S1-199
Happy New Year!

7:13 PM
12/31/3273

Planet Korj - Angel City District 1: Residential District
Freddy's Angel Buffet

Music
Tron: Legacy - End of Line

After some debate, it had been decided that Christmas, which had been replaced with the Dawning from the days of Earth's Last City, was to be reinstated and celebrated. Christmas traditions were, of course, more kindhearted in nature, with a unanimous agreement to have that instead.

Done with Christmas, and ready for New Year's, Michael and his family and friends decided to have a get-together somewhere special to the ace Pilot.

Knocking on the door, Michael waited patiently. He then turned to everyone behind him. "The modified animatronics here are my childhood friends from when I was 9. When they were scheduled to be scrapped by their old owner, Spyglass brought them here, and IMC techs managed to isolate the glitch in their CPUs that gave them their sentience, turning a bug into a feature."

Mark-18 nodded in understanding. "Nice."

Just then, the door opened, and on the other side was a certain light blue bunny-like animatronic. "Michael! Good to see you again! And..." Toy Bonnie took notice of everyone behind the Pilot. "Whoa! Bringing your friends in for a New Year's celebration?"

"Yup. You already know Samus, Dane, Spyglass, Jack, Sarah, Blisk, and the Shadow. But now, I'd like you to meet Mark, Hayden, Tanner, Cayde, Devrim, Suraya, Petra, Sloane, Osiris, Ana, Ada, Amanda, Ikora, Eris, Variks, Misraaks, Falco, Anthony, Carlos, Tony, Steve, Bruce, Natasha, Clint-"

Toy Bonnie interrupted him. "OK! You don't need to name literally everyone here!"

Samus then spoke up. "Our daughter, Jenny, would've been here with us, but she insisted on staying home."

"Ah. Maybe we could prepare a meal for delivery?" Toy Bonnie offered.

Michael smiled at his old friend. "We appreciate it."

Not long later, everyone was seated. Conversations were in the air, consisting of recent or current events, New Year's resolutions, and other stuff like that.

Spyglass wasted no time in 'breaking the ice'. "I assume you are all aware of Dr. Hammond's Sim-Exo program."

"Yeah." Michael nodded.

"Excellent. We only require the discovery of the Deep Stone Crypt. Once it has been located, we will gain all the information we need to create a perfect fusion of Exo and Simulacrum technologies."

Samus then decided to change the subject. "I know this isn't exactly your thing, Spyglass. But what's your New Year's resolution?"

Spyglass turned to her, remaining silent for a few moments as he processed Samus's question. "The end of the war between the Light and the Darkness. The Shadow has already stated that he intends on replacing the very mind of the Darkness itself with his own." The Vice Admiral then gestured to Cayde. "And you?"

"I'm hoping to ask for Petra's hand in marriage." The Exo said, sparing a glance at the Awoken in question.

"{I'm sure she feels the same way.}" Sundance chirped, nudging her Guardian with her shell.

Michael then decided to confess his own New Year's resolution. "I only want to do the right thing."

Spyglass nodded. "Your determination to do the right thing is why you are the best of the best."

"Why are we so alike, Michael?" Samus chuckled. Did she have the same resolution?

"Great minds think alike." He laughed.

It was then that Spyglass shifted gears to a different topic. "I have been speaking with the Aurora Units on an official public identity for our resident from another dimension. I am sure you know who I am referring to."

"Glitch Frisk?" Michael was curious about this discussion.

"As the name 'Frisk' is not in our civilian database, we have agreed to retain it in the official registry. And we have fabricated a backstory detailing the loss of his parents to the Hive shortly after the Red Legion invaded, followed by one of our Spectre patrol teams saving him."

Thinking it over, Michael agreed upon it. "It's not like everyone can just recognize literally everyone else. Sounds like a plan. And what about his new relationship with Jenny?"

"As unexpected as it was, we have already considered this. Was it your daughter who fell in love with him first?" Michael nodded. "Understood. I will speak with the Aurora Units tomorrow."

Cayde then spoke up. "So, the Sim-Exo program... If Exos are being upgraded with Simulacrum components, then what about the Simulacrums themselves?"

"We will require access to the facility where Exo bodies are assembled. The Simulacrums will be downloaded into the new hybrid constructs." Spyglass stated. Seems like Dr. Hammond was quite thorough in planning this.

"Any idea where the Deep Stone Crypt could be?" Samus wondered.

"Our search teams have already combed through almost the entirety of Earth's solar system. Only a few locations remain unchecked, including the dwarf planet Pluto, and a number of moons." Spyglass reported.

A Frame then came by and served a few foot platters; Bourbon street chicken and loaded potato skins for Michael, Parmesan spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread for Samus, and queso bratwurst hotdogs with 'Buffaranch' sauce for Cayde. As always, Spyglass had nothing, seeing as his chassis was not capable of sustenance consumption.

Just then, Toy Bonnie walked by. "Excuse me. I just got a message about someone being at the door." Michael watched him head to the restaurant entrance and open it. On the other side… was a Ghost.

"{Hi.}"

"Oh! Rocco! Didn't know you were out. Your Guardian is inside." Toy Bonnie moved aside, allowing Rocco to rejoin his Guardian.

Michael smiled at his returning friend. "Good to have you back, buddy. And at the end of the year, like I said."

"{I needed that vacation. Thank you, Michael.}"

"You're welcome, buddy. Got that 'head' sorted out?"

Rocco chuckled. "{Yeah. Even though I don't actually have a head, since Ghosts pretty much look like disembodied floating eyeballs, I get what you mean. No more traumatic experiences… I hope.}"

"If you desire..." Spyglass spoke up. "We can request the Shadow to manufacture a module that will nullify the Darkness's influence."

"I think we'd need that anyway." Samus stated, twirling her fork in her pasta.

"{Do you think Tony can help?}"

Cayde shrugged. "I don't know. I think Eris is our better option. She knows more about that sort of stuff."

"Can't argue with that." Michael then took a look at Eris, who was sitting alone. Obviously, nobody wanted to sit with someone who 'creeped the everliving criminy out of them', according to him.

Just then, the Shadow spoke up. "I'm sorry. But something's come up, and I need to take care of it." An Ascendant rift opened just at the end of his outstretched hand before he ran through, closing it as he departed.

Cayde stared at where the Shadow once stood in puzzlement. "What was that about?"

"The Shadow has been fashioning sterile neutrino constructs, known as Acolyte Eyes, into his own personal surveillance network. His sudden departure is likely the result of an alarm being tripped in his security system." Spyglass explained.

Nodding, Cayde went back to eating his hotdog, only to find that he dropped it on the floor after the Shadow left. Grumbling to himself, he grabbed another hotdog from his plate.

11:56 PM
12/31/3273

Planet Korj - Angel City District 10: Phoenix Central
Boardwalk (North)

Music
Destiny 2 - The Last City

After having dinner, Michael and Samus headed up to Phoenix Central, seeing that everyone was anxiously waiting for the New Year. But something was off.

In the sky above them was the Traveler, which greatly confused everyone. Why would the Traveler leave the center of the Frontier?

Just then, Michael heard its voice. "I've been waiting for this since we all moved here." Slowly, the Traveler began to glow, its orbiting fragments gradually slowing their rotation.

Looking at a nearby clock, Samus saw its display change to 11:58. It was almost time. "I think the Traveler's here to join in the New Year celebration."

"No, Big T's planning something." Michael stated before turning his attention to the towering structure in the center of Angel City. There were monitors on its side, making it so that everyone could see the countdown it displayed in a 360 rotation around it. A big, glowing ball was descending down the tower.

"Well, whatever it is, I'm sure it'll be good."

Michael nodded. "Yeah. I guess you're right."

"I'm timing this just right. You'll see." The Traveler's voice said in his head.

Now he could see it. The fragments floating around the Traveler were closing in on the great, white sphere.

Just then, he heard the people of Angel City begin counting down. "10! 9! 8!"

"Something is coming. I can feel it." An eerie voice practically whispered behind the two. "It is drawing power. Could it be enough to drive the Darkness away from us?"

Michael and Samus turned back, seeing Eris Morn.

"Could you not?" Samus retorted.

Michael wanted to say something, but decided to turn back to the tower, hearing the people finish. "2! 1!"

12:00 AM
1/1/3274

Cheers rumbled from the citizens as the Traveler's fragments finally merged back together, its old wounds finally healed.

"Ahh… Much better." The Traveler's voice carried a better mood.

Suddenly, there were fireworks in the sky. Michael could see flying Northstar-class Titans firing these festive rockets from their Acolyte Pods.

Michael chuckled. "Heh. Happy New Year, big guy."

"It has reformed. Healed its wounds." Eris said, still looking at the Traveler. "This will not be the end. It will be an escalation."

Samus turned back to the Lightless Hunter, annoyed. "Can we start 3274 withOUT your-" She was then interrupted… by a kiss on the cheek.

"And a Happy New Year to you too." Michael said with a smile.

"Every Fireteam has come to Angel City; even the Hunters. They're with the people. Keeping them safe." A familiar voice said to Michael's left. A certain Awoken former Commander was standing alongside him, staring at the Traveler as well.

Rocco then chirped up. "{Well, the last time this happened… the world ended. I'm not worried. I'm not.}"

"Nor am I." Zavala replied, nodding to the Ghost.

Michael turned back to the Traveler. "Through thick and thin, we stand together. Humanity. Awoken. Eliksni. We stand united."

Finally done.

See you next time, everyone.