Here be fiery balls of imminent death

"How many left?"

Blue checked over his VanNet bounty-counter and grunted irritably. "Seven. Where are they?"

Rath hummed. "I know a place."

"Yeah?"

"It's called the Hellmouth."

"No."

"Not inside. Just on top."

"Why would there be Vex there?" Blue frowned. "I still don't get why there's Vex anywhere here."

"Because there's a portal."

"Ah."

"Some say that's where Crota came through after daddy-o tossed him outta home. But that would mean Crota didn't go on a rampage across a couple of hundred worlds, and that he navigated through the Black Garden, so it's utter nonsense."

"Mhm."

They summoned their Sparrows and left Archer's Line behind. Nothing but Dusk scavengers and Hidden Swarm everywhere the eye could see - with a distinct lack of mossy Sol Divisive to pick off. They wove their way through the canyons and valleys to the summit of the Hellmouth and slowed to a stop to take in the sights.

"Why are they here, anyways?" Blue wondered aloud. "What could they want?"

"Well, they had their Heart cut out, remember? Could be they're looking for the Pyramid to fill that Void."

"Ah." Blue frowned. "So... what if they got their hands on Nightmare stuff?"

"You're giving me the other kind of nightmare right now."

"Sorry." Blue chuckled. "No, wait, no I'm not."

Their commlinks hissed to life. "-lert, a Warsat just plummeted into the lunar orbit. All nearby Guardians - do what you can to see it safely home."

Rath gave Blue a look. "It's not Vex, but it's something."

Blue shrugged. "Yeah, fine."

"Great. Ghost, where's the-... Ah, right. Follow me."

They drove their way to the marked landing spot. No Warsat in sight. Both Warlocks disembarked and drew weapons - auto rifles both. Easier to cut down the snub-infantry of the surface.

"So... d'ya ever hear of Nokris?" Rath asked.

Blue rolled his eyes. "I'm aware. I wasn't resurrected under a rock."

"Not trying to insult ya, just... you've been out of the loop for a little while, right? Maybe? Looking for Antartic-whatsit?"

"Antartica. And yes, it existed."

"You sure?"

"Yes."

"There's nothing at the south pole, mate."

Blue rolled his eyes again, stifling a pained groan. "I know, but there used to be."

"Don't see what all the fuss is about, anyways."

"It was a continent."

"So? We just lost a couple of worlds - and that's more pressing than a continent that may-or-may-not-have-existed. Oh, hey, did I tell you what the Black Fleet did to Mars and Mercury and the rest?"

Blue sighed. "I know."

"Not completely, I bet." Rath was just looking for a chance to talk.

"I'm fine, really.

"You say that now. Just you wait until your life depends on it - then you'll wish you listened to me."

"Yeah yeah."

"And then..." Rath trailed off. He smiled. "Say, you want to see something interesting?"

"Sure?"

"If you look up now, you might spot the Warsat about to smush us."

Blue frowned. "What are you talki-"