A/n: Enjoy chap. I honestly ran out of Title ideas. Leave a damn review and throw some stones to refresh my memory. Also I managed to gaslight another reader to read my novels in the review section, LMAO!
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The Ketch rumbled, a guttural vibration that echoed through its patched hull and rippled across the grated floor.
Its engines flared, six flickering thrusters pouring heat into the empty space behind them as the vessel accelerated rapidly, pulling away from the Moon's orbit and charting a course towards Thieves Landing.
Inside the Ketch the flickering ceiling lights cast erratic shadows on the interior plating, illuminating dented corridors, hanging cables, and tanks of half-spilled Ether that hissed gently.
The players stood, some leaning against bulkheads, some sprawled on the floor, breathing hard. The walls of the Ketch were crude, smeared in old graffiti and crude modifications, indicating it wasn't new, but somewhat repurposed.
"Holy shi*, we actually finished that." BearSpray muttered, half-stunned as he looked around the Ketch.
"Leave that, are we...in a ship right now?" ThunderClappin added, his eyes darted around as he examined the Ketch's interior.
"I mean... yeah?" Dumbledore raised his brows.
"No. Not like that dumbass, this is, an actual ship. A space ship! Get it." ThunderClapping chuckled as he excitedly scuttled about.
"Kinda cool, haven't seen anything like this." Waffles nodded.
Undecided glanced at the set of stairs leading up to the ship's deck as he nodded in thought, "Wanna check out the top?"
"So wait, are we pirates?" ILoveLoot chortled as he rubbed his chin, " I do like it though."
LeroyJenkins hopped towards a small circular window in the lower deck as he peered outside, "Dude, the sails on this one are crazy detailed. Cool as f*ck."
Void stood a few paces ahead, he shook his head as he saw all the players freaking out about the Ketch ship. But he couldn't say much. He too was absolutely shocked. He'd never really seen anything like this during his playthrough.
Void finally cleared his throat as he gave the group a few seconds to gather around.
The players immediately jumped, scuttling towards him.
Void looked around, "That was… reckless," he said. "But somehow, it worked."
"Guess I wasn't wrong about you all." Void chuckled as he saw the Venom class item they had equipped.
"What we saw today, was just the beginning." Void continued. "You all need to return to the City. Tell the Vanguard everything."
Their HUDs pinged. Mission Complete.
Before the players could say a word, He turned and walked off toward the Ketch's pilot chamber, vanishing behind a clanking bulkhead door.
New loot notifications filled their vision in a flurry of icons and drop details. One by one, they all began checking their inventories. Then, suddenly—
"OH MY GOD!" TheOneWhoKnocks dropped to his knees with a dramatic cry, voice cracking through the air. "YES! YESSSSSSSSSSS! LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
The others glanced at him, mildly concerned, until he held up his screen. There, hovering in golden glow, sat a Legendary Helmet. He pointed at it like a lunatic.
"Bro finally got a drop," Waffles muttered.
IEatPaint shook his head, unimpressed. "What only blue drops does to a mf."
"His RNG's been a skill issue from day one," Undecided added.
"I hate you all!" TheOneWhoKnocks said, wiping his tears of joy.
ILoveLoot laughed as he showed off yet another weapon drop. "See this roll? God-tier roll on the hand cannon. Got two of them though, so...guess we dismantle it."
All eyes snapped towards him as TheOneWhoKnocks subtly grit his teeth.
"Some people complain about drowning, while others die of thirst." Dumbledore clicked his tongue.
The banter returned, and the player quipped and jeered. But a moment later, a marker blinked across their HUDs a new objective.
[Objective: Return to the Tower. Debrief with the Vanguard.]
They all paused. For a second. none of them moved. They looked around the Ketch one last time, soaking it all in. The mismatched panels, the smell of scorched air, the faint hum of motion carrying them away from that cursed, silent Moon. Then, without a word, they each opened their directors and transmat back to their Jumpships.
With a shimmer of Light, one by one, the fireteams vanished.
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[Pilot Room]
Void stood before a cracked, circular viewport. The stars stretched across his vision, scattered like shattered glass on a black sea. In the center of the control room, dim lights pulsed gently. The ship was an ancient thing.
Void could only guess that it had seen a lot of use. It had probably been stolen, beaten, reassembled, repainted, but somehow it still flew. Thought he was sure that it was more so a testament to Pahanin's skill.
He slumped into the nearest chair and finally let out a deep breath. His muscles ached as he stretched and let out a deep yawn.
"I should...really get some sleep." Void held his forehead as he languidly leaned back.
"That was also the longest fight I've had in quite a while…" he muttered.
Zamyr stirred.
The phantom wisp of the Ahamkara swirled just above Void's shoulder, forming like smoke from the edge of a blade.
~It never ended~ He agreed.
Void's eyes narrowed as memories of the battle flashed in his mind. "That mist. Omnigul's doing?"
"Undoubtedly. She's an Ascendant. Her presence warps her territory," Zamyr answered, his voice low, otherworldly. "The mist is part of her. You were fighting her domain."
Void shifted in his seat. "Can you break it? Dispel it, maybe?"
As the question echoed across the rustic walls, Zamyr paused.
~No. Not until I surpass her in might. Power in the realm of souls doesn't flow upwards. It trickles down, devoured by the strongest. I'd have to defeat her outright to pull my own weight.~
Void nodded slowly. "I am guessing that's a no."
~In part~ Zamyr replied.
~In truth, no one knows how deep her magic runs. The witch never revealed herself. She only watched through the mist. For now, she cradles the heart of the world breaker. Ever bound to it.~
Void clenched his jaw. "Good to know. But what about Crota? How did we dispel the shadows during the war?"
~The shadows themselves were not his ascendant power. They were mere playthings. Conjured of his will. Whatever we fought, was not the true power of the prince of ruin.~ Zamyr's voice warped, then his phantom flickered as it whisked away.
The tension finally began to ebb as the door hissed open.
Pahanin walked in, casually tossing a half-eaten ration bar into the trash. His coat fluttered with each step, a silver gleam in the dim light. He plopped into the chair across from Void and smirked.
"Well," he said, arms crossed, "how'd you like the surprise?"
Void raised a brow and sighed, his lips curling into a slight smile. "Well for started, where'd you even find this thing?"
"Traded for it."
"How?"
Pahanin raised a brow and gestured broadly. "Spider's been hoarding them for years. Had a few rusting out near Thieves' Landing. I just… took one. Spent four days fixing it up. It's held together with tape and Ether."
Void laughed quietly. "I saw the paint."
"Yeah," Pahanin said, grinning. "Had the droids slap on the VENOM logo. They used too much pigment. Looks like a melting snake donut."
Void leaned back. "Still saved our asses."
"I try."
Then a question lingered. "How did you know where I was? Exactly?"
Pahanin tapped the side of his wrist. "Locator chip. You gave me one, remember?"
Void blinked as he recalled the chip in his writs comms. "Oh. Right. Forgot about that one." He yawned and nodded slowly.
Pahanin relaxed into his seat. "So? Any news you picked up being on the moon?"
Void shook his head. "Nothing good. Found a Hive archive. More information than we've ever had. Quite the tedious task though."
Pahanin whistled as he saw Void lean into the chair. "I can see that."
"Well, while you were moon-diving, the workshop's fine. Drones are running smooth. Oh, and I made that shader for the Devils raid."
Void raised a brow. "Nice. Guess you're finally being productive for once."
"Someone does have to do the work around here. Unlike you, I can't go diving into ancient cursed libraries because I already have too much shi* to do." Pahanin retorted as he rolled his shoulders.
"Alright, alright. Relax. I will make it up to you, I swear...." Void yawned again, his voice trailing off as he rested his neck.
"That's what you always say." Pahanin sighed.
Void quipped, "And? I always deliver."
"Anyway, any other news you'd like to share?" Void nestled in, his thoughts wandering as he felt his consciousness about to slip.
"Hmm? Nothing really, things are quite peaceful without you around to stir shi* up." Pahanin shrugged.
"That...so."
Pahainn paused, brows knitting as he seemed to recall something. "Actually… Spider told me something weird before I left."
Void mumbled, "What?"
Pahanin's gaze flicked up. "The Fallen Captain. The one you pulled out?"
Void froze, his brows furled.
Pahanin nodded slowly. "He's awake."
"WHAT!" Void's fingers curled around the edge of the armrest. His eyes flicked with light, mind already racing.
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