S1-104
A Deadly Trial

10:47 AM
08/09/3272

Planet Earth - European Dead Zone
Trostland

Music
Destiny 2 - EDZ

"The coordinates Brother Vance gave us are just beyond the village." Michael transmitted to Ikora.

"Hawthorne's scouts surveyed that area in the Red War. There's no temple there. Just an old radio tower."

"Have a little faith, Ikora." Jenny replied.

After moving through and ancient building, they entered the next sector, seeing an Echo up ahead, with the Fallen in the area getting sucked up into Taken rifts.

Planet Earth - European Dead Zone
Maevic Square

"I don't understand what just happened."

"Well, Jenny, a Hive god by the name of Oryx-" Michael started explaining, but the Echo of the Shadow interrupted him.

"Let me do the explaining. Oryx had the ability to 'take' other creatures. They're a mindless army of stolen souls known as the Taken. Oryx took Michael, thus creating me. The Traveler's Light managed to keep his will from being erased, so there was a way to get him back. Back then, I wanted nothing more than to follow Oryx's commands, and after Michael was freed, I remained within him. I wasn't going anywhere. He went to Eris Morn, who saw no chance for my reformation, then he went to the Speaker, and the visit got me thinking. The path I was going down... perhaps that was the wrong one. I now know that it WAS the wrong path. I saw the truth. Since Oryx had granted me the ability to 'take', and appointed me as the General of the Taken, I still had those powers when he was defeated. A growing darkness only makes the Light glow brighter."

Jenny was fascinated. "Wow."

"So, are the Followers all as... 'passionate' as Brother Vance?" Samus asked.

"You mean fanatical. Yes. They follow the idea of Osiris. They do not know the man as I did. But they're our best chance to revive Sagira." Ikora transmitted.

There were some Heavy Pikes in the area, and they were to be put to good use. They saw more Fallen up ahead, but they were just mauled over by their own vehicles, now used by Pilots.

"Jenny, I thought you'd be happy to know that your Titan is up ahead, securing the area."

"[Ikora is right. I've cleared out all Fallen in sight. However, I am detecting no signs of the Followers within the structure.]"

Up ahead was a Fallen Walker, but the Heavy Pikes were more than capable of decimating the spider tank. A force field blocking the path collapsed, allowing them to proceed. "I feel bad for anyone who has to live out here." Jenny stated.

"Osiris would say it's a trial. If his Followers can't survive here, they aren't worthy to begin with."

"OK, that's overly rough." The Shadow replied through his Echo.

Planet Earth - European Dead Zone
Hangman's Pass

"[My sensors show that you are closing in on my position.]"

"We'll be there soon, TN. Hang on."

They were going through a long tunnel filled with Fallen and lined with traps. The traps were destroyed before they could be triggered, and the Fallen were killed off.

Upon leaving the tunnel, they saw a Vanguard-class Titan firing upon a Fallen Skiff, bringing it down. "It really is just a radio tower." Michael remarked. "And the Fallen got here first."

"That's what faith in Osiris gets you."

There were no Fallen left in sight. TN-9684 had done a great job. Devastated Fallen remains, as well as destroyed Servitor fragments, littered the area.

"Nice job."

"[Thank you.]"

Upon climbing the radio tower, they found a way in. They descended into the structure, with the Ghosts coming out to illuminate the dim room. There were Fallen in there that had been there to take cover from the Titan outside. They were finished off.

In the next room... were corpses. "The Followers! We're too late." There was a strange device nearby, and Michael brought out the shell of Osiris. He placed Sagira in the slot as his Ghost floated above it.

"{Let me take a closer look. This is heavily modified Vex tech. I've never seen anything like it before. Let me try something.}" A few little beams pinged out from the Ghost, but then the device began to show activity. An energy trail went from Sagira's shell as it disappeared and went into Michael's Ghost. "{Wait. Something's happening! What is...}"

A female voice came out of Michael's Ghost. "{...going on?!}" The Ghost then had some strange energy projections, resembling Sagira's shell. "{Whoa! New shell. Who... Did you actually just put me in a strange machine you've never seen before? Who does that?}"

"Sagira!"

Michael started freaking out. "MY GHOST! What happened to my Ghost?!"

"{Ikora! Great! Glad you're still around. Look, we've gotta move, right now. Osiris is in over his head, as usual, and I need to... Wait. Where are we? Who are you? Ugh. Nevermind. We've gotta get to Mercury.}"

"What about my-"

"{And don't worry about your Ghost. We're... sharing right now. He'll be back.}"

"For your sake, you better hope so!"

"{AAAAHHH!}"

PhfhfhfhfHAHAHAHA! See... HAHAHA! See you next time... AAAHAHAHAHAHA!