Hello, everybody! You probably now me best as the author of Into the Hellmouth (link to that [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/209303839?sort=0&page=0]here[/url]), but I also came out with this short piece here - also about Eris Morn! Go ahead and give it a read if you like!
“Raaaaahhhh!”
Alexander-3 pointed his machine gun at the Darkblade’s pink, spongy face. The creature roared with frustration. Grimacing, the Hunter didn’t let up until he heard the gun click.
Empty.
Blood oozed from the holes in the Hive creature’s forehead. It took one shuddering step forwards . . . two. . .
And then it dropped it’s massive battle ax, and fell to the ground. Dead.
Thus fell Alak-Hul!
It took a moment for Alexander to register his victory. Then, a shout came from across the cell. “Woo-hoo!”
The hunter turned to see a titan, his helmet covered with grime, pumping his fist in the air. “We did it, Alexander!” he shouted. “We did it!”
“Yes, I suppose we did,” said another voice. A warlock - Briesies - stepped out of the shadows, holding a fusion rifle in one hand.
The titan, a man named Carter, triumphantly held up the Darkblade’s bony helm. “This’d make a good trophy, eh?” He held it out to Alexander. “You want it?”
Alexander shook his head. “No thanks,” he said.
Carter shrugged. “More for me,” he said.
“We should contact the Tower,” Briesies said. “Let them know that we’re still alive.”
“I’ll do it,” Alexander said. “Ghost?”
His ghost went into comms mode. “Eris?” he said. “The Darkblade is dead.”
Alexander heard Eris sigh in relief. “Yessssss,” she said. “May his dark soul go screaming into the pit between stars.” She paused. “A pretender to the crown is dead. Know this, Guardian. Alak-Hul was there when we went down into the pit.” The room grew still. Everyone knew of the failed raid Eris had lead on Crota years before. However, Eris rarely talked about the details. “Too much pain,” she always said.
Eris sighed. “What you have done, you have done in their names,” she said. “Toland. Sai Mota. Omar. Eriana-3. Vell Tarlowe.” And, as she finished naming her fallen comrades, she cut the comms.
The room grew still. “Whoa,” Carter said. “That was . . . unexpected.”
“Yeah.” Alexander frowned. He saw something gleaming by the Darkblade’s battle-ax. He picked it up, and beheld a strange, green cube. He inspected it, puzzled. It appeared to be old-earth artwork, and made of jade. But what would the Hive be doing with a piece of old-earth sculpture?
“What should we do with the rest of him?” Briesies asked.
Alexander looked at the body. “Let him rot,” the exo said. “Let’s get out of here. Ghost?”
And with that, the three Guardians transmatted away, leaving the Darkblade alone to rot in his Sunless Cell.
Alexander walked down the stairs to the Hall of Guardians. He turned to the right, and saw Eris in her usual spot. “Hello, Eris,” he said.
The former Guardian turned towards him. “Hello, Guardian,” she said. “What is it?”
“I found something on Alak-Hul’s body,” he said.
Eris frowned. “What?” she asked.
“This.” Alexander held out the green cube.
Eris reached out towards it with shaking hands. She grabbed it, and inspected it closely. “Could it be?” she whispered.
“What?” Alexander asked.
Eris smiled. “You are familiar with the tales of Wei-Ning?” she asked.
“A little,” Alexander said. “She was a titan, wasn’t she?”
“Yes,” Eris replied, “one of the greatest to ever live. She died on Luna - slain by Crota himself. And this - “ she held out the green cube “ - is her cong. An artifact she found with her when she was resurrected by her ghost.” She looked over at him.
“Did you know her?” Alexander asked.
“A little,” Eris confessed. “But it was Eriana who truly knew her best. Friends to the death, as it were.” She shook her head. “You know, after the battle, Eriana told me that Wei-Ning had asked her to take the cong, so that it would come back to earth in case of her death. But she’d refused. Eriana’d thought that there was no way that we could loose - no way.”
Suddenly, Eris looked very tired, and she slumped forwards. She tucked the green stone that she always carried into her satchel. “Guardian - I’m suddenly feeling rather faint,” she said. “Forgive me, but would you help an old woman to her bedroom?”
Alexander nodded. “Of course,” he said. Grabbing Eris by the shoulder, he escorted her down into the lower part of the Tower.
Soon, they arrived at Eris’s quarters. Eris opened the door, and they walked inside.
Eris sat down in a nearby chair with a sigh. She looked up at the ceiling. “She would be happy, I think, that you’ve returned the cong to the City at last,” she said. “It’s part of the reason why she went down into the pit. The reason we all did, I think.”
Alexander frowned. “What do you mean?” he asked.
“To atone for our sins,” Eris said. “We all went down into the pit, and faced the beast, in hopes that it would cleanse our souls of guilt.” She sighed. “In all honesty, Guardian, I sent you down there for the same reason.”
Alexander was puzzled. “What do you mean?” he asked. “What sin?”
Eris stared at the wall. “Isn’t it obvious?” she asked. “I survived.” And with that, she let out a massive sigh. “You have given me not only vengeance Guardian. But also closure. And for that, I am eternally grateful.”
She stared at the cong one last time. “I will never forget those I have lost,” she said. “But now, for a time, I can. . . rest.” And then, Eris Morn closed her eyes.
Alexander slowly walked out of the room, and closed the door. And then, he left Eris Morn to the best rest that she’d had in half a century.
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Good work. It feels like a nice continuation of Into the Hellmouth. Bump!