Act V - The Dark Below

Chapter 15 - Dark Soul

[Last City, Tower, Tower Accommodation]

"Zzz...Zzz...Zzz..."

"Ceres. Ceres~ Time to get up," Ugh... I swatted my hand at Taka, trying to get her to leave me alone, covering my body further to avoid her stare. Might have been me, but her voice was different... "...I know that but she told me to go ahead and wake her up...?"

Huh? Why was... wait? Groggily I cracked an eye open, peering through my hair up at the clothed person looming above me, head titled down at me with a curious frown. It took my brain a few seconds to fully realize the situation, as my body locked under the covers while my face turned completely red in horror.

"...Z-Z-Zane...!?" I blurted out, nestling myself closer in my bed, realizing I was... I uh... I was still... "...!"

Zane's eyebrow quirked, clearly confused. "Sorry for waking you, but Taka told me to wake you up and... why are you reaching for the lamp?" He asked as I immediately latched a hand around the base, lifting it while my left hand held the covers closer to my body, face burning as I shut my eyes angrily at both him, myself and Taka. "I'm going to get hurt, aren't I?"

"AHHHHHH!" The lamp flew with a blaze of my Light sunken into the object, crashing against Zane's face with enough force to send him flying into my wardrobe, a number of engrams tumbling down atop his head in a complete daze

My face was still on fire, all while I glared endlessly at Taka, the girl passively sipping on some tea, but I could see a bead of sweat roll down her face. Zane himself was rubbing his head, face also red while Rika laughed at his expense, Ghost looked to me apologetically.

"I'm sorry - I tried to stop them!" I didn't blame him, he'd never do that to me. But if I wasn't a slightly-immortal being I'd have died there and then from the sheer embarrassment handed to me

"Why. Did. You. Do. That?" I worded carefully toward the Striker, her fingers clicking in Zane's direction

"He said Eris had an urgent mission for you guys, so I asked him to wake you up while I got your back-up gear sorted out since yours is... well, completely trashed," I remained stoic but that news did pique my interest. Something to do with Crota's army I bet, wonder what they're doing now? Other than trying to wake a powerful Hive-Prince. Taka then cleared her throat, waving a hand apologetically. "I really didn't know you were sleeping in-"

"Don't. Finish that, for the love of God, I'm begging you." I pleaded with her, Zane himself still completely taken back by my sudden attack from before, so with a sigh, I rubbed the back of my neck sheepishly, my face finally returning to normal. "S-Sorry about attacking you... I-I was just caught off guard."

He smiled anyway, clapping his hands in a daze. "Welp! If anything it proves that not even the Fist of Crota himself could keep you down, so that's a good sign!" He praised me, making my cheeks turn pink again - Argh, stupid brain and it's stupid theories! "Besides, I can't quite feel the brain damage so that's also good! I think I had some slight relapse too!"

"I can fix your body not your stupidity, sorry," Rika replied sarcastically, making us laugh at Zane's expense. Besides the rude awakening his arrival was nice, a change of pace too

Setting my cup down I stood up, adjusting my top a bit. "Alright then, I'll be out in a few minutes, then we'll meet up with Morbin, sound good?" I asked Zane kindly, and he gave me an 'OK' sign, then I glared dangerously at Taka. "Have him walk in on me changing and I'll personally throw you off the wall!"

"Hah, never change, Ceres!" Taka mused, with CT sighing beside her

"I swear you've been spending too much time with Dimitri..." The ghost exasperated

"I second that!" Zane added, making me grin at the back-up I now had


Stepping out into the living room I adjusted my gloves a bit.

I wore a modified Devastation Complex armor. Applying my red, black, and white color scheme again and replacing the chestplate with my Crest of Alpha Lupi, I had this gear stored for emergencies encase the one I wore got destroyed, it too was cut down to be slim, that bulky armor didn't suit me at all. Armed with my weapons and Light I was ready to go again, slipping my helmet on which now had a glowing red line down the middle, I motioned to Zane to follow. My Sunbreaker Mark strapped carefully to my waist.

"Seeya, Taka," I waved back, herself giving a small wave of her own

"Have fun~" While a nice thought, I shared a look with Ghost, feeling a pressure tighten in my chest, it wasn't like the Fist of Crota, this strange, twisting sensation filled me with dread. Something bad was coming, and it snaked along my back with a chilling touch


[Old Russia, Cosmodrome, Mothyards]

Not long after meeting up with Morbin we set out for the Cosmodrome, arriving within the Mothyards miles of abandoned, rusted aircraft, screams and howls of Fallen echoing far. Summoning out Sparrows we sat in silence as Eris came onto the com channel.

~Crota's armies are seeking out the last Warmind. You must stop them from finding Rasputin. Rasputin is the last of the Warminds. They were the greatest defense systems ever devised, a massive network of satellites and doomsday weapons built to protect humanity. Crota's army gathers near one of the Warmind's hidden bunkers. We cannot let the Hive destroy Rasputin... or worse... control him~

I put a finger to my chin, realizing something. "So Rasputin really is that close, huh? I thought he'd be hidden in one of those Bray-Tech facilities elsewhere?" It was quite the lucky find for me a Morbin back then, but after that no-one knew where he was originally, since he had appeared inside Mars' old Bray-Tech facilities too

"He's given the Cabal a run for their money on Mars, it was funny." Zane humored, then Eris continued, the three of us taking off on our Sparrows due to Ghost updating my HUD with a waypoint, guess we're going to the Forgotten Shore then

~This is true, however, there's a secret entrance to the Warmind's bunker beneath the Forgotten Shore. Stop the Hive from reaching Rasputin~ How did Eris know of a hidden way in? We didn't really need an answer, flying down the stream and out the other end of the canyon in seconds, the retracted sea still looking as derelict as ever I see

~So when we find Rasputin, how can we be sure he won't, uh, target us?~ Ghost asked warily at our approach to one of the two relay points the Fallen tried to use before, only now they were... all dead, Fallen weaponry and corpses were littering the abandoned building, from the black soot and claw marks it was a clear sign of the Hive's involvement

~It is as you discovered previously with the Fallen, the enemy of my enemy if there is one thing Humanity and Fallen dislike more than anything, it's the Hive. Rasputin would be no different~ Eris spoke simply, finding it amusing judging by her voice. It was true, and deep down, a part of me hoped that Fallen we met, Silvis, was okay, despite being our enemy, she and her other Devils probably have suffered enough without the other Houses warring with them

"Somehow that doesn't make me feel any less bothered," Morbin grumbled, motioning with his fingers that the coast was clear, the rusted steps into the complex were falling apart but managed to hold our weight, even the flicking of Fallen lights had me on edge, it was strange not hearing the Fallen among the ruins

~Rasputin remains silent, but still fights to protect us. We cannot let Crota's army find a way around the Warmind's defenses, or Crota's disciples will flood the Earth~ Eris spoke with urgency, not really helping in the stress department, is she?

Ghost then whispered in my head. "I don't think she does, happy." Not true, Ghost, the Festival of the Lost taught me that. "True, but you'd think she'd atleast encourage us just a bit."

I giggled softly. "That would be helpful..." I sighed, holding my hand up for them to stop, my eyes leering down into the basement, finding no sign of Fallen or Hive. Clear, we proceeded to a strange addition to the underground storage, it was completely out-of-place, but a large, diamond-shaped door of metal grey stood before us, locked into the earth itself, large, white symbols were painted on the door, the larger ones looked like a zero with a line through the middle and a six, with the initials '5-6' beneath it

The second we set foot inside the basement a new song started to play instead of that static, Russian radio broadcast. It was sad orchestral music, reverberating through-out the empty rooms. Eris then grimaced.

~That music...? Rasputin's in trouble~ Just then, the door parted upward in two pieces, releasing the bolts and mist. Inside I awed at the sudden change to the world around me. Gone was the rusted, overgrown wastelands, and now a clean, untouched hallway of complex machinery and science, a yellow railing marking out the pathway ahead

I was shoved forward, startling me. "Less gawking more moving." Morbin ushered me forward, and I pushed aside my growing curiosity and took the lead again, our weapons were drawn. If this door was sealed how did the Hive breach Rasputin's bunker? Did the Hive find another way in? These walls looked reinforced and sturdy enough to survive a warhead, so how?

~I have never known him to welcome visitors. Find the control room~ Eris remained stoic as ever, the hallways were traveled were so quiet that I could hear my own breathing. This tension was killing me, and the feeling of dread never left my chest, It felt like this when I saw Omnigul, those eyes saw through my mask, as though I was defenseless

I shook my head, moving faster as to not arouse any suspicion from my fireteam, they needed to focus too, I'll deal with this stupid feeling later, but it did help in one regard. I jumped back, throwing my CLG into the open hallway toward our left, a number of purple shot ricocheting off the walls.

"Acolytes, and alot of Thrall..." I murmured, hearing their numerous cries. We looked to Zane, himself pulling Hard Luck away and cracking his knuckles. With an earnest voice, I tapped his arm. "Thanks."

"Just following orders is all." He clicked his tongue and flew into the room, snapping his hand high for the Arc blade to take form, body electrifying the panels under his feet

Myself and Morbin watched from a distance as the Thrall swarmed Zane, slicing at his body with little effect on his armor. He kicked a Thrall back, slicing through the crowd with a single lunge, throwing the knife into the kicked Hive. Procuring it he spun around, deflecting the bolts of Void from the Acolytes, themselves hiding behind a Knight's shield.

Untapped light quickly blinded every enemy in the area, a burst of Arcbolt grenades tracing the Knight, knocking it back over the railing. I felt my eyes widen at the flurry of Arc bolts carving as though the moon's crescent became a blade, tearing through the infestation with ease.

"I get it now, he's using brute strength to quickly thin their numbers, expending less Light as he does." My thoughts egged on to what Zane was attempting. I smiled, realizing Zane had learned more than just enhancing his body from Vlad, guess I still have alot to learn

He spun to my left, pushing us aside to slam his feet into an Acolyte that Morbin had almost shot, but Zane's boots sent in flying into the far wall of the wide, diamond-shaped corridor. Zane spun on a heel, tossing his knife carelessly through the air. With a high-kick, he took the head of a Thrall off, plucking his knife from the air

With a flick he pressed the tips of his fingers to the edge, flinging it through the remaining three Thrall, dropping them into piles of chitin and bone. His Bladedancer finally wore off, and yet the attack continued. I took the lead and defended Zane from a Knight's Boomer Cannon, the shot burned but did little to shake my aim, several bursts of high-caliber rounds quickly dropped it

*Blam! Schklikt*

A slug flung another Acolyte back, the flick of Judgement just out the corner of my eye as a Thrall pounced, leveling with the shotgun that blew its brain matter across the bunker, followed by a fist sinking through another Acolyte, using it as a shield to charge up the stairs. Morbin threw it into the railing, snapping its spine, while pointing his shotgun under his left arm, releasing another round of buckshot on two more Acolytes.

"Your existence as biological matter is insulting." Morbin stomped down on the last Hive, crushing its head with a sickening 'crunch', even that wasn't pleasant to hear much less see. Picture an egg being crushed, that's how I'm seeing it

"I think we got them," Zane tapping his Handcannon gently to his helmet, rubbing his temple. "Think we should check on Ra Ra Rasputin?" Zane inquired, while I heard Rika grumble into the coms, another quote

Peering through the observation room we stood in I could see the large Control Core below, a large funnel with monitors surround its body, while hundreds of wires fed into the machine, lights dotting the ceiling and walls of the decagon-shaped room. Elevated walkways surrounding the outer rim of the Core. Taking the right doorway we proceeded with our mission, and that feeling wasn't going away, this wasn't over or was I just paranoid?

~Find the controls. Make sure the Hive haven't destroyed Rasputin~ Eris informed us. Morbin stood near the doorway, noting how it shut behind us, while I and Zane jogged to the back of the room, noting the control panels overseeing Rasputin's Core. Said A.I didn't make a sound, so maybe he was okay?

"Okay... let me see here..." I murmured, pressing a few buttons that I believe would run a diagnostic scan of Rasputin's systems if the Hive got into his systems this would be the best way to check. So far, everything seems normal. Pursing my lips at the data, I couldn't make it all out but green meant it was good. "So far so good... nothing has been tampered with, say for a single anomaly, Hive magic... of course."

"So we find whatever... did the... teleporting..." Zane went quiet, his hand pulling me out of my focus. He tilted my head up at the screens, seeing every single visual monitor start to produce static. My eyes finally crept open wider, as I held onto my Rifle

All the screens turn red with a loud noise. Old Russian symphony music begins to play in quick tones over the speakers. ~Something's wrong... step back, Guardians~ We listened to Eris, seeing the large, familiar cloud of Hive mist engulf where I was previously standing

From the mist, my eyes locked again with bright blue, the shadow looming over us as the Wizard turned completely. It was her! Eris sounded horrified

~Omnigul! Silence her screams!~ We were way ahead of her, throwing down both our CLGs to consume her and the Thrall she summoned in an instant. We took to the lower platform, watching for any flanking Hive. Even within the roaring flames and sparks of lightning, her gaze never faltered, even while she crumbled away with a cackle that made Zane visibly tremble

"I really don't like her," Zane muttered, my gaze falling to Morbin who fired at the observation glass. Omnigul watched from above through the windows, glaring down at us while her arms burned a bright blue, rising high to conjure new summoning circles. Like a queen, she let her minions do the work "Get back, Ceres!"

I was pulled back into his arms, startled by the sudden sheen of silver that nearly cut my face off. There was something else here with us, staring down at us with emotionless eyes. We stood our ground against Omnigul's ally, and yet it bore no resemblance to a Hive. A Fallen, draped in royal purple cloth, and an eerie, blackish-red aura emanating from its hide. Zane had his gun raised, but I could only stand and stare, my whole body trembling.

"...n-no... not you..." My eyes shook as pinpricks, while I felt my gun fall from my hands at the mere sight and sensation of that aura. Zane took a quick glance to me then back at the Fallen holding four blades, leveling Hard Luck he was surprised to see the Fallen remain unwavered, simply twirling one of its swords. I grabbed my head, trying to sink back into the wall. "...not again..."

"Okay, I've had enough," Zane only fired once, yet the bullet missed, having seen his arm pierced by two swords, twisting his limb in the other direction. With a grunt, the Fallen spun and kicked Zane over the railing, landing atop an Acolyte below, Morbin fending off the horde on his own. "Ceres!"

I flinched, my eyes shakily peering back at the Fallen... no... at Revenant, his blades mere millimeters from my throat as I breathed heavily, my heart pounding furiously. I don't know why he was here, or how it changed its form, but this sensation, the field of energy produced from its body, it was the same one that took Harrow's Light, and... I felt really cold.

"Guardian! Guardian! Ceres, run!" Ghost's words snagged in my head, and I rolled away and behind the controls platform, the four swords pulling out of the wall, and it suddenly gave chase, blades swiping high and low maliciously as I ran

*Bam!*

A cold blade sliced through my side, throwing me with enough power to bend the railing to my far right. Even as a Fallen Vandal, this... thing could throw me several meters! My body was shaking like a leaf, I lost my rifle and was scared to even lift a finger. Just one look and I was helpless! Not again, not again!

"Yeet!" Zane's body tackled Revenant, who grabbed him with a twist of his lower hands, spinning him around and slamming his body into the ground. His eyes continued to leer in my direction, as though it froze me in place. Suddenly, Zane's legs wrapped up and around Revenant's neck, pulling him down into the railing with a 'clang'

Now off-balance, Zane spun on his hands and swept Revenant's feet out from under it, kicking out to shove the creature against the wall of the consoles. Without hesitation, Zane grabbed my hand and pulled me to my feet, handing me my rifle as I fumbled with it in my hands, trying to focus against my racing heart.

"Hey," His hand locked to my right, guiding it to the trigger. "Go and help Chrome Dome," Zane jabbed a finger at the restless Vandal rising to its feet. "I got this."

I shook my head, grabbing his chest armor. "...No... don't, y-you'll..." He tapped a finger to where my nose would be, then shoved me over the railing, landing next to Morbin who was reloading his Hammerhead. "Zane-!"

A flash of gold and soon my vision was pulled away to view Morbin, himself kicking a Thrall back while unleashing a hail of thunderous rounds onto the Hive, their once formidable forces torn to pieces by his machine gun spitting Void-infused metal.

"Stop worrying about him ~HE WILL DRINK THE TEARS OF SORROW~! As he said, he's got this," Morbin assured me or warned me, I couldn't tell. But while I felt my hands still fumble with my Rifle, the image of his hand on mine made the trembling stop... even if only a bit

"O-okay... I'm sorr- Ack!" His fist connected with my head, making me wince

"I'll belt you one later, then we'll see if you've snapped out of it," Morbin promised, then motioned with a nod. "Besides, [BEEP]-face is planning something big."

"Wait, so you managed all of these guys with - How many rounds did you have?" I questioned, seeing the blast marks of his Void Blast, while many bullet holes dotted the floors and walls. In the short space of time I and Zane confronted Revenant, Morbin had single-handedly taken on all of Omnigul's forces. "Remind me never to make you angry."

"I'm always angry." Gee, could have fooled me. Shaking off the small layer of sarcasm I tried my best to focus on the threat ahead. From a much larger dark mist came an Ogre the size of Phogoth. It completely eclipsed us. "Another [BEEP] [BEEP]? Are you serious?"

[Might of Crota]

With a bellowing roar that shook the Core, I switched to Zenobia and unleashed a powerful rocket alongside Morbin's bombardment of rounds, interrupting the flow of energy from the eye, although it still struck us. Taking to the left I spun behind a sever, bursts hammering against the metal box while the shadow loomed, Morbin himself taking care of two Wizards, the 'Wakers of Crota', who summoned traps across the Core, making it impossible for him to move safely.

Just when I thought this would be an easy defeat. Omnigul continued to spectate, making something in me snap. It was her that brought that creature here, she's trying to divide us, I should have kept us together, dammit! My fist slammed against the sever, gliding high over the railing ahead and behind a pillar, my back singed from the wave of energy from the Ogre's eye.

Placing my head against the pillar I let my thoughts drown in Rasputin's music, none of us could tell why he played music or if he could hear us. This place was the last remaining safe haven for the Warmind and if we lost then Rasputin would die too. Despite my heart beating faster at the mere memory of that Vandal, cloaked in the same energy as Kbar's armor, it scared me, I couldn't do anything. But I also couldn't do anything when I faced the Fist of Crota without Morbin's help, and now he needed mine, Zane needed me too.

"Alright, Ceres," I pushed Stranger's Rifle onto my back, cracking my knuckles that now burned brightly, coursing embers danced over my body. "Grit your teeth." My fist clasped the Hammer and I ran out from hiding, body ablaze

The Ogre glared at me, slamming its fists into the ground while unleashing a torrent of energy. I didn't waver, stomping my feet to take the blows I lobbed hammer-after-hammer directly at its knees, bringing it down on the small limbs. From there I bounded over the railing, bringing my hammer down on the Ogre's head, pulling its face into the floor. With unpleasant sounds I tore a chunk of his head off, spinning around to slam my hammer back into its skull, seeing the body roast from the inside, the body quickly bursting into flames.

Omnigul saw me turn to her, still uncaring for the results, even as I pointed my hammer directly at her, my eyes glowing ominously. "Now, it's your turn." The embers danced behind me, and despite the feeling of exerting my Light I didn't so much as give her any sign that I was weak

She cackled, bursting into flames to disappear from the observatory, taking one of the remaining Wakers of Crota with her, aggravating Morbin. However, the music never ceased, and the screens were still infected with a deep, static red. I didn't so much as give Morbin a sign as I ran off toward an open door to the left of the console platform, my body still burning with a much more desperate flame

"Right! Sure, leave me to clean up this mess...!" Morbin grumbled, clearly not liking the fact I just left him again


[Seraphim Vault, Sever Room]

[No-One's POV]

The doorway divided into fours, throwing Zane into the catwalk above the many columns of Servers untouched by time. He rolled back onto his feet, firing three shots that were deflected with ease, using Quickfang to parry a dual lunge from above, both himself and Revenant sliding back.

The creature wasn't so inclined to wait, it came toward Zane head-on, swinging down with his top half, and horizontally with the lower, cleaning air with ease. Zane raised his sword, deflecting a spin attack, followed by two simultaneous thrusts. Then came a slant with the left, followed in quick succession of the right, with the lower arms Revenant struck upward in an 'X', breaking Zane's guard, followed by the upper arms swinging down in the same motion, slicing across his chest.

While Zane's Wolf-Pelt armor blocked it, the pressure was cold, lifeless, as though it was draining the Light around it. This thing wasn't like any enemy he's ever faced, it had skill beyond any Vandal. Zane was forced to defend, blocking blow-after-blow from those rapid strikes, once the two left arms fell Zane reined back Quickfang, thrusting, yet it blocked with both sets of swords, sliding across the catwalk, buying Zane time to leap over its head, firing four shots that bounced off its head, none of the rounds making so much as a scratch.

The Hunter rolled backward, four blades slicing through steel, dislodging the panel behind Revenant. Bouncing back, Zane branched his left arm, going for a feint that left the torso open, with Hard Luck he struck out with the extra length he had, sinking the barrel against its stomach and firing twice, breaking the plate mail. Returning the attack it lunged down with all four blades, Zane's arm craning left to parry the four hastily while simultaneously slicing the platform apart.

Revenant avoided this, bringing its swords down in a large 'X', so Zane jumped high, planting his feet against a pillar left of the catwalk, pushing back with enough force to shove Revenant back, the two locked in a stalemate. Turning with their blades locked Zane kicked out, pushing the Vandal back while it thrashed at the catwalk, making it wobble to the right.

"It barely flinched when I shot it, my Golden Gun couldn't even hurt it with one round, let alone me missing the other two," Zane mind raced, slowly stepping back at the radiant aura that pulsated around Revenant, it was unlike anything he's felt before, he realized why Ceres was so scared. Even so, that mere sight of her petrified state had his blood boiling constantly

"Zane... my Light feels weird..." Zane quirked a brow at Rika's anxious voice but remained silent. "I don't understand - It was like he could... drain my Light."

"If he does then borrow mine, I've still got alot!" Zane challenged the creature's ability, using Light Enhance to its maximum, the bolts bouncing off each other and onto the supports holding the catwalk, Quickfang now the only weapon in his hands, the edge a solid blue tone, while Revenant could see a single eye through the visor glowing akin to the blade. "Want my Light? Here you go..."

It took acceptance to that offer, lunging Zane with a pang of hunger in its eyes, did it really come after them for their Light? Zane slid under its blade, pushing up with a blinding speed that shattered the lower blades with just his body. This resulted in Revenant stepping back, lower arms latching around Zane's abdomen, and to his shock, he saw the bolts of Arc energy begin to fizzle a little around his chest, all of it was being drained. Without needing to think, Zane pulled his body up, pushing his feet up against the Vandal's face, prying himself free of its hold.

Clearly energized by its snack, Revenant brought both its swords down, both tearing through Zane's chest with the same reaction time as himself. Zane tisked and flipped back, flinging three knives that sunk into the Vandal's top arms, but the merely slowed it down, without so much as a hint of discomfort, Revenant lunged again, thrashing wildly to overpower Zane's constant parries. The two arms reached out, bleeding while Quickfang locked in its palms, unable to move the two swords swiped, slicing across Zane's stomach, while a hand grabbed him by the neck, slamming him into the catwalk, throwing him high for a powerful roundhouse to the back.

With pain brimming through my stomach, Zane flipped over, posing himself with both elbows. He laughed weakly, glancing to his radar and back. With his right hand, he formed his fingers into a gun, pulling back on an invisible hammer. He grinned under the visor, even while the Vandal looked unharmed it was clearly agitated by Zane's constant survival during their fight.

With a click of his tongue, he leveled his finger-gun with Revenant. "Boom-" A golden hammer shattered the Vandal's mask, the sunspot raining embers down on Zane and Revenant. "-Headshot."

Ceres stormed past Zane, composure practically screaming hatred and fear at the same time. Revenant shook its head, turning back around to receive the head of the hammer tearing through its mandible, sending it flying through the air, and yet to their mixed surprise the Hammer of Sol completely drained of color, turning to dust.

"W-What just -" Ceres took a stand before Zane, raising her shotgun while her throat let out a fury the Hunter had never heard before. "Get up again and I'll shove more than a few slugs down your throat!"

It didn't so much as give her a passing thought, reclaiming its swords it hunched over and ran for the duo, even while green flames enveloped its body, the very last second of its appearance was that of a sword phasing through Ceres' body, the remaining embers fading away into the sterilized air. After a long battle, the two Guardians finally relaxed, Zane fell backward and Ceres sat down with a heavy sigh, holding onto her still trembling hands, but found she was okay, for now at least. The room brightened up and the music faded out. Machines began to turn on and whir back to life.

"Hey, Red," Ceres turned at the name, only to receive a right hook to the side of her face, sending her sprawling onto the catwalk. "Snapped out of it yet?"

"Ouch..." Zane winced

"Damn, didn't see that coming." Rika blinked, floating around Zane to check his injuries

Ceres rubbed the spot on her helmet, coughing a bit. "Ow... I'm okay, though I don't think that was really necessary," She winced, seeing him crack his knuckles so she sat up straight, waving her hands. "I'm right as rain! Honest!"

"You better be, I'm done caring for suicidal Guardians, they aren't worth saving," Morbin grumbled harshly, sitting against the railing. "So, what now?"

"Besides Omnigul having her own Light-hungry slave? No idea!" Zane wasn't overly thrilled by the idea, and if they had to fight it again it may not be an uphill battle. "It tried to drain my Light, it can do that."

"...Just like what happened to Harrow and his ghost, figures, if this thing can shapeshift it may very well be the most dangerous being in the solar system ~I'LL [BEEP] that [BEEP]ing little [BEEP] then [BEEP] its corpse with a [BEEP]ing [BEEP]!~ Exactly..." Morbin had all but deafened his companions with that censor but they got the gist of what he meant

"Yeah... but," They looked to Ceres, seeing her close her hand with a small flicker of flames. "I'll kill it, I swear I'll make it pay."

"How about we handle cackling bitch-face first, then move onto sweet-sweet revenge?" Zane's offer was definitely tempting, just then, their conversation was cut short by Eris who sighed, sounding no better than the three of them

~Despite this grave news, Well done, Guardians. Rasputin is safe, but Crota's army is more powerful than I thought. We cannot rest. Now is the time to stop them completely, we must hunt down his last general, Omnigul, meet with me and your Vanguard back at the Tower, we have much to discuss~ Eris informed them all, and the battle against Crota's army only seemed to grow dire by the day

Zane walked over to Ceres, pulling her up with her arm over his shoulder. She hesitated, head turned away. "I can walk, really."

"I know, but something tells me you just need to relax for a while," Zane whispered as to not arose the irritated Exo who was getting his ghost to scan the bunker. Ceres couldn't see his face and vice versa, but she smiled warmly, planting her head on his shoulder. "Let's go, Titan Lady."

"Sure... thank you, again." Ceres' sweet voice echoed in his ear as they left for the safety of the Tower, Ceres bonded to Zane's hip along the way

To Be Continued...


How's that for a change in direction!? Haha, now then, lots of stuff, and now we move onto my... ugh, most hated Strike bar the Bond Brothers, The Will of Crota. As much as I hate it I need to cover it. Other than my crippling insanity, I hope you enjoyed, seeya in the next chapter, Guardians!

Next Chapter: Silencing the Screams

The Vanguard is pulling no punches, in order to prevent Crota's return that loomed over their heads they must take care of a final wall, Omnigul. Led by several Fireteams to distract the Hive and House of Kings, Horizon makes their move in infiltrating Omnigul's nest to take her on while her forces are stretched thin.