If you missed the last chapter, you can find it [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/218847991/0/0]here[/url], or if you need to find a previous chapter, you can find them all in the [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/218618986?sort=0&page=0]Table of Contents[/url]. *** I watch the single star amongst its brethren in the sky above me. Through SIVA’s enhancements, I can see the magnetic waves undulating through the vacuum from its focal point, see the redshift as another object draws closer – a small planet, I can see by its emanating radiation, moving across the lone star until the occultation obscures its light... Even though I know the star’s still there, and that this shift happened thousands of years ago for me to be able to see it now, my mind unconsciously leaps to the depressing conclusion: [i]even the stars are going out.[/i] I shake the thought as just more maudlin theatrics and shift back to my memories of the Reef for comfort, to distract me from what SIVA’s currently doing. [i]The others should be there by now[/i], I muse hopefully. [i]Nas and Solis will push for reinforcements to mount a rescue mission. ~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ I know,[/i] I think, the brief spot of joy fading into the greater sense of melancholy. With effort, I pull my attention back to the present and the horrors I’ve helped create. I gaze around at the carnage of SIVA’s meal, the broken and disfigured bodies of Thralls and Acoyltes twisted on the ground, SIVA’s tendrils still working in deeper as their corpses twitch and shudder. I disgustedly feel these creatures’ lives, whatever energy powers them, being absorbed and transferred to us. I can feel myself growing stronger, and a sense of power courses through me, intoxicating, thrilling and terrifying all at once. [i]~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ Yes, I feel it. ~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ Of course, but I know what you’d do if I did. ~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ Do I really need to explain to you how revolting this feels? ~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ This doesn’t feel like eating, it feels like….bleeding in reverse.[/i] SIVA shrugs, completely apathetic to my suffering. [i]Baby steps[/i], I think ruefully, understanding that my relationship with SIVA is destined to be a symbiotic journey of back and forth, give and take, offense and defense. [i]Are you almost done yet?[/i] I ask impatiently. SIVA ignores me. I take the opportunity to focus wholly on Ia, stretching out to feel her once again – her sharp, visceral pain hits me and my knees buckle. [i]Knives this time,[/i] I think, gritting my teeth with anger. I raise my arm to gaze at it, scowling, forcing myself to share her pain – I can almost imagine the jagged, bloody line on my arm that I know is currently being carved into hers. My hate builds unbidden – SIVA feels it, turning her attention to me again. [i]~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ That monster will die,[/i] I hiss angrily to myself, ignoring SIVA. [i]I will see him brought to his knees, watch him suffer the same torture he’s inflicted upon countless others…[/i] I feel SIVA recoil from my sudden outpouring of anger before nuzzling against me again tempestuously. [i]~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~[/i] I hear her cooing to me, comforting and motivating my anger. This is what she wants – for me to lose control. [i]No[/i], I think, forcing myself to douse the flame burning inside me. [i]~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~[/i] I watch SIVA’s tendrils retract from her Hive victims, feel them pulling back into my body as I watch the Thralls and Acolytes continue to shudder on the ground. I struggle internally to control the anger again, the flame reigniting unbidden as I feel Ia’s flesh continue to be torn – the echoes of her internal screams reverberate through me as I grit my teeth, clenching my fists so tight I can almost feel blood leaking through my gloves. I remove them and drop them in the dust, staring at my crimson hands, imagining them gripped tightly around Taniks’ throat – [i]Bury it[/i], I hear Ia command herself in my head. I take her advice and bury the flame, extinguishing its volatile rage. SIVA pouts, disappointed, in my head as I turn my focus away from the injustices being done to Ia, instead ruminating on my next move. I gaze around the empty expanse of the Anchor of Light, the ruins of old buildings, vehicles and installations littering the canyon – [i]Taniks’ ketch is docked above the Dusk Warren[/i], I strategize. [i]Closest point of entry is through the Hellmouth.[/i] I shudder unconsciously at the thought of the tomb again – it’s not only Crota’s tomb now, but mine as well. [i]~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ I still died[/i], I respond. [i]And I shouldn’t have been brought back. ~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ Please, like you care. ~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~[/i] One of SIVA’s tendrils snakes out from behind me, undulating hypnotically and gazing directly into my eyes. It bobs and weaves as it stares me down, SIVA speaking to me from within. [i]~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ How long were you locked away for? ~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ But you deserved it.[/i] A swell of pain rushes into my brain as SIVA overloads me with stimuli churlishly. I gasp and struggle against the pain, shoving her back. [i]~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ Still doesn’t mean you didn’t deserve it, I mutter back darkly. SIVA lets it go as I return to thinking up a plan. ~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ The problem is can I trust you to not ‘consume, enhance and replicate’ everything? ~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ You’ll have to give me something better than that. … ~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~[/i] I tilt my head, considering the bitter proposition. I look back to the bodies SIVA had left in her wake to see them rising again, eyes glowing red. They stand still, quietly watching me, waiting for my orders. [i]~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ And they can’t spread you to others? ~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ Because I’m not going to leave a plague in my wake. ~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ You know what I mean. If you’re the plague, I’m the carrier so we’re in this together. ~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ You’re sure we can keep things contained? ~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ That’s not very reassuring.[/i] The red tendril weaves in front of me – I squint my eyes at it suspiciously. SIVA responds by conjuring an image in my head of the Summoning Pits, of the Hive army buried beneath the lunar surface. She continues, replacing the image with another of the same army, eyes now glowing red instead of green, charging the ketch. Another image replaces this one, an image of me leading the army, a blood-red swarm of single-minded purpose, all units connected to me –  the roar of an Ogre echoes in my mind as I gaze again at the red tendril in front of me. It’s tempting, I have to admit. To sweeten the deal, SIVA projects the image of my ogre crushing Taniks as I rescue Ia – [i]An army[/i], I ponder, [i]my army. Nas and Solis will return with their own forces[/i], I think to SIVA. [i]~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ They will. ~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~[/i] I can’t think of an argument – the same misgivings have been plaguing me. [i]What if they don’t come back? Or can’t? What if something happens to them on the way? Can I trust them to keep their word? Of course I can,[/i] I answer myself furiously, [i]Nas and Solis would never leave us – ~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ They’ll do everything they can to – ~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~[/i] I feel another shudder of pain as Taniks cuts into Ia again – I wince visibly and clutch my leg in the spot I know Taniks is currently digging the knife in. The flame reignites once more inside of me, and my own doubts halt the fight to extinguish the fire within. [i]SIVA’s right[/i], I think, unbidden. [i]Even though I know they’d never quit, it’s a long way between here and the Reef – and there’s a war going on. Who knows what might stop them? What if Taniks leaves the Moon before they return? What if he decides to return to the Fallen homeworld with Ia, or goes to the Jovians?[/i] My doubts cripple me – SIVA senses the weakness and leans in harder. [i]~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~[/i] The mental image of myself leading a conquering red army is forced into my mind again. I stare fixedly at SIVA’s tendril, conflicted. Finally, I nod to her, and feel her thrill of excitement as she savors her small victory. [i]~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ And what will we do with this army after we’ve rescued Ia?[/i] SIVA conspicuously holds back any further mental images. [i]~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ You know what I mean. ~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ Of course she’s important to me, but – ~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~[/i] The question burns in my mind – [i]Which is more important to you?[/i] I know the answer I want to say, but mourn the answer I wish I didn’t have to say. [i]Her[/i], I respond, knowing that with this one word I’ve condemned everyone else. [i]I don’t want to spread any more death, but these creatures will regardless. They did murder me, after all. And my old team. And who knows how many others. The only way to meet them is with death, for they belong to the Darkness. ~ Consume Enhance Replicate ~ No[/i], I respond forcefully as we begin to make our way back to the Hellmouth, shaking my head defiantly. [i]Not yet I don’t.[/i] SIVA cunningly doesn’t answer, letting my own thoughts argue against me.