The Summoning Pits (A Destiny short-story)

We had never been down this far before. We never realized what the Hive had done to the Moon. But now we've seen it. The endless chambers, the sprawling chasms from which screeches of Hive Abominations echoed; from what we could tell, there were many Creatures down there; but we were only hunting one… “I don’t even want to know what they’re keeping down there.” Said my Ghost. “Neither do I, but I’m willing to go down as far down as I need to find this thing” Said Illora, The Fireteam’s Warlock. Her skill with a Pulse Rifle is almost as Tenacious as her hatred for the Hive. “I don’t think we’ll have to go much further; judging by how vicious the Hive were in the last chamber, we should be getting close…” Said Wesley, the Firetam’s Titan, and my best friend. “I’m detecting a large concertation of Hive forces up ahead.” Said my Ghost, “The door up ahead is locked, I’ll open it when you are ready.” “Everyone ready?” I ask. “Ready.” “Let’s destroy these Hive wretches!” “Open it Ghost.” I order. Once the door opened we all rushed out with Illora at the front. We found ourselves in a large, hangar-like room, with large catwalks all around the perimeter of the three sided room. I say ‘three sided’ because one side of the room is simply not there. Just an open expanse of more pit. We all stopped for a second to take in our new surroundings, then I notice a huge, hulking Hive creature shackled to the floor with chains fastened to its wrists; wailing and screeching as if it was being tortured from the Inside out. “Contact!” I yell to my team. “At least it’s chained up.” Chimes in Ghost. And then, as if it heard Ghost, in one mighty feat of strength, this huge creature broke its chains and faced us; as if we were the source of its torment. “Well, it’s not anymore!” shouted Illora over the din of approaching Hive Thralls as she took aim and fired upon this great beast, with a deadly accuracy. But Illora was not the only one Firing. Apparently the creature had a power of its own, and unfurled a seemingly endless wave of Void Energy upon us. All at once everything seemed to slow down; as if Time itself had decided to cease to exist. Or, at least that’s what it felt like… “Illora! On me!” I shouted to her, as I and Wesley ran for cover. As the blasts of Void energy struck, Time seemed to resume. Apparently Illora ignored my command completely, and remained where she stood. I looked up to see she was reloading her Pulse Rifle, and then, I could not see past the blasts of the Void. “Guardian Down!” Shouted my Ghost. When the smoke cleared, I could see Illora’s Ghost working frantically to keep her alive, but in this room, which was so filled with Darkness you could almost feel it pressing down on your Light, I knew she needed to be revived. But we couldn’t do that with this Abomination still riddling the Catwalk where she stood. Wesley seemed to sense this, and broke cover, running straight for the beast; I could almost feel his rage, surging up and crackling like the Lighting that was charged up Inside of him. I knew that Wesley’s charge was a way to draw the monster’s attention off Illora. So, seizing the opportunity presented by my comrade, I made a break for Illora’s body. As I broke cover, I saw Wesley, in all of his electrified rage, strike the ground with a fury that resonated through these Summoning Pits. Then it I felt it. The creature’s smash; I felt the ground tremble beneath my feet, as if a Mighty god crashed to the ground. The Abomination had repaid kind with kind. Smash for Smash. Rage for Hate. I knew that Wesley was down before by Ghost sounded that he was. I was the last Guardian standing. Out in the open, exposed, weak before this terrible, ground shattering might. As the Hive Thrall rushed towards me, and The Knights launched powerful blasts of Arc bombs that Wesley nicknamed, “Boomers” I lowered myself to one knee. I reached into myself, calling up my deep power. Taking in my surroundings, breathing the air around me. Feeling my heart beat in synchronization with my Light. I felt that power arise within me. Then I felt it that power Jump from my heart to my skin. I felt the surge of Strength and Stealth, rise up from inside me. I felt myself vanish from sight. In this moment I knew that I had to reach Illora, who was only a few feet from me. I rushed to her body and assisted her Ghost in reviving her. Her Ghost had done its work with my help. In a burst of light, she was on her feet, unsteady, but alive. She seemed confused as to where she was, and appeared to be unable to make critical decisions. This was not uncommon for someone who has been revived for their first time. With an Invisible hand I took hers and guided her to safety. Just as I got her into cover, my invisibility wore off. She then seemed to remember what was going on. As I was about to go for Wesley, a large host of Hive Thrall descended upon us in all their screeching fury. Once again, I reached into myself to summon up my deep power once again, and it came again, but not in the form of Strength and Stealth. It came in the form of a Blade. With That blade, I danced among the Thrall. Not a ‘Hey-ho’ happy dance, but a dance for fury, war, and power. That’s why some people call Hunters like me, “Bladedancers”. The Thralls did not last. With the last of my power fading, I once again shrouded myself in Stealth and ran up right under the Hive abomination to rescue my friend. Once Wesley was revived, we ran together back to Illora who had readied her Rocket Launcher and prepared two Heavy Ammo Synthesis for each of us. “Thanks for the Revive. Ready to finish this thing?” Illora asked. “Yes. On your go.” I replied. “For the Traveler!” Shouted Wesley. The explosion of our Rockets resounded through all the Summoning Pits. But the screeches and death cries of The Abomination were even louder. In a burst of fire and light, The Creature was no more. “Finally! The Abomination has been destroyed!” Rejoiced my Ghost. Our Mission was complete. With they’re greatest weapon dead, the Hive fled. I felt the light return to this Chamber. We had destroyed the atrocity some called “Phogoth” We had pushed back the Darkness. But our fight does not end with Phogoth…