Hello, everybody, here's part 66 of Into the Hellmouth! Here's[url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/217635379?showBanned=0&path=0] part 65[/url] if you missed it, or, if you're looking for a different part, here's the[url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/209303839?showBanned=0&path=0] master post[/url]! Stay classy, Guardians! It took them several hours to find the location, and by the time they arrived, it had grown dark. The Russian night was upon them. Ikora looked down at the structure beneath them. “What is this place, ghost?” she asked. “Best I can tell, it’s an Old Golden Age fuel refinery,” it said. Ikora nodded. “Any sign of Hive?” she asked. “None,” it responded. “However, I am detecting . . . that’s strange.” “What?” Ikora asked. “I’m detecting signs of a jumpship,” it said. “Along with faint traces of the Light.” Ikora narrowed her eyes. “How faint?” she asked. “Well, it’s hard to say,” her Ghost said. “The best I can tell you is that there was Guardian here, at some point. And whoever they were, they were here long enough to leave traces.” “And the jumpship?” she asked. “That’s the weird part,” it said. “The traces are. . . fresh. The jumpship couldn’t have been here more than a day ago.” Ikora narrowed her eyes. “Hm,” she said. “‘Hm’ indeed,” the ghost replied. Ikora waited a few moments. She had to figure out what was going on here. “Beam me down, ghost,” she said. “You sure?” it asked. “Positive.” “Okay, here it goes,” the ghost replied. And with that, Ikora was transmatted down to the ground. Ikora took a deep breath, shotgun in hand. She advanced into the refinery. “Ghost?” she said. “Scan the area. I don’t want to be surprised by anything.” “Of course,” it replied. Ikora entered the refinery, sweeping each room, each hallway, with her shotgun. Eventually, her Ghost spoke up again. “Strange,” it said. “What?” Ikora asked. “I’m detecting. . . something,” it said. “It’s like. . . it has a distinct Hive signature, but it’s mixed with. . . something else.” “Like what?” Ikora asked. “I’m not sure,” it replied. “I’ve never detected anything quite like this before.” Just then, there was a flash on her radar, indicating something behind her. Ikora whirled around, pointing her shotgun in the direction of the flash. Her ghost shined it’s light in the direction as well. There was nothing but a dark, empty hallway. Ikora was about to relax, but suddenly, she heard a loud clang emanate from down the hallway, as though someone - or rather something - had knocked over a table or chair. Ikora tensed up even more. “There’s something in here with us,” her ghost said. “I know,” Ikora replied. All of the sudden, three green eyes appeared at the end of the tunnel. Ikora felt her blood vessels begin to burst with adrenaline. Hive! she thought. She prepared to blast away at the eyes, when suddenly, the eyes spoke. “Has it really been so long, Ikora,” a voice said, “that you don’t recognize an old friend?” Ikora blinked. “That voice,” she said, “I know that voice.” The green eyes stepped into the light, revealing a woman. She had a white flower painted onto her chest, which was covered in ruined armor. Her clothes were a motley shade of brown. A black bandana covered her most striking characteristic - her eyes. There were three of them, and all glowed green. Just like those of an acolyte. Even more disturbing, a black, fluid-like substance flowed from them. The woman smiled. “So you do remember after all,” she said. For the first time in her life, Ikora was truly stunned. “This - this is - “ “I believe that the word you’re looking for is, ‘impossible,’” the woman said. “Yet here I stand.” Ikora looked over the woman. Aside from the eyes, her face appeared exactly the same as it had, all those years ago. “Eris,” she breathed. “It’s you.” Eris walked up to her, and then reached out and embraced her. After a moments hesitation, Ikora returned the gesture. Then, they let go. Ikora looked over the former Hunter, stunned. “You’re alive,” she said. “By some measure of the word, I suppose,” Eris replied. Ikora nodded, to stunned to ask what she meant. “What about the others?” she asked. “Omar? Eriana? Sai -“ She stopped. The look on Eris’s face told her all she needed to know.” “Dead,” Eris replied, “all of them, dead. The Ghosts too.” Ikora nodded. “You’re sure?” Eris sighed. “If only I weren’t,” she said. Ikora shook her head. To think that Eris had been alive - all those years! And she had done nothing! “I’m sorry, Eris,” she said. Eris frowned. “For what?” Ikora shook her head. “Where do I begin?” she said. “I thought you were dead! I -“ “And you had every reason to believe that,” Eris said. “Even if you had gone looking for me, I doubt that you could’ve found me.” Ikora nodded. “How are you alive, Eris?” she asked. “You were gone so long!” “How long has it been, in fact?” Eris asked. “I lost all track of time, down in the pit.” Ikora quickly did the math. But her ghost beat her to it. “We sent you off thirty three years ago, Eris,” it said. Eris looked up at the ceiling in amazement. “Thirty three years,” she said. She sat down. “Thirty. Three. Years.” Ikora stared at Eris. Over the years, she’d reconciled herself to the fact that she’d never see any of her Hidden ever again. But now. . . “How did you survive, Eris?” she asked. Eris shook her head. “A story for another time,” she said. She stood up. “Right now, we have to prepare.” Ikora frowned. “Prepare for what?” she asked. “Crota,” Eris said. “The Hive knight?” Ikora said. “What about him?” “He is so much more than a knight, Ikora,” Eris said. “He is the leader of the Hive. Their Prince. Their God.” She began to walk down the the hallway, out of the building. “Even now, he gathers his strength.” It took Ikora a moment to comprehend what Eris was saying. “You mean Crota’s coming here? To Earth?” “In a manner of speaking,” she said, “he already has. Even now, his Will is being done.” And with that, she walked out of the refinery. Ikora followed her. “Where are you going?” she asked. “To the City,” Eris said. “Where else?” “Eris!” Ikora said. “What happened up there?” Eris turned towards her. “Up?” she asked. “Yes!” Ikora said. “What happened to you on Luna? What happened to them?” “Ah,” Eris said. “You mean, what happened down there.” Ikora nodded. “I suppose,” she said. Eris stared at her until Ikora was forced to look away. “Hell,” she said at last. “A long, dark, never-ending Hell. Thirty-three years where nothing happened save death, where nothing changed save. . . this.” She waved her hand over her eyes. “I will tell you my story, Ikora. But it is long, and I would rather not repeat it. I am weary enough as it is.” Ikora reluctantly nodded her head. “Alright then,” she said. “I’ll hold you to that promise.” Eris nodded, and began to walk away. “Wait!” Ikora said. Eris turned around. Ikora licked her lips. “I hope that I can still count you among my Hidden,” she said. “You have sacrificed more for our cause than any before you.” Eris smiled a little. “Thank you, Ikora,” she said. “I have always been - and always shall be - at your service.” Then, she turned back. Ikora smiled. “I’ll give you a ride on my ship!” “Don’t worry,” she said. “I have my own.” And with that, Eris Morn walked off into the night. Ikora was silent for a moment, and let the smile fade from her face. “Ghost?” she said. “What do you think?” “I scanned her several times, Ikora,” it said. “There’s no doubt; that is indeed Eris Morn.” “What about the . . . stuff . . . dripping from her eyes?” she asked. “Inconclusive,” her Ghost replied. “I’d suggest running some tests on her when we get back, but I feel that that would be. . . unethical.” Ikora nodded in agreement. “She’s been through enough,” she said. “I won’t have her subjected to any more mistreatment.” Just then, a ship lifted off from the Refinery, the same white flower painted on it’s side. “I guess that’s Eris’s ship,” her Ghost said. “Shall we lead the way?” Ikora said. “Transmatting you aboard now,” it replied. And with that, Ikora teleported to aboard her ship, and sped off towards the city, Eris Morn in tow. Edit: [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/218104392]Part 67[/url]