S1-53
The Sword of Crota
5:31 PM
02/16/3201
Approaching Earth's moon
Music
none
"{I've been combing the Cryptarch's records for anything on the Temple of Crota. Listen.}"
A recording of one of Master Rahool's lectures began playing. "Long ago, the moon fell to Crota. He wielded a sword so dark it drained whatever Light it touched. Now, Crota sleeps, but the Sword does not. The Warlocks believe the Sword is in a chamber guarded by the Swarm Princes. If you face them and steal the Sword, we can see that it is never wielded again."
"Alright then." Michael remarked as they arrived on the moon.
Earth's moon - Ocean of Storms
Archer's Line
Music
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption - Phaaze
"{The only way to destroy the Sword is to kill its makers; the Swarm Princes. One of them is said to guard a ritual sight near the Hellmouth. We'll challenge him first.}"
"Got it." Michael and Jack embarked into Jeeves and BT-7274 while Samus and Mark-18 got their Sparrow and Pike. "Alright! So we all know the mission! The first of the Swarm Princes is our main target, and then we have to find the other three, kill them, and destroy Crota's sword!" The team took a different route to get to their target, ending up in the right sector.
Earth's moon - Ocean of Storms
Hellmouth
"{The ritual site is up ahead.}" Michael's Ghost stated.
Jack got on the comms. "Michael, can't you kill the Swarm Prince from here? The Plasma Railgun is a Titan sniper."
"Hey, good idea. Just one problem... The terrain is in my way, and I can't see the ritual sight from here."
"I guess it was worth a try to ask, right?"
"Yeah, it was."
They moved in, arriving at the ritual sight, and there were no Hive around. "{This is where we'll find him. I hope you're ready.}"
"Are you kidding? I hope HE'S ready for THIS!"
"{Well, I guess there's that.}" A few Acolytes appeared, only to get taken out by Jack using the Multi-Target Missile System. Eventually, the Swarm Prince came out...
SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES
1: Spawn of Crota
2: Banuk
Ur Prince
...and was killed off easily.
Michael [Amped Rocket Salvo] Banuk, Ur Prince (Spawn of Crota)
"Welp, he's dead now."
"{One down. I'll lead us to the others.}" The Fireteam proceeded further through the area, finding another entrance to the Hive fortress, but the doorway was too small for the Titans... again.
"Oh, too small for you guys... Jeeves, I'm really so-"
Jeeves overrode Pilot-Mode, disengaged it, opened his cockpit, pulled Michael out, and placed him on the ground as BT-7274 did the same with Jack. "[We'll be alright out here. You go destroy that sword.]"
"Got it." Acknowledged Jack.
Within the structure were three Knights, which were easily killed off by Mark-18's Axion Bolt. The Fireteam pressed onward, with a blue-shelled Ghost appearing in a burst of energy. "{Not to unsettle you, but I'm tracking the Sword by the Light of the Guardians it's killed. It's further below.}"
"That is VERY unsettling, Ghost."
Earth's moon - Ocean of Storms
The Gatehouse
(!) Darkness Zone (!)
There were a lot of Acolytes in the next room, all firing upon the team, with a Knight accompanying them. In little time, the room was cleared, and the Knight was dead. "{The sword is close. I can feel its power.}"
More Acolytes, and incoming Thralls, more for the Fireteam to kill, then a single Cursed Thrall that was too slow to keep up with the others, and it died too. More Thralls, Cursed Thralls, Acolytes, and Knights came out and attacked.
"{Clear them out!}" They did just that, killing off any Hive in sight. "{Grab the Sword. That should lure them out.}" Michael rushed for the Sword and wielded it.
Music
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes - VS Dark Samus
"{Careful. Its power is... dark.}"
With a sword of pure dark power in his hands, Michael began to feel some supernatural force slowly welling up within him. "I've piloted a Ronin-class Titan, so I know how to use a sword."
"{Yes, but it seems like this sword's power is flowing into you. We need to kill the Swarm Princes. Fast.}"
"Yes, I know. Protocol 2: Uphold the Mission. Defeat the Swarm Princes." A massive load of Hive Thralls and Acolytes came out of the ground and attacked, getting slaughtered by Mark-18's Khvostov 7G-0X, Samus's R-97 Compact SMG, and Jack's V-47 Flatline.
"{Lots of movement, all around us! The Princes are coming for the Sword.}" Then, a Swarm Prince appeared to take back the Sword of Crota.
SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES
1: Garok
Xol Prince
It soon came under heavy attack as Michael used the Sword against it, annihilating his target.
Michael [Sword of Crota] Garok, Xol Prince (Spawn of Crota)
"One down, two to go!" More Thralls and Acolytes appeared, with a few Knights along with them. The Hive were being sliced and diced by the weapon of one of their own gods, completely destroying them. Another Swarm Prince arrived to take it back.
SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES
1: Dakoor
Yul Prince
It was no use, as the Swarm Prince was killed.
Michael [Sword of Crota] Dakoor, Yul Prince (Spawn of Crota)
"WHO'S NEXT?!"
"{Guardian, that sword is starting to have adverse effects on you!}"
"Ugh... You're right. I feel as if it's trying to take me over."
"It won't be long now! We've got only one Swarm Prince left!" Jack reassured him. Another Swarm Prince, and Michael was starting to falter from the Sword's dark power.
SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES
1: Merok
Eir Prince
"Michael's in no condition to finish this himself!"
"You're right, Samus. Leave it to me! EMBRACE THE VOID!" Mark-18 leaped into the air as Void Light swiftly gathered in his left hand. "WELCOME TO OBLIVION!"
Mark-18 [Nova Bomb] Merok, Eir Prince (Spawn of Crota)
Music
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption - Phaaze
The Sword of Crota dissipated in Michael's hands, with its dark power fading away. The Pilot fell to his hands and knees, weakened from the experience of dark power coursing through him, as his Ghost appeared in the familiar energy burst. "{The Sword is gone. They say that was one of the most powerful weapons the Hive ever wielded against us. The Cryptarchs won't believe this.}"
"Heh... Good... Good job..."
"Michael, your Light is faint! You need time to recover."
"No... No, I'm fine. I'm... I'm OK."
"Michael, you are NOT fine." Samus replied, pulling him up to his feet.
"I just... gotta... get to Jeeves. Titans have... built-in medical equipment. Ghost, was that... also infused with Light?"
"{I get what you're going for. If you use Light-infused medical equipment, you'll be back to your full strength in no time!}"
"Yeah..."
6:13 PM
02/16/3201
Earth's moon - Ocean of Storms
Hellmouth
They returned to the surface of the moon, where Jeeves and BT-7274 were waiting in Guard-Mode. "We're back, but Michael's Light's been weakened." Jack reported.
"[What happened?!]"
"He wielded the Sword of Crota, and the dark power inside it was going through him."
"{Your built-in medical equipment was infused with Light, so he planned to use it to help recover his full strength.}" That detail was Michael's Ghost's doing.
Jeeves got down on one knee and opened his cockpit, allowing Michael to be placed inside and hooked up to the medical devices that come standard for all Titans. It was working. Michael's strength was returning and his Light was brighter than ever. "[All done. If the mission's finished, we can head back to the Tower.]"
6:22 PM
2/16/3201
Planet Earth - The last City
Tower North
Music
Destiny - The Tower
"Hmm. Yes, of course." The Speaker finished examining him. "While the Sword of Crota may have been having severe effects on Michael's Light, it seems he is back in perfect condition. Now, I was about to send you another message. Another Titan has been found."
"And what's the chassis number?"
"ZV-9372."
"That's Arc-Rod! Samus's Titan!" Michael said.
"Very well." The Speaker turned to the white-shelled Ghost near him. "Ghost?"
"{I'll go get him for you.}" The Ghost floated out of the study to find the Guardian.
"Huh. ZV-9372? I guess I didn't check them all back then." Jack stated.
"Back then... Wait a minute... Samus, what about your Power Suit? Is it... depleted again?" Michael asked.
"Even if it was, I can always recharge it. I came to Earth in my gunship. You guys infused it with some Chozo tech recovered from Skytown."
It was then that the Speaker joined in the conversation. "A Guardian Fireteam found a ship operating on its own many years ago. Would that be yours?"
"Speaker, do you know where it is now?"
"It has been docked here at the Tower since we found it. The onboard operating system must be quite advanced to recognize us as allies." The Speaker explained.
"Sounds like Samus's gunship." Michael put plainly.
6:28 PM
02/16/3201
Planet Earth - The last City
Tower Hangar
Music
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption - Gunship Theme
"Interestin tech, Samus. It's more advanced than what we could make."
"It's a combination of IMC and Chozo technology." Samus stated.
"What's 'Chozo'?"
"Samus was raised on an old Earth colony on a planet that was destroyed. Her family was killed by space pirates and this alien race, known as the Chozo, saved her, infused her with their DNA, and bestowed upon her their ancient Power Suit. Years later, we upgraded it, and used recovered Chozo technology to create a new gunship for her." Michael explained.
"And there's her gunship." Amanda replied in understanding.
"That's a true technological masterpiece if I've ever seen one." Mark-18 mused.
Another Guardian, an Exo, came in, and she was looking for someone. "Samus Aran?"
"Yeah?"
"Your partner's waiting in the plaza."
Planet Earth - The last City
Tower Plaza
Music
Destiny - The Tower
The Fireteam entered the plaza, seeing a heavily damaged Atlas-class Titan near Banshee-44's stand.
"Arc-Rod!"
"[Samus! Good to see you again.]"
"So... this is yours?"
"Banshee, don't be rude."
"Sorry, Michael."
"Where did they find you?" Samus wondered.
"[I was picked up by a Guardian in a sector known as the Rocketyard, then I was brought here.]"
"I guess that's four Titans that have been found so far." Jack said.
Mark-18 got curious. "How many more are left?"
"If I'm recounting correctly, there should be... fifteen." Michael recounted correctly.
"Fifteen Titans?! That's gonna take a while."
"I know that, Mark."
TITAN STATUS CHECK
{[MICHAEL]}
SN-6726 / Vanessa - MIA
VF-2968 / Sid - MIA
CZ-9247 / Jeeves - FOUND
DL-2671 - MIA
PYR-8638 - MIA
XS-9365 - MIA
TE-5138 - MIA
ZJ-7349 - MIA
EM-9156 - MIA
RD-1539 - MIA
OV-3206 - MIA
{[SAMUS]}
ZV-9372 / Arc-Rod - FOUND
{[JACK]}
BT-7274 - FOUND
{[FALCO]}
VH-9571 - FOUND
{[CARLOS]}
TZ-1636 / Mr. Mortar - MIA
{[JACQUELYN]}
CQ-4729 - MIA
{[PALMER]}
RN-3092 - MIA
{[SARAH]}
MOB-1316 - MIA
{[ANTHONY]}
YL-9075 - MIA
FOUND: 4
MISSING IN ACTION: 15
Well, even though I wrote this chapter, not even I am sure if that sword was beginning to corrupt him.
Anyway, you might be wondering about this new thing I put in. Well, it's to show what Titans are currently on Earth, and whether they've been found or not... yet.
Anyway, see you next time.