S1-86
Regicide

9:21 PM
05/03/3241

Approaching the Dreadnaught

Music
none

This was it. On this mission, Oryx would die.

"All of this was set in motion long ago." Eris transmitted. "He calls out, and the Darkness answers."

"OK. Creepy sidekick: check. Rogueish commander: check. And then we have the Guardians; my greatest success story. I'd say we're ready to get this done."

"That may be true, but what about Michael?" Mark-18 wondered.

"Don't worry about me. I'm en route." The IMC ace transmitted.

"Michael, once you step foot in the Dreadnaught, won't Oryx just take control of the Shadow within you?" Samus asked.

"No. Death has a mind of his own, the other Taken don't. Oryx can control them just fine. But controlling the Shadow? Not a chance."

The Dreadnaught
Hull Breach

Music
Destiny - The Dreadnaught

The Fireteam arrived at the Dreadnaught, awaiting the official leader of the group. "Push back the dark. End it."

"She's right, Guardians. There's no doubt in my mind this could possibly work. Now, get to that Rupture."

Eventually, another ship flew in, armed with machine guns that cleared out the entire sector. It was a recovered IMC Drop Ship. The rear hatch of the shuttle opened, and Michael jumped out, landing at the entrance to the Cabal ship as the Drop Ship turned around and flew away, with Blisk at the controls.

"Michael, that was quite an entrance."

"Thanks, Mark. Now then, protocol 2."

"Uphold the Mission!"

They went through the tunnel by the Cabal ship, ending up in the sector on the other side.

The Dreadnaught
Mausoleum
(!) Darkness Zone (!)

Once they entered the area, the Hive gate was visible.

"{OK. That's where the Rupture should be.}"

"Get it open! Once you're there, send your coordinates. We'll lock down your position and deploy reinforcements."

Hive and Taken appeared, attacking the Fireteam. "⏁⊑⟒⌇⟒ ⏁⏃k⟒⋏ ⏃⍀⟒ ⎍⋏⎅⟒⍀ ⍜⍀⊬⌖'⌇ c⍜⋏⏁⍀⍜⌰! K⟟⌰⌰ ⏁⊑⍜⌇⟒!" They were appearing at an alarming rate, but were dying faster.

Just then, the dark portal opened. "The Rupture can sense the soul you hold. You are Ascendant!"

"Time to go kill a king, eh, Guardians? Good luck."

"{Well, I'm ready if you are.}" They entered the Rupture, ending up in a new location.

The Dreadnaught
The Founts

Music
none

"We're through. Cayde, Eris, report." Much to Mark-18's displeasure, there was nothing but static on the comms.

"{Looks like we're going to have to finish this on our own. My scans have returned nothing. We're definitely... somewhere, but no sign of Oryx.}"

"Michael, you don't have any of Crota's soul on you. How did you get through the Rupture?"

"You can thank Death for that, Tanner."

"And how do you know your way around the Dreadnaught? You've never been here before... except when the Shadow was the one calling the shots... and you were basically unconscious at the time so..."

"He's guiding me, Samus."

They reached the next sector, and another dark orb could be seen.

The Dreadnaught
The Asylum
(!) Darkness Zone (!)

The orb vanished, and multiple Taken appeared. "{Well, now we know we have his attention. Hi, Oryx...}"

At first, they had to face Taken versions of the Vex, then the Cabal, followed by the Fallen.

Up ahead, a large door opened, revealing another Hive arch for another Rupture. Oryx's voice could be heard booming within the room, his face manifesting from a strange mist. "You... are the last hope of the Light? I have Taken entire WORLDS! You are not worthy to face me!"

Music
Metroid: Other M - Nightmare Battle

The Rupture opened, and out came a Taken Colossus.

SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES

1: Ta'aun
Hand of Oryx

"Everyone with me! NOW!" The Ward of Dawn was projected around Michael, and the Fireteam took cover in it as the Taken Colossus opened fire. Mark-18 readied a Nova Bomb, exited the dome, and threw the orb of Void Light, staggering the corrupted soldier.

The Rupture reopened, and a familiar Hive Ogre came out, recognized as the one that was Taken back in the Hive fortress in the moon.

SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES

1: Baxx
Hand of Oryx

As the two monstrosities came out and attacked, more Taken appeared and joined the fight. Michael's Ward of Dawn collapsed, destroyed by the relentless fire coming from the Colossus and the Ogre.

Just then, Samus used a charged Ice Beam shot on the Ogre's head, then followed it up with a Super Missile. The damage was severe. Spyglass and Sarah summoned Golden Guns, each finishing off a Taken warrior.

Spyglass [Golden Gun] Baxx, Hand of Oryx (Taken)
Sarah [Golden Gun] Ta'aun, Hand of Oryx (Taken)

The Dreadnaught
The Asylum

Music
none

The surrounding Taken vanished and the Rupture opened, with nothing coming out this time. "{Huh. Well, I guess we're worthy now.}"

The Fireteam went through the Rupture, ending up in a different part of the same sector. "I've got a bad feeling about this."

"We're almost through, Jack. Hang in there." Michael said.

The Dreadnaught
Trenchway
(!) Darkness Zone (!)

"Hey, I remember this place. I was over there when I arrived!" The others looked to where the Exo was pointing, seeing the gap that separated the Hall of Souls from where Mark-18 originally entered the Dreadnaught.

"⏁⊑⏃⏁'⌇ ⟟⋏⏁⟒⍀⟒⌇⏁⟟⋏g. ⟟ g⎍⟒⌇⌇ ⟟ ⟊⎍⌇⏁ ⋔⟟⌇⌇⟒⎅ ⊑⟟⋔ ⍙⊑⟒⋏ ⟟ ⍙⏃⌇ ⍜⎐⟒⍀ ⏁⊑⟒⍀⟒. ⟟ ⊑⏃⎅ ⏁⍜ ⎅⍀⍜⌿ ⍜⎎⎎ ⏃ ⎎⟒⍙ ⍜⎎ ⏁⊑⍜⌇⟒ ⍙⍜⍀⋔⌇ ⎎⍜⍀ ⏁⊑⟒ ⊑⟟⎐⟒. ⟊⎍⌇⏁ ⏁⍜⎍c⊑⟟⋏g ⏁⊑⟒⋔ ⍙⏃⌇... ⎅⟟⌇g⎍⌇⏁⟟⋏g."

Oryx's voice boomed once again. "Come for me, warriors of Light! I will finish what Crota began."

A bridge of Hive rock platforms came into existence, creating a pathway across the chasm and leading to the door on the other side.

There were three statues, and the Ghosts of the Exo brothers came out to scan them.

"{The markings suggest that this is a Hive God, but I don't recognize the symbol. Nothing in the World's Grave either. The name is... Nokris.}"

"{There are no markings that suggest a carving tool. They were assembled and crafted through some sort of Hive spell. I think this one represents Crota.}"

"{It's Oryx. These statues... everything here was created before Earth was formed. I wonder how many worlds Oryx has taken.}"

In the dark area behind the statue of Oryx, a little white flame could be seen. City Hawk 723 approached it, and the white flame zoomed away, traveling along the ground before reaching a wall and creating the symbol of the Taken. The door opened, revealing one more darkened sector.

The Dreadnaught
Altar of Oryx
(!) Darkness Zone (!)

"⟟'⎐⟒ ⏚⟒⟒⋏ ⊑⟒⍀⟒ ⏚⟒⎎⍜⍀⟒. ⋔⟟ ⊑⏃⟒⌰, ⌰⟒⏁ ⋔⟒ ⎎⟟ ⊑⏁ ⏃⌰⍜⋏ ⌇⟟⎅⟒ ⊬⍜⎍. ⍙⟒ ⋏⟒⟒⎅ ⏃⌰⌰ ⊑⏃⋏⎅⌇ ⍜⋏ ⎅⟒ ." Michael took the black half off the Yin Yang Switch, releasing the Shadow, but reducing them both to half strength.

Music
Destiny - Regicide

The veil of darkness in the area seemingly retracted, revealing the main target.

SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES

1: Oryx

"AT LAST! I WILL HAVE VENGEANCE!" As a sword appeared above the Taken King, Oryx summoned Taken warriors to aid him against the Guardians.

They attacked, and Michael and the Shadow were left to Oryx.

"The Shadow... You dare to fight AGAINST ME?!"

"⟟ ⎅⏃⍀⟒! ⊬⍜⎍ ⏃⍀⟒ ⋏⍜ ⌰⍜⋏g⟒⍀ ⋔⊬ k⟟⋏g, ⎎⍜⍀ ⟟ ⊑⏃⎐⟒ ⌇⟒⟒⋏ ⏁⊑⟒ ⏁⍀⎍⏁⊑!"

The Taken King raised his sword to attack, but the Shadow blocked the strike with the Darkscythe, showing off an impressive amount of strength as he repulsed the attack.

"⋔⟟C⊑⏃⟒⌰, G⍜!" Michael ran back to his Fireteam as they were overpowering the Taken, leaving Death to deal with Oryx. "⊬⍜⎍ c⍜⍀⍀⎍⌿⏁, ⊬⍜⎍ c⍜⋏⏁⍀⍜⌰, ⊬⍜⎍ c⍜⋏⍾⎍⟒⍀, ⊬⍜⎍ ⎅⟒⌇⟒⍀⎐⟒ ⊬⍜⎍⍀ ⎎⏃⏁⟒!"

"What makes humanity any DIFFERENT?!" Oryx questioned.

"⟟'⎐⟒ ⌇⟒⟒⋏ ⏁⊑⟒⋔! ⏁⊑⟒⊬ ⏃⍀⟒ ⎎⟟g⊑⏁⟟⋏g ⏁⍜ ⌇⏃⎐⟒ ⏁⊑⟒⋔⌇⟒⌰⎐⟒⌇ ⎎⍀⍜⋔ ⟒⌖⏁⟟⋏c⏁⟟⍜⋏! ⏁⊑⟒⊬ ⍙⍜⎍⌰⎅'⎐⟒ ⏚⟒⟒⋏ ⏚⟒⏁⏁⟒⍀ ⍜⎎⎎ ⟟⎎ ⏁⊑⟒ ⎅⏃⍀k⋏⟒⌇⌇ ⊑⏃⎅ ⋏⟒⎐⟒⍀ c⍜⋔⟒ ⏁⍜ ⟒⏃⍀⏁⊑ ⏁⍜ ⏚⟒g⟟⋏ ⍙⟟⏁⊑! ⟒⏃⍀⏁⊑ ⟟⌇ ⏁⊑⟒⟟⍀ ⊑⍜⋔⟒, ⏃⋏⎅ ⏁⊑⟒⊬ ⍙⟟⌰⌰ ⎎⟟g⊑⏁ ⎎⍜⍀ ⟟⏁! ⏃⋏⎅ ⟟ ⏃⋔ ⍙⟟⌰⌰⟟⋏g ⏁⍜ ⎎⟟g⊑⏁ ⎎⍜⍀ ⏁⊑⟒ ⍀⟟g⊑⏁ ⌇⟟⎅⟒! ⊬⍜⎍, ⍜⍀⊬⌖, ⋔⎍⌇⏁ ⎅⟟⟒!"

Just then, Ascendant energy began to manifest, forming dark versions of Michael's special weapons.

The Shadow had formed his Blighted Andromeda Cannons, and they were aimed at Oryx, but they just barely missed.

Dodging one last strike, the Shadow jumped back to the Fireteam, killing off the Taken.

Tanner-21 aimed his rocket launcher at Oryx and took the shot, hitting him square in the face.

Oryx reeled back, but recovered immediately. "What you call Darkness is the END OF YOUR EVOLUTION!"

As Oryx rushed in to attack, the Exo Warlock gathered Void Light in the palm of his hand. "EMBRACE THE VOID! WELCOME TO OBLIVION!" The Nova Bomb made impact, and Oryx was knocked back from the force.

"I will Take your worlds, as you took Crota!"

"Go ahead! Call me a murderer!" Hayden-10 summoned his Golden Gun and landed all three shots.

The first shot hit Oryx in the lower leg, the second in the shoulder, and the third straight in the head. "Your Traveler's Light cannot reach you here!"

"No, but WE can reach IT!" Tanner-21 summoned the Hammer of Sol, pummeling Oryx in the chest with the flaming mallet.

Eventually, the area went dark, and the Fireteam was brought to the center of the sector, surrounded by a wall of mist they couldn't get out of. "Your Light will die!"

Taken Thralls appeared in the area, but were immediately killed off.

After sending out dark energy blasts from his hand, Oryx went in with his sword. "The Darkness is a gift! Let my will set you free!" The Fireteam avoided the attack and retaliated.

"⊬⍜⎍'⍀⟒ ⋏⍜⏁ ⎎⍀⟒⟒⟟⋏g ⏃⋏⊬⍜⋏⟒! ⊬⍜⎍'⍀⟒ ⟊⎍⌇⏁ ⟒⍀⏃⌇⟟⋏g ⏁⊑⟒⟟⍀ ⍙⟟⌰⌰⌇ ⏃⋏⎅ ⍀⟒⌿⌰⏃c⟟⋏g ⏁⊑⟒⋔ ⍙⟟⏁⊑ ⊬⍜⎍⍀ ⍜⍙⋏!"

Samus, Spyglass, and Sarah used Shadowshots to pin him down as Jack unleashed a Nova Bomb upon the Taken King. Michael then formed his Andromeda Cannons, blasting Oryx with pure Light. The damage was not enough as Oryx broke free and fled, sending in more Taken.

With Supers exhausted, City Hawk 723 readied their heavy weapons and Anti-Titan weapons for the next time Oryx rears his ugly face. "Crota fell! I will not!"

Once the Taken were dealt with, Oryx attacked again, but was in for a big surprise. Samus froze him with the Ice Beam and fired off a Super Missile, staggering Oryx as Mark-18 hammered him with the Bonekruscher, Hayden-10 pelted him with the Aegis of the Reef, Tanner-21 blasted him with Disassembly Required, Jack mashed him with the Archer, Sarah bombarded him with the MGL, with Spyglass doing the same with his Mag Launcher, and Michael blasting away with his Charge Rifle, Oryx had been brought down, allowing the Shadow the final blow.

With a single slash of the Darkscythe, albeit not glowing, the victor had been decided.

The Dreadnaught
Altar of Oryx

Music
none

Oryx was down, and his sword had been stuck into the ground, and the barrier of mist was fading away.

The Taken King fell to his knees, clutching his chest, and reached for his sword, pulling out the dark power from it and gathering it in the palm of his hand. He raised his glowing hand, an orb of Taken energy within it, before slamming it into himself, a dark shockwave rippling throughout the area.

Oryx began floating, with his wings disintegrating, and clawed at his own chest before laughing, then suddenly imploding into Taken energy.

"Did he just..."

"I think Oryx just took himself, Samus." Michael assumed.

"That means he would rather erase his own will than allow us to kill him."

"Death, you planned to take command of all Taken once Oryx was gone, correct?"

"⊬⍜⎍'⍀⟒ ⍀⟟g⊑⏁. ⏁⊑⏃⋏k⌇ ⎎⍜⍀ ⍀⟒⋔⟟⋏⎅⟟⋏g ⋔⟒, ⌇⌿⊬g⌰⏃⌇⌇." The Shadow approached the sword, feeling a lingering connection to all Taken. "⏁⍜ ⏃⌰⌰ ⏁⏃k⟒⋏ ⏁⊑⏃⏁ c⏃⋏ ⊑⟒⏃⍀ ⏁⊑⟒ ⌇⍜⎍⋏⎅ ⍜⎎ ⋔⊬ ⎐⍜⟟c⟒, ⍜⍀⊬⌖ ⟟⌇ ⋏⍜ ⋔⍜⍀⟒! ⟟ ⏃⋔ ⊬⍜⎍⍀ ⋏⟒⍙ ⌰⟒⏃⎅⟒⍀! ⏁⊑⟒ ⍙⏃⍀ ⟒⋏⎅⌇ ⊑⟒⍀⟒ ⏃⋏⎅ ⋏⍜⍙!" He turned to the rest of the team. "⟟⏁ ⟟⌇ ⎅⍜⋏⟒. ⏁⊑⟒ ⏁⏃k⟒⋏ ⏃⍀⟒ ⎍⋏⎅⟒⍀ ⋔⊬ c⍜⋔⋔⏃⋏⎅."

10:17 PM
05/03/3241

Planet Earth - The last City
Tower Plaza

Music
Destiny - The Tower

"Now that Oryx is out of the picture, I guess we can call it a day." Michael stated.

Just then, the Council arrived. "Cayde here is eager to meet the Shadow in person." Ikora stated.

"What do you say, Death?"

"⎍⊑... ⌇⎍⍀⟒. ⟟ g⎍⟒⌇⌇ ⟟ c⏃⋏ g⍜ ⍙⟟⏁⊑ ⏁⊑⏃⏁." Michael grabbed the Yin Yang Switch on his right arm and tried to turn it, but it was as if it was stuck.

He pulled on the black half, but it wouldn't detach. "{It's the Traveler's aura. That's why the Shadow can't make an appearance here. As long as you're within the aura surrounding the City, the Yin Yang Switch won't turn or split.}"

"Shame. I wanted to talk with him." Cayde-6 sighed.

"As did I." Ikora was also disappointed.

Zavala nodded. "Indeed."

"You'll just have to allow yourselves to exit the City in order for that to happen." Michael suggested.

"I can't wait to get out of here. I hate waiting."

"Impatient, are we, Cayde?"

"We have no missions for you anymore. You may patrol until something comes up." Zavala stated.

"Something's already come up." Michael replied.

"Well, what is it?" Ikora asked.

"We must see what has happened to the Frontier." Spyglass answered.

Oryx is gone.

City Hawk 723 is heading to the Frontier. What do you think happened out there to cause the IMC and the civilians to evacuate?

See you next time where we find out.