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The SkyWatch outpost loomed above the hills, a fortress of shadow and silence overseeing the dry sea. The sun shimmered gently, its rays converging into a bloody red as it dipped below the horizon.
As the sun fell, the clouds stirred, and a gelid breeze blew over the Cosmodrome. Then, the air itself seemed to freeze, as if in a lull. When the air stirred again, drops of rain began to condense into ice crystals.
Void's jumpship broke through the clouds, its low hum echoing across the plateau. He eased it onto the pad, stepped off the ramp, and was swallowed by the cold. The wind bit through his armor as he made his way across the landing deck and into the outpost's central chamber.
Tevis sat on a chair, arms crossed, cloak draped over his shoulders like a shroud. Beside him stood Bandit—silent and sharp-eyed—while Levi and Cory flanked a flickering holo-table, the light casting pale glows over grim faces.
Void entered the command centre, his eyes navigated the room. It felt all too familiar, as if nothing had changed.
Tevis spun around in his chair, and sighed "Took you long enough."
"The Fallen kept me quite busy, I've been chasing squads all day." Void sighed.
"And I thought your loot mongering days were behind you." Bandit shook his head.
Cory clicked his tongue, "He's probably following some leads, not everyone's trying to rob the Fallen blind like you."
"And why not?" Bandit raised a brow, "They're doing the same to me. I am just returning the favor."
"Alright, zip it." Levi approached the holo table. He tapped the console and brought up the display. "This is what we found in the Ash tunnels."
A series of images unfolded in the air—twisting flesh, bone-wrapped spires, and pale sacs pulsing with dark energy.
Hive cocoons.
Some were ruptured, and the others scorched.
"We torched 'em," Levi said, voice flat. "Before the war even began. We burned the tunnels, buried the chambers. That should've ended it."
"But their traces are back," Cory added. His voice was tight, clipped. "The ground's cold, but the Hive—they're moving."
Void's eyes lingered on the images. He didn't blink. "You already know," he said quietly. "You don't get rid of the Hive that easy."
A silence settled over the outpost. Heavy. Distant thunder rumbled somewhere beyond the walls.
Void looked up, the storm in his voice matching the one clawing at the edge of their world. "If the Hive are back on Earth… it means Crota's stirring. On the Moon."
The temperature seemed to drop further. Even the wind outside seemed to pause.
Tevis straightened. "What are you saying?"
Void's gaze was steady. "We escaped the Hive on the Moon. Barely. Now they're reaching out again. Preparing. If Crota's coming here… this won't be another hidden infestation. It'll be war."
Bandit shifted uneasily. Levi's fingers flexed over the console. None of them spoke.
"I've already sent a report to the Tower," Tevis said. "The Vanguard knows. The City needs to act fast."
"They won't," Void replied, cold. "Not fast enough. All we can do now is train the new ones. Harden them. Get them ready. Because when the Hive come, they won't give us a second chance."
He turned to Tevis. "And even then… it won't be enough. If Crota is leading this, we'll need more than Light to stop him."
Tevis's brow furrowed, "Is that why you've been chasing the Fallen all day?"
"You know what I am looking for." Void nodded.
Tevis replied coldly, " You're making a mistake."
"We need Rasputin," Void said. "Awake. Alert. On our side. Humanity can't survive with just the light. You know what happened on the moon. They'll run us down. "
Tevis's jaw tightened. He stepped forward, face dark. "Rasputin is not an ally."
Void didn't flinch. Tevis's voice rose—not angry, but resolute.
"You hear me? He's not for us. He's not for the Traveler. That thing won't help us."
The room was still.
"He doesn't care about the Light, about you, or anyone else. It's just a machine. A broken one." Tevis continued.
"So we stop trying?" Void frowned, "We need him. We can't fight the Hive, Fallen and the Vex all alone. It's impossible. We need to try."
Tevis pointed at the holotable. "We tried. The City, tried for decades to reclaim him. All we got were warnings. Threats. And one day, a strike team walked into a vault. Rasputin tore them apart. Spread their bones across Skywatch."
He paused, jaw tight. "I saw it happen. I was there."
The words hung like fog over them. Outside, the wind howled.
Void didn't speak. Not right away.
But the look in his eyes said he wasn't done.
Not yet.
"You're right. He might not care. But Rasputin controls all Warsats of the golden age. Its a power we cannot ignore. Because when the Hive come knocking, we'll need more than just our guns." Void balled his fist.
"Rasputin might not be trustworthy, but in the end, I'd rather set him free than watch us fight to the death."
Void turned to leave, but took one last glance at the Hive images of the ash tunnels, he sighed, "I'll take care of the Hive problem. But I won't stop looking for Rasputin. With or without you, I'll bring it back."
As Void walked out, Tevis frowned, memories flashed in his mind while his eyes followed Void. For the first time in a long while, he hesitated, unable to make up his mind.
-
Void exhaled a soft breath, the chill around him seemed to seep in as his breath instantly turned cold. He looked up, the pitter patter of rain seemed to still, grinding to a halt.
Then, it continued. But this time, all of it was snow. The night stretched long, with it a blanket of snow scattered across the Cosmodrome. By day, only the snow touched peaks of Skywatch and Devil's lair would be visible.
Void brushed his hand against the snow, it felt light, and flaky disappearing at the slightest touch. "Winter's already here", he spoke with a certain unease.
He recalled the days when the Cosmodrome was only snow. It was around that time that he played Destiny. Now, as winter returned, it seemed the world itself was moving fast.
"Any activity on the Fallen network?" Void asked.
Obsidian pulsed, "No, looks like they docked all the skiffs. Weather's not great, they probably can't see a thing."
Void summoned his sparrow, "Keep checking in, snow's the perfect cover for operations in the Cosmodrome."
Void checked the locations for the ash tunnels and rode towards them, piercing through the snow.
"How much time has passed since the pictures were taken?" Void asked.
Obsidian examined the pictures meta data, "Looks like they were taken a day ago at most."
"Got it. Run a Hive scan for me." Void asked, jumping off the sparrow.
He trudged up to the ash tunnel, a long winding tunnel that led to a coal cavern that descended into the heart Skywatch. Or at least, that's what it had been in the Golden age. Now? It was reduced to mere rubble.
Void blended into the dark, moving like a wraith. Then, the tunnel came to an end, an abandoned and vast cavern loomed ahead. Just as Void took a step inside, a familiar stench assaulted his nose.
One akin to a rotten corpse fermenting in these cold tunnels. His eyes flashed blue and he scanned the energies in the area.
"There's no mistaking it. They're here." Void's eyes followed the trace of a Hive ritual. A wicked aura lingered in the cavern.
"So what's the plan? We calling for some backup?" Obsidian asked, preparing to dial.
"No. Not this time. This one's just us, I want to blow off some steam." Void replied flatly.
He gripped the handle of his sword, and unsheathed it slowly. The blade trembled, as if quivering in anticipation.
"After all, where else will we get a feast like this? Isn't that right?" Void's lips curved into a smile. Then, the cavern seemed to shimmer with a pale glow.
Something in the blade had awoken.
~Of course, O brother mine~
Zamyr whispered, it was sharp, akin to scratching glass with a stone.
The Ahamkara appeared, or at least a wisp resembling it rested on Void's shoulder. As if sensing its presence, shrill cry echoed from deep within the caverns.
"Looks like the Hive Wizards have caught on" Void sauntered into the dark, his blade rested on his shoulders, he vanished.
A hoard of Hive surged, wizards leading the charge. But they found nothing. The Hive wizards flittered anxiously, magic coiled on their fingers. But no enemy was to be found. Had they been mistaken? No, their instincts couldn't lie. They were made for this.
Then, the dark seemed to shift. As if it had changed allegiances. As if it answered to a new master.
And he appeared.
Void cleaved the Wizard in half, its wretched soul eaten by his blade. Before the Hive could react, they'd already lost. The blade stirred, slinging from Void's hand, it shot towards another wizard, stabbing it through the heart.
Zamyr seemed to materialize, or perhaps it was an illusion. But in the dark, anything was possible. Then, the wizard was eaten alive.
The Hive were stunned. They were mindless, bred for battle and war. It was not in the nature of a Hive brood to surrender.
But that changed today. They knew for certain, whatever was in that blade was old. It was something that went against the rules of the universe. Something wrong, and today it smiled at them.
Disowned by the dark, they faced the pale light of the Ahamkara, and the Hive were nothing but food. Nothing but sustenance.
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