Summer Rose could hardly even believe what she was seeing. Every fiber of her being wanted to deny that the sight before her was real. Her mind raced a thousand miles a minute, trying to find some convoluted explanation for everything. A new breed of Silacoids capable of shapeshifting? A hallucination caused by Origin's psionic powers? A bad dream that stemmed from Leon Van Doorn's cooking? All the explanations in the world didn't make this specific scenario any more plausible, and yet here it was clear as day.

There were Grimm on the moon.

And they were heading straight for her and her squad.

Confusion turned to anger, which flowed into resolve. She narrowed her eyes and pulsed her battle focus, slowing down the world around her and giving her a chance to think and formulate a plan. Asaru was there, hovering next to her formless consciousness, his four arms holding onto ephemeral strings that kept her tethered to her body.

Summer… intoned Asaru, how is this possible?

I don't know, she replied. But what I do know is how to fight them, so that's what I'm gonna do.

She cast a glance over the battlefield, taking note of the current area and the types of Grimm whose charge was slowed but not stopped by her current perception of time. The long hallway where the original Sleepwalkers were kept had no natural cover or defenses, but it also had plenty of wide open space that the Grimm had to cross. All the Sleepwalkers were still in their secure cells, so there was no chance of them being injured in the battle that was to come. And while the current packs of Beowolves and Creeps didn't pose a serious threat to a seasoned Huntress like herself, they were still dangerous to everyone else; the canine Beowolves had claws and fangs that specialized in rending flesh from bone, and the raptor-like Creeps had rows of razor-sharp teeth and a habit of burrowing underground to catch their prey unawares.

Okay, first question: you unlocked my Aura with your power. Can you do something similar for my silver eyes?

The Ethereal tilted his head. ...silver eyes?

Summer mentally sighed. Guess that's a no. Time for Plan B, then.

Reality snapped back into view as Summer's battle focus ended, hands glowing with azure light. The Grimm continued their charge towards the squad, only for a massive concussive blast to knock them backwards Iike ragdolls. Rather than press the advantage, Summer used the precious few minutes she'd gained to whirl and face her allies, barking commands at the twenty men and women staring in shock and confusion.

"Listen up! You're all about to get a crash-course in fighting the Grimm! I want two overlapping lanes of fire facing the horde at all times - shotguns and LMGs in the front, rifles in the back! Engineers and Supports, lead off with flashbangs and landmines to stun and thin the crowds, while Commandos keep their shock spades warmed up in case the beasts get too close! Recons, the minute you see something get too close, you either call it out or you turn it to ash! And above all else, do not get into melee with these things! They can drop the Aura of an inattentive Huntsman in seconds - they'll tear through you like tissue paper! Good news is, these ones don't have guns - you do!"

Whatever fear or confusion the Bureau agents felt, it quelled at the valor and confidence on display. They nodded in unison and started reorganizing as instructed.

"What about you, Sierra?" Weaver asked as she joined Crawford and Adam in the back row. "What will you be doing?"

The silver-eyed Huntress looked back at the Grimm, who were already pulling themselves out of the tangled piles of limbs and rising to their feet with dangerous snarls. She gave a low growl of her own, pulling out her shotgun and pumping the slide.

"I'll buy you some time. Let me know when you're ready and I'll fall back!"

With a pulse of her Semblance she scattered into petals, reforming in a dropkick that left a Beowolf open for a barrel full of buckshot to split its head into tarry chunks. She pumped another DEAF shell into place and blasted a Creep to pieces, repeating the process in rapid succession to tear apart Grimm after Grimm. When the shotgun clicked dry, she grabbed the barrel and used it as a club, batting away the monsters with one hand while drawing and slashing with Wandering Thorn in the other. Otherworldly creatures of darkness were left broken and battered by her fearless assault, and yet still more came around the corner.

" Sierra, we're in position!"

Summer ducked under the swiping claw of a particularly large Beowolf, slicing off the Alpha's hand with her blade before scattering once more. She reappeared in the middle of the squad lineup, swapping her empty shotgun for an M14.

"Fire!"

XCOM acted in perfect sync even with the darkness closing in. The lead Beowolf howled in fury and pain, keeping its new stub of an arm close as it advanced alongside its kind. Their movement tripped the proximity sensors of the explosive discs, sending shrapnel and ichor spraying everywhere even as bright flashes of light disoriented the survivors. A torrent of plasma and lead soon followed, boiling shadowy flesh and turning the nightmarish monsters into pulp. Telekinetic blasts from Summer and concussive waves from shock spades kept the horde at bay, while precisely-aimed shots from rifles tore open throats and shattered skulls.

Not every Grimm fell without a fight, though.

The one-armed Alpha shrugged off even the toughest weapons fire as it advanced, unimpeded by the explosives or the flashbangs. It lunged past the firing squad and targeted Summer, who scattered to avoid the attack. Then she reappeared on its back and tried to fire into the back of its head, only for the beast to leap backwards and ram itself against the wall, dazing her just long enough for the wolf to turn around and bite at her throat.

" Summer!"

"I'm fine!" She shoved the length of her rifle along the Alpha's jaw, keeping its teeth at bay as it snarled and gnashed against wood and iron. "Keep firing on the other Grimm, don't worry about me!"

The Huntress and the Grimm fought for control of the grapple, with Summer fighting for room to breathe while the Alpha sought to close the gap between her neck and its teeth. As powerful as her Semblance was, it had one fatal flaw that reared its ugly head in this situation - she simply wasn't able to teleport while being pinned or grabbed by an enemy, which was why her combat style revolved so much around rapid short-range bursts of movement to avoid getting locked down. She was just about to charge up a telekinetic blast to buy herself some space when a silver figure in a full spacesuit suddenly appeared next to the Alpha, his Z-62 already in hand as the cloak module wore off.

" Hey doggie," said the Recon as he leveled his machine pistol at the beast. " Heel."

Summer's eyes widened. "Adam, don't - !"

But her warning came too late as the lead wolf swiped backwards with its remaining front claw, sending Adam flying in a wave of shattered glass and crimson blood. Her wide eyes narrowed as she felt the pressure against her ease, giving her enough slack to kick off the wall and flip herself over the beast. Azure light shone from her palms as she blasted the Alpha Beowolf into the wall, slamming the creature with enough force to dent the alien steel. Wandering Thorn came out in an Aura-infused slash that tore open its spine; two more slashes, and the rest of the beast was bifurcated into steaming halves that faded into dark mist.

Panting as she fought the fatigue building in her veins, she turned and saw the rest of the squad continue firing into the quickly-thinning horde, cutting down the last few Beowolves and Creeps as an uneasy silence settled over the room.

No one dared to move even after the final Grimm fell.

"Ugh...ow…"

Summer rushed over to the wounded Adam's side, pulling off the remains of his broken helmet and putting her hands over his bloodied chest and face. Light flowed from her palms into his body, knitting muscles back together and patching up punctured organs. She had no idea how Carter had been able to do this so calmly - the sight of two halves of an eyeball squishing back into one with a loud squelch nearly made her vomit up all the stress that was building in her stomach.

"Thanks, Sierra," gasped Adam after the healing finally finished. Then he sniffed the air. "Huh. You're right, Charlie. It does smell like rotten eggs in here."

Crawford hummed happily, while her girlfriend just seemed more uneasy than ever even with the long-haired Recon hugging her from behind.

"This doesn't make any sense," said Penny quietly as she shook her head, seemingly oblivious to the cuddles. "You said that the Grimm only existed on Remnant, right?"

Summer nodded as she rose to her feet. "I didn't read anything about them in your history books, so I assumed that was the case. Plenty of mythology and stories about bogeymen and other monsters to scare small children, but nothing that says you've ever had to fight them. Until now."

"Christ…" Knox shook his head in disbelief. "You're telling me you used to fight those things all the time?"

"Believe it or not, those aren't even the most dangerous kind I've encountered," she answered morosely. "They only get bigger, stronger, and meaner from here, and even the smaller kinds are no less dangerous. Huntsmen and Huntresses train their whole lives to fight the Grimm...but it's not a war that can ever be really won."

"And we know for certain thanks to your talks with the Infiltrator that not even the Zudjari were able to win that war," mused Weir. "So why would they, the members of a species Origin must thoroughly detest, be on this station?"

"We won't find answers by standing around theorizing," said Weaver with a narrowed gaze. "If there's more of these creatures deeper inside, we can't afford to split the squad. We'll need all the firepower we can get - "

"Actually...we need to split the squad now more than ever," said Summer.

The Director looked back at her. "What do you mean?"

"The Grimm are drawn to negative emotions," explained the Huntress. "It's in their very nature to do so - the more people that gather at once, the more likely they are to attack. And if they do catch us by surprise...I can't guarantee that I'll be able to fight them off and make sure you're all okay. I can keep ten of you safe as we go deeper, maybe a dozen, but any more than that and I'll be stretching myself too thin."

There was a time, not so long ago, when Weaver would have shot Summer a death glare for not only interrupting but disagreeing, yet all she did now was give a slow nod of understanding.

"Alright then, looks like we're dividing and conquering after all. Part of the squad follows you to find Origin, while the rest take the Sleepwalkers back to the Avenger. You're the one most familiar with these Grimm, Sierra - who do you want to bring along to continue the mission?"

Summer hesitated, looking over the assembled group of agents while biting her lower lip. Who did she need to bring? Who did she want to bring? It was about more than just deciding which skillsets or weapons would be best for the task ahead, though obviously that was an important part too. But these weren't just nameless, faceless grunts to her - these were her friends, allies she'd made over the last seven months that she'd come to know and love through fire and hardship. Singling out some of them to follow her into the darkness felt impossible, and sending them away felt even harder.

After much deliberation and private talking with Asaru, she finally made her choices. Thomas Nils was an obvious pick - he'd been with her since Groom Range, and he was easily the best shot Summer had ever seen. Elizabeth Walters was another easy decision, as her professionalism in the face of peril would serve her well against the Grimm. And of course, all her friends from Strike Three were selected as well; Knox Dolan, Gray Dawson, Adam Goldstein, and Raymond Shen would follow her to the ends of the earth, and it only felt right to have them at her back one more time.

The other half of her team soon followed. Alan Weir's calming presence was sure to be a boon to the squad, along with his affinity for alien tech and impressive marksmanship. Jackie and Alfred Mucallin, with their skill at nearly all forms of combat and heavy weapons, were practically itching to join her with valor in their hearts. Penelope Cohen, who had once been an insecure young comms operator that nonetheless welcomed her into the Bureau with open arms and warm hugs, looked oddly eager to fight by Summer's side. With Penny of course came Catherine Crawford, who seemed completely unfazed by the presence of Grimm and whose presence alone put her dearest friend at ease. And finally, Angela Weaver practically volunteered to join, with a determination to see this through that the Huntress couldn't find it in herself to deny.

Her dozen agents assembled alongside her, she turned to address the rest of the group.

"Thank you all for coming this far alongside me," said Summer with a warm smile. "What you're doing is no less important - these Sleepwalkers are more valuable than all the tech in this station combined, especially to the families you'll be reuniting or the closure you'll be providing to loved ones. So I'm trusting you all to lead them back to the ship safely. Stay in the light, keep a calm head, and backtrack the way we came. Barnes has the Avenger docked and waiting for you - what you do once the Sleepwalkers are secured is up to you. We'll keep leaving a trail if you want to come find us later, but don't feel pressured. Humanity owes you all more than you could ever know...and so do I."

Loveday snapped a salute with a smirk, while Briggs gave a rare smile. Zhedrev thumped his chest in agreement, Vahlen nodded tightly, and both Max and Diaz bowed their heads in respect. Bradford gave a stiff salute towards Weaver, while Van Doorn chuckled and stepped forward to shake Summer's hand.

"Been a pleasure serving alongside you, ma'am," he said with a proud smile. "We'll make sure the Sleepwalkers get back to Earth safe and sound, I promise you that."

"I know you will," she said warmly as she nodded. "Thank you."

After goodbyes were exchanged between the two teams - possibly for a little while, possibly for the last time - Summer and her group departed to the opposite end of the lab, while the other half began opening the doors for the Sleepwalkers and escorting them into groups.

Weaver looked back with a pained expression as she saw her Lena be led out of her cell by Vahlen's gentle guidance. "Are we sure that the Grimm won't attack them in force? You said that the more people are gathered, the more attractive a target they are."

Weir pushed his glasses into place. "She also said that the Grimm are drawn to negative emotions. In this sole case, their condition is a blessing - they are unable to form cognizant thoughts, thus it stands to reason that they cannot emote as well. So that should make them invisible to the monsters...as callous as it sounds."

Tears pooled in the Director's eyes. "Right...yeah, that makes sense."

"Don't worry," said Summer, reaching to put a hand on her shoulder. "I promise you that Lena will be safe."

"Safe, sure, but…" Weaver sighed. "You heard what Axis said. There is no cure."

"There's no cure yet," she countered. "When we win, we'll have the Outsiders make one."

A hollow laugh escaped her throat as the squad advanced further down the hall. "Confident, aren't we? Let's just hope you're right…"

The open space of the lab soon gave way to yet another network of winding tunnels, with more darkened halls that felt far more unnerving now that everyone knew what lurked within. Before, Summer had to stop herself from jumping at every shadow - now, she allowed herself to do so. Every red panel light in the distance could be an eye sizing them up, every movement in the corner of vision could be a creature stalking its prey, and every glimpse of white revealed by flashlights could be a bony carapace waiting to strike. The team did a remarkable job suppressing their dread and unease, but Summer wasn't sure how long their nerves would last as they crept through the maze. It reminded her of missions that involved clearing out Grimm nests - the experience of trawling through a labyrinth teeming with monsters tested even the bravest Huntsmen, and no one was sure whether body or will would be the first to crumble to the beasts lurking around corners.

It was almost a relief whenever the Grimm did decide to attack, as the burst of adrenaline that came with combat quelled the fear for as long as the bullets flew. Unlike the massive horde that greeted them in the labs, these skirmishes were often short and terse, lasting only a few moments as smaller groups leapt from the darkness. A dozen Creeps. A half-dozen Beowolves. A trio of Boarbatusks. A brood of juvenile Deathstalkers. All of them fell swiftly before the coordinated fire of Summer and the Bureau, though the beasts often got a few lashes in before they could be cut down completely. The healing powers granted by bonding with an Ethereal proved effective at undoing torn ligaments and ruptured veins, but each gruesome injury weighed heavily on Summer's mind, and not even the pieces of military chocolate Weir passed along could lift her spirits.

Stress proved to be just as powerful a weapon as tooth or claw, and it wore down her team with every step. Nils and Liz inched closer together after each encounter, as did Penny and Crawford. Alfred and Jackie tried to put on brave faces, but the Huntress could tell that even the hardened battle couple was losing valor in the face of nightmares given form. Shen was slow to leave Weir's side for even a moment, Adam and Knox's breathing grew louder and heavier with each new brush with death, and soon Dawson's half-hearted attempts at jokes stopped altogether. Summer had to wonder if Origin intended this, if he had deliberately laid out the Grimm in such a way that they couldn't - or didn't - attack in full force. Maybe the first horde rush had been an earnest attempt to flush them out with blood, and subsequent skirmishes were just there to remind them of the threat the monsters posed...and to taunt her, specifically.

The only one whose nerves didn't seem to fray in the face of fear was Weaver, who kept pace with the alien Rose every step of the way. Every moment between battles was spent scanning the room with eyes of cold steel, and every shot from her Springfield found its home in the skull of an otherworldly monster. Her cool, calm confidence carried the squad and kept them from panicking even on the odd occasions when the Grimm did get the jump on them, revolver barking as she whirled to fire kill shots on the beasts behind her without even batting an eye. It made Summer wonder if the Director of XCOM would have made a fantastic Huntress in another life - for now, though, she was just glad to have Weaver on her side as their journey took them deeper into the heart of darkness.

Asaru was oddly silent as they crossed halls and turned corners, only giving Summer the simplest directions and brief updates on her Aura levels. She wondered if he was just as confused as she was about the presence of Grimm on Earth's moon, and while she desperately wanted to tell him that there was nothing to worry about, it was a hollow sentiment when not even she could follow her own advice. It was only after nearly a full hour of wandering the labyrinth that he broke his silence to speak to her - a sensation that nearly made the silver-eyed woman jump out of her own skin.

Summer, may we speak? Thoughts only, please.

The Huntress calmed her breathing and gave a small nod, signaling to Weaver to take the lead. With a nod in return, the Director took her place at the front of the formation, trading her Springfield for her revolver as Summer closed her eyes to better focus on the Ethereal lingering in her mind.

Of course. What is it, Asaru?

I have searched your memories, looking for information on how to activate your "silver eyes".

Hope swelled in her chest. And? she thought eagerly. Can you make it happen?

A pang of guilt shot through their mental connection, and when Asaru spoke next, it was far less eagerly.

...I cannot.

And just like that, her optimism deflated. Oh…so it's impossible.

Not fully impossible, clarified Asaru. Just...unlikely to happen. The energy you describe, the pure power of creation, or at least the essence of preservation...it is beyond my current ability to replicate. Were I at my full strength, with all my essence and power available to use, I may be able to generate a similar effect - but as I have said before, I had to leave part of myself behind to take you as my host…

Her brow furrowed as she caught the Ethereal's meaning. ...which means if we want to use my most effective Grimm-killing power, we'll need Carter, she thought bitterly.

Indeed. And I do not think he would be very cooperative in his current state of mind.

Summer sighed and squeezed her eyes further shut. The one time she needed that Grimm-slaying power more than ever, and she couldn't. Her beloved trump card, her ultimate weapon against the creatures of darkness, rested in the hands of a man who was too blinded by grief to see beyond his own pain.

I am sorry, Summer, said the Ethereal in a tone that broke her heart all over again. I wish there was more I could do.

She took a deep breath and forced a smile. It's okay, Asaru. We'll figure something else out. You're doing great so far - we'll just have to improvise. I don't know if you've noticed yet, but us humans are pretty good at that.

Asaru gave a small laugh, a sound that sent relief rippling through her nerves. I have indeed noticed that. This is a fact.

And an annoying one, at that.

The new voice that entered her mind was deep and full of malice, and it carried with it a sudden spike of pain assaulting her temples. Summer didn't even realize she'd let out a cry of shock until she had already dropped to one knee, sweat and blood dribbling down her nose. Weaver instantly shot a glance at her, and moved to pick her up alongside Weir. Nodding thankfully to her allies, the Huntress staggered forward and clutched her forehead, wincing and whimpering in pain as she struggled to get her bearings.

"Is…" she managed to choke out through grit teeth, "...is that…?"

Origin. Asaru's voice, usually calm and inquisitive, was practically burning with rage.

The grand leader of the Zudjari gave a silent malevolent laugh. So, the fledgling shadow of Moz Zaaik has finally learned the truth of its existence, and willingly wanders into my lair once more. This time it has taken a new host - the so-called "silver-eyed devil" that terrorizes my troops. It has left the feeble human William Carter to join with the lost daughter of Remnant, the warrior from another world who has been a thorn in the sides of my brothers and sons for far too long. A bitter reminder of our greatest failure, possessed by the reincarnation of our greatest weapon...truly, the cosmos shine on me, to deliver such a boon.

"Summer?" Weir's tone was full of concern.

"He...Origin...he's talking to me…" she grunted. "Like he did with...Carter…on the Temple Ship…"

"Origin?" Weaver's brow furrowed. "He's speaking to you? How? Can you track it?"

Another dark chuckle. Ah, yes, your friends cannot hear us, can they? Such lesser beings, simple and primitive...to think you would ally with them, after they destroyed one of your own...

Shamash's death was just as much at your hands as it was at William Carter's, boomed Asaru, sending rippling waves of pain across Summer's head. You kept them prisoner, bled them dry, and used their power as a living battery for your own selfish desires. You are complicit in the death of an Ethereal, and thus shall share that fate.

The sheer anger that the Ethereal felt was very much deserved, but it also threatened to tear her own brain apart. She sucked in a rancid breath through her teeth, focusing on not collapsing and almost failing.

"Asaru…" groaned Summer, clutching her forehead. "Asaru, please...calm down...you're hurting me…"

The Ethereal in her mind quelled his rage, though a tiny flicker of anger still burned deep within.

I am sorry, Summer. I...I am upset.

"And you have every right to be," she said softly. "But Origin wants you angry and hot-headed. He wants you to make a mistake, so he can get to you. Get to us."

Games are rarely fun when you provide all the answers, Summer Rose.

Summer did not rise to the bait. "Let me talk for both of us," she said softly. "I can handle this guy - this isn't the first time I've had to trade words with an omnicidal maniac. Plus...I have some questions I need answered. And if we can keep him going...maybe he'll even reveal what he's planning."

The spark of anger flared up for a moment, before Asaru gave a long mental sigh.

Very well, Summer Rose. I will trust your judgement. I will lead you to the central chamber as you speak.

"Thanks, Asaru," said the Huntress with a smile. Then with a frown, she shifted her focus. "Alright, Origin. You wanna talk? Then start talking. Why are there Grimm on the moon?"

The leader of the Zudjari paused, seemingly to gather his thoughts. Summer took advantage of the pause to order the squad to keep moving, letting Asaru subconsciously guide her and the others as they once more trawled through the hallways. The Grimm seemed content to stay back for now - likely in response to the pulsating presence in her mind. Not that they needed to attack to set everyone's teeth on edge as they passed by...their presence alone was enough in that regard.

When Origin did speak again, his voice was far less painful in her mind, though no less confident or malicious.

Is it not obvious? I brought them there. Just as I did the Sectoids, the Mutons, and the Silacoids. They are just another link in the chain of the mighty Zudjari empire...another alien species to command and exploit. Surely you cannot hold this against me?

"Well, considering that I'm a little more acquainted with these than I am with Sectoids or Mutons, I think I can and I will," said Summer with a scowl. "Why do you even have Grimm? I thought you only added surrendered species to your lineup, and I know for a fact that the Grimm can't surrender."

The Zudjari warlord gave a long mental sigh, as if he'd given this speech hundreds of times before.

You are not wrong, in that regard. The campaign for Remnant was, by all accounts, an abject failure. While the primitive humanoids offered little resistance, it was not they who drove us from that world. It was them. The ones you call the Grimm, the monsters that plagued the four corners of the planet. Creatures that require no sustenance, no ammunition, no rest. A single drop of their ichor will inevitably grow and multiply into a puddle by the end of one of your days, and even that will begin coagulating into smaller forms within even less time. A self-sustaining, self-replicating, self-guiding species. They exist only to destroy, with a singular focus on higher forms of life and the emotions held within. Most of our kind looked upon these creatures, and saw horror. I, on the other hand, saw an opportunity.

Summer didn't like the proud tone that Origin finished with. "What kind of opportunity?"

Your "Myron Faulke" once said that to win this war, you must make our weapons your own, yes? Such advice is...universal, in its application.

She liked that even less.

"You didn't," she growled.

I did.

The Huntress couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You...you stole the Grimm from Remnant?! How?!"

It was as simple as skimming their essence from a few of those pools that dotted the surface of your "Salem's" domain. Origin sounded clearly pleased with himself. I keep an entire reservoir of the material in the heart of the Temple Ship, under my watchful eye.

"You just keep the stuff in a big pool on your ship?" Summer shook her head in disbelief. "You'd be overrun by the damn things in an hour."

Origin's mental smirk was aggravating. In its unaltered state, you would be correct. However, I have invested quite heavily in finding ways to contain them. Their essence is rendered inert by a complex array of microwave emitters, preventing the beasts from forming and liquifying any stragglers that do manage to pull themselves together. Extra chemicals extracted from the Silacoids are added to the mix, allowing the fully-formed monsters to be more compliant to Moz Zaaik's will without losing their murderous edge. And the reservoir is kept locked deep inside my private chambers, so no one "accidentally" discovers its location. I alone know how to access it, how to safely extract a sample of the material...and if anyone asks what I am doing, I merely tell them that I am communicating with Moz Zaaik. It has worked quite well so far - I have yet to have an outbreak in over four hundred of your years.

That gave Summer pause. Origin had found a way to keep the Grimm quarantined? No. He had to be bluffing. Countless Huntsmen and Huntresses had tried for millenia to keep the monsters locked in cages, and had bled and died for their hubris. The only thing that kept the Grimm in check was Salem herself, and even that was because of the circumstances surrounding her magical curse. There was no way Origin could have managed to replicate that.

Right?

Right.

Unless someone showed him how, of course. But Summer refused to entertain that line of thought, pressing on with her more burning questions.

"So you have a nice little Grimm jacuzzi in your room," spat Summer. "Good for you. That still doesn't explain why they're here. What are you playing at, Origin?"

I was getting to that, said Origin in annoyance. You've seen the Prototypes, yes? The specimens collected to tailor the Sleepwalker virus to your genetic sequence?

Summer's hand balled up into a fist at the implication.

Oh, please do relax. Origin seemed annoyed at where her mind leapt. I would not do something as barbaric as inject Grimm essence into living organisms. That would merely flay the weaker species alive from the inside out.

The Huntress breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed her fingers.

No, I merely use that same facility to store a sample of the essence to keep nearby, should the invasion fail.

Somehow, that was even worse.

She raised an eyebrow. "I thought all your flunkies said that the Zudjari haven't failed an invasion since Remnant."

Origin's voice lacked a mouth, yet he smiled anyways. Of course they believe that, because Moz Zaaik did not allow them to remember. Our glorious network could do more than merely store and transmit memories - it could also erase and change them as needed. With my guiding hand, I was able to alter the memories of those participating in the conquest, making them forget about that world until they returned in the aftermath.

Summer's patience was running so thin, not even the revelation about an entire species living with altered memories seemed to faze her. "The aftermath of what? What are you saying?"

Not every race we encounter is as...primitive as yours, continued Origin. While our forces are quite formidable, as you have seen they are not invincible. If it ever seems that the war for a world would cost more Zudjari lives than the planet would sustain, I relay an order to the Shipmaster to have their forces pull back...but not before awakening the cultivated sample - which has had ample time to grow several thousand times in mass and volume - and sending it down to the planet's surface.

Summer's breath hitched.

"...no. You...you don't mean…"

Origin chuckled darkly. You understand well, little Huntress. If the Zudjari are not successful in taking a world, the Grimm are unleashed.

Asaru seemed to grasp the horror immediately. Summer…

The Huntress felt only anger. "You bastard! You'd condemn a world to darkness just because you couldn't have it?! You'd destroy everything out of petty spite?!"

Not everything, just the opposing sentient species, replied Origin with smug satisfaction. You surely must have noticed that the creatures of Grimm target only higher forms of life, but leave everything else untouched. I use that to my advantage, setting them loose to spread like wildfire across the planet, slaughtering the enemy down to the last and tearing them asunder. Unlike your world, where your people evolved defenses to better fight these monsters, most planets do not know how to react to such creatures of shadow and claw. Once the Grimm are unleashed, it is simply a matter of waiting until the enemy is annihilated, at which point the planet is bathed in signals that reduce the masses of Grimm back into their dormant, primordial ooze. The matter is siphoned back to the Temple Ship, the Zudjari are given false memories of victory attained by their hands alone, and the new planet becomes another jewel in our glittering crown as the cycle begins anew. A flawless plan. A perfect plan.

Summer's blood ran so hot she felt like she would boil inside her spacesuit. "Except for the extinction of an entire sentient species."

It was their mistake to oppose us from the start, said Origin callously. The Grimm are simply their due punishment.

This was...this was madness. Complete and absolute insanity. Origin was so desperate for a campaign of constant victory that he'd weaponize the Grimm and erase the memories of his people just to recapture the days when he and Shamash were merged. Like Salem before him, he'd seen the curse of the dark monsters as a blessing, a means to an end instead of the untamed destructive force they truly were. Yet even Salem earned the smallest of pities in being a victim of circumstance, a woman in mourning driven mad by an eternal life separated from her beloved by fallible gods. Origin had no such excuse - he chose this. He chose senseless slaughter if it ever seemed that defeat was on the horizon.

How many worlds had fallen to the Grimm before Earth was targeted? A hundred? A thousand? How many civilizations had been wiped off the face of the galaxy because of a threat they could not stop? How many innocents were slaughtered, with no Aura, Dust, or Silver Eyes to protect them?

And would the same thing have happened to Earth, if she were not here? Would it still happen even if she was?

No.

She balled her hands into fists once again, gritting her teeth.

No it would not.

"...you're insane," she whispered harshly. "A complete monster. You've abandoned everything that made Shamash seek you out in the first place, and you've become just another vengeful maniac who demands blood for blood's sake. You're no better than the ones who ruined your planet."

Do not speak to me of ruination!

Summer winced as the words pounded into her head, hotter than fire and sharper than glass. Origin was angry now, and she could feel every ounce of his rage threatening to boil her brain.

I was there! I was there when the final days of our planet were upon us! I saw the coming calamity, the unavoidable future, and spent centuries warning those short-sighted fools! But even as the molten core of our world began to grow soft and cool, as the soil failed and the seas ran dry, those fools were so thirsty for blood they would stab their bondmates in the back for just a drop of pleasure! My people would be dead were it not for my foresight and mercy! My will was the only way to guarantee their survival!

The assault stopped almost as soon as it began, giving her a much-needed chance to breathe without her lungs feeling like they would collapse. Origin's anger simmered into a low frustration, boring into her mind as his snarling continued.

And now...even that is no longer enough. Thanks to you and your infernal bondmate, those dark days threaten us once more. Moz Zaaik is gone. The self-sustainable unity I have created for them is gone. My people are fractured, confused, and lost because of you. They look to me for guidance, and it is now my will alone that keeps the Zudjari empire together. Their hopes, their dreams...their sorrows. I feel every Matriarch wailing in fear. Every Shipmaster crying out in agony. Every life you snuff out. I feel everything, and it only emboldens me further. Pushes me to do what must be done for the sake of our people.

Summer scoffed. "And what about our people? Don't they deserve to live too?"

Not after what you have done. Your actions have driven us to desperation. You have backed us into a corner, Summer Rose...and you, of all people, should be aware of what a cornered beast will do to survive. What measures they will take to grow stronger, no matter how...drastic.

At those words, the Huntress's brow furrowed. "...what did you do?"

You will see soon enough. For now, bring your so-called allies and meet me in the central chamber. There, you and I will settle this as only warriors can...and they will bear witness to the death of their world. And they will have you and your foolishness to thank.

With that ominous threat, the voice in her mind finally withdrew.

Summer stopped holding back the tears as she collapsed and vomited blood onto the floor.


"...he's going to do what?"

"You heard Sierra, Big Sky. Origin plans to unleash the Grimm on Earth. That's the 'darker fate' he had his Infiltrator warn us about, after Carter killed Shamash."

He narrowed his eyes. And here he thought he was getting good at drowning out the constant chatter blaring over that damn radio that was always out of reach, yet here he was pulled right back into paying attention. Not that there was much else to focus on - reading the same four or five food labels a dozen times over hadn't accomplished much except make him swear off anything that came out of a can. And Silas, the Silacoid watching him like some kind of prison warden, wasn't doing much else except hang from the ceiling and glare at him with no eyes.

"Don't you have anything better to do?" Carter said to the Silacoid, though he doubted it understood him. "Like go hide in a crack somewhere, or take a nap?"

Silas gave no response other than a small chitter, and he didn't understand it nor did he want to. He turned his attention back to the radio, if only because it was there and he didn't want to get into a staring contest with a pissy little blob of caustic tar.

"Pardon the skepticism, Fraulein Rose, but...you are referring to the same Grimm that your people have been oppressed by, yes?"

"The very same, unfortunately. And your world doesn't have any of the tools we've used to give ourselves a fighting chance on Remnant."

"Not to mention that, as you said, they are drawn to negative emotions, like fear and sorrow. Remnant struggles to protect itself and its population in the millions, even with Kingdoms and Huntsmen to fight the Grimm. If they were to be released on Earth, with its billions of people…"

"...there'd be no stopping them. Ever."

Carter furrowed his brow. Sure, he knew about the Grimm - Summer had told him and everyone else about them once her secret got exposed. The bogeyman of Remnant, some distant threat that would never find its way to Earth...until now, it would seem.

"Which is why we need to stop Origin, here and now. We need to shut down whatever delivery means he plans to use, and make sure that your world never sees those creatures take root."

"That's the plan, Sierra. Central chamber should be just up ahead. Lima, what's your status with the Sleepwalkers?"

"Almost back to the Avenger, Alpha. Want us to circle back and reinforce you once we've dropped our VIPs off?"

"There's no time for that. We need to engage Origin now. If we don't make it back...take care of her for me."

"Understood, ma'am. Let's pick up the pace everyone! I can see those wolves in the distance, and they're looking very ugly."

Silas let out a little hiss at Carter, who glared back.

"Look, what do you want from me?" he asked, annoyed at the glorified glob of grease that was silently judging him. "You expect me to just strap on a spacesuit and go out there guns blazing? Swoop in just in time to save the day? Even if I did that, and I didn't get shot on sight...what makes you think they'd want my help? What makes you think that she'd…"

Memories floated to the front of his mind, unbidden but not unwanted. A woman with silver eyes waking up in nothing but a bedsheet, confusion and annoyance on her face as his eyes scanned her form. That same woman confronting an armored alien brute without a trace of fear, armed with nothing but a pair of knives and her own valor. Then she was bleeding on the floor, unresponsive as sticky red fluid flowed from the multitude of cuts like water from a leaky faucet. Other images flashed in rapid succession - she was spinning in a big white cape with a seductive smile, leaning against a bar in a silver dress while nursing a drink, and then she was barely outlined in the dark as her lips crashed over his mouth and her hands moved hungrily over his body.

And finally, those same silver eyes staring back at him one final time, radiating with confidence and warmth and trust in him.

No one had looked at him that way before.

Not since…

He pulled his knees up to his chest and buried his face into his pants, his hat knocked off his head as he did so. God...what was wrong with him? All the people that had mattered to him were out there fighting literal shadow monsters from another planet, and here he was sitting with decades-old rations feeling sorry for himself. Was this what he'd really been reduced to? All that the damn fire had left behind?

The dark spiral of thoughts continued, as the weight of his self-made prison finally came crashing down on him. If this was what William Carter was really like, then maybe it was better for that freak to snuff him out. Maybe he was just an asshole who'd been jaded by time and tragedy, with nothing left to give and kept alive only by the grace of others. And the one chance he'd been given to turn things around, to be the person Summer saw him as, he'd fucked up so royally he was practically a prince by association.

And yet...somehow, even despite everything, the silver-eyed Huntress still hadn't given up on him.

How was he supposed to make this right?

How was he supposed to get Summer - or anyone - to see him that way again?

The answer came with a clatter of aluminum no more than a foot away from him, as he looked up with a jolt to see that one of the ceiling tiles in the food stores had come loose and fallen to the ground. He looked up just in time to see Silas rummaging around in the now-open hole, sticking itself halfway into the darkness with a low determined grumbling. When it finally emerged and dropped down to the floor, it had two things stuck to its "skin", two things that were easily within reach even with his arms still cuffed to the pipe. All he had to do was make an effort to grab them.

A spare spacesuit, and a set of keys.


"Central chamber located," growled Weaver into the radio. "Weapons loaded and hot. Prepare to breach in three..two...one…"

THUD.

Summer's boot struck hard and fast against the doorway and forced it open, with Wandering Thorn in one hand and her pistol in the other. The dozen men and women that followed her filed in quickly and carefully, aiming down the sights of their own weapons as they followed the Huntress inside. Mercifully, there was nothing inside waiting to attack them. Less mercifully, they could see every inch of the area without being on guard, which meant they got to see their final battlefield in perfect anxious detail.

The central chamber of the Zudjari Moon Base was unlike anything else in the compound. Instead of pale silver-gray walls and dim blue-green panel lines, the tower interior was plated with gold and bronze alloys that stretched up hundreds of feet overhead. Bright amber light shone down through gaps in the panels as they stretched high above to the clear ceiling, bathing the tower in brilliance while still offering an impressive view of the Earth as it lazily drifted into sight. A huge complex-looking silver machine - which resembled a cross between a pump and a cannon - sat in the middle of the spacious stadium-sized chamber, connected by hundreds of wide transparent tubes that continually piped thick black fluid into the device. An occasional flash of white bone and red eyes within the pipes revealed just what was being fed into the machine - and while the Grimm were locked behind the flexible clear steel, the mere presence of the thirteen new arrivals was enough to stir them from their primordial state.

And there, standing on a platform of glass and steel that separated the ground level from the rest of the tower, was Origin.

Summer tilted her head as she studied the Outsider, sizing up her future (and hopefully final) opponent. Compared to the other Outsiders she had seen, this one looked ancient. His skin was not only adorned with scars and scratches, but with wrinkles and creases and other marks of failing skin as well. Yet age didn't seem to affect his size or stance - he looked bigger than Axis with similar jet-black armor, two organic arms, a gold and ebony cape, and a full-face helmet in his hand that had the crude mask of a one-eyed Geist painted in red and white.

The Commander of the Zudjari didn't seem to notice the Huntress walking in with a dozen agents, instead more concerned with draining the contents of a massive silver chalice. Not that he needed to say anything to intimidate the others - the air was already thick and heavy with negative emotion coming from the liquid Grimm flowing through the tubes, and being confronted with an eleven-foot-fall enemy unknown was enough to make most people start to lose nerve.

"...oh god ," gasped Penny as she adjusted her glasses. " That's Origin?"

"It must be," Shen observed. "It certainly matches the...vivid descriptions of the Shipmaster Sierra and Alpha encountered in the Forge near Medford...though I find that machine far more concerning…"

"I hear that, Delta," murmured Jackie. "But bloody hell...Hate t' see the egg he hatched outta."

"You're telling me - that fucker's huge," growled Knox. "Can they all get that big?"

"Anyone got a sling and a couple of smooth stones?" Dawson joked nervously. "I'm really starting to feel like good ol' Davey here…"

"Stay frosty, everyone," commanded Weaver. "Doesn't matter how big they are - just means they fall harder. Isn't that right, Sierra?"

Summer nodded without taking her eyes off the Outsider.

Yeah...we can take him. Right Asaru?

In theory yes, but do be careful, warned the Ethereal in her mind. He was connected to Shamash for longer than either of us have existed in this reality, and a proportional amount of their psionic power still resides in him. Furthermore, I am sensing another kind of life form in his drinking vessel; based on its similarity to the fluid in the pipes, it appears that he is ingesting...

As if on cue, Origin threw down his twisted steel goblet with a pained grunt, slouching over and tensing up. A quick glance at the leftover fluid confirmed Summer's worst fears before Asaru could finish, narrowing her gaze at the thick tar-like substance that clung to the rim of the chalice.

Grimm matter, finished Asaru.

Summer's entire body tensed up as she witnessed the leader of the Zudjari inflict the same curse on himself as Salem once had, without the immortality to lessen the pain or the magic to fully retain his humanoid form. The other Agents had a similar reaction, but for different reasons - namely, they were more concerned about the massive Ursa claw that sprouted out of the left arm, the razor-sharp blades that erupted from his right hand, and the pair of enormous Nevermore wings that tore themselves free from his back. Completing the monstrous transformation was the winding tail of a Deathstalker that snaked out from the base of his spine, the scorpion-like stinger already rattling and filled with deadly venom as it swayed and swung around experimentally.

"Well, there goes my appetite," grumbled Adam.

"And here I thought these blighters cannae get any uglier," groaned Alfred.

"That...that shouldn't be medically possible…" breathed Walters. "Not from what you told us, Sierra."

"She only said that Grimm matter was toxic to humans," Weir pointed out. "The same may not apply to Zudjari. Origin must possess some means of guiding it, controlling it through his own localized Mosaic network. He wouldn't risk such a...dramatic transformation otherwise."

"Oh good, he's a giant monster now," mused Crawford. "That means we're winning, right?"

"Maybe in a cheesy sci-fi serial," Nils laughed mirthlessly, "but I doubt Captain Thunderclap is gonna swoop in and save us today."

"Lucky for us, we've got someone just as good." Weaver turned to Summer. "What's the play, Sierra?"

The Huntress closed her eyes and pulsed her battle focus, pushing her consciousness beyond her body and doing her best to ignore the mental screaming that echoed out of Origin's mind and into her own. She chose to focus on the machine in the middle of the floor, watching as a blue shadow of the central cannon opened up like a metal flower and fired a stream of fluid at high velocity. Summer didn't need to follow the trail with her eyes - she already knew the target without looking.

Earth.

She snapped back into her own body with a grunt, narrowing her eyes as she saw Origin slam the helmet over his head in preparation for the coming fight.

"Delta's right to be concerned. That thing, that device…" she said gravely, "...it's how Origin's gonna put Grimm on your world. He needs to be stopped, and that thing needs to be destroyed."

"We're all ears, ma'am," said Nils."How do we take that bastard down?"

Summer shook her head sadly. "No 'we', just 'me.' I need you all down here to deal with the machine. Engineers and Recons work together to plant explosives on the main body, while everyone else gets to work on shooting the injector tubes. Hopefully that'll slow down the process enough that it won't have enough Grimm matter to launch when the moon's in position, which means we'll have more time to act until the next window of opportunity hits."

Adam raised a hand. "Uhh...question. If we destroy the tubes, won't those monsters start appearing here? With us?"

"Unfortunately, yes," admitted Summer. "But better that they show up here than get loaded into that thing. You saw how deadly and fast the Grimm are, even in their most basic form - if even a drop of that stuff gets on your planet, it's going to create more and more of them endlessly, and then that's it. Everyone you know, everyone you've ever loved...humanity as you know it, gone."

Penny seemed to pale, but nodded determinedly. "So, destroy the tubes and fight whatever comes out. I think I get it."

"Getting it is one thing, actually doing it is another," noted Knox. "Sure, we've held our own so far, but we're gonna be talking about dozens, maybe even hundreds of those tarry shitstains. Would you be able to help us out of a jam?"

Again Summer shook her head. "If Origin really is able to control his new abilities, then I'm gonna have my hands full with him. I don't need to kill him, I just need to stall him long enough for Asaru to sever his link to Mosaic. Right now he's filtering the whole network through himself - if I can disconnect him, it should be the end of this whole nightmare. But I can't do much to help with the fighting down here...once I engage Origin, you'll be on your own."

Dawson nodded. "So, to recap, while you go fight freak show Goliath up there, we're down here in the valley of the shadow of death surviving against literal monsters of darkness from another world." He smirked. "We really need to talk about hazard pay one of these days."

"Look, I know it's dangerous," said Summer. "And the odds of us escaping unwounded aren't great. But I need you all to do this for me, and for yourselves, because this is your home that you're fighting for. And as for me...I can't let your world turn into mine. I refuse to allow that. Can I count on you all to make sure that doesn't happen?"

Although some were slower to do so, eventually all twelve men and women nodded with resolve.

"Of course you can, dear," said Weir gently. "You can always count on us."

Nils nodded with a smirk. "Yeah, when have we ever let you down? Give that asshole a few cuts for DaSilva - and a few more for Kinney, Redmond, and Steel."

"We'll get it done," agreed Shen, "not just for ourselves, but for future generations."

Dawson smiled and nodded. "Consider it already taken care of, Boss."

Knox saluted. "Tracking, ma'am."

"Mm-hmm," hummed Crawford with a nod.

"We'll do it. But please be careful, Summer." Penny pleaded.

"Don't worry about us down here," assured Walters, "no one's dying on my watch."

"We'll make ye proud, lass!" Alfred boomed as he beat his chest.

Jackie laughed and mirrored her husband's gesture. "Aye, that we will! Show that bastard how a lady fights!"

"I guess this beats total extinction," shrugged Adam. "What the hell, let's do this."

"Good luck, Rose," finished Weaver with a nod of her own. "We'll manage things here."

Pride swelled in the Huntress's heart as she looked over the people echoing their support, who'd followed her this far despite only knowing her for less than a year. Whatever happened in the next ten minutes, it would most certainly be one for the history books...even if history never acknowledged the Bureau, the aliens, or anything else that led up to this moment.

"Thank you, all of you," she said with a warm smile. "One way or another...I'll see you all on the other side of this war. Make me proud. Make yourselves proud."

She closed her eyes, keeping the memories of her friends, allies, and comrades in her mind as she activated her Semblance to once again teleport her into the lair of an ancient evil to fight and save a world she held dear.

And this time, she swore, she would not fall.