S1-111
Sightseeing

11:32 AM
08/17/3272

The Dreadnaught
Altar of the Shadow

Music
Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded - Castle Oblivion

It's been a few days since the ordeal on Mercury, and the entirety of City Hawk 723 had come to the Dreadnaught, seeing everything the Shadow had accomplished in his reign. They had arrived at the Shadow's dwelling, and he was there once again, with Taken arranged to line a path.

"Death, I cannot thank you enough for your help, even to this day." Michael said.

The Shadow was silent, as if he was in the middle of something through one of his Echoes. Just then, his dark presence was felt, and he showed activity. "It is always good to see you again, my friends. I may be dark, but my loyalty remains with the Light. Now, to what honor do I owe this humble visit?"

"We wish to know more about you." Spyglass said.

"Shadow, you're a powerful being. We just don't understand your capabilities." Michael added.

"That makes sense." The Shadow nodded. "I never really went into detail about that stuff."

"So, where do we begin?" Jack wondered.

"The Grasp of Death. What's that all about?" Michael asked the first question.

"That? Oh, it took me a while to actually develop that ability. My first target? A Cabal Legionary belonging to the Sand Eaters. I had to give it a test run, you know? I watched as that Legionary withered away, and I could feel its strength surging into me. My next target was a Colossus from the Dust Giants. Then I tested it on a Cabal leader from the Bone Crushers. Valus... ta-odd...?"

"Valus Ta'auhd?" Samus replied.

"That'd be him. The Cabal were trouble, but I never knew it was gonna be... THAT much trouble."

"The Red War. Yeah, I know." Mark-18 stated.

"And what about turning into that trail of particles?" Samus questioned.

"Just a little trick I picked up after taking a Hive Wizard. The knowledge was disturbing, but the ability was fascinating."

"I like what you've done with the place."

"Michael, I know sarcasm when I hear it... and I heard no sarcasm from that. Thank you for the compliment. I decided to brighten things up around here. I commonly use the Hall of Souls as a sort of training ground to keep my abilities sharp. Any Taken I kill in training are immediately reassembled. Resurrected."

Dane looked at the Taken, which were no longer shivering. Their will was completely erased, nothing remained of the alien creatures they once were. "So, the Dreadnaught's prison. I've read about it in Toland's journal."

"The Asylum, and its deepest chamber; the Hanging Crypts. I've been keeping a lookout for any enemies stronger than myself, then sending any I find to the prison, where I hold them until I arrive there myself to give them a taste of the Darkscythe, and the Grasp of Death does the rest. Or if I'm uncertain about whether or not to incorporate them into my Taken."

"The IMC is well aware of you. Everyone knows about you. You are the one good entity of darkness." Spyglass stated.

"I've always wanted to see the Frontier. I'll leave my Taken. I'm sure they can handle things without me."

12:03 PM
08/17/3272

Planet Vez-2 - IMC HQ
Corridors

Music
Titanfall - OST 02

The trip to the IMC HQ definitely took a while, but it was worth it in the end. "Home, sweet, home." Michael threw his arms into the air, taking in a refreshing breath.

"This place is huge!" The Shadow exclaimed.

Michael smiled. "Of course. They had to make room for multiple arrays of Pilot Simulation Pods, as well as hundreds of Titan barracks, Titan manufacturing chambers, Pilot quarters, armories, research facilities, information hubs, communications arrays, the command center, automaton storage, and a giant ship docking chamber!"

"OH MY COTTON SOCKS!" Tanner-21 was definitely beyond amazed right now.

As they were talking, a Marvin came up behind the group. "Mark-18, Hayden-10, Tanner-21, please follow me to Pilot Training Pod array 416."

"Go get your Pilot skills, guys. You'll need Pilot certification if you want to keep your Titans." Michael ordered. The Exo brothers followed the Marvin away, leaving the rest of City Hawk 723 to explore the rest of the IMC HQ, and they stopped at a Titan manufacturing chamber in the barracks.

Planet Vez-2 - IMC HQ
Titan barracks

It looked like a new Atlas-class Titan was being put together, and it was given a Triple Threat Titan grenade launcher. Its chassis number was XM-2536.

"So, going with one of the older Titans, huh? An Atlas. Nice choice. That Damage Core will get you through to your opponents." Michael said to the new Pilot.

She smiled. "Many thanks."

They headed further down the Titan barracks, seeing another Atlas-class Titan, but with a Plasma Railgun. "[Good to see you all. The Shadow... It is an honor to be in the presence of a true king.]"

"Jeeves. Interesting name. You've been through a lot, I can tell."

"[That's right. Jeeves was built in the year 2256.]" Vanessa added.

"That's..." Jenny started.

"Five years before I was born. I'm pretty much 1,010 years old now." Michael added.

"1,010 YEARS OLD?! I'm only 26!" Jenny exclaimed.

"That's definitely something unexpected." The Shadow was genuinely surprised at how old the ace Pilot was.

"If I'm counting right, then I should be turning 1,011 in little over a month." At Michael's words, the Shadow's lower jaw detached from the rest of his skull and fell on the floor. A few seconds later, he picked it up and popped it back into place. "I mean... Despite that, I still look 43." Michael chuckled.

12:17 PM
08/17/3272

Planet Faslorix - Apex Predators HQ (abandoned)
Entrance lobby

Music
Chibi-Robo: Plug Into Adventure - Abandoned Memories

Although the Frontier was largely restored, a few places remained in ruin. From the decommissioned Militia HQ on the planet Harmony, to the home base of a disbanded mercenary group, which was where City Hawk 723 visited next. The place was covered in dust, with no sign of any activity for centuries. "The Apex Predators HQ..." The memories came flooding back to Blisk.

"'Apex Predators'?" The Shadow had never heard of them.

"A mercenary group led by Blisk, who was also the one to disband it." Michael shortly explained.

Blisk looked over the dusty surfaces. "I thought the IMC would take on this facility, but they just abandoned it."

His Ghost checked the systems. "{I think I know why. You left the Apex Predators beacon transmitting. They didn't know.}"

"I..." Blisk was mildly shocked. "I did?"

"[I was wondering about that, but I thought my systems were getting a little buggy.]" NL-9831 stated through the local comms.

"Heh. I'm stupid."

"Not even close, Blisk." Michael stated.

"So what now?"

12:49 PM
08/17/3272

Planet Earth - Old Russia
The Steppes

Music
Destiny - Reborn

They were back on Earth, since the Shadow could explore the Frontier in his own time, and he was still gathering Taken for any time they were required. Better to have them and not need them than to need them and not have them.

Immediately noticeable was a Fallen Ketch, surrounded with enough defensive measures to destroy an army of Walkers. "That's new." The Shadow stated.

"Hang on. There's a strange Fallen House sigil on it. I don't know what it's called." Dane was right. There were green House colors draped on the Ketch.

It was then that the Ketch's hatch opened, revealing a Fallen Vandal with green robes and prosthetic limbs. "{Variks! The House of Judgment!}" Dane's Ghost exclaimed.

"Red Legion are gone, yes?" Variks asked.

"The Red Legion are still out there." Michael replied.

"You guys work with a Fallen?!" Jenny exclaimed.

Variks looked over her. "A new Guardian... in Pilot armor. I am Variks, Kell of House Judgment."

"When did you become the Kell of the House of Judgment? That's quite an honor." Sarah was right to be curious.

"I fled from the City upon Red Legion assault, then came to Cosmodrome, found others from House Judgment. We stood against Fallen House remnants, found Ketch of House Wolves, put it to good use. I learned something of myself. You and I, more alike than what was known."

"{I think I know what he means. I'm picking up Light from Variks.}" Rocco reported.

"Light?!"

Variks held a hand to shoulder level, and an orb of pure Light was floating above his palm.

"You're a Guardian." Spyglass stated.

"Me?" Variks questioned. "I... do not deserve this."

"With the Traveler having woken up, I can almost hear its will. The Traveler might say otherwise, Variks. You fought with us instead of against us. You have fought for the right cause, and you have done so with no ill intent. The Traveler most likely trusts you, Variks."
It was then that Michael focused his Light, manifesting it into a sphere between his hands.

As the sphere became smaller, it started to take on a different shape. The orb sent out a pulse, imploded, and created nine objects. At first, they orbited each other randomly, then they stopped and converged on the one that remained spherical. The glow went away, revealing a brand new Ghost. It turned to look at him, then it asked him a question. "{Who is my Guardian?}"

"The Traveler seemingly trusts Variks enough to gift him its Light, but he does not have a Ghost. That is where you come in and to change that. You will be his Ghost."

The Ghost was already connected to the City's network, and was looking for anything concerning what it saw. "{I'm pretty sure you should be killing Fallen, not making Ghosts for them.}"

"Ghost, I am Kell of House Judgment."

After looking for anything on the House of Judgment, the Ghost changed its mind. "{The House of Judgment; the one Fallen House that fights alongside us, and against other Houses. You're their Kell, huh? I'm... sensing Light. So it's true... the Traveler trusts you with its gift.}"

"You will be safe. This Ketch once belonged to House Wolves. Now, there is no House Wolves."

"{Well, care to fill me in?}" Variks's new Ghost asked.

"Good luck, Variks. See you around."

"Thank you, Michael. Send the Traveler best regards from House Judgment."

"{It can hear you, Variks.}" Rocco replied.

3:47 PM
08/17/3272

Planet Vez-2 - Suburban Cul-de-sac
Aran-Johnson residence

Music
Chibi-Robo: Plug Into Adventure - Midday Majesty

Once the unexpected tour was over, Spyglass and the other Pilots were dropped off at the IMC HQ, with the Exo brothers returning to the City after having completed training.

The Shadow didn't seem to need any form of alternative transportation to return to the Dreadnaught. He had his ways.

Michael, Samus, and Jenny had returned to the suburban cul-de-sac, where their home was.

While Samus and Jenny were over in the kitchen getting a snack, Michael was working in the garage with some Vex devices the Shadow had helped him understand, hoping that he could unlock a sort of time travel. No simulations. Actually traveling through time itself. The machine was almost done. All he had to do was test it, but he needed to bring it to a safe testing area.

Natasha Rivera

Pilot class
Rifleman

Primary
CAR SMG - (HCOG) - (Extended Magazine)

Sidearm
RE-45 Autopistol

Anti-Titan
Mag Launcher

Tactical
Active Radar Pulse

Ordinance
Satchel Charges

Tier 1
Quick Reload Kit

Tier 2
Guardian Chip

X-ray-Mike Two-Five-Three-Six (XM-2536)
Land-Trap

Primary weapon
Triple Threat - (Mine Field)

Tactical Ability
Particle Wall

Ordinance
Cluster Missile

Chassis
Atlas

Tier 1
Nuclear Ejection

Tier 2
Core Extender

Insignia
Kill Marks

OS voice
Sid

Well, this chapter went all over the place, but it had some info here and there.

That machine Michael was working on is actually something I thought up recently. He's trying to build a time machine, but he'll get something different.

See you next time.

Oh yeah, and give our newest IMC Pilot a humble greeting. Natasha Rivera was a civilian who wanted to be a Pilot. She got her wish.