S1-85
Last Rites
8:26 PM
05/03/3241
Approaching Earth's moon
Music
none
"OK, you've got the crystal. All you have to do now is fill it with Crota's soul. The Hive are in the middle of some kind of funeral, so-"
Eris interrupted the Exo. "Not a funeral. A death ceremony. Crota's essence is being prepared for the next realm."
"Right. So when you get to this funeral, Oryx will be watching close. Use Rasputin's cloak to slip past the Taken. Find Crota's soul, wrap it up, and get out."
Michael was still at the City, but he and the Shadow were cooperating, and they were making plans for after Oryx was gone.
Earth's moon - Ocean of Storms
The Stills
Music
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption - Phaaze
The Fireteam had arrived at the bottom of the Hellmouth, and there were no Hive in sight.
At least, not yet.
"{Where exactly are we headed?}" The IMC Vice Admiral's Ghost asked.
"When the Deathsingers begin their song, you'll know we are close."
"What she's trying to say is that she doesn't know. Don't worry. I'll keep my ear to the ground."
"And I will try not to step on his head."
Michael's voice came through the comms. "You step on Cayde's head and I will shatter yours in between my bare hands!"
"Michael, please don't do that. It scares the absolute criminy out of me."
"Michael, are you alright?" Samus asked.
"Yeah, I'm OK. The Shadow and I reached an agreement, so we'll... What's that? OK, I'll let them know. Guys, the Shadow just said 'Good luck.', and to call him 'Death'. I wish you good luck as well."
"Tell Death he's alright."
"He heard, Jack."
Eris was flabbergasted. "The Shadow has turned?!"
"A bit of yin yang talk and... well... Death's getting his action after they come back. He said you were wrong, Eris. Even the darkest of beings can see truth, and the Shadow is one of their strongest, as well as their smartest. Heh... You're welcome, Death."
"Tell Death he's cool... even if he did try to kill us."
"He heard, Jack, and he said he was just following orders. Then again, isn't that what we all did back in the war on the Frontier?"
Jack nodded. "You're right about that, Michael."
As the Fireteam crossed a bridge that materialized in front of them, Michael was still heard talking. "I know, Shadow. I sense it too. A massive buildup of dark power. Team, be careful."
They entered a gigantic corridor filled with blinding light and large stones. "Stay out of sight. We need you back alive. You have the frequency, Ghosts?"
"{And your... modifications. We'll be ready.}" Mindsight replied.
"Then move quietly and unseen, like death."
"{Ugh...}"
"Eris, Death appreciates the reference." Michael stated.
"It was not my intention."
Earth's moon - Ocean of Storms
Oversoul Throne
(!) Darkness Zone (!)
The Fireteam ended up in a new area, and the blinding light was just suddenly... gone.
"{Let's hope this works. Cloaking.}" As Samus used her Power Suit's IMC-integrated personal cloaking ability, the others turned invisible, but their IDs were still being locally transmitted. "{I can't see you. Can you see me?}"
"Keep your distance. They can't see you, but they can still smell you. Eris can replace her ship. We can't replace you."
"Cross the chasm. Enter their world."
Down below, Hayden-10 spotted something. "{A Tomb Husk.}" The Exo picked it up, but drew no attention from the Hive. "{Careful. We've still got to avoid them. I hope they can't see this thing.}" Hayden-10 used the Tomb Husk to make a bridge appear, leading across a massive chasm. The others followed, sneaking past the Hive.
Once they made it to the large door, it began to open, allowing the Fireteam in. "{You think they heard that?}"
As they progressed, a horrid noise could be heard. "The Deathsingers! They are preparing Crota's soul for the next realm. Follow their cry. It was just as this when I walked in the dark. Their wretched songs in the wind as Eriana fell."
"How are we gonna pull this off?" Mark-18 wondered.
They jumped down a hole, reaching another chamber. "Reach Crota's tomb and take what remains of his soul."
Thanks to Rasputin's Cloak, Mindsight appeared, but could not be seen, and scanned a nearby stone. "{The symbol of Crota. I don't know the derivation or its meaning. To me, it says 'we're going the wrong way', but as usual, I'm just following you.}"
"{There are a lot of tombs here. How do we find Crota's?}" Hayden-10's Ghost asked.
"You'll know it when you see it."
Making their way past the Hive, the Fireteam had surrounded the Wizards. "{I think we've found it.}"
"Now, let the crystal drink deep from Crota's death essence."
The Crystal appeared in Spyglass's hands as the green mist around Crota's tomb started to flow into it. "{It's working. How much do we need to pass as Ascendant Hive?}" His Ghost wondered.
"Only a taste, but steal all you can."
Suddenly, the Fireteam became visible.
Music
Destiny - Enemy of My Enemy
The Hive were replaced with Taken, which immediately attacked the Fireteam.
"{Something's wrong! We're exposed!}"
The signal became heavily distorted. "Lock for transmat! Get out of there!"
"We must have Crota's soul!"
"They've got enough! Lock for transmat, Ghosts!"
"{I can't! Everything is corrupted!}"
"C'mon, guys! I believe in you, all of you! You can do this!" Michael's voice was heard under the increasing distortion.
"{I can't connect. Stay alive! We've got to make it back!}"
They tried to make it back, but the jump from earlier couldn't be done in reverse. Nobody can jump that high.
As they defended themselves against the Taken, Eris Morn could be heard, along with an echoing incantation. "Guardians! Come... with... me!"
Suddenly, they were teleported to safety.
Earth's moon - Ocean of Storms
Oversoul Throne
Music
none
"WHAT THE HECK?!" Mark-18 exclaimed.
"It was the best I could do with so little time."
"{You pulled us out.}"
"One of Toland's tricks. There is nothing I fear more than the dark, but I will not lose another Guardian. You've imprisoned the last whisper of Crota's soul. It is left to you now. Find Oryx on the Dreadnaught. Destroy him."
8:52 PM
05/03/3241
Planet Earth - The last City
Tower Plaza
Music
Destiny - The Tower
City Hawk 723 had returned to the Tower, a job well done. Samus was at the front of the group. Just then, Michael ran up and gave her a big hug. "I'm so glad you're OK!"
"Good to see you too, Michael."
It was then that the Fireteam noticed something just under Michael's right shoulder. "Um... What's that on your arm?" Tanner-21 asked.
After ending the embrace, Michael showed them all the new item on his arm. It looked like the yin yang symbol, but attached to two straps. One was white with a blue line going down the middle, and the other was black with a red line. On the yin yang symbol, there was also a small difference. In place of the small black and white dots were two blue lights.
"The Speaker made this using some Hive research from Eris. It's attuned to my Light and the Darkness of Death. It's like a switch. Care for a demonstration?"
"{WAIT! Not here!}"
"Yeah, why don't we head out of the City first?" Samus suggested.
"Good idea."
9:03 PM
05/03/3241
Planet Earth - Old Russia
The Steppes
Music
Destiny - The Journey Home
Once they arrived at the Cosmodrome, Michael put a hand on the yin yang symbol, turning it like a dial until the black half was at the top, and the blue lights turned red.
Suddenly, black and red energy enveloped him, leaving behind the Shadow. "⍾⎍⟟⏁⟒ ⟒⎎⎎⟒c⏁⟟⎐⟒. ⟟'⋔ ⟟⋔⌿⍀⟒⌇⌇⟒⎅."
"[I just lost Michael's signal, but his neural link is giving me a positive reading. Is he...]"
"⊬⍜⎍ ⋔⎍⌇⏁ ⏚⟒ ⏁⊑⟒ ⏁⟟⏁⏃⋏ ⏁⊑⟒⊬ c⏃⌰⌰ '⟊⟒⟒⎐⟒⌇'. ⎅⍜⋏'⏁ ⍙⍜⍀⍀⊬. ⋔⟟c⊑⏃⟒⌰'⌇ ⎎⟟⋏⟒."
A Fallen Vandal appeared and attacked, but the Shadow sliced one of its arms off. Strangely enough, the blade of the Shadow's weapon was glowing at the time of the attack.
Music
O' Death Remix | Sylar Jack
The Vandal then appeared to be getting weaker and weaker as black sparks of energy were quickly flowing out of it and into the Shadow.
Eventually, the Vandal dropped to the ground, dead and shriveled. "OK, that's terrifying." Jack shivered.
"I actually feel sorry for that Vandal. What happened?" Hayden-10 asked.
"⟟ c⏃⌰⌰ ⟟⏁ ⏁⊑⟒ 'g⍀⏃⌇⌿ ⍜⎎ ⎅⟒⏃⏁⊑'. ⟟⎎ ⋔⊬ ⍙⟒⏃⌿⍜⋏, ⏁⊑⟒ ⎅⏃⍀k⌇c⊬⏁⊑⟒, ⟟⋏⟊⎍⍀⟒⌇ ⏃ ⏁⏃⍀g⟒⏁, ⟟ c⏃⋏ ⏃⏚⌇⍜⍀⏚ ⏁⊑⟒⟟⍀ ⌰⟟⎎⟒ ⟒⋏⟒⍀g⊬, ⏚⟒c⍜⋔⟟⋏g ⌇⏁⍀⍜⋏g⟒⍀ ⎎⍀⍜⋔ ⟟⏁, ⏚⎍⏁ ⍜⋏⌰⊬ ⍙⊑⟒⋏ ⏁⊑⟒ ⎅⏃⍀k⌇c⊬⏁⊑⟒'⌇ ⏚⌰⏃⎅⟒ ⟟⌇ g⌰⍜⍙⟟⋏g." The Shadow reached for the yin yang, turning it back so the white was on top and the red lights turned blue.
Music
Destiny - The Journey Home
A vortex of white and blue energy enveloped Death, and Michael was left where the Shadow once stood. "[Michael! You're back!]"
"As you can see, this new 'Yin Yang Switch' allows me and Death to perform the ol' switcheroo at any time, and that's not all." He reached for the Yin Yang Switch, but undid the black and red strap, pulling off the black half as red energy began swirling around it.
The yin half floated up, the blue light on it becoming red as the Shadow appeared, with the strap redone around his arm. "⏁⊑⟒ ⊬⟟⋏ ⊬⏃⋏g ⌇⍙⟟⏁c⊑ c⏃⋏ ⏚⟒ ⌇⌿⌰⟟⏁ ⟟⋏ ⏁⍙⍜ ⏁⍜ ⏃⌰⌰⍜⍙ ⎍⌇ ⏁⍜ ⍜⌿⟒⍀⏃⏁⟒ ⟟⋏⎅⟒⌿⟒⋏⎅⟒⋏⏁⌰⊬. ⊑⍜⍙⟒⎐⟒⍀, ⎅⍜⟟⋏g ⌇⍜ ⌰⟒⏃⎐⟒⌇ ⎍⌇ ⏃⏁ ⊑⏃⌰⎎ ⌇⏁⍀⟒⋏g⏁⊑."
"We can still divide and conquer."
"⏚⎍⏁ ⎎⟟⍀⌇⏁, ⍙⟒ ⋔⎍⌇⏁ ⎍⋏⟟⏁⟒ ⏃⋏⎅ ⌇⏁⍀⟟k⟒." Death took off his piece and reattached it to Michael's, causing the Shadow to disperse into red particles that flowed back into the Yin Yang Switch.
"That's impressive. But what about the Taken?" Sarah asked.
"Oh, that's easy."
With a twist of the Yin Yang Switch, the Shadow was brought back out. "⏁⊑⟒ ⏁⏃k⟒⋏ c⏃⋏ ⌇⏁⟟⌰⌰ ⌇⟒⋏⌇⟒ ⋔⊬ ⎅⏃⍀k ⌿⍀⟒⌇⟒⋏c⟒, ⟒⎐⟒⋏ ⍙⊑⟒⋏ ⋔⟟c⊑⏃⟒⌰ ⟟⌇ '⏃⏁ ⏁⊑⟒ ⊑⟒⌰⋔'. ⎎⍜⍀ ⟒⌖⏃⋔⌿⌰⟒..." A Taken rift appeared, and a Psion was summoned, corrupted and controlled. "...⏁⊑⟟⌇ ⏁⏃k⟒⋏ ⌿⌇⟟⍜⋏."
Again with the Yin Yang Switch, and Michael was back. The Taken Psion looked at him, but did not attack. Instead, it walked away. "Death's right. The Taken won't attack me, or you guys if I'm here with you. Once Oryx is dead, Death can safely command all Taken to cease their attack against the Guardians."
"We'll need to kill Oryx first."
"We'll get there soon enough. Have hope, Hayden."
They can now get to Oryx on the Dreadnaught.
Michael and the Shadow are both with us, and Death's influence over the Taken can counteract Oryx's control.
Not only that, but the Yin Yang Switch is something new. The symbol on it is exactly like the yin yang circle, but rotated a quarter so the dots are along the same horizontal line, and the dots themselves are basically lights. When separated, the place of the black dot glows blue and the place of the white dot glows red.
Here, we've also seen an example of the Shadow's ability; the Grasp of Death.
See you next time, Guardians and Pilots alike.