Hellas Basin, Mars

Sol System

"You faked your death, ran away from your duties to the Last City and the Vanguard, to pursue your past life. A past which is forbidden."

"Just because there were a few bad apples who discovered their past lives, doesn't mean that everyone had it bad."

"Can we have this discussion when we are not fighting Hive?"

That last one came from Marrow as he used his weapon to decapitate a group of Hive Thralls that came up from behind.

Since his arrival, Commander Zavala, Titan of the Vanguard had been in heated discussion with Anastasia Bray. One that she countered with every bit of passion.

Turned out that after Twilight Gap, the last time Ana Bray was ever seen at, she faked her death, cut off all ties with the Guardians and wandered searching for leads in regard to her past life for the last several hundred. In Harriet Brie's opinion, Commander Zavala was completely justified in chewing the Hunter out.

If this was the Atlas Military, best case scenario, she would have been court-marshaled. Worst case, firing squad. She thought to herself as she sped and punched another group of Thrall.

"Sir, last of the Hive have been eliminated." She said to Commander Zavala, her military training and mannerisms kicking in. Since he was by default, a commanding officer on this mission, she will give him the same respect she would give General Ironwood.

"Thank you, Specialist Brie." Zala replied.

Right now, they were in a sloped area that led upwards from their previous location via a train system. According to Ana Bray, the area up ahead was the Futurescape, a large facility where Clovis Bray Corporations main headquarters, museum, weapon testing and even the location of Rasputin's main core. An area that Zavala really wanted contained at all costs.

"Rasputin has proven to be unreliable, unpredictable and dangerous. Who knows what he's capable of here." Zavala said.

"Then perhaps we should simply ask him then." Ana said. Looking around her, she spotted a terminal near a bunch of derelict train cars. Approaching one, she typed on the screen then brought up something from around her neck to the terminal, which soon flashed green. Penny caught a brief glimpse of it. It was a lanyard and ID with Ana's picture on it.

"Is that your ID badge?" She asked.

"Had it on me when I was first resurrected." She replied not turning around as her fingers skimmed the surface. Text and other digital figures danced on the screen.

"You can communicate with the Warmind all from this small terminal?" Clover asked.

"Rasputin is hardwired through every system throughout this system long ago. Even in its current dilapidated state, those systems are still connected. All I need to do is send in a request along with confirmation of my identity, fill in the captcha for some reason, and processed and connected!" She said gesturing to the screen which had red text now with a T and diamond shape symbolizing the Warmind.

While Harriet, Marrow and Elm were on overwatch, Zavala, Clover, Vine and Penny surrounded Ana and looked over her shoulder to see the screen.

"Well, what does the Warmind have to say?"Zavala asked him.

"The Warminds name is Rasputin, and he didn't respond. He instead sent me a link to two security cameras." Ana replied while pushing on said link.

The screen flashed and they were given a front row seat to a two-front battle.

Outside of a large building, near a landing pad that stood on top of a hydro-electric dam, Hive of all types were crawling over the railings, and towards the Futurescape. And on another screen, near another landing pad to the left of said Futurescape, troop transports of Red Legion Cabal were dispersing their cargo, setting up a beachhead. Both parties were in a firefight not with each other, but at what Rasputin was using as a defense. Large towers appeared from beneath the ground, standing tall and firing lasers at the approaching armies. When the lasers connected with their targets, their bodies started to heat up until they burst, bodily fluids flying all around. The death of their comrades seemed inconsequential to them as they continued their assaults.

"Rasputin is being fought on two fronts by the Hive and the Red Legion. He is requesting assistance." Ana said to the assembled.

Zavala frowned. "As much as I dislike Rasputin, having him fall to the Hive or at worst, weaponized by the remnants of the Red Legion would be catastrophic. He will get his assistance. I hope he will recognize us as his saviors instead of another army to pillage his secrets."

The six huntsmen specialists, and three guardians charged up the hill, passing more train cars until they reached the top where long ago was a train platform. The Braytech Futurescape before them was vast.

On their right were a series of small dwellings, buildings that served as storage of fuel depos. On their left was the hydro-electric dam that served as one of the many power generators of the facility. And up ahead was the Futurescape itself, a facility that served as the main headquarters of the Clovis Bray corporation, manufacturing, museum, offices and tourist destination back during the Golden Age. And currently a warzone.

To their left, Hive. To their right, Cabal Red Legion.

Zavala quickly analyzed both battlefields along with those present with him. He was obviously going up against the Red Legion, so he wanted ones more familiar with a battlefield. Specialist Elm Erdene with her hammer/rocket weapon would be invaluable. Specialist Harriet Brie's Speed Semblance would be invaluable on the battlefield. He also decided on using Marrow Amin as well. He doesn't know if his Semblance can be used on Hive, and it wouldn't be wise to test it out here.

In regards to the Hive, Specialist Vine Zeke would be instrumental in using his Aura Vines in clearing out the swarms of Hive. Clover Ebi's Good Fortune Semblance can help out with Prometheus-23. As for Ana Bray, she can commune with Rasputin to assist with Penny Polendina providing additional assistance.

Soon after, he gave the orders and the group of nine divided and went to their particular tasks.

00000

Zavala and his group came upon their destination. An area of the Futurescape that served as a refueling depo along with two landing platforms. The cabal Red Legion were using it as a beachfront to set up a command center here. Already several pieces of equipment were dropped in and the Cabal were using it as cover. Several Phalanx's were already hard at work covering several Psions who were trying to integrate with Rasputins laser towers. Said Psions were now dead on the ground thanks to Marrow using his weapon in its boomerang form. Taking cover behind dead cabal, Elm used her Aura Roots Semblance to steady herself as she aimed down the sights towards the troop transports high above. Some of her rockets impacting a few of them, even taking one down as it crashed to the ground. Zavala took this chance to use his Arc Strider Super and charged into the fray, scattering and atomizing several Red Legion soldiers. Harriet followed the Commanders example and used her Speed to dodge shots and punch those in the head. True, they may not have brought them down, but the fists did disorient them long enough for Marrow to shoot them. This gave the laser towers enough to cool down briefly before attacking again with vengeance. The lasers soon concentrated on the air vehicles, melting critical pieces and soon destroying them, clearing the skies. With their air support now gone, cleaning up the ground troops proved to be easy with Zavala mopping up the last of them with a two for one fist to the face alongside Harriet.

"That was an excellent punch, Specialist Brie."

"Thank you, sir!" Harriet said to the Commander, internally beaming at the praise. Military girl all the way.

"Now, let us see how the others are doing."

00000

With the Hive, it proved to be a lot more difficult. Prometheus-23 was using his Sentinel Shield Super and flinging the Void Shield at numerous Hive Knights, as Vine was using his Aura Vines to literally push back a swarm of Thralls into the ones racing behind them, causing a jam. Luckily, Penny flew by and sliced through their heads. Clover was using his Good Fortune semblance to its fullest, causing a few Acolytes to trip under their own feet due to uneven rocks at said feet. As those four were keeping the Hive at bay, Ana Bray was at a terminal near the doorways of the Futurescape Building, trying to find something, anything to help out.

DING-DONG "Welcome to the Braytech Futurescape! Home of the Clovis Bray Family and Clovis Bray Corporation. Would you like to know more?"

Ana Bray dismissed the concierge AI message that was part of the facility, as she continued to message Rasputin. She soon got a notification that the situation that Zavala and the others were dealing with was wrapped up.

Seeing a Thrall coming at her from the corner of her eye, she brought up her hand cannon and killed it.

High above, Penny was observing the battlefield. She was using her swords in their laser gun formation and firing again and again at the horde, yet there was no end to them. She saw Zavala and the others soon join the fray, lessening the battlefield, yet the Hive still came. She flew high above and over the railings of the hydro-electric dam and saw why. Turned out there was a crack in the semi-dry icy water below that had Hive Thralls, Acolytes and Knights crawling out of it and climbing the walls.

Penny keyed the comms. "Miss Bray?"

"Please call me Ana or Anastasia, miss Polendina. Hold one sec." Penny could hear gun shots from the other end. "Sorry, had to deal with a pesky Knight. What can I do?"

"I'm over the edge of the Hydro-electric dam and I see a bunch of hive crawling out of a cavern on the bottom. Do you have a means of fixing this?"

"No problem."

Penny could hear mechanical sounds coming down below and a few seconds later, a gush of water came out of the pipes imbedded within the dam, gushing forth and falling downwards onto the crevice below. The Hive climbing upwards lost their footing and fell downward, hitting the icy water and rocks below. She heard more noise and saw the other pipes start unleashing the water. More and more water fell which completely covered the hole below. And Hive down there would be drowned.

Penny turned back to help her friends and fellow Guardians.

And that was when she heard the screams.

Penny covered her ears and fell downwards to the ground, crashing into some Thralls. After the rough landing, she could still hear the screams around her. Lifting her head up, she saw her fellow ace-Op on the ground covering their ears as well. She even saw Zavala, Prometheus-23 and even Ana Bray on their knees. Whatever that scream was, it was not only affecting them, but the three Guardians as well. Looking to see the source, she found it in the form of three Hive Wizards hovering a good distance away. They appeared as normal Hive Wizards, save for the lower portions of their faces. In place of normal chitin was pure white bone with black skin sinking down into their necks. The mouths were completely wide as they continued to scream nonstop.

Anastasia Bray shook as she tried to channel her Solar Light into a Golden Gun. And yet, whatever power within those screams was preventing her from using her Light. She saw Zavala and Prometheus-23 do the same thing, but fail. Zavala tried to create a spark using his Arc energy, but the sparks flickered and died between his fingers. Prometheus-23 tried to channel the Void into a Ward of Dawn, and nothing happened. Gasping as she crawled back to the console, she tried to do something, anything. She managed to hit a button, but collapsed.

"Please…Rasputin…help us…"

Penny simple laid there as the Hive forces walked slowly towards her, the Ace Ops and the Guardians. Seeing them down, they decided to play with their food before killing them in one stroke. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the ground shimmer as a square panel came up from the ground and bathed in a orange glow. She saw energetic particles dance across it. And a voice speaking to her in Russian.

"Reach out to the Valkyrie. Grip it and toss them at the Wizards. Do it or we are all dead!"

She crawled towards the panel and gripped the energy within. It soon took the form of a javelin. Using the last of her strength, she gripped it tight and threw it. It was a pitiful throw, yet it reached its destination and impacted against one of the Hive Wizards, vaporizing it.

The screaming lessened, making her head more clear. She repeated the process again and threw it again, aiming at another Wizard. This one was near a whole lot of other Hive, which were caught in the blast vaporizing them as well. Getting her head clearer, she threw another at the last one, but at the last second, it dodged the blast, hitting three knights instead. The Hive Wizard, seeing Penny as the bigger threat, flew right at her and gripped her face in its claws. Up close wasn't a pretty picture for Penny as the Hive Wizard screamed right in her face, Whatever power was in that scream was baring down at her in full force, making her weak. The scream was finally silenced when a fist exited the back of its head and out of its mouth. As the body wasted away, the owner of the fist was revealed to be an exhausted Zavala. Gripping her arm, he pulled Penny up to her feet. She saw the other begin to recover.

"What was that?" Zavala asked.

00000

"From what I've gathered in the files, what Penny used is called the Valkyrie Javelin System. A weapon Rasputin designed. I've read that it was rumored to exist. This is proof that Rasputin can help us."

After clearing out the stragglers, the group of nine were now in the main atrium of the Futurescape. The Ace-Ops were near the railings and doorways leading out keeping an eye out, only listening to the conversation between Zavala, Anastasia and Penny. The huge towers were still active, so the additional protection was of great help. Prometheus-23, along with his Ghost Pandora, were working alongside Jinju to decipher the Hive Tablet they were currently holding in a device Anastasia provided from her Ghost's inventory.

"One good thing doesn't wipe away all the harm he did over so many years. He ripped apart a group of Guardians that were simply reaching out to him as a sigh of friendship; scattering their pieces across the entire Cosmodrome, attacked Iron Lord Felwinter at every opportunity, attacked and wiped out nearly all f the Iron Lords with SIVA…" Zavala stopped his rant and sighed. "Ana, I know you wish to see Rasputin as a savior, but his actions have proven otherwise. He could have prevented the Red War from the get-go, and he did nothing."

"That wasn't all Rasputin, merely a fragment separated from the whole. Those Guardians were members of a cult dedicated to Dredgen Yor, so self-defense. Rasputin was trying to keep the Iron Lords away from obtaining SIVA due to how unstable it is. That nanotech may be useful, but can't tell the difference from inorganic matter and living matter when in use. The Red War caught everyone off guard, even him. And as for Felwinter, I got no idea, but he must have his reasons. You see him as an unstable weapon, but perhaps, all you need to do is ask him what he wants to be." Ana countered. She placed a hand on his shoulder. "Trust me, please."

Penny wanted to add to the conversation, and yet she found that she couldn't. She understood both points of view. Herself, created as a weapon for Atlas, yet given autonomy to be her own person. Perhaps, Rasputin needed a person to sympathize with.

"Hey, we got a translation! You need to hear this!" Prometheus-23 said beckoning everyone. Seeing that the entire Futurescape outside was quiet, they joined the rest.

"We managed to translate a bit of it, but its fragmentary at best. It's entitled; Nokris, the Disfavored One."

"Nokris?" Zavala said in confusion.

"You know him sir?" Clover asked.

"Back when we dealt with Oryx, we discovered a statue by the name of Nokris alongside a statue of the Taken King himself and his son Crota. Other than that, no other reference. Perhaps the Hive here are under this one's orders. Continue."

Prometheus-23 was the one to read the text.

"Unlike his brother Crota, who was born strong in body, he was born weak. And for that, his father disfavored him and turned his sights on his most favored son. The son he wanted as an heir. Nokris may be weak in body, but his mind was strong. He honed his mind, learning magic and knowledge to create his own form of the Sword Logic to feed his Worm. After many millennia, he devised a plan to recreate what his father did long ago. He decided to commune with the Worm Gods."

Silence filled the room as they digested that information, broken only by Zavala's voice.

"Nokris is Oryx's other son!"

00000

Deep beneath the surface of Mars, in a region that was once frozen over by the Warmind, Hive Acolytes gathered in supplication.

They gathered in a chamber carved out by their patron Worm God that served as their master's laboratory. Shelves carved from chitin, ice and rock were stocked with crystalized bottles containing all manner of materials for their lords experiments in necromancy. Some long dead, others more recent, and some that were still alive, yet in pieces. Three large slabs laid in the center. On the slabs laid three bodies.

One was a Hive Knight nearly three years dead, the chitin covering its body all that was left. In life he was known as Urzok the Hated, a member of the Spawn of Crota Hive sect. He was killed by a Guardian on Earth's Cosmodrome.

On another was the body of a Cabal Colossus, sand from this very planet embedded in its armor. He was known as Valus Ta'aurc. A respected commander of the cabal forces stationed on mar before Guardian Summer Rose put a few rounds into his chest, killing him.

And finally, a Fallen from House Wolves. She was known as Drevis, a baroness of the house Wolves before a few Guardians took her out by means of their swords, for a bounty of three Legendary Engrams.

All three, prominent members of their own races and factions, now dead a good three years. Now about to serve a better purpose

Stepping into the chamber, the leader of the Hive sect emerged. Taller than the tallest of Hive Knights, hovered a Hive Wizard. Not just any Wizard, a male Hive Wizard. For all Wizards are female, a male one was rare. Draped in robes of crimson and gray, green hive script along his frame, he emerged from the shadows. The Acolytes gave him a brief glimpse before averting their eyes again. None can deny he was the son of Oryx, for his face was the spitting image of their deceased Taken King.

Approaching the slabs, he looked down on the three bodies and began to chant.

Soon his Acolytes took up the chant and joined in. Green fire erupted from his limbs, and bathed the bodies. The chanting soon reached a crescendo and the bodies began to move. The large cabal opened its eyes, gasping for breath from lungs penetrated by bullets which pierced them. The fallen captain, reattaching lower limbs sliced clean in half from the rest of its body. And the Hive Knight, chitin forming new muscles to replace the ones long decayed. All three soon rose from their slabs and kneeled before their necromancer.

Finishing the final touches, he looked down at his newest creations and with his will, ordered them into another tunnel to join the rest of his sect.

Sensing power behind him, he dismissed his Acolytes and turned.

Before him, hovering were two hive Wizards. One of which had a unique headpiece on her head, while the other was plain. The former holding something long covered in a cloth made of flayed Fallen skin, while the other held a chest in her arms.

He recognized them, for he knew them since they were mere grubs. Despite the many millennia since his banishment, he would never forget family.

"Welcome, my brothers' daughters."

A/N: I'm back with a new chapter! Next chapter will bee a majority from the perspective of Nokris, so stay tuned.

I also wanted to give my opinion on SIVA and why it did what it did to the Iron Lords. SIVA is a nanotechnology capable of deconstructing itself and other matter around it and reconstituting it into a new form: weapon, ship, whatever. My thought is that it couldn't tell the difference between living and non-living matter, meaning living things is fair game. Rasputin tried to keep the Iron Lords away from it via air-strikes, combat frames, etc... so when they came right to his doorstep, he had no choice but to unleash SIVA and show them what it was truly capable of. My opinion of course.

See ya next time!