S1-191
Nightmare Hunt - Anguish
3:12 PM
11/23/3273
Earth's moon - Ocean of Storms
Sanctuary
Music
Destiny 2 - Necropolis
With Cayde and Petra taking a breather in the Sanctuary, Michael decided to see how Eris was doing. More Phantoms were haunting her. "I. Don't. Care. ~hoarse grunt~"
"Eris." Michael put plainly, getting her attention.
She covered her nose for a second. "You reek of the Hellmouth. This armor will prove useful in the battles to come. But the Pyramid demands greater power to enter it. Three further pieces of armor... Three more Nightmares... These diseases torture the moon with their very presence. Send them back to the past where they belong, and in return, they shall provide us with power."
"Michael, over here." The Shadow called out, standing next to a nearby table.
Taking out the Cryptoglyph, Michael headed to the table, which had bowls, candles, and runes on it. He dropped the Cryptoglyph into the largest bowl, sitting in the center.
SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES
1: Lectern of Enchantment
"Let's get cracking." The Shadow then began working his dark magic, altering the Nightmare Essences cleansed thus far to create what looked like armor. The first piece was what looked like a pair of leggings, which included the boots. And the second resembled a Hunter's cloak. "Let's get this armor sent up to the IMS Sentinel. Maybe the techs can determine the protective components."
It was then that Spyglass came on the line. "Michael, Ikora Rey has arrived."
"What...? Why?"
"Unknown. I am en route to her location. She is in the Enduring Abyss. Meet us there."
Getting off the channel, Michael tapped the Shadow's shoulder. "Spyglass just contacted me. I need a shortcut to the Enduring Abyss."
"No problem." The Shadow extended a skeletal hand toward the wall on the other side of Eris Morn. An Ascendant rift tore itself open upon his command. "There you go."
"Thanks, Death."
Earth's moon - Ocean of Storms
Enduring Abyss
Exiting the Ascendant rift, Michael caught sight of Ikora and Spyglass overlooking the Pyramid, and it sounded like they were in the middle of a conversation.
"A Field Commander? So quickly?" Ikora sounded surprised. "I knew Cayde was good, but-"
Spyglass interrupted her. "The IMC has been monitoring him since the Red War, as he had signed up several days prior. Despite the incomplete loadout he allowed himself at the time, Cayde showed great potential. Telemetry data was being analyzed to better assemble his Pilot equipment. However, following his death in the Prison of Elders, Cayde's Pilot uniform and weapons would remain unused. Had he not been restored by Michael's technological ingenuity, Cayde's loadout would have been scrapped, and the Ace of Spades would have marked his grave."
"I suppose this means Cayde owes his life to Michael twice-over."
"A logical assumption. However, Dr. Hammond has issued Cayde a clean slate, wiping away all his debts."
It was then that Michael made his presence known. "I didn't know Cayde's debts were erased. Or that he had debts to begin with." He then turned his attention to Ikora Rey. "To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit, Ikora?"
She turned to look at the Pyramid. "I had to see it with my own eyes. How long has it sat in silence, watching us?"
A voice was heard behind the trio. "Much too long." Eris had followed Michael through the Ascendant rift, and was now being haunted by five Phantoms.
"I can't help but feel responsible for this, Eris. If I hadn't sent you here-"
Eris interjected, interrupting Ikora, much to Michael's mild irritation. "Your concern is noted, but my fate is my own responsibility. And we both know you didn't come here to apologize."
"I came to tell you..." Ikora began. "You were right. It seems those responsible for our Collapse... are coming back."
It was then that the Phantoms started crowding Eris, getting closer and closer until she snapped at them. "QUIET!" The Phantoms recoiled away as Michael and Ikora flinched at the sudden outburst. "You're all insufferable! Save your torment for someone who gives a (CENSORED)!"
"Language, Ms. Morn." Michael scolded.
Spyglass stepped up. "Eris, the IMC is at your disposal."
"Then... if you'll excuse us, Spyglass... Ikora... We have work to do." With that, Eris walked off, followed by the Phantoms of her deceased Fireteam.
Michael and Spyglass exchanged glances and nodded to each other before walking away, until Ikora got their attention. "Michael. Spyglass." They turned to the Warlock. "Whatever she needs."
"Understood."
3:26 PM
11/23/3273
Earth's moon - Ocean of Storms
Anchor of Light
Reaching the rendezvous point, Michael teamed up with Carlos and Jack. "Carlos! Haven't seen you in a while. How's Mr. Mortar?"
"Still operational." The 10th Gen Pilot stated, nodding to Michael. "This operation just keeps getting complicated. Hunting down these echoes of deceased enemies and picking up the strange orbs of dark energy they leave behind? So weird..."
Jack shrugged his shoulders. "We're not the ones who come up with this stuff, Carlos. Nobody ever said it'd be easy."
Just then, a notification popped up on their HUDs. An inbound supply drop. Michael plopped down a transmat beacon, causing a Spectre rack to appear and deploy automated infantry to secure the drop zone.
A modified Drop Pod burrowed into the ground from orbit, enabling the Pilots to access its contents.
"I got a refill on Spitfire magazines." Michael stated as Rocco collected the ammo containers.
"R-201 mags and magnetic grenades. Check and check." Carlos said before spotting something in his supplies. "And one of those new IMC transmat beacons. Nice little bonus."
Jack procured magazine refills for his weapons and an IMC transmat beacon for Spectre reinforcements, then picked up a small cardboard box. "What the..." Inside was something made of a white material. "Underwear? Why would..." An old memory popped up in his head. "BT...!" Jack groaned in annoyance as Michael resisted the urge to laugh while Carlos banged his fist on the supply pod, making unintelligible noises.
Once the unexpected comedic moment was over, Carlos decided to make a call. "Mr. Mortar, we could use an aerial barrage. We've got Fallen and Hive obstructing our path. Marking targets and sending you a live feed."
Over the comms, a Titan's voice was heard. "[Acknowledged. Stand clear.]" In a matter of seconds, a whole storm of rockets rained down on the opposition, eviscerating them and clearing the area.
Michael nodded in approval of the highly effective decision made by his brother-in-arms. "Nicely done."
With the path open, Michael and the others ventured into the old Fallen Ketch.
Eris was on the comms. "We are all consumed by that which eats away at us. For Skolas, it was his own hubris. He pursued complete control over all Houses of the Fallen, and through his misguided conquest, many perished. Skolas's memory serves as a permanent reminder of all the lives lost at the whim of a single Kell. No matter how hard the Pyramid may try, we will not cower."
Earth's moon - Ocean of Storms
Traitor's Ketch
Inside the Ketch, Fallen and Nightmares of them opposed the Pilots, only to be vanquished by superior weaponry and the result of intense militaristic training regiments that would make Shaxx's training sessions look like child's play.
In the next room, Fallen and Hive were battling it out. Spitfire, R-201, and Flatline rounds pierced every enemy combatant with unprecedented stopping power.
"{Skolas Nightmare, dead ahead. It's ours.}" Rocco reported.
Music
Metroid: Other M - Desbrachian Battle
SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES
1: Nightmare of Skolas
Kell of Kells
"Our common adversaries are practically nothing. The small Nightmares are an embarrassing excuse of a challenge. But these large Nightmares, like Skolas here, are a valid threat." Jack stated.
The Nightmare of Skolas fully materialized and opened fire with a Scorch Cannon as Fallen and Nightmares poured in as reinforcements. In response, Carlos activated his new transmat beacon and jabbed it into a wall, causing a Spectre rack to appear and deploy automated infantry units armed with L-STARs and Archers.
With the Spectres dealing with the lesser enemies, Michael and his Fireteam could engage the Skolas Nightmare. A Servitor was floating into shielding range, but before it could do its thing, a Spectre blasted it with an Archer, destroying it.
With the underlings disposed of for the time being, Michael commanded all Spectres to aim their A-T weapons at the Nightmare of Skolas. Heavy rockets peppered it from all sides.
Taking on a red hue, the Nightmare had rendered itself impervious to all damage, relying on the very presence of new Nightmare Fallen to remain in such a state. Michael, his Fireteam, and the Spectres engaged the new reinforcements.
Without the Nightmares that had just arrived, the Skolas Nightmare was vulnerable to attack. Michael deployed an A-Wall as the Spectres scattered, granting his Fireteam increased damage output.
Summoning more Nightmare reinforcements, the now invulnerable Nightmare of Skolas turned its attention to the Spectres, shooting at them with its Scorch Cannon. One of them tanked an explosive blast, getting back on its feet and resuming fire.
"I think it's time to finish this." Michael said, watching as the last of the minor Nightmares had been terminated by one of the Spectres. "Jack, Carlos, triple Nova Bomb!" The Guardian-Pilots jumped into the air and reached for the Void.
Three orbs of explosive Void Light were launched at the Nightmare of Skolas, leaving behind a smaller orb of swirling purple energy.
Michael; Carlos; Jack [Nova Bomb] Nightmare of Skolas, Kell of Kells (House of Dusk)
Music
Titanfall 2 - Uphold the Mission
"{Eris, Skolas has been taken care of.}" Rocco reported.
Eris's response was simple and blunt. "Find me when you are ready."
Out of nowhere, an Ascendant rift opened next to Michael, who relinquished the Essence of Pride to the Shadow's skeletal hand as it emerged from the portal.
OK, I started getting error 503 as I finished up this chapter. Something must've happened.