So a while back I decided to write a story about the Guardian Down at the opening to the Temple of Crota. Just for fun. I am NOT a great writer by any means but I had fun doing a little short whatever. Enjoy! --------------- Something is happening. Everyone knew it but no one was talking about it. The Fallen were getting more brazen. The Cabal were mobilizing and rumors of the Hive being seen on Earth were moving through the Tower like brushfire. The Factions couldn't agree on which objectives were the most important and the Vanguard were having having more meetings and less directives. He wasn't sure if the answer was so clear or just so crazy no one had thought to mention it. They had to go back to the Moon. In the very least someone should get a lay of the land. It wasn't hard convincing his Ghost, and before the sun set on the Tower his ship was slipping through Earth's atmosphere plotting a course for Archer's Line on the Moon. As they approached, his Ghost sputtered about various enemy clusters, massive amounts of Hive activity with Fallen troops mixed in. They landed on a fairly flat crater and the Guardian made his way toward an old accelerator. The power lines looked mostly intact with only a few areas damaged. Some movement caught his eye, a couple of dregs garbling excitedly headed towards the base of the accelerator. His Ghost pointed out there was probably some tech there they could use as a place to start. A smile crept at the corners of his mouth as he sprinted at the unsuspecting dregs, his fist feeling the satisfying crunch of bone smashing to bits on the first dreg before elbowing the second dreg and silencing it's surprised look with a shot from his trusty fatebringer. A quick scan of the area noted no immediate threats so he headed inside. A thick layer of dust covered pretty much every surface including the couple of skeletons huddling in the corner. He tried not to think about the horrifying last moments in this dark place. Near the back of the room there was a bank of computers. His Ghost scanned the interface chattering in half sentences. While he worked the Guardian walked through a room in the back watching the dust dance through the light. He stood watching the particles floating around in some aerial display whose meaning was long forgotten. He reached out slowly, wanting to be apart of the movement. An alarm suddenly sounded. He turned and was back at the computer in an instant collecting his companion. A Fallen captain roared from the entrance sending two vandals and three dregs storming towards him. A dreg on the far side never saw the grenade coming before glowing purple and exploding. The force knocked the other two aside giving the Guardian a chance to fire several shots at the two vandals fire shots from behind a pillar. The captain seemed only interested in waiting and watching. He had no intention of waiting around and sprinted hard right towards the two dregs. A swift punch eliminated one while a point blank shot to the head eliminated the other. The vandals seemed to have other plans as they both rushed him. One swinging a saber in a high arc which he rolled under grabbing it from the front and pulling m forward. Unbalanced, the sword vandal fell forward into the other vandal impaling it. Before it could realize what it had done, it's brain was destroyed. The captain growled and aimed it's weapon towards the Guardian. Thrusting his arms out away from him sprung the shield instantly blinding the captain. The Found Verdict slid into his hands like it always been there and before the captain knew what happened, he was dead. His Ghost mentioned an old colony base where some high security reports were being held mentioning some unusual readings. A quick call to his sparrow and they were on their way. Hive and Fallen seemed too busy engaging one another for control of various areas. A battle for who could be more dark. They didn't seem to be bothered by the lone Guardian speeding across the barren landscape. It took no time to reach the base, abandoned once the large holes started opening up in it's sides. A scout pack sat in the middle of the room and the Guardian set his Ghost to work. Some complicated encryption guaranteed some time to kill. A short walk around proved nothing of interest. A colorful glint caught his eye through one of the larger holes in the room. The Earth shown bright and blue on the backdrop of infinity. He couldn't help but swell with a sense of pride. Even the planet itself seemed to be doing all it could to stem the tide of oblivion. The telltale glint of the Traveler shown bright against the planet when it blinked. It happened so fast but he was sure. A shiver slithered down his spine but his Ghost brought him back to reality. The Temple of Crota. Crota, a god among the Hive. He was back, or coming back. He could feel it in his bones. He didn't want to waste time. The more he brought back to the Tower, the better prepared they would all be. The opening of the corridor leading to the temple wasn't accessible to his sparrow, so he climbed over the broken and cracked ground and cautiously moved into the slowly descending landscape. As he made his way down the path it became clear that it was becoming increasingly dark as though he were entering a cave far below the surface. He looked toward the space above but the sun was blocked by the ever-growing walls. This darkness was heavier, more oppressive feeling. On top of that growling and scraping sounds filled the air. Up ahead he could see that the path would open up to a larger space. A protruding rock would provide a decent vantage point and cover. He leaned slowly against the rock and peered around the edge. The ground moved and undulated like some strange river. Until he realized that it wasn't the ground after all. The valley was filled with Hive, shoulder to shoulder, growling and cackling amongst themselves. Knights, thralls, and acolytes stood together as if they were waiting for something. An extremely large door stood at the far edge of the valley. The darkness seemed to pulsate as the Hive moved like some perverted heart. The door began to glow, a symbol burned bright through the darkness. The door slid open to reveal a giant Hive like the Guardian had never seen. Green veins mixed with a darkness he couldn't identify. Crota wasn't difficult to identify as he roared so loud it shook the rocks around him. He thrust his sword to the sky aiming at the Traveler shining somewhat dimly against the black. The Hive shouted and raved in happiness at their glorious leader. And then it happened. Suddenly the Guardian was pressed to the ground like a bug under a giant child's thumb. His limbs wouldn't move. He was helpless. And as quickly as it came, it was over. He got up slowly peering back beyond the rock at the throng of Hive who also seemed to be recovering from the sudden sensation. The only one who was unperturbed was Crota, standing strong and looking up towards the sky. A massive Hive head materialized in the air and silence filled the valley. Oryx. The Guardian immediately called his Ghost. The Tower needed to know about this now. There was no time to wait. He gave his orders and set the Ghost to leave him behind. It had only moved a few inches when a space distortion appeared behind him and a black shape appeared catching the Ghost in its fist. It looked like a Hive Knight but somehow corrupted. Before the Guardian could do anything he was surrounded by the hive who began to beat him and then drag him before Crota and his father. He fought. He punched, he kicked. But the darkness was too much, he could feel his Light waning. The Knight dropped him at the feet of Crota who laughed gutturally. Crota looked at his father and silence again filled the valley. "This Guardian's death marks the beginning of the nightfall. Today, oblivion comes." He looked up at the spark glinting in the dark, an army was coming. He hoped his own army would answer the call. The heaviness came and the shadows enveloped him.