S1-90
Adieu
Music
Destiny 2 - Traveler's Dream
Michael could tell he was dreaming. But something was... off about this. It looked different. It... felt different.
It was as if he were seeing through the eyes of a bird. He was flying through the clouds as an eagle swooped past him. He saw the Traveler, and it was building what almost looked like a city.
Then Michael's vision went from the sky to a pool of water, and within it were statues of people, all looking up in horror. His view surfaced, seeing some sinking pyramids. Then he saw an unbelievably large mouth, eating a whole planet for dinner.
Michael then saw three objects. There was a staff that crackled with an electric Arc Light, a sword engulfed in a searing Solar Light that licked its blade, and a shield that pulsed with an unknowable Void Light.
He saw that eagle again, and in the distance... was a shard of the Traveler.
8:19 PM
03/13/3251
Planet Earth - The last City
Music
none
Michael awoke to an echoing voice. "⋔⟟c⊑⏃⟒⌰...! ⋔⟟c⊑⏃⟒⌰! ⍙⏃k⟒ ⎍⌿!" He woke up, still tremendously weak, but at least he was still alive.
In front of him was the Shadow. "Ugh... Death, you aren't exactly the most pleasant thing to wake up to..."
"⟟ k⋏⍜⍙, ⏃⋏⎅ ⟟'⋔ ⌇⍜⍀⍀⊬, ⏚⎍⏁ ⍙⟒ ⋏⟒⟒⎅ ⏁⍜ g⟒⏁ ⍜⎍⏁ ⍜⎎ ⊑⟒⍀⟒."
All around them, the City was devastated. It was now Red Legion territory.
Michael tried to get up, but his arms and legs suddenly went numb and he fell over. Thankfully, he and the Shadow were hidden from any patrolling Cabal. "⊬⍜⎍'⍀⟒ ⌇⏁⟟⌰⌰ ⍙⟒⏃k ⎎⍀⍜⋔ ⏁⊑⟒ ⌰⍜⌇⌇ ⍜⎎ ⊬⍜⎍⍀ ⌰⟟g⊑⏁. C'⋔⍜⋏." Michael put an arm around the Shadow's back, allowing his dark half to help him up.
It was then that Michael saw something in the Shadow's hand, and it wasn't his Darkscythe. "My helmet... We need to call for help..." Michael tried to reach for his helmet, but the Shadow held it away from him.
"⟟ ⏃⌰⍀⟒⏃⎅⊬ ⏁⍀⟟⟒⎅. C⍜⋔⋔⌇ ⏃⍀⟒ ⍜⎎⎎⌰⟟⋏⟒."
As they moved out, Michael heard a familiar voice. "{Michael!}"
"My... My Ghost...!"
"⟟⎎ ⊬⍜⎍⍀ G⊑⍜⌇⏁ ⟟⌇ ⌇⏁⟟⌰⌰ ⏃⌰⟟⎐⟒, ⏁⊑⟒ ⍀⟒⌇⏁ ⍜⎎ ⊬⍜⎍⍀ ⎎⟟⍀⟒⏁⟒⏃⋔ ⋔⎍⌇⏁ ⊑⏃⎐⟒ ⌇⎍⍀⎐⟟⎐⟒⎅ ⏃⌇ ⍙⟒⌰⌰."
"{This is awful... Awful! This can't be happening...}" As they neared the Ghost, which seemed to be releasing a few sparks every now and then, Michael lost his grip and fell over. "{Michael...?}" The Ghost approached them, looking over Michael. "{You're alive...! I... I thought I'd lost you...}" It was then that energy began to surround Michael, and he felt his strength returning to him. "{I can heal you, but I can't resurrect you. Not since...}" The Ghost weakly floated, its shell damaged, then began to fall as Michael caught it in his hands.
The Shadow looked and saw a Taken Wizard nearby, hiding. "⏁⊑⏃⋏k ⊬⍜⎍." It nodded, then disappeared.
Music
Destiny 2 - Journey
"Ghost... Oh man, what did they do to you?"
"{Michael, the Light is gone... They've taken the City... the Traveler... everything... The Red Legion is killing powerless Guardians and Pilots... but the Pilots... are taking a lot less casualties... We have to get out of here...}" Michael carried his Ghost in his hands as he and the Shadow moved through some rubble.
It was then that the Shadow plopped the helmet on Michael's head.
USER 'MICHAEL JOHNSON' FOUND
SERIAL NUMBER: 294721549
BLOOD TYPE: A
BIRTH DATE: 09 - 24 - 61
LIGHT SCAN: NEGATIVE
SUIT LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS: REBOOTING
CHECKING TITAN STATUS
SN-6726: ONLINE - DOOM-STATE
VF-2968: ONLINE - 21%
CZ-9247: ONLINE - 14%
DL-2671: ONLINE - 11%
PYR-8638: ONLINE - 9%
XS-9365: ONLINE - 18%
TE-5138: ONLINE - 17%
ZJ-7349: ONLINE - DOOM-STATE
EM-9156: ONLINE - 5%
RD-1539: SIGNAL LOST
OV-3206: ONLINE - 13%
"{I'm picking up an emergency broadcast... Rendezvous coordinates... They're evacuating the planet... We're on our own...}"
12:29 PM
03/15/3251
Planet Earth - The last City
City Outskirts
Michael and the Shadow have been walking for two days. No food, no water, nothing.
Nearby was a falcon, which flew away, as if guiding them. Up ahead was the remains of a makeshift camp site, with permanently dead Guardians lying about. "{These Guardians... They had no chance without their powers... That could be us... Michael, if you die... I can't resurrect you... We need to be very careful...}"
Up ahead was the battered and devastated remains of a Ronin-class Titan. Michael checked the chassis number. It was RD-1539.
His Ronin was dead. The main optic was torn open, and there were shattered Datacore fragments littering the hole in the chassis and on the ground.
"⊑⏃⋏g ⍜⋏." The Shadow climbed on top of the Titan chassis, then pulled out a Battery. It was glowing green.
He wouldn't want it to go to waste."
Just then, new Cabal units appeared.
SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES
1: War Beast
Michael cleared them out with the Spitfire. His weapons sustained only minor damage, and with no effects to their performance.
Once they were out of the way, he lowered his weapon, but didn't reload since he was holding his Ghost in his left hand. They continued onward.
11:29 AM
03/18/3251
Planet Earth - City Perimeter
Twilight Gap
The falcon was in sight once again, and it flew away.
"{It's that falcon again... Is it following us...? Or are we following it...?}"
"⏁⍜ ⏚⟒ ⊑⍜⋏⟒⌇⏁, ⟟... ⎅⍜⋏'⏁ k⋏⍜⍙." It was then that the Shadow looked at Michael's right arm. "⋔⟟c⊑⏃⟒⌰, ⊬⍜⎍⍀ ⊑⏃⌰⎎ ⍜⎎ ⏁⊑⟒ ⊬⟟⋏ ⊬⏃⋏g ⌇⍙⟟⏁c⊑!"
Michael looked at the Yin Yang Switch, seeing that there was very little left of the white half, and the light on it was flickering weakly, the glow barely visible.
In a way, the damage on it reflected him.
A Cabal ship could be seen, as well as the Traveler, and that machine Ghaul put on it. Further ahead, the falcon was perched on a tree branch that was sticking out of the icy wall. It flew off, and they followed it.
More War Beasts came prowling in, with a Legionary as well. Michael sprayed and prayed with the Spitfire as the Shadow took the Legionary, integrating it into the Taken.
After crossing some more rough terrain, Michael and the Shadow ended up at a gap. Michael's Jump Kit was damaged, and therefore nonfunctional, so he needed to get it fixed as soon as possible. He tried to jump across as the Shadow held on to his Ghost, but he didn't make it.
The Shadow jumped down after him, with the Ghost still in his hands. The impact had knocked Michael unconscious, but it wasn't as bad as the fall from the Cabal ship during the attack on the City.
Music
Doctor Who - Bad Wolf
As Michael regained his senses, a woman showed up, with a rifle on her back. "Oh, look. Somebody left a perfectly good Guardian lying around." She helped Michael up to his feet as the Shadow let the Pilot's Ghost float again, but it was still weak. "Oh, wait. This one's a Pilot. Things must be worse than I thought." An explosion could be heard in the distance, and it caught everyone's attention.
It was revealed that they weren't alone. There were other people there, civilians, and the rest of City Hawk 723, with their Ghosts. The Titans were all there too, but they were in bad shape, and some of them were in Doom-State.
"And that's our cue. Time to go, people!" The woman called out.
"{Uh... But... Wait! Where... Where are you all going?}"
"As far away from here as possible." The falcon flew in, and perched on the woman's arm.
"{That falcon... It belongs to you?}"
"The name's Hawthorne, and this is Louis, best pilot we got. What about you? Fit to fly?"
"Thoroughly, ma'am." Michael acknowledged.
"Probably gonna need one of these too." She tossed Michael a shotgun, and he caught it. Michael then returned it and pulled out his Spitfire. "I've already got a weapon, but thank you."
"Time to make yourself useful, 'Pilot'. All right, people, spin 'em up! We got a long flight ahead of us!"
12:38 PM
03/18/3251
Approaching unknown destination
"Coming up on the European Dead Zone. Gonna be our new home for a while." There was a little farm area up ahead, but there was also a giant object much further in the distance.
"{Look... Do you recognize it? That's where we're supposed to go.}" Michael's Ghost stated, its voice still partially distorted and laced with static.
"That thing? They call it the shard of the Traveler. I call it 'Not a place you wanna go poking around'." Hawthorne stated.
They landed, and were greeted by a gentle breeze and fresh air.
Planet Earth - European Dead Zone
The Farm
Music
Destiny 2 - The Farm
Michael's helmet acquired a nearby ID.
SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES
1: Darbi 55-30
Postmaster
A Frame.
"Michael, what about Jenny? How is she gonna-"
"We got a caretaker Frame at home, remember?"
"Right. I'm still worried, though." Samus wasn't very reassured.
Up ahead was a very familiar face. It was Tyra Karn!
"I'm surprised to see you here."
"Oh, I'm glad to see you safe. I am Tyra, Tyra Karn... I'm sorry, have we met before? Losing my connection to the Light has been... disorienting. Now, I understand you seek the shard of the Traveler. I, too, have dreamt of it. Its jagged, broken edge. A wound that never heals, but I do not trust its pull. Like us, the shard no longer knows the Light, not since the Traveler cast it off during the Collapse. For centuries, it has twisted and corrupted everything around it. Where it lies is now... a place of death. If you are determined to go, remember: We Guardians are no longer immortal."
The group headed to the farm house to see their new friend.
SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES
1: Suraya Hawthorne
Farm Overseer
"This is... hoo... a lot of civilization... for me, at least. Course, I've been living outside the City half my life. So... Heh. Anyway, heard you wanna go poke around that busted up hunk of Traveler. You Guardians have a weird idea of a good time. Oh well. Louis and I know plenty about trusting your gut, so I'm not about to stop you. I got enough to deal with here. Take that ship your girl flew here. At least, it'll get you back here faster. See all these refugees? I haven't lost one yet. Don't you be my first."
"OK! Geez."
Later on, they were gathered at Samus's ship, with a secured transmission link to Michael and Samus's home back on the Frontier.
"So, how's it going, Alder?" Michael asked the Frame taking care of their daughter.
"I am well, as is Jenny." Alder 99-40 reported. "However, she has suddenly become weak, as well as the Ghost you made for her."
"Yeah, this new group of Cabal, called the Red Legion, somehow took the Light from all of us, and we need to get it back." Samus replied.
"On the plus side, she is making a remarkable recovery. Your daughter appears to have a fascination with knowledge. Also, she has made something for her Ghost." The Frame moved the camera to show the Ghost Michael had created laying in a handmade, miniature bed, and it had a little cap on its shell!
"OK, that's adorable." Michael said upon seeing what Jenny made.
"{Oh, joy... I'm getting humiliated light years away.}" The Ghost groaned.
"Don't worry. You'll feel better before you know it. Trust me."
"You know, I've always wanted to visit the Frontier. What's it like?"
"Tell you what, Mark. We get through this, we'll give you and your brothers the grand tour. How's that sound?" Michael offered.
"Consider the Red Legion as good as dead."
We're coming back in action.
To prevent any future confusion, Samus's ship hasn't been modified to pick up Guardian radio signals. She has her Ghost for that.
RD-1539 was KIA, and his Datacore was destroyed. Sorry to say it, but we lost a Titan.
Also, an answer to a question that remains to be asked. 'Why is the Shadow's voice echoing?' Well, are any of you familiar with the 'Voice changer with effects' mobile app? I imagine the Shadow's voice to be that of Ghor from Metroid Prime 3: Corruption put through the 'Death' option.
See you next time, people.