S1-135
Will of the Thousands

3:57 PM
07/02/3272

Planet Mars - Hellas Basin
Dynamo Approach

Music
Destiny - Beneath the Ice

After Rocco reconstructed Michael's missing eye from the Pilot's own DNA, there have been reports of damage all across Hellas Basin.

"Xol is tearing apart Rasputin's Neural Network, and if he does enough damage, he could trigger a chain reaction that will devastate Mars. All I know is we have one advantage left: the Valkyrie." Ana transmitted.

Zavala was also on the line. "I'll never trust Rasputin, but we'll need every weapon we have to stop Xol. Even one that's powered by a Warmind."

City Hawk 723 was going through the area, and Tanner-21 was using his own Light to empower XM-2536's T-203 Thermite Launcher to more effectively deal with any Hive in the way.

Eventually, they reached a place where the Titans could progress no further. The Titans were left in Guard-Mode.

Planet Mars - Hellas Basin
Alton Dynamo

"If we overload Rasputin's core, we can use the excess energy to overcharge the Valkyrie." Ana suggested. "I think that's our only chance of really hurting Xol." The Taken were in the area, getting rid of the Hive and the Cabal that were in their way. "Open the cooling vents on the inhibitors, then hit it with everything you've got."

At a nearby console, Mark-18 opened a cooling vent, allowing Michael to throw in a Satchel, then detonate it. "Attention. Neural Net inhibitor offline. Core power levels rising. Continued fluctuations will result in a critical failure. All personnel are advised to initiate safety protocols. Remember, a safe work environment is a happy work environment." At this, they couldn't help but laugh.

Inside the facility were more Hive, and more inhibitors to disable. "{That node is giving off strange readings. I need a closer look.}"

Once Rocco scanned the node, he sent the results to Ana. "Oh no. With the inhibitor offline, the Neural Network is going crazy! I'll try to stabilize it. Defend the area."

Frozen Hive were coming out of the woodwork, but unfortunately for them, it was into their end. Michael's powers may be limited without the Eye of the Traveler, but he could still use a Stormtrance. He went around the place, electrifying the Hive into ice shards and black dust particles.

"Got it! Neural Net is online and ready. Now for the inhibitor vent." Once the Hive were dead, the vent cover retracted. "The inhibitor vent is open." With that, Michael used another Satchel Charge. BOOM!

"Core power levels approaching critical overload. Personnel are recommended to evacuate."

More frozen Hive, soon replaced with more dead frozen Hive. Jack used the nearby console to open the third vent, allowing Michael to blow it up.

"Great work. Get to the core before it goes critical. It's time to forge a new Valkyrie."

In the next room were more frozen Hive, along with a special Wizard.

SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES

1: Sulhava
Vassal to Xol

"We could really use the Valkyrie right now." Michael stated.

Without warning, a blast of energy hit the Wizard, leaving it frozen solid. Samus had used the Ice Beam, following it up with a Super Missile. A Wizard trapped in a large chunk of ice was more susceptible to being literally blown to pieces, and that's just what happened.

Samus [Super Missile] Sulhava, Vassal to Xol (Grasp of Nokris)

A burst of energy erupted in the back up the room, blowing away any nearby Hive. "Stabilized! Kind of... But the Valkyrie is ready!" Ana reported. The Shadow then grabbed the Valkyrie. "Alright. I need you to throw the Valkyrie into the core and force a full meltdown." The javelin was thrown into the core, triggering the meltdown.

"Complete core meltdown initiated. If you can hear this message, you are too close to the core."

"{The Valkyrie is surging with energy far beyond what my sensors are capable of analyzing.}"

Further along, there were so much Hive, and the Shadow was taking great pleasure in destroying them all with the overcharged javelin.

Planet Mars - Hellas Basin
Hellas View

Music
none

This was it. City Hawk 723's next target is Xol. As they went through the tunnel, a massive worm monster came by and smashed right through it. Michael's helmet acquired the ID as it went by.

SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES

1: Xol
Will of the Thousands

Music
Destiny 2 - Xol, Will of the Thousands

"{I've never seen anything so powerful! Be careful!}"

Xol came up from the ground as the Fireteam jumped onto the platform below. The worm god was spitting beams of Hive soulfire at the Fireteam as they took cover under Tanner-21's Ward of Dawn.

It was then that the worm god dug down into the ground, eventually coming back up elsewhere and dragging itself across the platform. "{Try to hold on a little longer. Ana is bringing the Neural Net online.}"

Back up Xol came, and Michael had one of his craziest ideas yet. He sent out his Grapple, then catapulted himself strange into Xol's gigantic maw. "IS HE CRAZY?!" Samus exclaimed.

"No. He's a risk-taker." Dane replied.

"That's not a risk! That's suicide!"

Music
none

As Xol prepared another attack, something happened. "The Light... It... It is BURNING ME FROM THE INSIDE!" A massive blast erupted from Xol's side, tearing a hole through his flesh from within, and out came Michael, riding on top of one of his Andromeda Cannons! He then rejoined his Fireteam as Xol fell.

"You reclaimed the Eye of the Traveler?!" Samus was in awe of what Michael managed to do.

"Xol was trying, and failing, to gain control of the Traveler's very essence. When the Eye sensed my presence, it recognized me, then broke free, re-merging with my Light. It's good to be whole again."

"You... will... all... die."

"Javelin is online and ready." Ana reported.

Michael turned to the Shadow, a smirk on his face. "Death, shut Xol up."

"Heh heh... Gladly."

At that point, a Vanguard-class Titan showed up. "[Shadow, ready for fastball.]"

"Good idea." As DL-2671 readied up for a throw, the Shadow climbed into his metal hand. All trajectory calculations had been confirmed, and he was ready to throw Death at Xol.

Xol wasn't done yet as he prepared a flame attack.

Spyglass took the Valkyrie, then threw it at Xol, diverting his attention as DL-2671 threw the Shadow. "[Ready the Grasp of Death.]"

As the Shadow flew through the air, the Darkscythe's blade began to glow. A clean slice was made through Xol's deadly skin, and the Shadow began absorbing his energy.

Music
none

"What... is... this..." Those were Xol's final words as the monstrosity fell, degrading out of existence, landing with a large thud, and falling apart, reduced to drained Hive dust.

The Shadow [Grasp of Death] Xol, Will of the Thousands (Grasp of Nokris)

"I can't believe it! You did it! You took down a worm god!" Ana praised.

"More like the Shadow ABSORBED a worm god." Michael added with a chuckle.

"...what?"

4:23 PM
07/02/3272

Planet Mars - Hellas Basin
Mindlab: Rasputin

Once Ana and Zavala caught up with City Hawk 723, they were shocked to find out that Michael had recovered the Eye of the Traveler.

Now they were going to see Rasputin. After a long silence, a booming sound was heard, followed by a distorted Russian voice. Ana translated. "The... Bray family... shaped me to be... an all-seeing savior... while your Counsel sought... to wield me as a primitive weapon. But today, that ends, and I define the reality of my own existence. My sight will stretch to the edge of this system and beyond. Never again will a threat go unseen. From this day forward, I will defend humanity on my own terms. I am Rasputin, Guardian of all I survey. I have no equal."

"What have we done...?" Zavala wondered.

"Don't worry. We've got this." It was then that Ana interfaced with the main terminal.

4:49 PM
07/02/3272

Planet Mars - Hellas Basin
BrayTech Futurescape

Music
Destiny 2 - Hellas Basin

With the Xol crisis averted, Michael decided to pay Ana a visit. "Are you familiar with the phrase 'Be careful what you wish for'? Yeah. It's something that's been running through my head since watching Rasputin launch a brand new Warsat network... under his sole control. I should be afraid. Any rational person would be, but... I'm not. I know without a question, that no matter what comes next, we can face it together."

"It's all so... unusual. I don't know what to think of it."

4:57 PM
07/02/3272

Planet Earth - The last City
Courtyard

Music
Destiny - The Tower

Next, he went to see Zavala. "The Traveler's Light has illuminated a path into a world of immense change, but the brighter the Light, the deeper the shadows. How we choose to navigate that path, that will define us for years to come. But in all this uncertainty, one thing has never wavered, and that is my faith that you are the one who will lead the way forward."

"Right. But you better not anger me again."

"I learned that lesson the hard way."

5:12 PM
07/02/3272

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

Music
Chibi-Robo: Plug Into Adventure - Broad Daylight

Back on the Frontier, Michael was enjoying some free time.

The Traveler's voice was heard. "Good to be back?"

"Good to be back, big guy."

"{It certainly is a nice day to relax.}"

"From what I've seen, and this is just my personal opinion, I believe the IMC could've made a Warmind better than Clovis Bray did."

"I'm not sure. Only one way to find out."

Indeed.

Michael has the capabilities of a Warlock without the Eye of the Traveler. Why do you think the Yin Yang Switch is in the form of a Warlock Bond instead of a Hunter Cloak or a Titan Mark?

See you next time, everyone.