Resistance Base
Steven and his lieutenants were standing in a circle with the Resistance. Steven created a scrying portal out of smoke, and showed a rectangular prism floating in space. It was a rotting brown with orange lights along the corners, both of which formed around a single circle on one side of it. Steven explained, "This...is the Dreadnaught. Oryx's primary capital ship. Right now, he and the Taken have commandeered it. It has no other weapons aside from the parabolic twin-mounted dish on it's aft. If Oryx discharges this thing, it incinerates entire fleets surrounding it."
Ruby said, "That would only be a problem if we had a ship."
Steven said, "We do, actually."
Yang said, "What?"
Steven said, "My fortress can transform into a massive super ship. Again, we can't get close to Oryx without him blasting us to pieces."
Connie said, "So our only option is to track him to wherever he's going and figure out what he's planning."
Steven said, "But before we do that, we need to go through some special soldiers he keeps with him. Sort of his family. First off is his son, Crota. With the power he's gained from resurrection, he'll be able to revive his son from death, as well as his son's wife, Omnigul, a Hive witch. In addition, there are Oryx's daughters, Ir Halak and Ir Anûk, the Deathsingers. There name means exactly that. If they complete either the hymn of weaving or the dirge of unraveling, everything around them dies. Up next is Oryx's adoptive son, Alak-Hul the Darkblade. He keeps to himself in the darkest recesses of Oryx's ship, using the shadows to hide himself and his massive axe. There's also his nephew Malok, who corrupts and damages anything around him. Finally, his sisters, Savathûn and Xivu Arath. I've never seen them in action, but it can be assumed they hold massive power, since they keep they got their power from the same place as Oryx. There's probably more that belong to his army and not his family that I don't know about, but we've wasted enough time already. Gather all your weapons, armor, and gear. When you're ready, meet at my fortress."
Ring of Saturn, Dreadnaught
Oryx and the Taken had retaken the Dreadnaught. Oryx was on the bridge, which had an open space overlooking the front. Two robed monsters wearing diamond shaped helmets bowed before him. Oryx said, "Ir Halak. Ir Anûk. Rise. Your father has returned."
Ir Halak said, "We were so pleased..."
Ir Anûk finished, "...to hear you live again."
Oryx said, "I returned with a greater Taken army. They have shown me great knowledge of many worlds and many armies ripe for the Taking. Set a course for the planet Mars."
Ir Halak said, "As you wish, we will..."
Ir Anûk said, "...take you to the planet Mars."
The Deathsingers prepared to raise their hands, but an explosion rocked the Dreadnaught. Oryx yelled, "What happened?!"
Ir Halak said, "Damage from the Guardians who killed you before..."
Ir Anûk finished, "...still hurts the ship today."
Oryx said, "Then get to fixing it. We leave the instant that the repairs are finished."
Ir Halak said, "As you wish..."
Ir Anûk finished, "...father."
Fortress
The combined group of Steven's lieutenants and the Resistance were inside the fortress. Steven waved both of his hands as the walls began to shift around. The entrance sealed shut as the throne room shifted upwards over the rooms. The rooms began to close in on each other as wings shifted open over the sides of the fortress. A nose cone opened over the the front entrance as the fortress slowly began to lift off the ground. The fortress had transformed into a massive capital ship. Steven said, "Everyone. Welcome aboard the Reclamation."
Donatello asked, "Hey. Without your army, who's gonna pilot this thing?"
Steven said, "I had a contingency plan for that. Initiate Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System."
An attuned female voice activated as several computers opened around everyone. The voice said, "GLaDOS online. Salutations, High Ruler. I see you have managed to imprison the entire Resistance. Shall we begin our planetary conquest?"
Steven said, "Change of plans. GLaDOS, call me Steven. We're going out to find Oryx and stop him from doing whatever it is he's planning."
GLaDOS said, "Roger that, Steven. Beginning travel to the ring of Saturn."
The Reclamation began rocketing forwards. Space began bending around it as the ship blasted into light speed.
Dreadnaught
Oryx was looking over the Taken Mabel and Mishima, who knelt before him. Oryx said, "So, the High Ruler used my power on children? The power to control and mutilate entire armies, and he wields it like a child. Barebones, surface-level usage. There's so much more he could be using it for."
Mabel suddenly lurched upward and said, "I can smell a foreign presence. They have followed us."
Oryx said, "Let them come. They will die as soon as they get close."
Reclamation
Steven said, "GLaDOS. Talk to me. Can he see us?"
GLaDOS said, "Affirmative. But his weapons remain offline. It seems he knows about us, but has taken no action to move closer."
Connie said, "He's baiting us."
Ryuji walked up to Steven and said, "Hey, Steven. We wanted to talk about our powers. They only work in the Metaverse. We're not gonna be much help here."
Steven said, "I got some stuff for that. Come with me. GLaDOS hold this position. If the positioning of that ship changes, tell me."
Steven brought the Phantom Thieves to another room. He pressed a button on his wrist and small platforms opened and raised. Each one held a mask of the Phantom Thieves, except for Futaba's. Steven grabbed the mask for Akira and handed it to him. Akira put the mask on. Steven said, "Activate."
The mask lit up as nanomachine swarms engulfed Akira's body. The nano machines transformed into his Phantom Thieves attire. Akira looked at his body, smiling. Steven said, "Weapons."
In one hand, a dagger formed from the nano machines. In his other hand, a pistol formed. Steven explained, "Those nanomachines have formed into weapons that matched your skillsets, scanned from your mind. I can't replicate your Persona powers, but I can replicate your melee and gun skills. Just think 'Activate' to trigger your suit and 'Weapons' to activate your weapons. Take your masks."
The rest of the Phantom Thieves grabbed their respective masks.
Futaba said, "What about mine?"
Steven said, "You should stay up here. The tools we have on this ship, should suit your liking."
Morgana meowed.
Steven said, "Oh, yeah. Uh...I'm not so sure about you. I think I'll need some time to develop something."
Morgana shook his head and meowed again.
Elsewhere on Reclamation
In another part of the ship, Weiss and Blake were loading their weapons when Yang and Ruby met up with them. Yang said, "So, mind telling us why you've been trying to kill us?"
Blake said, "Because you left us behind. You left us inside Beacon Academy as it fell apart."
Ruby said, "That's not what happened. The rubble collapsed around you, and we thought you died. The High Ru...Steven tried to trick you into helping us. He warped your memory. We're sorry we didn't go back for you, but we're here now."
Weiss started laughing and said, "Of course he tricked us. He tricked everyone. I was so stupid."
Yang said, "It's ok. We're gonna end this today."
Elsewhere on Reclamation
Aang was sitting alone as Steven walked up to him. Aang looked at him and said, "Hey."
Steven said, "Hey."
Aang said, "Did you even feel? Any remorse? Any conviction?"
Steven said, "I did. I can never get her face out of my mind. But I was so corrupted by that Marker, I didn't care. I can't bring back those who've been lost. I can't bring back those that I've taken. I expect no forgiveness from you, Avatar. But I can save who we have now. I can help you protect who we have here."
Aang said, "I know. At the monastery where I was trained, we were taught forgiveness above all else. We were taught to never take a life."
"That's a strong philosophy to have. I respect it. What are you going to do?"
Aang said, "I'm going to protect those who I love. I'm going to help you protect everyone else. I'm not gonna let another Katara happen again."
Steven said, "I'll stand by you on that mission, Avatar."
An alarm started blaring as a GLaDOS' voice started. She said, "I have detected a power surge from the Dreadnaught's engines. They are preparing a jump."
Steven said, "See if you can figure out his destination. Take us there."
GLaDOS said, "Affirmative. Location marked. Setting course to...Mars."
Steven said, "Mars? What's on the planet Mars that's so important?"
Dreadnaught
On the bridge of the Dreadnaught, Ir Halak and Ir Anûk waved their hands in front of the bridge. Their magic tore a hole in the fabric of reality. They entered this whole and were warped to the planet Mars. Behind them was the Reclamation. Steven was in front and asked, "What would any of my soldiers know about that's on Mars? Unless...of course."
Aragorn asked, "What?"
Steven said, "A long time ago, I sent small squadrons of Elites across the solar system for small scouting jobs alongside Taken. Oryx must've claimed them and whatever those soldiers found, Oryx knows about."
Toph said, "Only one way to find out."
The Reclamation held orbit over Mars. Steven said, "I say we only go down in small squads. Less risky. Coon and friends go down with Arbiter, Gandalf, and Master Chief. We'll wait up here in case things go bad."
Surface of Mars
Oryx was standing alongside a massive Hive knight carrying an axe. The knight said, "My father. Why are we here?"
Oryx said, "Many of my children and family perished in the wake of my passing, Alak-Hul. Now that I've returned, I want to bring them back. This is where they lie. On this planet lies a portal to the afterlife...Hell. Come, Darkblade."
Oryx floated into a ruined and broken human installation, with Alak-Hul behind him, dragging his axe. Inside there was a pentagram inscription. Oryx reached his hand inside, and a fiery energy engulfed him and Alak-Hul.
? ? ?
Before long, they found themselves in a fiery landscape, with skulls and bones forming the spiked hell-scape. Oryx and Alak-Hul began moving through the fiery scape. When they reached an open arena, portals began bursting open, revealing various demons. Some were massive horned red demons with goat legs. Others were small imps, and others were floating balls with giant mouths and single eyes. Oryx slid his hands together and a sword formed from his hands. A horned demon charged him as he spun around slicing it in half. Alak-Hul teleported to the imps, smashing the ground and throwing them apart.
Another horned demon charged him from the back and he grabbed it by the head. He pressed it to its knees. He said, "My family rests in this place, demon. You will take me to them."
The Taken power engulfed the demon, as it succumbed to the Taken power. It began walking forward, with Oryx and Alak-Hul following.
Surface of Mars
Coon and Friends, Arbiter, Gandalf and Master Chief were on the planet surface. Clyde said, "How are we able to breath?"
The Arbiter revealed a device on the back of his neck. He explained, "This is an oxygenic synthesizer. It's projecting a small bubble of oxygen for you humans to breath. Just stay near me."
Token said, "I'm picking up traces of Oryx's energy signature. The path takes us this way."
Kyle said, "Just like old times, right Arbiter?"
The Arbiter chuckled and said, "Just like old times."
The group began walking. Gandalf said, "Arbiter. Tell me about yourself and your species."
The Arbiter said, "The Sangheili are a warrior race from the planet Sanghelios. Many of us joined together with the alien army known as the Covenant. We were the Elites. I was special. As the Arbiter, I was granted the highest honor a Sangheili can be granted."
Kyle asked, "So, wait. Arbiter isn't your real name?"
The Arbiter said, "No. My real name is Thel 'Vadam. Arbiter is simply a title."
Chief said, "Thel 'Vadam. I remember you. We worked together to battle the Flood."
Thel said, "It is an honor to cooperate with you again, Spartan."
As they continued to follow Oryx's path, they finally came across the destroyed human installation. Tweek asked, "Wait. Were there people here before us?"
Thel explained, "Likely. Though the Sangheili we sent never reported back anything on human installations. Come to think of it, they never reported back period."
They walked inside, following Oryx's trail until they found the pentagram. Token said, "The trail runs cold here. It's like it stopped on that wall."
Thel carefully stuck his hand towards the pentagram. When his hand phased through it, he said, "It's a portal."
Thel placed down an anchor and passed out wristbands to everyone. Each wrist band suddenly began to glow as a plasma tether shot from the anchor to each band. Thel said, "This is to pull us out of there in case the situation turns against us."
When they walked inside, they found themselves in the fiery landscape. Kenny said, "This looks strangely familiar."
Kyle said, "Yeah. I feel like I've seen this before."
Thel said, "Stay close."
After walking they suddenly came across Oryx holding his hands out, as various monsters that resembled him began lurching upwards from the ground. Token said, "Try and contact the Reclamation."
Thel pressed his hand to his ear and said, "Reclamation. Come in."
Though slightly obscured by static, Futaba's voice came through. She said, "This is the Reclamation. We read you, Arbiter."
Thel said, "We have found Oryx. He's resurrecting his family. We entered a portal on Mars, and must be in some sort of afterlife dimension. How do we proceed?"
After a minute, Futaba said, "Get out of there. If Oryx has his entire family with him, they're too strong for just you guys."
Thel said, "Copy that. Retreat."
Just as they were preparing to leave, more demons began bursting from the ground. They were Taken. The group unsheathed their weapons. Gandalf pressed his staff to the ground, creating a sphere of light around them, blocking back the Taken. Oryx and the rest of his family disappeared into a ball of black magic, and Gandalf suddenly expanded the sphere, blasting back the Taken demons. Thel yelled, "Hang on!" Thel pressed a button on his wrist, activating the tethers, but nothing happened. Kyle yelled, "Why isn't it working?!"
Thel said, "Come on! Just follow the tethers, and it should lead us back to the portal."
The group began running with Taken demons in pursuit. When they ran through an archway, Master Chief shot his assault rifle at it causing it to collapse, slowing the demons down. The group suddenly found hundreds of Taken demons, some small and some large, blocking their way back. Chief started firing at them, but their charge wasn't slowed. He looked around and noticed a stairwell. He yelled, "Everyone down there!"
As they ran through, Kyle shot his laser eyes at the ceiling, collapsing it behind them stopping the demons. Kyle said, "That won't hold them for long. Any ideas?"
Cartman said, "We can take those guys!"
Thel said, "No. Not yet anyway. There's too many and we're too few."
Kenny said, "We can't exactly sit here forever."
Token said, "Hey guys. Check this out."
Token was scanning a coffin. On the side it read,
Here lies the bane of Hell.
The Doom Marine
Craig said, "The Doom Marine? What the hell is that?"
Chief said, "He's the bane of Hell. I think there's a reason he's locked up here."
Chief kicked off the top of the coffin, revealing a human man inside with a brown haired crewcut. Chief looked over him as Gandalf said, "He's the bane of Hell, yet he's merely a man."
Chief looked closer to the human until he suddenly woke up, grabbing Chief by the neck and lifting him in the air. He rose up with Master Chief in his hand. When the wall began shaking the man dropped Master Chief and walked back towards a wall. He pressed onto the wall as it shifted open to reveal a set of green armor, similar to Master Chief's. He quickly assembled it over his body, grabbed a gun imbedded in the wall, and pumped the front, revealing it as a shotgun. The rubble burst open revealing two smaller Taken demons with armored heads. They charged forward as the man jumped out of the way. He blasted apart one's tail with his shotgun then tore off the tusk of the other one and slashed its throat with it. Thel said, "Unsheaghe your weapons! We've got help!"
The group charged out behind the man who began unloading his shotgun while Chief unloaded his assault rifle on the coming demons. Tweek began moving at high speeds to cut through the smaller ones. Cartman jumped on a massive horned beast, scratching at its eyes, then Kyle cut it in half with his laser eyes. The man grabbed a demon and tore it in half lengthwise. Clyde flew up and grabbed a floating orb demon, sticking his extended nose into it and sucked out its strength, as it slowly dissipated. Kenny kicked and punched at the imps rushing him. Master Chief pulled out and threw out a grenade, blowing apart more of the armored demons. Token blasted some demons into the walls with a sonic blaster, and Craig punched them further through the walls. Craig punched away one demon, Chief shoulder bashed another and Kenny leapt off the wall and took down a third one.
With an opening, the group rushed through. Thel slashed through demons striking at the side and Gandalf kept pushing them back with blasts of light. They finally reached the end of the tether and jumped through the portal.
As the group regained their senses in the abandoned facility, the man began walking away. Gandalf said, "Wait, kind sir. You seem to be well versed in combatting these demons. A man of your skills will be greatly appreciated, Doom Marine."
The Doom Marine stopped and turned to the group. Without talking, the Doom Marine continued walking away.
Kyle said, "I guess he's not much of a talker."
Chief said, "There's gonna be a lot more demons to kill."
The Doom Marine stopped and turned to Chief. He said, "First thing you did when you woke up was start killing those things. You enjoy it. Come with us, and there's a hell of a lot more where that came from."
After about a minute, the Doom Marine held his hand out and Master Chief shook it. Thel said, "Futaba. We made it to the surface. Bring us back."
An electrical field engulfed them and they disappeared.
Dreadnaught
Oryx was standing before his family. One was Crota, son of Oryx, a massive translucent green Hive knight; another was Omnigul, Wife of Crota, a floating witch in a robe, three fingered claws, and glowing eyes; another was Malok, Pride of Oryx, a humanoid blob holding a massive gun in his hand; Alak-Hul, Ir Halak and Ir Anûk, and Oryx's sisters Savathûn and Xivu Arath. Savathûn was also a witch like Omnigul, but her body morphed into a gaseous form at the bottom half. Xivu Arath was also a knight, wielding two swords that could connect with each other at the handles. Oryx said, "My sisters. My children. The dawn of a new age has begun. These new creatures have shown me the plans for a great weapon. They know of one being who can operate these weapons. Daughters. Take us to the planet Requiem."
Ir Halak said, "As you wish, father. We will..."
Ir Anûk finished, "...bring you to the planet Requiem."
