S1-203
Coup de Grâce
8:07 AM
02/12/3274
The Tangled Shore
Spider's Safehouse
Music
Destiny 2 - Tangled Shore
Returning to the Tangled Shore the next morning, Michael entered the Spider's bunker with Tanner-21 and Leo. "Alright, Crow. What's new?"
"We're on the verge of the coup de grâce. I've finally pinpointed the High Celebrant in the Dreadnaught, but the lure will need to be upgraded one last time before we can make our move." The Crow said before holding up a strange bauble. "Here it is. The final piece."
"Let's do this." Leo said with confidence as he readied his SMR and placed it on his back. The Simulacrum then took the bauble and attached it to the Lure.
The Lightbearer smirked as the lure started humming with even more soulfire than ever. "Well then. Like Spider always says, 'We're in business.'."
"I'm still curious how the High Celebrant got onboard." Tanner-21 murmured as he was making adjustments to his Slug Rifle.
Exiting the Crow's workshop, Michael and co. were greeted by the Spider as he took his eyes off the monitor to his right. "Welcome, my most productive Pilot. Have you heard? The Crow reports our High Celebrant is finally within reach."
"He just told us." Michael stated. "But how the High Celebrant managed to get onboard remains a mystery."
"We can worry about that after the job is done." Tanner-21 reminded him.
"He and the Warlock Osiris have used what you've learned on your hunts to find its hiding spot in the Dreadnaught. My Hunter; exemplary. An emblematic paragon. It makes me wonder why I needed you." The Baron continued with a chuckle.
Music
none
"Excuse me?" There was then a rumble as the lights flickered, reminding him of his first meeting with the ace Pilot. The Spider stopped, recoiling his previously injured arm with wide eyes.
The Crow's voice echoed from his workshop. "...the heck was that?"
Music (resume)
Destiny 2 - Tangled Shore
Regaining his posture, the plump Eliksni faced Michael again. "I jest, of course. Though I have to admit, I carry some… trepidation. My pet stands at your shoulder, like an equal. Your encouragement makes him think himself a Guardian!" He let out a scoff. "The vanity!"
Michael grumbled at the Spider. But Tanner-21 put a hand on the Pilot's shoulder, shaking his head.
"Do not let him so close, or spoil him with pretty dreams." The Spider warned, then gave him some instructions. "Kill the High Celebrant, break Xivu Arath's hold over my Shore, and you can claim any prize in my lair as your reward. You'll have earned it."
"I… well-"
"We'll take it." Leo chimed in.
8:12 AM
02/12/3274
The Dreadnaught
Trenchway
Music
Destiny - The Dreadnaught
Arriving in the Dreadnaught, Michael and his team followed the line of marching Taken. It was as if they knew exactly where to go.
"Remember; the Celebrant must be killed in the Ascendant Plane." Osiris transmitted.
"Osiris! Welcome back to the mission. You doing alright?"
"Yes." The old Warlock put bluntly. "I'm in the Hall of Souls. Meet me there."
Leo sounded uncertain. "You sure? We were just following the Taken because they seemed to know the way."
However, Osiris was being straightforward with his words. "Destroy the High Celebrant, and you'll deal Xivu Arath a crippling blow."
"Right. No Celebrant, no Cryptoliths. No Cryptoliths, no Wrathborn." Michael then drew his Spitfire. "Let's see her fight us without an army."
"{Crow, are you there?}" Rocco questioned.
"Somewhat." The Lightbearer responded. "I tracked the Celebrant through a portal into swirling darkness."
"{A gateway to the Ascendant Plane.}" Glint added.
"As I said. Swirling. Darkness." The Crow reiterated slowly. "I'm learning its tricks now, studying how it moves through these realms. It's like a shark cutting through black water."
"Keep an eye on it." Michael ordered.
"I can do more than that."
The Dreadnaught
Hall of Souls
Reaching the Hall of Souls, Michael and co. saw what looked like a bridge of Vex architecture… with the look of the Taken.
"{Makes navigation easier. The Shadow thought things through with his remodeling.}" Rocco quietly remarked, seeing lines coursing through the blighted Vex machinery.
"Over here, Michael!" Osiris called out from the former Court of Oryx. And there was a Cryptolith behind him.
"If the Taken recognize you, even without your Light, why'd you come to the Dreadnaught all by yourself?" Tanner-21 asked the Lightless Warlock as the team regrouped with him.
Osiris was quiet for a few seconds, then gave out his answer. "Once, in the Infinite Forest, I saw a Hive god named Savathûn taking control of my body, using it to carry out her nefarious schemes. I was alone, and Sagira was dead. If she hasn't possessed me already, if she's nowhere to be seen…"
"Uh… Did the Shadow send for specific reinforcements?" Leo asked as he pointed at some Taken Goblins surrounding the Cryptolith.
Osiris took a moment to observe them as blighted Vex architecture began to slowly manifest around the Cryptolith. "The Shadow must have sent these Goblins to seal off the radiating essence of the Cryptolith, thus containing its debilitating effect."
As Osiris was speaking, Michael went ahead, planting the Lure before the Cryptolith, causing the Goblins to be momentarily distracted.
"Ha! Tagged it!" The Crow's voice wavered triumphantly. "It's bleeding energy and on its way back to you."
Music
Destiny - The Taken
The Celebrant appeared before them, but noticed the Vex architecture building up around the Cryptolith. It then backhanded the Taken Goblins and attempted to break the Vex buildup, only to clutch its hand in pain and yell out.
As Eagle-Eye 9-1 started firing on the Celebrant, it fired its Boomer at them a few times before summoning Hive reinforcements, which were immediately preoccupied by Taken reinforcements. Vandals, Hobgoblins, and Phalanxes fought alongside the Fireteam, driving back the Hive.
As a Knight fell and left behind a pool of Wrathborn essence, four Taken Goblins appeared and projected their invulnerability beams… at Osiris and the Fireteam.
"That… feels weird." Leo shuddered.
Tanner-21 didn't exactly enjoy it either. "My Light is… distant."
"I can feel the Darkness surrounding me." Osiris said with concern. "I do hope I don't end up Taken."
"I feel as if my skin has become the armor plating of a Titan." Michael chuckled, bearing down his Spitfire on the High Celebrant. "Open fire!"
The High Celebrant attempted to retaliate with its Boomer, but the group didn't feel a thing from its attacks.
The High Celebrant soon disappeared, but this time, a small floating sphere of Ascendant energy took its place.
Music
Destiny - The Dreadnaught
"It fled back into the Ascendant Plane, but it left something behind." Leo notified the Crow over the radio as the Taken Goblins disengaged their shielding beams.
"Told you I tagged it." The Lightbearer reassured. "That's residual energy. A blood trail. Destroy it, and the essences in your Lure should reopen the portal."
Taking note, Tanner-21 threw some Cabal slugs at the sphere, causing it to burst open into a portal to the Ascendant Plane as the Goblins resumed their work on containing the Cryptolith.
Ascendant Plane
Taking a headcount, Michael noticed that Osiris was no longer with them. "Osiris, are you still in the Hall of Souls?"
"Yes. I will be monitoring the progress these Taken make on containing the Cryptolith." The Warlock replied.
"{You saw how easily the High Celebrant swatted away the first three Goblins. We're staying here to make sure the Taken don't have any more interruptions.}" Sagira added.
Michael nodded in understanding. "Makes sense. Keep us updated."
"Understood. The Celebrant seeks to bring more territory under Xivu Arath's control. Be quick. She will not be pleased with trespassers." Osiris cautioned.
Passing by a couple of Acolyte Eyes, Leo shot another sphere of Ascendant energy with a few micro-missiles, opening another portal.
The Dreadnaught
The Founts
Going through the portal, Eagle-Eye 9-1 was brought back into the material world as they kept following the green trail.
"We made it through the portal back to the Dreadnaught. No sign of the Celebrant." Michael reported. "Crow, where are you?"
"At your coordinates, walking the other side of the same coin." The Crow responded. "The way I see it, as long as we're in both planes, it has nowhere to hide."
The Dreadnaught
The Asylum
Unsurprisingly, the trail led to the Asylum, where Eagle-Eye 9-1, back when it was known as City Hawk 723, brought down the Hands of Oryx.
As they pressed on towards the doorway on the other side, multiple waves of Hive appeared to face them, only to fall to the Fireteam's superior firepower and sheer determination. The doorway opened, allowing the Fireteam to enter the chamber.
Music
Destiny - Taken Down
"{Celebrant sighted!}" Rocco called out as the Wrathborn Knight reappeared before them.
"Do your thing." The Crow sounded sure of the Fireteam, and he had every reason to be.
"A-T weapons ready!" Michael ordered.
The trio readied their two Charge Rifles and one Chain of Command machine gun. But despite the hail of armor piercing energy beams and lead, the High Celebrant was not sustaining any more damage.
"This isn't working! We can't truly damage the Celebrant without reclaimed Light!" Leo reported, growing increasingly frustrated at the situation beforehand.
"Hold tight. I'm on it."
Suddenly, an Ascendant rift opened, leaving Wrathborn Fallen in the Dreadnaught.
"{We flushed them out of the Ascendant Plane and into the open.}" Glint transmitted.
Crow was heard just after his Ghost. "I just… shot them until they ran, but I like the way you put it better."
Taking down a Wrathborn Captain, Michael formed a Healing Rift in the pool of energy it left behind. The trio then resumed fire with their Anti-Titan and power weapons.
Music
Destiny - The Dreadnaught
The High Celebrant was forced to retreat once more, leaving behind yet another sphere of residual Ascendant energy for Michael to shoot into a portal.
Ascendant Plane
"To think you can enter this place using nothing but dead essences…" Osiris pondered.
"What's the status of the container?" Michael questioned.
"{The Taken are topping off their box. Shouldn't be long before they finish the lid.}" Sagira updated the ace Pilot.
"Which means your friend will be able to join you soon enough." The Crow noted.
The Dreadnaught
Ascendant Docks
Entering another portal, the trio found themselves in the Dreadnaught's docking bay.
Osiris was on the comms again. "Xivu Arath strikes where the Cabal first pushed through the veil and breached the Dreadnaught. Has she no ambition of her own?"
"Like her symbiont Worm, Xivu Arath is parasitic. She's leaching off of the acts of others to meet her own ends." Michael scowled.
The trail led into the repurposed Cabal ship, forcing the Fireteam to navigate its corridors and fight off any Wrathborn standing in their way. Eventually, they made it to the other side of the ship and into the Mausoleum.
The Dreadnaught
Mausoleum
There, Osiris could be seen picking off Hive and Wrathborn alike with his Garden Progeny 1, with Sagira appearing occasionally to heal any wounds inflicted on his body.
Michael sighted the High Celebrant for a moment before it disappeared again, but this time, it left no sphere of Ascendant energy for the Fireteam to shoot. "It stopped bleeding energy. We can't get through."
"{I think the Celebrant realized we marked it. It sealed the portal behind itself.}" Glint stated.
"We're trapped in here?" Crow was alarmed.
"If your companions are trapped in the Ascendant Plane with the Celebrant… then they are already lost." The old Warlock lamented, letting out a sigh.
"{The portal closed, but maybe there's enough Hive magic left in the Lure to activate some other way through.}" Sagira suggested.
Osiris chuckled dryly, seeing the Sagira he always knew. "Ever the clever one, my little Light."
Taking the hint, Michael called the Lure out of transmat storage and placed it on the ground. An Ascendant rift opened close to the relocated Infinite Forest gateway.
"I hope you can hear this. The Celebrant turned it around on us. The hunter becomes the hunted." The Crow's voice was heard over the radio. "I wanted to… Listen, if things get ugly for us in here, just know it's not your fault. Everything I did, I did because I wanted to. Thank you. For letting me have a choice."
Michael turned back to the Lightless Warlock. "We need an update on the container."
"Understood. We'll go take a look." With that, Osiris headed back to the Hall of Souls.
Ascendant Plane
Entering the portal, Michael got on the comms. "Crow, we're in the Ascendant Plane. Do you read us?"
"Nothing in here I can't handle." The Lightbearer reassured the team.
"{What are you talking about? The Celebrant broke your legs and threw you into an abyss!}" His Ghost objected.
"Nothing I can't handle. The High Celebrant's just up ahead, and I think I have a plan…"
Music
Destiny - Into the Void
Michael and co. proceeded on through the Ascendant realm, coming across the High Celebrant. The weakened Shadow was nearby, obviously in no condition to fight back against a merciless pummeling from corrupted Vandals.
"Are you keeping it busy?" The Crow asked over the comms. "I'm nearly at the portal where you came in."
"You're leaving?" Michael answered with another question.
"Like Osiris said, the Celebrant must die in the Ascendant Plane, and you're our best shot at making that happen."
Osiris was briefly heard. "He's leaving."
"I survived by watching the world around me and learning from my Light. I've studied how that thing creates those portals. This time, I'll be ready."
As the High Celebrant opened fire, Wrathborn Fallen and Hive appeared as reinforcements, but they were met with bullets, micro-missiles, and Arc shots.
Another pool of energy was left by one of the slain Wrathborn, enabling further damage to be done to the High Celebrant.
"{Energy readings are spiking. It's going to create another portal.}" Rocco reported.
"I'm in position on the other side." The Crow confirmed. "You're smoking it out, Pilots, but if I block the exit, it burns."
As the esoteric energy dispersed, the High Celebrant opened a rift, preparing to go through.
"Crow! The portal!" Tanner-21 called out.
The Crow took notice. "I see it..." Before the High Celebrant could escape, the rift closed. "Now, finish it!"
As the High Celebrant dropped to one knee, as if to surrender, the team readied their weapons.
Music
none
But before any triggers could be pulled, an echoing laugh was heard. Everyone turned to the Shadow, who slowly rose to his feet, his laughter beginning to intensify.
Osiris was heard on the comms. "The container is complete. The Shadow should… be..." He trailed off, hearing the Shadow's echoing laugh.
Music
Ghost Rider - More Sinister than Popcorn
The Shadow erupted in black and white flames, his eye holes aglow with Taken energy as his laughter became a full-on cackling. The trio thought it best to step out of his way.
Seeing this, the High Celebrant went from its surrendering kneel to fearfully trying to scamper away from the now approaching terror of the dark, only for what looked like black chains to burst from the ground and hold it in place.
"What's going on in there? Glint's saying that sterile neutrino readings are spiking off the charts." The Crow reported, which prompted Michael to wordlessly send a visual feed from his helmet. "Oh. That's what's going on? And the High Celebrant's terrified of him?"
Once the Shadow got close enough to the High Celebrant, he initiated the Grasp of Death with his Darkscythe, ripping open its chestplate and sticking his left hand into its chest all the while, violently forcing its Worm out of the withering, screaming Wrathborn Knight and squeezing it in his hand until it pops into greenish goo. He then proceeded to dislodge the High Celebrant's head with the Darkscythe's blade, causing it to roll towards the Fireteam in dramatic fashion.
The Shadow [Grasp of Death] High Celebrant of Xivu Arath
The Shadow continued to laugh maniacally as he shredded the now-deceased High Celebrant's shriveled body into pieces with his Darkscythe, reveling in the moment of pure, unadulterated revenge. As the pieces of the High Celebrant's body eventually dissolved, leaving only the head, the Shadow let out quick, labored breaths as the flames around him dissipated.
Music
none
"Sorry, I… I was… I know how it feels to be finally rid of my… ugh… Xivu Arath's sickness." Eventually, the Taken King collapsed to his knees, his voice nothing more than a whisper. "Good riddance."
"The High Celebrant of Xivu Arath is no more. How did you manage that?" Osiris wondered, his voice rife with curiosity.
"Crow destroyed its portal from the other side when it tried to escape." Tanner-21 said.
"{I knew he wouldn't really leave us.}" Sagira chirped, letting out a brief giggle.
"No. Never." The Crow replied defensively, then remembered what the Spider told him. "Oh. Bring its head, would you? Spider will want proof when you come to collect. It's been an honor, Pilots."
"You too, Crow." Michael returned the favor with a salute… even if Crow couldn't see it.
8:44 AM
02/12/3274
The Tangled Shore
Spider's Safehouse
Music
Destiny 2 - Tangled Shore
Returning to the Tangled Shore, Michael walked up to the Spider and held out the trophy: the head of the High Celebrant of Xivu Arath. "It's done."
"So it is. So it is." The Spider chuckled, genuinely impressed at the Legend's efforts. "Alright, Michael. As promised, you can have a prized bobble from my lair, as compensation for your… heroics."
After looking around the room for a moment, Michael finally settled on his prize. "We want… him." He said, looking at the Crow.
The Spider scoffed, as to take in the statement as a joke. "Cute. Real funny."
"You said anything in the room." Leo reminded him.
As the guards pointed their Arc staffs at the team, the Spider let out a laugh, then a sigh. "You really want my little bird?" His voice became a mix of anger and disappointment. "Fine! You can have him." He then faced the Crow. "Fly away. And get the hell... out of my lair."
The Fireteam, along with the Crow, turned to leave the Spider's den.
The Tangled Shore
Thieves' Landing
On their way out, the Crow stopped, reminiscing on how he had just been freed from the Spider's servitude.
"{Now what?}" Glint asked, appearing before him.
"I… I don't know." His Guardian replied, still dumbfounded. "It doesn't feel real. Freedom." He then faced the Traveler's Legend. "Why would you do this for us?"
Music
Destiny - Guardian
The Pilot was silent for a few seconds before answering. "Because… you're a Guardian."
The Crow is free from the Spider's clutches. But not his past as Uldren Sov. I seek to fix that.
The Shadow definitely went absolutely ape████ crazy there. Terrifying stuff.
Looks like Savathûn didn't get a shot at Osiris. And since she has no idea where the Frontier is... The warden of the Infinite Forest shall remain safe.
With that all done, I will see you next time. Welcome home, Crow.