alone."
"At least allow one of us to accompany you." Horus commented.
"No…. I need you all here just in case of an attack."
"But-"
"No buts...trust in me... in your king, to return." I said with conviction.
"As you wish, my King." Horus bowed, the rest followed in suit before they all left the room.
I tapped a few buttons and the map zoomed in on a hole five miles outside of the city limits. Going to need a vehicle…A Fallen Pike will do. I turned the map off and left the room quickly.
-Weisshaught City, Market Sector-
I entered a restaurant that was stripped clean of any metallic item. Fallen...they take scavenging to the heart. Then I heard Fallen dialect coming from the back, I crept closer to see a back door open. I peeked out to see five Dregs and two Vandals, there were two Pikes near them. I activated my bow and aimed for a Vandal's head. I released the string and the ethereal arrow flew, striking the Fallen in the blink of an eye. The others turned and looked down the alley only for another arrow to kill the other Vandal. I put away my bow and charged forward with my cleaver at the ready. The Dregs stumbled to get their guns out and I was closing on them, one managed to get his gun out and he fired at me. I deflected the shot then cleaved the Dreg in half. The others got their guns but it was already too late, I cut the whole squad down. I was walked over to a Pike and was about to get on when a Dreg grabbed my leg. I look down at him. "You should have played dead."
I brought my boot up before repeatedly stomping his head in until it was blue mush. Now my whole leg was covered in blue blood, I got onto the Pike and revved its engine. Then I heard more Pikes, I turned around to see five coming down the road. One of the Dregs pointed at me and I floored it. The Dregs fired at me, I swerved to dodge the bullets. I looked back to feel a bullet fly past my face. Damn! Need to get behind them somehow. I spotted a ramp in the distance. Perfect. I stayed ahead of the pack and I was closing in on the ramp, I turned at the last second towards the ramp. I heard one Dreg try to follow only for his Pike to hit something and explode, I grinned as I took flight, I felt my blood pump through my system. My turn! I landed right behind the pack and fired at the closest one to me. He swerved to dodge but one of my bullets clipped his thruster causing the pike to slow down before exploding. I shot down the next one and the last two were a lot more skilled than I expected. They dodged my shots with precision and timing, I began to become frustrated. Then out of nowhere one braked and I had to swerve to dodge him, I heard him speed up. Now I was sandwiched between the two experience Pike Riders. The Dreg fired at me, I swerved to the right but it hit one of my thrusters, the vehicle began to slow down. I look behind me to see that the Dreg closing in. I jumped up into the seat of the Pike before I leapt onto the one behind me. The Dreg seem surprise before trying to swipe me off, I dodged then I punched him across the face. His head snapped back and then I kicked him out of the seat. The Pike slowed down as I got into the driver seat. I looked up to see the other Dreg turn down a street. That can't be good but I have wasted enough time. I revved the engine and sped off towards the city limit. It took me 20 minutes to reach the exit, I didn't run into any resistance. I stopped near the welcoming sign.
"Archon can you hear me?" I questioned through the mental link.
"Yes my king." He responded.
"Good, alert me if you get attacked."
"As you wish."
I cut the link before I continued into the desert away from the warring city.
-House of Ravens' Base, Weisshaught City, Market Sector-
A Dreg was heading for a wall made up of different metals the Fallen could scavenge. Upon it a Vandal spotted him coming.
"Open the gate, quickly the scouting party is back!" He yelled.
Down below two Dregs pulled the gate open and the Pike flew through. The Dreg driving it, powered it down as a Captain and his Vandal Guards approached him.
"Back so soon, Whelp?" The Captain Questioned in their dialect. "And Alone…"
"My squad was slaughtered by a single Knight." The Dreg said as he knelt before the Captain.
"How, you were on Pikes?!"
"That was the funny thing, it was driving one when we arrived to the meeting spot."
"A Hive Knight, driving one of our Pikes, you must be lying."
"I swear on my rank that he was driving one of our Pikes."
"Interesting...Vera," The Captain said as he turned to the female Elder Vandal to his right. "Track our stolen vehicle."
Vera pulled out a device, she pressed a couple of buttons then handed it to the Captain. "The Knight is heading west into the desert."
"You get to live Dreg, now leave before I change my mind." The Captain said before the Dreg scurried off.
"What will you do, Captain?" Vera questioned.
"Gather a small platoon, were hunting down the knight."
"Yes, sir." She said before doing what she was told.
-Ten Miles out from Weisshaught City-
I slowed down the Pike to cruising speed and looked around for the cave that the Acolytes found. I hope I didn't pass it….
Joseph….
I turned around and scanned the desert. "Who is there?"
I am Xul….
"Where are you?" I continue to look around.
I am within….you…
It sounded like the voice was carried by the wind. "Within me?"
I was put in… you during the ritual…. Ashara performed…..I was within that green orb…
"What are you?"
I am… a king worm..., your worm…..
"A worm?"
The book Ashara promises… to show you... will have all the answers …. To your new life….
"The Book of Sorrows...Xul are you the one that is compelling me to find what is within the moon?" I asked as I stopped the Pike.
Yes...and no….the darkness is calling you…. To give you something…
"What is it?"
You will see….I shall guide you to the cave….
"Lead on then…"
I felt a pain come from my chest, I gritted my teeth and looked down to see a green light slowly appear with a worm in it.
Follow me…
I revved the engine of the pike and followed the orb. The pull was getting stronger and the need to find it became insatiable, it was much stronger out here than in the city. In the distance I could see a cliff face. The cave must be there. Out of nowhere the orb sped up and I sped up to catch up. I could see that there was a cave near the top of the cliff face, soon enough we were at the base of the cliff.
Its up...there…
I nodded and the orb entered my chest, I grunted in discomfort before i started my climb.
"So tell me is there more to me than a wicked bow?" I asked as I jumped to the next crevice.
There is...I will...teach you how to wield it….
"I would like that."
I climbed to the top with ease and now I faced the dark ominous cave.
Scared….?
"Nah, I've seen darker." I smiled before walking forward into the cave.
