S1-134
Strange Terrain
3:41 PM
07/02/3272
Planet Mars - Hellas Basin
Olympus Descent
Music
Destiny 2 - The Frozen Horde
Upon returning to Mars, City Hawk 723 went into the nearby cave for the plan.
Zavala was on the comms. "If we find the place where this god worm feeds, we can use the Eye of the Traveler to draw out Xol."
"{I've been running some scans. There's a cavern that intersects with one of Xol's tunnels.}" Rocco reported.
"Zavala, listen to me. I've studied the logs. Rasputin was barely able to stop Xol the first time."
"{Guardians, I'm getting some kind of interference. I can't make sense of it.}"
Zavala dismissed Rocco's report. "Our mission stands. We will defeat Xol, and we don't need the help of a Warmind to do it, not when we don't know what else it might do."
The frozen Hive up ahead were getting seriously torn up by some of the Shadow's Taken, and a path was cleared for the Fireteam to proceed. "{The interference is getting worse, but I'm starting to pick up a pattern. Do you hear it, Ana?}"
"I'll need more data to be sure, but yeah, I'm thinking it might be an encoded message."
Further within the cave were crystals and more frozen Hive. "{Those crystals are surging with energy. They must be using them to gather power to feed Xol.}"
"That's something." The Shadow put plainly.
As the Hive were being demolished, one Knight dropped a strange item. "The energy in this relic is volatile. Try throwing it at the crystal." Hayden-10 stated.
Samus picked up the relic and threw it like one of her Arc Grenades, causing the crystal to explode. "{It looks like the Hive have been busy down here.}" Indeed it did. Hive biomass appeared to be packed into the walls of the icy tunnels, with dark crystals lighting up the place.
"Keep going. According to scans, there's a large chamber where all the tunnels intersect. That makes it the most likely spot for Xol's feeding ground." Zavala ordered.
Planet Mars - Hellas Basin
Penumbral Depths
Music
Destiny 2 - Beneath the Ice
"Look at the size of these tunnels. Xol must be immense." Dane awed.
Ana added to Dane's comment. "Meaning Xol is stronger than we thought."
"All the more reason to take it down now." Zavala transmitted.
More and more Hive appeared from within the ice, attempting to keep the Fireteam from entering Xol's feeding ground, but were eliminated with little effort. Four Knights and a Wizard were in the middle of some form of ritual, and the Wizard was the last to die.
SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES
1: Simmumah ur-Nokru
Hayden [Hemlok BF-R] Simmumah ur-Nokru (Grasp of Nokris)
"They were chanting in an archaic form, about a priest, Nokris, and how he was labeled a heretic." The Shadow stated.
"What could possibly qualify as heretical for the Hive?" Zavala wondered.
"Something about... resurrection."
Eventually, City Hawk 723 entered the feeding ground. "{This is some kind of holy space. They're readying another offering for Xol.}"
"More crystals. Samus, I'm authorizing the use of your... heaviest ordinance." Michael stated.
Understanding the meaning, Samus summoned her Power Suit, engaged Morph Ball form, then rolled into the middle of the horde, releasing a Power Bomb dead center as Michael formed a Ward of Dawn, his helmet acquiring one last ID before the detonation.
SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES
1: Kvada ur-Nokru
The blast not only melted the ice in range, instantly turning the ice into water vapor, but it also eradicated all Hive in the chamber, including the Ogre.
Samus [Power Bomb] Kvada ur-Nokru (Grasp of Nokris)
"Heat spike!" Ana exclaimed.
Zavala was on the line. "That must have been one of Samus's Power Bombs!"
"{The feeding ground is right below us.}"
"I've decoded the interference pattern. Akka, Eir, Yul, Ur... Those are names. Ancient, powerful names. This is more than we- ~static~"
"Ana. Ana!" Hayden-10 was trying to regain radio contact.
"We lost the signal. We're too deep underground." Another Hive ritual, and Michael formed his Satchels to clear them out.
With the Hive dead, a rupture opened, and something came out. Samus was confused at this. "That's not Xol."
SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES
1: Nokris
Herald of Xol
"It's Nokris!" Samus let loose a Super Missile, blasting Nokris, but seemingly doing nothing.
"Death, how well is your swing when moving?" Michael asked.
"Exceptional. Why do you ask?" In response, Michael grabbed the Shadow by the arm and threw him at Nokris.
The Taken King understood, and just in time too. The blade of the Darkscythe glowed, then sliced through Nokris's arm. The Grasp of Death was now upon Xol's herald. Nokris withered away, screeching in agony, until nothing was left.
The Shadow [Grasp of Death] Nokris, Herald of Xol (Grasp of Nokris)
Music
none
"{There, in the center. That's where you'll stand.}" Once Michael stood in the center of the plate in the chamber, a terrible presence was felt, immobilizing everyone as a dark voice boomed in their heads.
"There is no Light here." Up above, a massive worm appeared. It was Xol. "You... are... alone. You... shall... drift. You... shall... drown... in the deep." All around them, the place cave in, burying the Fireteam in the snow as they blacked out.
3:54 PM
07/02/3272
Michael woke up, feeling nothing but cold all around him, and a great pain in his right eye.
He tried to summon an Andromeda Cannon, but nothing happened.
He tried to summon the Hammer of Sol. Still nothing.
He tried to summon the Daybreak. A sword of Solar Light appeared in his hand, clearing away the snow around him.
Michael could see, but it was all hazy and... What happened to his depth perception?!
The Pilot took off his helmet, then rubbed under his right eye. On his gloved hand was blood, seeping from where his right eye once was... where the Eye of the Traveler once was.
In the reflection of the blade of his Data-Knife, Michael could see what had happened to him. Xol had somehow stolen the Eye of the Traveler! Michael now only had one eye, and his abilities were limited to the Warlock discipline.
Then, he heard a voice. "[There you are!]" It was Michael's Vanguard-class Titan; DL-2671.
There were other Titans around. BT-7274, MOB-1316, MF-8472, UQ-2153, XM-2536, Arc-Rod, DF-3158, and TN-9684.
"{Thank the Light!}" Rocco praised.
The entire Fireteam was out of the snow, regaining their strength with the help of their Ghosts, and the Light-infused medical equipment of their Titans.
"Xol is heading directly for the Clovis Bray facility and Rasputin. If Rasputin dies, the javelin goes with him. Xol wins." Ana reported.
"Very well. My reservations about the Warmind aren't as important as defeating Xol. We do this together. What do you say, Michael?" Zavala asked.
"Let's do this, save Rasputin, and get my eye back!"
"Your eye?! Xol has the Eye of the Traveler?!"
Yes, he does, Zavala. But not for long.
See you next time, and with BOTH eyes.