Greetings, Guardians, here's part twelve of Doom of the Dragons! Here's[url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/239217005?sort=0&page=0] part Eleven[/url] if you missed it. As usual if you like it, give it a bump, and I'll get more out soon! Stay classy, Guardians! Utūl watched the Guardian leave down the dark tunnel, and stood in the Caldera for a long while. Suddenly, he heard a noise behind him. The ancient dragon turned around, and saw another dragon, almost as massive as he, emerge from another tunnel. She stared at him, and snorted. What have you done, oh partner mine? she asked. Utūl turned back towards the tunnel that the Guardian had entered. Nothing of consequence Akû, he said. Is the artifact that important? Akû snapped. You would get a Guardian to do your dirty work? Our interests are aligned, Utūl said. Akû growled. You risk much by involving the Tower, she said. They are wary enough as it is. Then they are wise, Utūl said. It is not good that our foes should know our true strength. Utūl turned towards her, and frowned. The Tower is not our foe, he said. Akû stared at him. Not yet, she said. She looked in the direction of the retreating Guardian. I fear your meddling will make them so. He chose his doom, not I, Utūl responded. That, I very much doubt, Akû snorted. He knew what he wanted, Utūl said indifferently. I simply gave him. . . inspiration. Akû fixed his gaze. I wonder if the Tower will see it that way. Utūl snarled. Why do you care what the Tower thinks? They are no threat to us! Are you certain of that? Akû asked. With that, she slipped back into her cave. * * * Cupun stumbled out of the cave, gasping. “Cupun, what’s wrong?” his ghost asked. “Your vitals are all over the place!” “Get me aboard the ship,” Cupun growled. His ghost obliged, and, after a moment, Cupun was transmatted aboard his ship. He clutched his stomach, and practically tore off his helmet. “Cupun!” his ghost said. “What’s wrong?” Cupun suddenly vomited to the side of his seat. Chest heaving, he wiped the remainder of the vile fluid from his face, and leaned back into his seat. “What’s going on, Cupun?” his ghost asked. Cupun had no idea. His stomach felt like it was twisted in knots, and his head was swimming. He couldn’t put a finger on what exactly was going on, but deep down, something inside him felt fundamentally wrong. Like he’d been tampered with in some way, deep done inside. Cupun opened his eyes. That didn’t matter now. He knew what he had to do. Slowly, the queasy feeling in his stomach subsided. “Ghost?” he said. “Set a course for Luna.” “But Cupun -“ his ghost began. “Just do it!” Cupun barked. His ghost was silent for a moment. “Alright,” he said. “Setting a course for Luna.” Cupun nodded. He looked down at his controls, engaged the warp drive, and sped off to Luna. * * * A few hours later, Cupun felt the lunar dirt crunching beneath his boots. He walked up to the familiar cliff face, the strange, metal doors set into its base. Cupun hadn’t been sure how he’d feel about seeing the cliff again. He’d expected sadness, anger, even fear - but what he hadn’t expected was what he was feeling now. Nothing. Cupun felt absolutely devoid of emotion. Some part of him knew that he should have been disturbed by this, but he wasn’t. Cupun arrived at the familiar metal doors. He looked at it, and took a deep breath. “Well?” he said. “What are you waiting for?” For a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a grating sound, the doors slid open, revealing the dark, narrow cave he’d run out of, just days ago. But this time, Cupun recognized the open door for what it was. It wasn’t a trap. It was a challenge. Then, he stepped into the darkness. * * * It wasn’t long before Cupun reached the massive chamber he and the others walked into just a few days prior. He looked around the massive cavern, and gazed at the seemingly infinite number of Cocoons. “Alright,” his ghost said. “Seeing as I’m clearly not talking you out of this, how do we find the wizard that killed Lyra?” “We don’t,” Cupun said. “It finds us.” “Okaaaayy,” his ghost said. “How does that happen?” Cupun walked up to one of the coccons. “We give it a little incentive.” And with that, he kneeled down, and punched the cocoon. “Cupun!” his ghost shouted. The material caved beneath his fist, and milky white fluid spurted out. Suddenly, his fist came up against something solid. Cupun grabbed hold, and pulled it out of the cocoon. The cocoon tore open as Cupun tore its lone occupant out, and stared at it. It looked much like the creature that had almost killed Alister, but this one was slightly smaller and scrawnier. The creature screeched, and feebly attempted to tear at Cupun with his claws. The titan grabbed it firmly by the neck, and then bashed its head against the wall, braining it. The screeching stopped. “Cupun!” his ghost said. “What are you doing?” “Sending a message,” Cupun growled. He turned to the next cocoon, and brought his foot down on it. He felt a satisfying crunch as he killed the creature inside. Soon, Cupun stopped using his fists, and resorted to using his weapons. He fired at the cocoons with his pulse rifle, killing the occupants before they even knew what hit them, and threw grenades throughout the chamber, burning the creatures alive in their cocoons. Before long, the chamber reverberated with the screams of dying Hive. Suddenly, Cupun heard an awful screech from behind him - one too loud to have been made by any of his victims. He turned around, and saw the source of the scream. An army of her attendants behind her, holding her familiar glowing orb, and floating several feet in the air, was the wizard that had killed Lyra. Talâk. Cupun smiled grimly. “About time you showed up,” he said. The wizard stared at him, and let out an ear-splitting shriek. Howling, the horde descended on him. [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Groups/Post?groupId=1371758&postId=239629102&sort=0&page=0]Part Thirteen: Trophy[/url]