A/N: Enjoy the chapter! Also, I think I did mention it, but I am working on an original Sci-Fi story. Its very early stage, but I really wanted to do something of my own later on.
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[Orbit, Thieves Landing]
The hum of the ship's engine filled the cabin, steady and rhythmic as Void leaned back in the pilot's chair. The stars outside stretched into cold lines as the ship crossed orbit, heading into the empty space once again.
Obsidian flittered beside him as his eye pulsed.
"Tap into the City's network," Void said, his voice low. "I want to know what's going on in the Cosmodrome. Every frequency. Every report."
Obsidian clicked once and began interfacing. Green data strands scrolled across Void's visor.
The message still echoed in his thoughts.
Ikorra's message, it was short, "I need your eyes on the Moon."
The Vanguard had also sent him a mission briefing, but he didn't bother looking at it. Void already knew what this was about. It was just, that he hadn't expected it. Not yet.
They'd already killed Gotra. That was supposed to buy time. He had thought there would be weeks before anyone even whispered about looking at the Hive again.
But if the Vanguard really sent him of all people something like this. It meant that things were already out of hand.
Obsidian's eye pulsed, "Cross-referencing now," it reported. "Vanguard field relays confirm increasing enemy activity in Old Russia. Multiple signatures—non-Fallen. Significant Hive presence. Moderate Cabal deployments. Sporadic Vex incursions. Pattern suggests a strange convergence by the Hive.."
Void sat up straighter. "Convergence?"
Obsidian paused. "Unusual. The Hive, they're not the Vex and Cabal. Not directly. They're operating in proximity. Ignoring them."
Void frowned. That wasn't right. The Hive didn't cooperate, they didn't ignore, and they certainly didn't tolerate. Something was forcing their hands. Something bigger than territory.
"Pull visuals," he muttered.
A grainy map appeared in front of him. On it, the locations of several factions was marked. As the map moved, he could see that the Hive did their best not to intersect with the Vex or the Cabal. Almost as if they were avoiding them. Intentionally.
Void clenched his jaw. This wasn't something small. No, it was a buildup.
Obsidian drifted closer. "Request from the Ikorra still stands. Mission classified as observation, high-risk. Looks like the City's too scared to send anyone else."
"Of course they are," Void muttered.
It made sense. In the old timeline, a Guardian had died trying to explore the Moon. Alone. Unprepared. The Vanguard hadn't known what was waiting beneath the surface then.
They did now.
Which meant if they were asking him—Void—it was because they thought he was the only one capable enough.
He leaned forward, fingers drumming lightly against the hilt of the sword resting across his lap. The black casing shimmered faintly. Zamyr's presence stirred within.
"You heard all that?" Void asked softly.
Zamyr's voice echoed into his mind, quiet but certain.
~Of course.~
Void exhaled. "What do you think?"
Zamyr paused, his presence seemed to flicker.
~There is no danger yet great enough to end your string. Not unless Crota himself walks. And I do not feel the weight of his soul on this path.~
"Then I won't die."
~Not yet, O brother mine~ Zamyr chuckled to himself.
Void's mouth twitched. 'I guess at least its not a totally doomed.'
'Still, going back to the moon.' Void's eyes narrowed.
There was no telling what had changed down there since the last time. The Hive always moved in silence. When you noticed them, it was already too late.
"Call Pahanin, let him know we'll be busy for a while." Void spoke up.
Obsidian's eye pulsed as a call was made, "Setting it up."
The line connected, as the channel went live, a burst of static flickered on both sides.
"You there?" Void chimed up.
The static flared, then the connection flickered again. A sudden burst of noise filtered through the mic. Hammers banging against metal, guttural Eliksni grunts, and a creaking forge.
"Hah?" Pahanin groaned as he replied, the next second another bang echoed as a hammer sparked against plating, "What do you need?"
"Rude. Can't I call cuz I wanna talk?" Void chuckled.
Pahanin laughed as he swung the hammer, a loud bang reverberated again, "I wasn't born yesterday dumbass."
"What a crude bastard. Here I am, calling because I'm worried, and I get cursed out." Void shook his head.
"A bit too busy to care about your feelings, though I might've given a shit if you weren't the reason I am so f*cked." Pahanin swung the hammer one last time as the plating seemed to flatten out, he heaved a breath and then wiped his brow.
Void shrugged "All I said, was let's research the splicer tech. Didn't know it'd take that long."
"Let's? You daft bastard. You wouldn't know ether-plate from steel if I had them labelled." Pahanin groaned as he hurled the plate to the side and sat on the floor.
"They look the same!" Void grunted.
"Fine, fine. So, what's the deal? Thought you were at Spider's trying to heal up that Fallen Captain."
"As much as I wish I was, I got called." Void replied, he swiped his hand as the Vanguards mission brief got sent to Pahanin, "Unfortunately, the City thinks that the Hive are plotting some sinister shit."
"Understandable decision." Pahanin glossed over the briefing as he nodded.
"Well, someone's gotta check it out. With that said, I'll probably be busy. If you find anything on the splicers, let me know." Void leaned back into his seat.
"To think you'd go back there willingly, you're really a crazy bastard, you know that?" Pahanin frowned. He and Void had shared their stories, and once he'd gotten to know what had really transpired on the moon, he was shaken.
Everything the City had gone through had made sense to him, and at the same time, what Void had gone through was simply incomprehensible. If it had been him...he wasn't so sure he'd be ready to go back again.
"Relax. I got out once didn't I? They don't even have an army this time." Void chuckled.
"Whatever. Stay safe." Pahanin grunted and abruptly cut the call.
Void tilted his head, "That bastard. Guess he's too busy to even talk."
Obsidian floated beside him. "We've got course plotted, hyper jump is ready. Trajectory aligned. Destination: Ocean of Storms."
Void sat up straight, his eye's narrowed. He paused, and then nodded. "Take us in. Quietly."
The ship turned, veering away from the shore's orbit as it warped. Space twisted around him as the thrusters flared to life, boosting through hyperspace. The stars flashed, twisting into curved lines as the ship cut through a wormhole.
Then, space fractured, crumpling and forming into a maw as it spat out the Jumpship to the other side. Finally, the dark silhouette of the Moon came into view.
Void took a breath. His eyes shimmered blue as he glanced at the Lunar surface.
'That sickly green hue, it's no longer there.' Void murmured to himself. 'Is it because Crota's asleep?'
Void knew that after the great disaster, the Hive prince had gone into a deep slumber, preparing to awaken again in order to collect his tributes. As for when he'd awaken? No one could be sure.
The Jumpship soared, cruising towards the Lunar surface. At a distance, it looked calm, and lifeless. But Void knew, that underneath the stillness, the Hive churned.
If the Hive had a plan, and if they really were planning something.
They needed to be cut out.
He sat back down as the Moon grew larger. Obsidian announced. "Approaching ocean of storm. No activity detected yet. Looks like they're not scanning for visitors."
"I guess they thought only someone crazy would try to infiltrate" Void narrowed his eyes. "Start there. But drop me on to the side, not the front. I want to approach from the ridges."
"Got it, I'll tweak the coordinates." Obsidian pulsed.
Silence followed as the final jump drive engaged. The stars snapped away into the black, and the Moon filled every inch of his vision.
Void adjusted his blade. A pale presence seemed to wrap around him.
'Even if I have to walk straight into that pit, I'll figure out their plan.' Void's thoughts raced.
Obsidian's eye flared with urgency, the Jumpship jerked back, thrusters fluttering to a halt mid-air. "There's a problem. Ocean of storms, there's a strange energy barrier blocking entry!"
Void's blade shimmered in its sheath, he raised a brow as he looked outside. His eyes flickered blue. He could see it now. An umbral curtain wrapped around the perimeter.
"Those sly dogs." Void sighed, "Can we break through that?"
~Maybe, but, there is a better way~ Zamyr whispered with an eerie chuckle mixed into his voice.
"Right. What would that be?" Void piloted the ship to glide towards the edge of the barrier.
Zamyr's phantom wrapped around Void as he revealed a fanged grin with a fickle laugh.
~I'll eat it.~
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