S1-46
Restoration

11:29 AM
02/16/3201

Planet Earth - Low orbit

Music
Destiny - The Great Unknown

Michael and Samus were in low orbit above Earth, and without a warp drive, they couldn't go much farther. "Right. So, the others are being given their own ships?" Michael asked through the new comm network.

Zavala's voice was heard over the radio. "Yes, as soon as we manage to get ships for them."

"Understood, Zavala."

They began their approach to the Cosmodrome, when Michael's Ghost appeared and began a mission briefing. "{There is so little left out there. We were lucky to even find this ship. A Guardian can't do much to protect the City without one. But it needs a warp drive if we ever hope to fight beyond Earth. And that Cosmodrome is the only place I know where we might still find one. We survived the Fallen once, we can do it again.}"

Within a few minutes, they arrived back in the Cosmodrome. Michael and Samus were dropped off in bursts of energy, their jumpship flying off for future use.

Planet Earth - Old Russia
The Steppes

Music
Destiny - The Journey Home

"{A Guardian's ship was recently shot down here. If the Fallen haven't gotten to it, there might be parts we can salvage.}"

"We're on it." Samus said.

The Ghosts returned to their Guardians as Michael and Samus searched the area, quickly finding the crashed Guardian ship, encountering and killing a few Fallen on the way.

"Ghost, work your magic." Michael ordered, summoning his Ghost.

"{I'll do what I can. Abracadabra! Heh heh heh.}" His ghost chuckled.

"Very funny..."

"It kinda was." Samus said.

"OK, Ghost. Whatcha got?"

"{The ship's avionics are completely catatonic. But I can cull their last transmission.}" Suddenly, an extremely garbed and completely unintelligible noise was heard from the crashed ship's transmitter. "{They managed to restore an information hub here, down in the tunnels below. We should check it out.}" As Michael's Ghost vanished again, the Guardian-Pilots went to a nearby structure, encountering a few Fallen just outside it. They were easily dispatched, and the two could proceed.

There was a staircase going down into the tunnels, eventually leading to a room filled with Fallen. With one Satchel Charge, Michael cleared the room.

"Nice work." Samus commended.

"Thanks. Alright. Do your stuff, Ghost."

"{A map of the entire area.}"

"This is the layout of the Cosmodrome?" Samus asked.

"Must be."

"{What we really need to find is a warp drive, so we can jump to any planet or moon. Our only hope is where we found our ship. We have to go back.}"

"Lead the way." Michael and Samus headed back up top, and with no Fallen waiting for them outside.

They crossed the Steppes and ended up approaching a familiar location from the other side. "{Scanning for the warp drive. Bad news. It's already in Fallen hands.}" Michael and Samus were entering Dock 13, but something was wrong. "{I hope you're ready for this.}"

Planet Earth - Old Russia
Dock 13
(!) Darkness Zone (!)

Music
Destiny - The Fallen

There were some Fallen in the room. Once they were dead, something was coming. "{It's in the walls!}"

A familiar Fallen warrior climbed out of the big hole in the wall, and Michael's helmet got the ID.

SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES

1: Riksis
Devil Archon

"Time to put Riksis in his place and get our warp drive back!"

As Riksis attacked with a Shrapnel Launcher, more Fallen came to back him up. Michael and Samus were having a hard time dealing with a Devil Archon, and things weren't getting any easier.

Suddenly, Riksis killed one of them.

Riksis, Devil Archon (House of Devils) [Shrapnel Launcher] Samus

"SAMUS!" The anger within Michael started to well up, causing the glow in his right eye to grow brighter and brighter, until another Guardian appeared and attacked Riksis, completely destroying him with a belt fed machine gun. Michael's helmet scanned the Guardian.

SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES

1: Mark-18
City Rifleman

With the Devil Archon down to his knees, Mark-18 formed a ball of Void Light in his hand. "EMBRACE THE VOID!" It was the Voidwalker Super of a Warlock: the Nova Bomb. "WELCOME TO OBLIVION!" The Guardian threw the Nova Bomb right at Riksis, completely disintegrating the Devil Archon.

Mark-18 [Nova Bomb] Riksis, Devil Archon (House of Devils)

Planet Earth - Old Russia
Dock 13

Music
none

All that was left was the missing warp drive, having dropped on the ground. "Looks like I got here just in time."

"W-what..."

"Couldn't let the City lose any Guardians."

A Ghost with a slightly different shell appeared above the Exo's left shoulder. "{Nice job. You just killed an Archon.}"

"{And we got a warp drive. This could cripple the Fallen. We need to go see the Speaker.}" Michael's Ghost added.

"Hold up. Before you go, let me do this for ya." Mark-18 walked over to Samus's corpse as the deceased Pilot's Ghost appeared before focusing his Light into it. Suddenly, Samus woke up, her fatal wounds having been instantaneously healed over. She was alive and well. Michael was speechless as to what this Exo just did. "No need to thank me. You probably don't know how to revive other Guardians yet. I'm sure someone'll teach ya."

11:42 AM
02/16/3201

Planet Earth - The last City
Tower North

Music
Destiny - Excerpt from The Ecstasy

Michael, Samus, and Mark-18 arrived at a different part of the Tower. Mark-18 knew the place, but Michael and Samus did not. "I'll just leave you two here. If you need me, I'll be with the Vanguard." With that, the Exo walked out, his Ghost floating behind him. Michael and Samus looked at the Traveler, their Ghosts coming out to do the same.

A voice was heard, and the two looked to see a masked scholar in white robes. "There was a time... when we were much more powerful... but that was long ago." Michael's helmet identified the scholar.

SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES

1: The Speaker
Voice of the Traveler

"Until it wakes and finds its voice, I am the one who speaks for the Traveler. You must have no end of questions, Guardians." The Speaker stepped closer to gaze upon the Traveler before telling them what happened as the two Ghosts floated toward the Traveler. "In its dying breath, the Traveler created the Ghosts to seek out those who can wield its Light as a weapon. Guardians, to protect us, and do what the Traveler itself no longer can."

"What happened to it?" Michael asked. Their Ghosts returned to their sides at this point.

"I could tell you of the great battle, centuries ago... How the Traveler was crippled. I could tell you of the power of the Darkness, its ancient enemy. There are many tales told throughout the City to frighten children. Lately those tales have stopped. Now... the children are frightened anyway." The Speaker turned to face them. "The Darkness is coming back. We will not survive it this time."

"{Its armies surround us. The Fallen are just the beginning.}" Samus's Ghost added.

"What can we do?" Michael asked.

"You must push back the Darkness. Guardians are fighting on Earth and beyond. Join them. Your Ghosts will guide you. I only hope they chose wisely." With that, the Speaker went back up to his study.

"{I did... I'm sure of it.}"

"{So am I.}" Samus's Ghost added.

"{We're in this together now.}"

"Wouldn't have it any other way." Michael replied.

Mark-18, City Rifleman

Species
Exo

Gender
Male

Class
Warlock

Primary weapon
Auto Rifle - Khvostov 7G-0X (Last Warmind)

Special weapon
Sidearm - Teacup Tempest

Heavy weapon
Machine Gun - Bonekruscher

Helmet
Hadron Gale IV

Gauntlets
Hadron Gale IV

Chest armor
Hadron Gale IV

Leg armor
Hadron Gale IV

Class item - Warlock Bond
Hadron Gale Bond

Ghost shell
Questing Shell

Artifact
Sisyphus Project

Armor shader
Sea of Tears

Sparrow
S-22 Seeker
Sparrow horn
Dramatic Horn

Ship
Order Theory

Yep. That's my Warlock.

See you next time.