[b]Chapter Index: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/128755126/0/0[/b] part 1: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/152140387 part2: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/152141333 [u]Chapter 15: [i]To Kill A Prime (part 3)[/i][/u] In a flash, Kryptic was getting Elain and pulling her along. Marcus waited until the two were on their way up the path before running after them, the shrieks of the Fallen getting closer. He pulled his helmet on and sprinted along the side of the mountain behind the groggy Elain and bold Kryptic. Marcus then ran ahead of them, his body seemed to control his movements rather than his mind. It was as if the whole mountain had erupted into screams. Fallen climbed the mountain, their long hands seen pulling them up to the path. One grabbed Elain's leg but she kicked it away, sending the Vandal screeching to its doom. Marcus continued to take them up the mountain, dodging gunfire left and right. “Look out!” Rex exclaimed in Marcus’ helmet. A Captain jumped in front of the Guardians, but Marcus rammed into it with his shoulder, sending it flying off the mountain. He turned and saw the cave that they had been searching and brought them towards it. Suddenly, a Skiff appeared, flying alongside them. It arc cannons were trained on the Guardians, but Kryptic reacted by leaping into the air, and hurling a Nova Bomb into its hull, bringing the ship down in a ball of flame and void. They kept running, and Marcus led them into a cave that ran deep into the mountain. Crushing the skeletons that littered the floor, the Guardians kept running until the shrieks of the Fallen were nothing more but a faint howl. Breathing hard, Elain looked back to the mouth of the cave. Nothing could be seen pursuing them, and it was as if nothing had happened. Silence filled the cave, and Marcus was the first to speak. “Is everyone okay?” “Yeah,” Kryptic and Elain said in unison, “where are we though?” The Guardian’s Ghosts appeared next to them and acted as flashlights. Marcus turned to the tunnel that he had taken them into. Fallen lights lined the walls, as if directing the Guardians. Marcus decided to follow the tunnel, motioning for the others to follow. Elain and Kryptic exchanged a look and shrugged, following their leader into the depths of the mountain. Marcus was nervous as he descended; he knew for certain that they were being watched. Chitters and clicks could be faintly detected and a low hiss filled the air. Then, as if it had appeared there, an archway stood in front of the Guardians. It was covered by the House Banners, which displayed the symbol for the Ash. Fallen runes and symbols were painted on the cave walls. Bones of many creatures littered the floor, and Elain gasped when she stepped on one, breaking the eerie silence. “Should we go through?” Erasthmus, Kryptic’s Ghost, whirred. Marcus turned to Elain and Kryptic. These two had followed him into the unknown, and would follow him further. He didn’t know whether their fate would be sealed once they passed through, but they had to take a risk. He sighed, “Yeah, let’s go…but be careful, I don’t know what lies beyond.” And so he led them through the Arch, as if passing through an outworldly portal all together. As soon as they went through the arch, a loud, pulsing hum could be heard. A huge arena like area lay in front of the Guardians, and along the cave walls were thousands of stands. “Why does this place look like a coliseum?” Elain asked. They walked farther out into the center of the floor, and the pulse got louder. Six Dregs could be faintly seen in the darkness, even though the Ghosts were giving of light. A pit dropped down in front of the bowing Dregs and a white smoke seemed to be draining from their bodies. Then it hit Marcus, “Oh, shit. Guys, it’s here.” The pulse got louder; the air seemed to be still. Suddenly, a thousand cries went out and the arena lit up. Lights all along the walls shone brightly, casting the shadows of the restless Fallen that were looking down upon the Guardians. The Guardians looked frantically into the crowds of Fallen, who were chanting a strange tune. Then the chanting stopped and the pulse got louder. The Prime Servitor rose, a glowing sphere of power, out of the pit. The stream of Ether from the Dregs surrounding it ceased, and the Dregs fell to the floor, the life was literally sucked out of them. Marcus turned to look at the Machine God. A large whirring sound came from it, and it seemed to expand, before releasing a shockwave and opening its ‘eye’. The Guardians raised their guns, but the Servitor boomed before they could fire, “You are not welcome, Light wielders, you will fall…cower, before the might of Sphyxis Prime.” The Servitor then shot a Void blast before the Guardians could react. Elain and Marcus dived to the left and right, but Kryptic caught the full impact. He was sent hurling into the cave wall, knocked unconscious. Marcus ran straight for cover when the Prime shot at them. But now, he was pinned down, the Servitor just playing the waiting game. Finally, he sprinted out of cover and unloaded his hand cannon into the Machine, but it seemed to do nothing to it. He tossed a Lightning Grenade at it but the Servitor still remained. He yelled to Elain to get to Kryptic, who was still unconscious, and made sure she got her Ward of Dawn over him before making his next move. He jumped out of cover, and ran at the Servitor. Just when he was about to use his Fist of Havoc on the floating bastard, a Wire Rifle shot nicked him in the shoulder, sending shards of his arm in different directions. “Argh! Shit.” He turned on the Vandal that had shot him and sent 3 rounds into its chest, effectively killing it. But when he turned back around, Sphyxis was bearing down on him. The Prime bellowed in a strange laugh, and hit Marcus with a Void blast. The Exo flew back into the cave wall, stricken and weak. He stood and ran at Sphyxis again, but this time, a Captain intercepted him. With a sickening crack, the Captain plunged a Shock Blade into the Exo, who screamed in pain. The Captain removed the sword, laughing. Rex had appeared in front of Marcus as he knelt on the ground, but before he could help, the Captain grabbed him in his hands and crushed him. “No!” Marcus yelled. He doubled over, his connection to Rex was broken…he was gone. The Captain laughed and held Marcus up by the neck, “Haha, Demon, your little light is gone. Without it, you will perish. “He then pulled his arm back and stabbed Marcus again. Marcus slouched over the sword in his chest. Without mercy, he drove his hand onto the side of the Captain’s face and channeled his arc energy, frying the screaming alien’s brain from the inside. Grunting in pain as he fell to the floor, Marcus pulled himself to his knees and yanked the sword out, wincing as he did so. He nearly collapsed again, but held his hand out to hold himself up. He looked up to see Sphyxis unrelentingly shooting Elain’s shield. Kryptic had come to and pulled her to the wall, but she was bleeding from a wound in her side. “They’re not going to make it…” he gasped. Struggling, he crawled over to his gun Reaching his gun, he propped himself up on it, and threw a lightning grenade at the Prime. Marcus looked at Elain who was using all of her Light to keep her Ward up; she was dying. Kryptic was channeling his Void light to heal her, but it wasn’t strong enough. Marcus looked down at his crumpled Ghost, his companion, [i]his[/i] Guardian. His vision was starting to be surrounded by Darkness “Yes, yes, succumb to my power.” The Prime’s voice echoed in his head. He was angry. Channeling all of his strength, he felt arc energy course through him, a new hope. He felt a weight ease off his shoulders and looked up. The Darkness around him faded away. Marcus looked up at the Servitor, [i]“My power is greater than yours, false god.”[/i] In an instant, his body lit up with arc energy. He exploded forward; a fist aimed straight for the Prime, and drove straight through it. A hole was blown clean through the machine. In a flash of light and darkness, the Servitor destabilized and imploded, sending a shockwave that absorbed all of the Ether from the Fallen in the crowds. All that remained were their lifeless husks. Marcus collapsed on the floor. He saw Kryptic run to him, but couldn’t understand the words he spoke. “Kryptic, take Elain, and take the ship…get out of here.” He didn’t know whether the Exo agreed or argued with him, but he didn’t care. All he knew was that his vision was darkening, and that he could feel the Light pulling him in. [b]While Chapter 16 is in the works, here's a filler for you to enjoy: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/159291609 [/b]