I do not own RWBY, which is the property of Viz Media, or Destiny 2, which is owned by Bungie. All characters, locations, and lore from these franchises belong to their respective creators. This fanfiction is purely for entertainment purposes and not for profit.

Chapter 22: Depths of Titan

The walkway to Siren's Watch creaked beneath their boots, the metal groaning against Titan's relentless methane winds. Penny took point, her movements precise and familiar—she'd walked this path before, fought these battles before. Behind her, Yang's Titan armor gleamed dully in the strange, filtered light that penetrated the thick atmosphere. Blake moved with characteristic silence, her Hunter's cloak billowing in the gusts that threatened to throw them off balance. Weiss studied the massive structure ahead, her Warlock robes whipping around her legs, while Adam brought up the rear, his hand cannon at the ready, crimson eyes scanning the shadows with centuries of battle-earned vigilance.

"The Hive have grown stronger here since my last visit," Penny commented, her usually cheerful voice carrying a note of concern. "Their corruption spreads deeper into the station with each passing day."

"This place..." Yang muttered, her voice barely audible over the howling wind, "it's like something out of a nightmare."

Blake's ears twitched beneath her hood, catching sounds that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. "The whole moon feels wrong. Like we're not supposed to be here."

"That feeling?" Penny glanced back, her green eyes glowing softly. "That's the Hive's influence. They've been here so long, their darkness has seeped into the very structure."

Weiss paused at a railing, her eyes drawn to the vast methane ocean below. Massive waves crashed against the platform's supports, each impact sending tremors through the entire structure. In the distance, lightning crackled through the golden-hued clouds, illuminating the skeletal remains of Golden Age architecture.

"Look at the size of it all," Weiss breathed, gesturing to the sprawling complex. "The Golden Age builders... they really thought they could tame this place."

"They nearly did," Penny replied, her voice tinged with something like reverence. "The archives speak of entire cities beneath those waves, research stations that pushed the boundaries of human knowledge. Now..." She gestured to the twisted metal and broken windows ahead. "Now it's a battleground."

The group pressed forward, their footsteps echoing off the corroded walls. Pieces of equipment lay scattered about—tools abandoned centuries ago when the evacuation order came. Blake stopped suddenly, her hand raised in warning.

"Movement," she whispered, her keen eyes fixed on a darkened doorway. "Multiple signatures."

Penny nodded, her wings flaring slightly. "They're coming. The Hive are ancient creatures, born of darkness. These ones have nested in Titan's depths for centuries. They're cunning, ruthless, and hungry."

Yang readied her new shotgun, the weapon humming with barely contained power. "What exactly are we up against?"

"Watch for the Knights," Penny advised, her own weapon materializing in her hands. "They've learned to use the station's architecture to their advantage. And the Wizards..." She paused, her expression hardening. "They've developed rituals specifically attuned to the methane atmosphere."

As if in response, an otherworldly screech echoed through the corridor. The sound sent chills down their spines, primal and hungry.

"Here they come," Penny warned, her form tensing. "Stay together. The Hive love to separate their prey."

The first wave of Thrall burst from the shadows, their claws extended and skeletal faces twisted in eternal hunger. Yang met them head-on, her shotgun roaring in the confined space. Blake vanished into the shadows, reappearing behind the horde to unleash devastating Void arrows that tethered the creatures in place. Weiss's Arc energy crackled through the air, chain lightning reducing the bound Thrall to ash. Above them, Penny's Solar Light blazed, her wings casting warm light through the darkness. Adam moved with lethal efficiency, his hand cannon barking out precise shots that dropped Thrall after Thrall, each round finding its mark with uncanny accuracy.

As the last echoes of battle faded, leaving only the constant howl of the wind, Blake emerged from the shadows. "There'll be more."

"Always are," Penny confirmed, her expression serious. "But that's not why we're here. Adam's map pointed to something deeper in the station. Something the Hive are protecting."

Weiss approached a console near the entrance to Siren's Watch proper, her Ghost appearing to scan the ancient systems. "According to these logs, there's still power running to some sections. If we can get inside, we might be able to access the old monitoring stations."

"The main control room is still operational," Penny added. "Deputy Commander Sloane maintains a garrison there. But the path..." She looked down the darkened corridor. "It won't be easy."

Yang rolled her shoulders, the plates of her armor shifting with the movement. "Nothing worth doing ever is. Ready?"

Weiss nodded, her bond pulsing with Arc energy. "Ready."

Blake checked her rocket launcher, ensuring it was primed. "Let's do this."

Penny's wings flared brighter, casting long shadows ahead of them. "Stay close. I'll guide us through."

Together, they stepped into the darkness of Siren's Watch, their Light burning bright against the shadows that awaited them. The storm raged on outside, but they moved forward, united in purpose and determination.

Whatever secrets Titan held, whatever answers Adam sought, they would face them together—as they always had, in this life and the last.

Deputy Commander Sloane stood at her command post, examining holographic displays of Titan's surface when the team arrived. Her eyes lifted at their approach, a knowing smirk crossing her features as she spotted Adam among the group.

"Well, well," she drawled, pushing away from the console. "If it isn't the mysterious Bull himself. Been what, three decades since you last graced us with your presence?"

Adam stepped forward, his posture rigid but purposeful. "Sloane. We need information about unusual Hive activity. Anything involving their rituals or the Ascendant Plane."

"Still straight to business," Sloane chuckled, crossing her arms. "You haven't changed a bit. Though I have to say, the new armor suits you." She gestured to the fresh scorch marks on his chest plate. "Already making friends with the locals, I see."

Her expression shifted slightly as she looked over the rest of the group. "You just missed Pyrrha, actually. She's been deep in the arcology investigating some strange Hive behavior. Found something that had her properly rattled - and that's not easy to do."

The team exchanged glances at the mention of their old friend. Penny stepped forward. "When did you last hear from her?"

"Few hours ago," Sloane replied, her tone growing more serious. "She was tracking some unusual energy signatures. Said something about the Hive trying to map pathways through the Ascendant Plane." She looked back at Adam. "Sound familiar?"

Adam's posture tensed noticeably. "Show me everything."

Sloane's lips quirked up slightly. "Since you asked so nicely..." She expanded the display, revealing complex patterns of Hive energy signatures. "My scouts have reported strange fluctuations in reality around these sites. Like they're trying to tear holes in space itself. Pyrrha's been documenting similar phenomena across multiple sectors."

Yang exchanged glances with Blake and Weiss. The implications were clear - this matched what they'd learned about Oscar's research into the Ascendant Plane.

"And here I thought you just missed my charming company," Sloane added, her eyes still on Adam. "But you're chasing something bigger, aren't you?"

Adam's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "You know I wouldn't be here otherwise."

"Wouldn't dream of it," Sloane replied with a knowing smile. She turned to address the whole group. "There's a major Hive ritual site in the Solarium. My teams haven't been able to get close - the energy readings are off the charts. Whatever they're doing in there..." She met Adam's gaze directly. "It's big."

Blake stepped forward. "What kind of resistance should we expect?"

"Heavy," Sloane answered grimly. "Knights, Wizards, probably a few Ogres for good measure. And that's assuming they haven't cooked up anything worse in those depths."

"That's where we need to go," Adam stated firmly.

Sloane nodded, her expression a mix of concern and something else - perhaps admiration. "I'll give you access to the transit systems. But Adam?" She caught his arm as he turned to leave. "Whatever you're looking for down there... make sure it's worth the risk."

Adam gave a curt nod before moving toward the exit, the others falling in behind him. As they left, Sloane's voice carried after them:

"And try not to wait another thirty years before your next visit!"

The team gathered on a relatively stable section of walkway outside Siren's Watch, the constant rumble of Titan's methane seas providing an ominous backdrop to their discussion. Storm clouds roiled overhead, occasional flashes of lightning illuminating the massive structures around them.

"We should split up," Blake suggested, her ears twitching at every distant sound. "Cover more ground."

Yang shook her head firmly. "No way. You heard what Sloane said about the Hive presence. Splitting up is exactly what they want."

"She's right," Penny added, her normally cheerful demeanor subdued. "The Hive are masters at isolating their prey. We're stronger together."

Weiss studied the holographic map Sloane had provided, her eyes tracing possible routes. "There are three main paths to the Solarium. The transit system Sloane mentioned would be fastest, but..."

"But also the most obvious," Blake finished. "The Hive will be watching it."

Adam stood slightly apart from the group, his attention focused on the distant archways of the arcology. "Pyrrha's already down there," he said quietly. "Following her trail might lead us to what we're looking for."

"Or straight into a trap," Yang countered, crossing her arms. "No offense, but your old friend's research is what started this whole mess."

"Yang," Blake warned, but Adam showed no reaction to the barb.

"We need to decide," Penny interjected. "The longer we wait, the more time the Hive have to prepare. And if Pyrrha found something important..."

"She could need our help," Weiss finished. She looked at Adam. "You think Oscar's research and these Hive rituals are connected?"

Adam nodded once. "Oscar was obsessed with mapping the Ascendant Plane. If the Hive are doing the same thing..." He left the implications hanging.

"Then this could be our best chance to find answers," Blake said softly.

Yang sighed, her shoulders dropping slightly. "Fine. But we stick together. No heroics, no solo missions." She looked pointedly at Adam. "All of us."

"The maintenance tunnels," Penny suggested, pointing to a section of the map. "They're cramped, but they'll get us closer to the Solarium without exposing us to the main corridors. I used them during the Red War."

"Perfect for an ambush," Blake noted.

"Perfect for us," Weiss corrected, a faint smile on her face. "They won't expect five Guardians to choose such a difficult approach."

Adam finally turned to face the group fully. "The tunnels, then. But we move fast. Whatever Pyrrha found down there won't wait forever."

Lightning crackled overhead as the team checked their weapons one final time. The path ahead was uncertain, but they'd chosen their course. Now they just had to survive it.