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Shin was watching the news on his pockit when Wolf appeared on the ship. Despite everything the Tower and City were still putting on the Solstice of Heros. Probably to just keep up the facade of normalcy. Shin didn't blame them. After the Traveler had been lost they could use the reminder. "How'd that talk with Ikora go?" he asked, eyes down on the coverage.
She came and sat next to him on the lounge. He looked over when she took off her helmet with a sigh. "It's just one thing after another," she said.
"What?" he asked her.
"The swarm Hive on the moon is trying to bring Savathun's Throne World to the moon. I'm not entirely sure why? Some... wizard ritual thing," she leaned forward and rubbed her forehead. "Probably to take up the mantle even though they don't have the ability."
"They'll try," Shin said.
"Only the thing that killed the owner of the Throne World can take it over. That's why Mara's is so fucked up and why Oryx's is decaying," she sighed, squeezing her eyes closed. "But I assume they'll try to keep it from collapsing. Can't let that happen. Eris said they'll start the ritual at any moment but we don't know where it is and won't until they start it so it'll be a rush job," she groaned and leaned back, looking at the ceiling of her ship. "And Ikora says I need to play nice with Mara. Something about how she finally got Savathun's worm to talk. It's dying," she rubbed her face.
"Don't they know you need more than sixteen hours between killing a monster and doing new shit?" Shin asked her.
"I know," she sighed.
"And what about the Upended?"
"Ikora sent the rest of the Hidden into the Pyramid with Lizard and Fox and they're figuring it out. Without Rhulk to direct the Taken or Scorn its pretty safe."
"Well that's something," Shin said. "Did you tell Ikora you didn't sleep?" Wolf didn't answer. "Wolf-
"It's fine. Can't sleep anyway," she got up.
"Okay but you need to eat. You didn't the entire time we were in the Pyramid," Shin said.
"Thank you, I've only been telling her that all day," Ghost said, floating at Wolf's shoulder. "Especially after an expenditure of Light like that? You need to refuel."
"The Light doesn't need to be refilled-
"No but you do," Ghost said in annoyance.
Shin looked at the pockit, "Solstice is going on," he said. Wolf made a noise he could only describe as a whine. He grinned. "You know the sooner you deal with bullshit the sooner you can go play games," he knew she loved Tower activities.
"I don't want to deal with Mara she's such a bitch," Wolf grumbled, pacing. Or not even pacing just moving while she talked.
"I'm not arguing. Still can't believe you decked her," Shin grinned.
"She deserved it," Wolf growled.
"You get a recording of that, Ghost?"
"No. It happened too fast," Ghost lamented.
Shin got up and grabbed her arms so she'd stop wandering around her ship. "Sit. I'll fix you something and then we'll go deal with Mara."
"We?" Wolf asked.
"Well someone has to stop you from suplexing her when she says something that makes you mad. And unlike you I'm a known asshole," he smirked. Wolf had a look on her face like she'd never even considered that. "You get quiet when you're real mad. I'll tell her to fuck off. Now sit," and he put her down on the lounge.
"And Rat said there was no benefit to being with you," Wolf said, leaning back on the lounge, legs crossed.
"If it's a short list the reasons better be good," he said and that made her laugh.
"It's a medium length list," she said.
"For you," he said as he pulled out some food bags to heat up.
"Mhmmm," he looked over his shoulder and was amused she was checking him out.
Shin warmed up some food and brought it over. Wolf didn't complain and did eat. Once she was done they pulled their gear together and Ghost transmatted them down to the Enclave. "Ikora said Mara would meet us at the range in the Enclave," Ghost said.
"After you," Wolf said to Shin.
"I don't like this place," Magpie grumbled as Shin entered the Enclave itself, heading down the long steps to the crafting machine. The pendulum swung normally.
"It's not that place, you're fine," Shin said, reaching up to pat Magpie roughly where he was hiding in his hood. They walked down the stairs on the other side of the Enclave to the bare rock cave below and sitting on a pedestal was a worm. A very living worm. No Mara.
"Well there it is," Ghost said, floating over.
Shin wasn't the only one who jumped when Mara's voice said, "The very parasite that once plagued the Witch Queen herself." Shin almost drew his gun as they both turned and looked at Mara who'd appeared somehow behind them.
"Queen Mara, so good to see you," Ghost said in as nice a way he could.
"Do not delay us with pleasantries-"
"Great. Didn't want to come anyway," Shin said and he heard the softest little snort laugh from Wolf over their private comms.
Mara narrowed her eyes slightly at him but otherwise carried on like he hadn't spoke. "This parasite knocks at death's door."
"And this our problem how?" Shin asked, hands on his belt. "Isn't a dead worm a good worm?"
Mara's lip twitched in almost a sneer but she remained as cool and aloof as ever. "This parasite is an opportunity to learn from humanity's greatest failure."
"Well I assume you don't mean me and Wolf being here so I assume you mean the Collapse," Shin said and Wolf didn't make a noise but she did sign a quick 'you're going to kill me' to him in low hand.
"Yes," she said with a touch of annoyance. "But it was not ours alone." Shin tilted his head to the side as he saw a strange black hand reach out from around Mara's shoulder. It was huge and as it moved left after images of itself in its wake. "That day it was as much a failure for the Witn--" the hand touched her shoulder and her eyes widened. Shin's eyes narrowed as she looked away, taken by something.
"Are you okay, Mara?" Ghost asked even as Mara tried to shake it off. The hand lingered on her shoulder almost across her chest, the long fingers slowly trailing off, leaving impressions across her coat.
"I'm fine!" Mara said but her voice was strained. Shin played with the catch of his holster. The hand retreated from her chest and over her shoulder like a horrible spider as she turned back around. "As I said, our Collapse was as much a failure for the Witness and its followers; including Savathun."
"She was there?" Ghost said like that made no sense.
"On behalf of the Witness. But something prevented humanity's end. Something known by Savathun and her worm," she came around the to worm. "It needs strength and a new host to survive, to divulge its secrets."
Shin laughed. "That's stupid."
"That's a death sentence!" Ghost said.
"For most, yes. But for the Queen of the Awoken? It's worth the risk."
"And here I thought you were just a bitch. Turns out you're insane too. Shit, okay," Shin laughed.
Mara scowled at him. "You aren't even supposed to be here," she said, eyes narrowed.
"And miss you confidently put yourself on a silver platter for the Witness? Hell no. Wouldn't miss that for the world," Shin smirked. "Alright so what are we doing with this thing?" he gestured to the worm.
Mara collected herself to remain as unflappable as she wanted to appear. "The worm incubation facility. It's located in the dark city within the Pyramid."
"Great, can't get enough of that place," Shin said as Wolf folded her arms in dislike.
"It should be easier to transverse now that the Disciple within it isn't around to stall your progress forward," Mara said.
"Great," Wolf finally said. "Take the worm to the spawning pool, right."
"A paltry exercise for someone of your caliber," Mara said.
"Don't patronize her, Mara," Shin said.
"I would never." Shin didn't look but he did hear the strain of leather from Wolf clenching her fist. "Ghost take Wolf and the worm back to the ship."
"Finally, a good idea," Ghost said and transmatted them both away.
"You don't go with her?" Mara asked.
Shin folded his arms and cocked his head to the side. "How long has the Witness been whispering in your ear, Mara?" he asked.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she said.
"You should just ignore it. It's lying."
"As if you know anything," her eyes narrowed at him.
"I do. Probably more than you'd know. It casts quite a convincing spell. Feeds on your deepest fears. It knows what you're afraid of and what to offer you to bend your principles."
Mara only blinked. "How could a Guardian know something like that?" she asked him, disdainful.
"You ain't that special lady. Witness has been talking to me too. And its a liar. So do yourself a favor and when it tries to bend your ear at least have the spine to not give it to it." Mara stared at him. Shin made an amused scoff. "We'll be in touch, Queen Bitch," and Magpie transmatted him out.
--
The last of the corrupted ether faded away when the Warden dropped. "Well, that was fun," Shin said sarcastically, reloading his gun out of habit more than anything.
"Oh yeah, absolute blast," Bear said as he pulled his glaive out of the big Scorn's gut. Wolf had pulled him in from running ops in the Throne World.
"I don't see an incubator," Ghost said.
"It must be hiding in plain sight. Look around," Mara said.
"Why'd we invite her again?" Bear asked.
"We didn't. She invited us," Shin said.
"Doing her work for her again as usual."
"Well what do you expect? Monarch's typically don't get their hands dirty," Shin grinned. "That's what us pions are for. Or at least that's what I always understood about New Monarchy," he shrugged. Bear accompanying them had made Mara's ordering them around all the more tolerable since Wolf wasn't talking and Shin wasn't having her bullshit. It was also a lot easier to move around the Pyramid when Shin could just... move walls and hallways around as needed. He could tell just from tone that that frustrated Mara.
"I'd have preferred NM's monarch, they wanted Saint," Bear said and leaned on his glaive while Wolf dispelled the corruption in the air that allowed them to see the unseen.
"We found it," Ghost said.
"He's too good."
"Yeah. No shit," Bear said and got off his glaive to go stand with Wolf. Wolf had also brought Bear along to be the worm carrier since he was big and the worm was easily larger than either Shin or Wolf's torso. He unslung the fading worm from his back and put it on the pedestal in front of them.
They gathered around the worm as it laid there, eyes closed, only sort of breathing, barely moving. Wolf jerked back in surprise when it moved, ungulating, skin rippling as power surged through it. "Nasty," she said over private comms.
"Fear swells. Deception Queen," the worm moaned, writhing on the incubator pedestal.
"What did you say?" Mara asked.
"Nothing. It was the worm," Ghost said.
The baseless glee in Mara's voice made Shin roll his eyes, "The parasite. It speaks once again. It... worked," she sounded genuinely surprised and Shin had never heard Mara be genuine about anything.
"You didn't think it would?" Bear asked.
"You sent us back into this nasty Rhulk Pyramid on a hunch?" Shin groaned.
"Savathun's deceptions run deep. I fear that somehow the parasite is cursed but I have yet to see evidence of it," Mara said still surprised this had done what she said it would do. The worm let out a soft noise and shuttered as the incubator powered down.
"Looks like the incubator's out of juice," Ghost said.
"And the parasite?" Mara asked quickly.
Ghost did not look excited as he scanned the worm. "Its vital readings are still low."
"Then we've achieved only partial success. There are more incubators hidden across the Throne World. I'll attempt to locate them."
"And our cyrptoglyth is drained too. But we may be able to fix that," Ghost said thoughtfully and looked at Wolf.
"See that you do. Keep the parasite safe. I'll be in contact once I find our next incubator," Mara said sounding almost... excited.
"You're welcome?" Ghost wasn't even sure.
"Find one not at the bottom of a Pyramid next time," Shin said before Mara cut off contact.
Bear picked up the worm. "For the record, I hate carrying this thing around. I liked the rock one better. This one squirms. It sucks," he complained as he put it back in the carry sling.
"I know but Wolf's already carrying everything else so you gotta do something," Shin said and even though Wolf was wearing and helmet she put a hand up to it as it to cover her mouth so she didn't laugh aloud.
Bear poked him hard in the helmet. "I liked you better when you were sassing Mara," he growled.
"Joke's on you; I sass everyone," Shin said.
"So now we have to get out of here," Ghost said.
"And go where? You said you could charge the cryptoglyph," Bear said.
"Our contact should be able to lead us in the right direction."
"Right... that... whatever the fuck it is," Bear grumbled. "You ever going to let us in on this contact?"
Ghost and Wolf looked at each other briefly. "Nope," Ghost said. "Now what's the fastest way out of here?" Ghost asked and they all looked at Shin.
"Yeah yeah I'll find a door," and he went to do just that.
--
Shin and Bear weren't allowed too close to the contact Wolf had. It was on top of a short cliff and from here they couldn't see anything. "So no idea what it is?" Shin asked Bear.
"GB has a betting pool," Bear said, arms folded. They were sitting on their sparrows waiting for Wolf to come back.
"What's the thought?"
"Fox thinks its a Hive, Lizard says some fucked up half dead Eliksni- not Scorn yet. Rat and I think it's a Lucent Lightbearer," he said.
"And Cat?"
"They think it's a moth," Bear said and Shin chuckled.
"What type of Lucent?"
"If Wolf won't let us close to it and it likes being up high to see all of the swamp glimmer is good on an Acolyte," Bear said. "Ikora thinks it's a Wizard who doesn't like Savathun."
"Ikora's in on it?"
"Well yeah. Not like Wolf will tell her either," Bear said.
"Where you going?" Shin asked as Magpie floated out of his hood. Magpie didn't say anything just teleported away. "Uhh..." He quickly patted down his pouches to make sure he hadn't gone there.
"You Ghost decide to peace out?"
"No? I don't know where he went," Shin said, not a bit bewildered.
Wolf showed up a few minutes later on her own sparrow and two Ghosts. One her own and Shin recognized Magpie's brown shell. Magpie zipped right over to Shin and hid in his scarf. "We found a way to charge the cryptoglyph," Wolf said as Ghost also flew over to Shin.
"I'm mad at him," Magpie said as Ghost got close.
"Oh yeah? How? Where?" Bear asked.
Shin put his hand up to Ghost as he tried to duck into Shin's hood as well. Normally he didn't mind but why was Magpie mad at him? The only thing Magpie ever had a strong enough emotion to dislike was Shin. "Remember we told you about Savathun's temple to her child self?"
"Vaguely," Bear said.
"Can I just talk to him," Ghost said quietly.
"No," Magpie and Shin said at the same time.
"It's not what it looked like okay," Ghost sighed.
"Hmph," Magpie retreated further into Shin's scarf.
"Just go back to Wolf," Shin said, pushing Ghost away.
"Well that's a better plan than no plan I guess," Bear said, Shin had completely missed the plan.
"It it works it won't take long at all," Wolf said. "Ready?"
Shin just nodded but wasn't sure what they were doing. He assumed it involved shooting Scorn, or Hive, or both. He was good at all that so it probably wouldn't matter. He followed after Bear as Wolf led them to where they needed to go and narrowed a comm stream directly to Magpie. "Everything alright? Why are you mad at Ghost?"
"Wolf's contact is a Hive Ghost named Fynch," Magpie said.
He almost hit a tree going full throttle from processing that. "What?"
"And I didn't like the way he talked to Ghost."
Shin was quiet for a second. The name was familiar. It took him a moment to remember, Wolf had mentioned it months ago. He was surprised he remembered actually. "Was Fynch flirting with Ghost?" Magpie didn't answer but he did feel more than mild disapproval and grumpiness from his Ghost. "... I see."
"You have no room to say anything," Magpie said, annoyed.
"Oh I am well aware," Shin scoffed as he had to get off his Sparrow to join the others. The terrain had too much mixed elevation to keep going on a Sparrow. "But I don't think you have to worry."
"Shin, keep up, the tunnels here are confusing," Ghost said as he was a bit behind.
"I'm coming," he said and did catch up, joining local comms with Wolf and Bear who were talking about what he realized after a moment was trying to get back to a 'stable' morning routine. The same shitty routine Wolf used to be on where she'd wake up too god damn early.
They arrived at Savathun's temple when Magpie said, just to Shin, "I think you should shoot him."
"Holy shit, Malphur. Mind your damn mic," Bear complained when Shin laughed so hard he blew out his comm.
"Hold on," Shin said and had to take off his helmet to wipe his eyes with part of his cloak.
"Are you crying?" Bear asked.
"My Ghost just said the dumbest thing I've ever heard," Shin wheezed, beside himself. He took a few deep breathes, "Okay. I'm good. Holy shit," he pulled his helmet back on.
"What'd he say?" Wolf asked.
"Suggested I shoot your contact here in the Throne World," Shin said.
Wolf didn't get it immediately then Ghost sighed deeply and flickered out of view. "Oh," she said, understanding the base of the joke and then it really occurred to her what Magpie said and she laughed.
"What? What's so funny?" Bear asked.
"You're a smart guy, Bear, I'm sure you can figure it out," Shin said. Then to Magpie he said, "No."
"But-
"Magpie."
"It's never been your issue before!" Magpie complained. "Not like you haven't snapped some."
"I'm not killing a Ghost minding its own business just because you're jealous," Shin said, way too amused. Magpie grumbled and ducked into his belt pouch as they headed deeper into the cavern and started to come across Scorn. Great. He hated Scorn.
--
"Do you really think Mara's going to go through with it?" Bear asked as Wolf picked up another patrol.
"With what?" Wolf asked.
"The whole... worm thing. I mean she's pretty small I don't know how it will fit," Bear said thoughtfully.
"What Mara does or doesn't do isn't my problem," Wolf said as their new objective flashed across Shin's HUD. Some Hidden wanted to study some specific flora that grew here in the Throne World but it was a bit of a hike to get to it.
"It'd put her on my short list," Shin said helpfully.
"... That's legitimately the best thing I've ever heard you say," Bear said. "But seriously. Isn't it a problem if Mara does it?" Bear pressed as they headed for the point of interest.
"I don't know if I'd let her," Wolf said slowly. "Because then that's just a future problem."
"Yeah but it'd be real funny watching Queen Bitch try it. What'd she do? Eat it? Rip open her stomach and shove it in?" Shin asked with cheerful macabre.
"You have such a vivid imagination," he heard Bear grimace.
"I'm keeping it pretty tame here-
"Let's not," Ghost said and Shin chuckled.
"Is he always like this on missions?" Bear asked Wolf.
"No. He's doing it special to make Mara mad," Wolf said over private comms since they all knew even if she wasn't engaging Mara was probably listening.
"Lady doesn't get mad," Bear said.
"Frustrated then. And frankly its hilarious listening to her have to deal with Shin. I think Savant rubbed off on you because you really know how to act a fool," she added.
"He's got enough stupid to go around I can borrow some and he's still got plenty," Shin scoffed. "At least when I act stupid it's an act."
"Could have fooled me," Bear grumbled.
--
Shin came back standing and Bear was half a second behind as their Ghosts traded Light to revive them. Shin had just been wrong place wrong time and that Lucent Acolyte had landed a Golden Blade right to his head. Bear had gone down earlier to an ogre's eye beam.
Wolf was standing between some rose bushes looking down at her hand. Shin saw she was holding a Lucent Ghost and it was vibrating in her hand in terror. Bear went over to her and tried to take it. "No!" she said and yanked her hand and the Ghost away from him.
"Wolf you can't let it go," Bear said. Wolf hesitated. "Wolfy you know its worse if you let it go," he said softly. She looked down at the Ghost who was still struggling in her hand. "Wolf-
She looked up at Bear, "It's scared, papa Bear," she said in a weak voice Shin had only heard after she'd woken up from that nightmare that had caused the Light storm.
"I know. But if you let it go it'll just bring that thing back that wants us dead."
"I won't," the Ghost chirped. "And she doesn't. Not really! I swear."
"Don't listen to lies from a Hive sympathizer," Mara's voice cut in.
"You shut the hell up," Shin snapped. "Unless you know where an incubator is no one wants to hear your voice, Bitch Queen."
"Wolf," Bear started and tried to take the Ghost.
"Please," the Ghost whimpered.
She let it go.
"Damnit!" Bear tried to grab it but the Ghost shrieked in fright and teleported away. "Wolf!" he cried looking down at her. "You let it go," he sighed, angry, or maybe frustrated.
"It didn't deserve to die," Wolf said.
"It's a Hive Ghost. It's an enemy Ghost," Bear said sternly in a way Shin did not like. It sounded like a lecture. One it seemed they'd tried to give her before. Shin knew she'd let Alak-Hul's Ghost go. How many more had she been unable to snap?
"That's enough," Shin stepped in between them.
"This doesn't concern you, Malphur," Bear growled.
"She makes her own choices. Move along," Shin growled right back.
"I know you're protective but this shit has gotten us killed multiple times," Bear said and Shin somehow knew that. That Wolf's inability to kill a Ghost had put her friends in danger and this 'lecture' was less about forcing her to do something she didn't want and more about keeping everyone safe. Just hand the Ghost over; someone else would do it. Shin remembered at that tower the first time he'd really fought against Lucent Hive. Wolf hadn't even touched a Ghost. Everyone else had dealt with them.
He knew that rationally but he also didn't like when people made Wolf upset. "Move along," Shin said, now holding the Last Word.
Bear breathed harshly at him and walked off, aggravated. "You didn't have to do that," Wolf said quietly.
"I know."
"He's right."
"I know."
"But I just... can't."
"I know," Shin said quietly.
"And she didn't. She didn't bring her Acolyte back," Wolf said.
"For now. Let's get out of here. Bitch Queen," he switched out of private comms, "you find us an incubator or you just sitting around looking smug as usual?"
"Did you do away with that thing?"
"Not what I asked," and Shin grabbed Wolf's hand and followed after Bear. "Contact us when you have something useful," and he cut off the call. Bear had already gotten over being mad at Wolf and when they joined him Bear gave Wolf a brief hug and when he let her go mused her hood playfully. She just pulled it back into place and gave him a playful shove.
--
Bear put the worm on the incubator less than gently making it squirm and whine. It wriggled and its horrible body pulsated sickly. "Ah! The air here. Like Fundament," the worm rasped its little legs twitching excitedly. "Good to breathe again."
"Don't get used to it. You'll be back feeding off a host soon enough," Ghost said.
"Yuck," Bear said.
"A great team, Mara and I. Better than by herself. Untrustworthy that one. Plotting to kill Eris Morn, Crow... even you," the worm said looking at Wolf.
"Wow, you don't say," Shin said sarcastically. "Bitch Queen wants Guardians dead? Who would have thought."
"The parasite speaks an adjacent truth. They're not plots," Mara said. "More... contingencies. In case evil sways them... or you."
"I know you can't see us Mara but I'm letting you know Wolf just made a hand sign about you so foul I'm not even going to repeat it," Shin said. "To say you're lucky not to be here when you say shit like that is an understatement.
"I don't even know what that sign means," Bear said, a touch stunned.
The worm made a sound that could have been a laugh. "As usual, Deception Queen provides half-truths. The what, not the why. Pulls wool over eyes once again," the worm intoned, finding their bickering most agreeable.
"Enough, parasite. Keep your tricks out of the Guardian's head," Mara hissed.
Shin snorted as the worm grunted weakly, already losing energy from the incubator, and said "You first." It placidly allowed Bear to pick it back up and return it to the sling.
"Man way to make it weird Bitch Queen," Shin said as Wolf was just silently ranting at Bear in low hand.
"One must always be prepared for the worst," Mara said with great gravity. "There is no shame in precautions when Lightbearers have the capacity for such wanton destruction."
"I'll show you wanton-!" and Ghost muted Wolf's outrage. She threw her arms up and stepped into the launcher to get them out of this hole.
"We should go make sure she doesn't do anything foolish," Bear sighed.
"Like what?"
"Like leave the Throne World and go kick Mara's ass personally," Bear huffed and also took the launcher.
"Bitch Queen could stand to be a little more appreciative of everything we do. Especially Wolf," Shin agreed. "Not like she hasn't saved the entire system and Earth from complete annihilation how many time? Three? Six?" Shin asked knowing Mara was still listening. "Not even Osiris could claim that many system wide successes and he'll be the first to over sell himself," Shin scoffed.
"Crota, Oryx, then we stopped House Wolves from using the Vex gates to bring all the Wolves from all timelines to this one. Then there was SIVA, which was an Earth problem but knowing the Eliksni's love of the Awoken I doubt it'd have stayed there. Then the Red War and then we saved Osiris and then killed the Worm God Xol," Bear said rattling them off and counting on his fingers. "Then there was Riven and the Scorn and cleaned out Mara's Throne World of Taken, which was a thankless task let me tell you. Then stopped the Eliksni from blowing up the City with their big walker tank brig. We kept the spread of Nightmares on the Moon fairly contained and stopped Crota's daughter from gathering enough power to be a threat to the City. We rescued Saint-14, we helped Rasputin destroy the Almighty from crashing into the City. We dealt with Eramis and Europa and brought down the Deep Stone Crypt and stopped a Vex invasion on Europa because Eramis wanted to do the same thing Skolas did with the Wolves there. We ended the Endless Night and killed Quaria who was Savathun's pawn. We found all of Mara's witches because she couldn't and then did all the heavy lifting for killing Savathun, which you know: went great. Mara didn't even do it right. You were lucky you weren't there string bean, girl was absolutely livid. I've never seen her so mad. Cat had to make her walk away or I'm pretty sure she was going to kill Mara on the spot," Bear said all this as they left the caves. "So by my math it's about sixteen times she's done some system saving shit or something that's made the system a better place for everyone? In just the past twelve years or so?" he said thoughtfully.
"Really puts into perspective how grateful people should be to Wolf, huh?" Shin asked him casually. Mara was listening because Shin could see it as a light on his HUD but was staying quiet.
"Ikora also says domesticating you was also something good she did too," Bear said and Shin stopped walking because he was bent over laughing.
"Yeah Shin, she has you whipped," not-Dredgen Yor said, there all at once when he and the shades hadn't bothered Shin in several weeks.
"That's awesome," Shin said and followed after Bear, still sort of laughing, ignoring not-Dredgen Yor entirely.
Wolf was waiting outside for them talking to Ghost. "Our contact has another spot we can charge the cryptoglyph," she said when they arrived, sounding calm.
"Great, lead the way, darlin'" Shin said as they got on their sparrows.
--
They were jumping around the top of some of Savathun's buildings when Mara finally spoke again. "Guardians," she said in her grave way as Bear shoulder checked a Knight out into empty space. Wolf high fived him excitedly and with more complexity than a simple high five. "About what was said before... about my 'contingency' plans."
"Yeah? Realize you're an asshole for it?" Shin asked candidly.
Mara ignored him. "Darkness corrupts. Eris, my brother Uldren... you," she said regrettably. "Whether it be in this timeline or another, we cannot risk it. Sparing you all that dark fate is..." she paused like she really carried a great weight. "Is my burden," she continued.
"Oh spare me your self congratulating bullshit Bitch Queen," Shin groaned. Shin noted Wolf was muted again and she was also again waving her hands angrily in sign, absolutely furious. "Guardians make their own fate. Also hasn't Wolf perpetually cleaned up every mess you've made?" he asked casually, slightly directed to Bear.
"Couldn't keep her Throne World secure, let Riven get Taken," Bear agreed. "Most recently we had to go into the Ascendant Realm to align her beacons and find her lost Techeuns."
"So I don't know what you think you'll actually do even if Wolf did lose her mind and join the Witness," Shin said. "Not like it's even courting her. It's courting you. I think we should be more worried about what you might do and what dark pathway you'll walk down, Bitch Queen," he sneered.
"Strong words from one such as yourself," Mara said icily.
"Hey; I'm fucking reformed," Shin said defensively. "And I'm stuck like this until something gets my Ghost. Yet I still figured out how to not be such a piece of shit. What's your excuse oh great Queen of the Awoken," he mocked her through imitation.
"You don't know what I've seen-
"Then tell us," Shin snapped. Mara said nothing. "Worm's right: Deception Queen. Fucking typical. At least I'm up front about being an asshole. Stay off our comms until you locate an incubator. We have nothing to say to you."
"Nicely done," Bear said.
"She annoys the shit out of me too," Shin growled.
"Oh same," Bear said.
"She could stand to act a bit more humble when she's the Queen of fucking nothing. Dreaming City in ruins, her armada destroyed, her dragon Taken. She's got big words acting like she is the one who's going to determine Wolf's fate I- oh hey," he perked up when Wolf came over to him. She didn't say anything just pulled on his scarf to press their helmets together.
"Ugh," Bear looked away.
Shin narrowed comms to just Wolf, "How you doing in there?"
"You're much better at being mean than I am," she said quietly.
"I've had more practice. You just keep being nice, darlin', we need that more," he said, tapped his visor against hers and then stood up.
"So we still looking for that rune?" Bear asked and cleared his throat.
"It's this way," Ghost said and they followed after him.
--
"Please tell me we're almost done with this thing," Bear groaned as he put the worm on the incubator.
"I hope so, I'm hungry," Shin said. Bear looked at him and chuckled.
The worm rolled around on the incubator in delight as whatever was in it warmed it and gave it strength. "Ah whole once more," the worm cooed in delight, curling up and around itself. "Oh, Deception Queen! Come to me, gracious host."
"Yeah we'll take you to her as soon as we have our information," Ghost said.
"And why should I spill my juice gossip first."
"Ew," Shin and Bear said at almost the same time.
"Because I said so," Wolf said and pulled out a knife. "Alive or dead doesn't matter to me," she said, looming over the worm.
The worm was barely impressed. "Coward's way out. Kill me, lose priceless knowledge. Humanity suffers. Perhaps there's "contingency" for them too?" it asked snidely.
They all waited a beat and Shin was actually delighted when Mara cut in, "Wolf, smash that parasite's skull."
Wolf immediately raised her knife when the worm said, "Relax. Have your precious knowledge. Surprising, you'll find Savathun. Much like Mara: riddled with doubt. In the face of Collapse Savathun--" it cut off and nearly fell off the pedestal. It writhed in a disgusting way and wailed in pain. "Help!" it cried, its entire body bulging and pulsing.
Ghost scanned it. "Its energy is draining fast," he said, stunned.
The worm cried out again. "Cursed by the Witch Queen! After everything," he moaned and Shin had to look away. It was too disgusting.
"What do we do?" Bear asked.
"Mara, it needs our help. What do we do?" Ghost asked.
Mara didn't respond. "I... I don't know," she said and it was the first time Shin had ever heard her unsure of anything. "I'm sorry." The feed cut out and the light indicating she was listening went out.
"Are you fucking kidding me!" Wolf yelled. "After all this she just leaves?!"
"Mara. Mara hello?" Ghost was trying to reach her but the comm link stayed unlit.
"So much for help from the Queen," Shin said.
"As if we've ever been able to count on her for anything," Wolf seethed while the worm continued to moan and write in pain.
"Well what are we going to do?" Bear asked.
"Okay... who can help us with Hive worms in the Throne World. Eris?" Ghost said not even asking really. "No-- well we can just ask him," he said to Wolf. "He's yet to fail us now." In his hood Magpie's fins smacked Shin's neck as he spun them in irritation. Ghost meant the Hive Ghost.
"Can't hurt to try," Wolf said.
"He said we need to bring it to him so he can see what's wrong with it," Ghost said quickly.
"Great," Bear grumbled. "Stop your squirming," he barked at the worm as it writhed in pain on the incubator and picked it up. "Lets go."
--
Magpie was floating back and forth in front of Shin while he and Bear waited for Wolf. "So I'll take that bet for who Wolf's Throne World contact is," Shin said.
"Yeah? What's your guess?"
"Hive Ghost," Shin said.
"A Ghost? Really?"
"Well we've established she can't smash one so she'd be the first one to make friends with one," Shin said.
Bear cocked his head. "That sounds about right. The bet's ten ascendant shards-
"What the fuck? Are you joking?" Shin hadn't seen that many at once in... ever!
"Yeah? We gotta do something with them."
"I need you to know that that's abnormal," Shin said.
Bear shrugged. "I'll spot ya but you got to split the pool with me if you're right," he said.
"Deal," Shin said.
"How'd you guess Ghost?"
"Magpie's pissed," he nodded at his Ghost.
"So?"
"Why would my Ghost be mad about Wolf's contact if it wasn't a Ghost sweet talking Wolf's Ghost?"
Bear paused and then chuckled. "Yeah that makes plenty of sense. We'll see if she ever shares who he really is with us."
"I got it," Wolf said over comms and a moment later they saw her Sparrow. "We need to go. He gave us something to dispel the curse," and she drove by them. They both sped after her.
--
Shin was so glad when the worm finally stopped screaming. "So glad you're feeling better," Ghost said sarcastically as the worm rolled around in the Hive wells of power.
"Only temporary. Deception Queen ran away. No surprise."
"Tell me about it," Wolf groaned softly.
"A momentary lapse of judgment, nothing more," Mara said.
Ghost was the only one even slightly happy to hear her voice. "Mara? What happened?"
"A story for later."
"Because it'd physically kill you to tell us anything," Shin groaned.
She ignored him. "First, we need to ensure the parasite's stability. Deep in Savathun's palace, you'll find Hive Light."
"Yes. Passageway nearby," the worm said, more delighted than ever. "Will guide."
"Great now we gotta follow this thing?" Bear complained.
"Looks like you're in the lead, Bear," Ghost said.
Bear made a noise of displeasure and picked up the worm. "Okay I guess," he said and put the worm in the sling.
"Great. So when's Mara eating this thing again?" Shin asked.
"Eating. No!" the worm cried.
"Hosting. Whatever dumb thing she's doing," Shin rolled his eyes.
"So where are we going?" Ghost asked the worm.
"The tunnel is behind us. Unseen," it intoned.
"Of course it is," Ghost sighed and Wolf had to use Deepsight to find the rune she had to shoot that triggered the door that opened. "There. As promised," the worm said smugly.
"Yeah yeah you self important sausage," Bear huffed and headed for the path.
"Is this a sewer?" Shin asked as the path led right into a water way.
"I don't think Hive defecate," Ghost said.
"Well they eat," Shin said. "Either way; this is gross. I hate wading through sewers," he said as he and Wolf followed after Bear who trudged through the water that didn't even come up to his knees. On Shin it came up to his thighs and almost up to Wolf's waist. Disgusting.
It wasn't too long of a trek through the sewer/waterway filled with creepy worshiping Hive statues before they came across a portal. "Through," the worm said.
On the other side Bear's Ghost Reggie spoke up for the first time, "Woah. That's crazy."
"We've got heavy Light readings here," Ghost agreed.
"I didn't think the Hive could manipulate the Light like that," Reggie said.
"Take the cryptoglyph and fill it with that energy," Mara said.
"And what are you doing while we're out here doing this?" Shin asked.
"I'm here, in the Throne World-
"No shit."
"Headed for the ritual site," Mara hadn't even stopped talking. "Meet me there once you've gathered the energy."
"And she's gone again," Shin sighed even as they engaged some Hive.
"Can't believe she's going to go through with it," Bear said.
"I would say the worm might make her less annoying but they're both pretty fucking unbearable," Shin said as he gunned down some normal acolytes.
The Hive were keen on protecting this collected Light and there were a lot of acolytes and thrall to kill and a surprisingly high amount of Wizards as well. They were not happy to see the three of them. The Light itself was collected as less pure Light and more charged crystal batteries. Shin had seen stuff like this on a minor scale before, especially as a Solar user. Warlocks had coined the term 'Everlight' for them as they produced light and heat almost indefinitely depending on how much Light you infused into the crystal or rock. Shin had made plenty in his time in the wilds. Easier to find a hunk of quarts stone and fill it with Light than it was to make a fire out of wood sometimes. These were similar but super charged and volatile, needing to be contained by Hive magic so they didn't explode.
"I ain't touching that," Bear said, looking at the orbs once they'd dispatched all the Hive in the area, including the Wizard that was maintaining the containment spell.
"I got it," Shin said and picked up the Solar filled rock. Or tried to. It burned his hand, melting his glove, and he jerked it back. Magpie healed it and repaired the damage to his armor.
"Uh... what? I figure you of any of us would be able to grab those things," Ghost said.
"Yeah," Shin agreed.
"So how are we supposed to transport these things?" Bear asked.
"Float them around behind us?" Reggie asked.
"That's not the best idea," Ghost said even as Shin was trying something else.
Hunger was physical. It made a knife when needed and he remembered Wolf last year trying to explain more on how to make Solar constructs. He didn't have the best memory of that since that talk had ended in them fucking in her ship. But he was trying to think of the important stuff and not Wolf naked which was a difficult thing in and of itself.
After a few attempts of struggle and error while Ghost, Reggie, and Bear discussed the best way to transport these things Shin made a cage out of Hunger. While not actually its what he imagined Hunger looked like around his own seed of Light. It was pitch black and more like a weird net than anything. Either it'd work or the Light would break the Hunger strands or Hunger would eat the Light.
"What are you- oh! That works," Ghost said as Shin scooped up the Light in the Hunger net. The Light sizzled like onions in a hot pan but neither the Light nor the Hunger fizzled.
"Like catching butterflies in a net," Shin said.
"Can't believe that worked," Bear said.
"Well it did. Lets find the rest of it to take to Mara," Ghost said and they headed out.
--
They arrived at the ritual site with the worm and the Light. And predictably Mara was nowhere to be seen. "Mara, we're here," Ghost said.
"Yeah where the fuck are you?" Shin asked.
"I am here," Mara said. "The ritual is a vulnerable position. I will come when its ready. Place the parasite on the pedestal. Then you must recite the first incantation."
There was a beat as Bear held the worm. "Incantation? What incantation?" Bear asked. "You know anything about Hive incantations?" he looked at Shin.
Shin folded his arms, "When I need Hive shit I get Eric. I don't know shit," he said.
"It's-- oh no."
"Now what?" Shin groaned.
"The Scorn, many of them. They're attracted by the presence of our parasite friend, no doubt. Start the ritual, now," Mara said urgently.
"But we don't know the incantation!" Bear cried.
"I must do everything? Put me down. I'll recite!" the worm said, exasperated.
"Good. Fuck this thing," and Bear all but dunked the worm into the weird magical ball thing at the center of the ritual.
"We got company," Ghost said.
"Be kind. Keep me alive?" the worm asked.
"I dunno if you've been listening but none of us are nice to fucked up want to be worm gods," Shin said.
"Less talking, more killing the Scorn," Mara said.
"Yeah yeah," Bear grumbled even as Shin pulled out Thorn. "Bitch so damn bossy."
"She's a Queen you know. You have to do what she says," Shin said sarcastically as the worm started speaking the Hive tongue.
"Only girl I listen to is Wolf," Bear said.
"Good. Then cut the fucking chatter," Wolf snapped.
'She mad,' Bear signed to Shin in low hand.
'Cute.' He laughed when Bear threw his unenflamed hammer at Shin instead of a Scorn.
"Will you two stop screwing around?" Wolf demanded when they were indeed doing so. Shin was shooting Scorn and dodging Bear who was partially shooting Scorn and partially throwing his side hammer at Shin's head.
"He started it," Bear complained. Wolf just groaned.
The ritual didn't last much longer. The worm collapsed onto the pedestal. "That really took it out of me," it whimpered.
Ghost scanned it. "Incantation complete but the worm is dying again."
"Come to me. We will finish this," Mara said. A waypoint appeared on Shin's HUD.
"Traveler guide me," Bear growled and scooped up the worm. "We gotta go," and he didn't even bother putting it in the sling. He just tucked it under his arm and ran off. Shin and Wolf took off after him.
"Mara, not to be harsh-
"No, be harsh," Shin said. "She fucking left us alone with a dying worm and came back just in time to assimilate it or whatever the fuck."
The silence wasn't cold so much as pensive as more Scorn started swarming around them. So good to see that killing Rhulk had done fuck all to stop the Scorn from doing things. "Before coming to you, I sought information about the "Voice in the Dark." The Witness-
"Sure," Shin rolled his eyes.
"What I found... well... You could say I was granted a personal viewing of our impending doom at the hands of the Witness-- its poisons piercing my mind and thoughts," Mara said as they started climbing up the side of a cliff. Wolf and Shin dealt with the Scorn so Bear could move unimpeded. "I didn't know what to do. I had no plan. I was... afraid."
"Final-" Ghost muted Wolf again.
"I remain haunted, unsure of the next move. But it must be made, regardless," Mara admitted.
"Traveler you have such a boring, tortured, personality. How the fuck did you get a lady like Sjur to ever give you the time of day?" Shin groaned. Mara said nothing. "Witness showed you what it wanted you to see. Not the future. Just its own fucked up idea of a good time."
"Did you know Sjur?" Ghost asked him.
"Not directly but she and Shaxx were good friends and it's impossible not to be friendly with Shaxx when you play Crucible more than once," Shin said. "She even let him host Crucible matches on the Reef before the Reef War so I heard her voice a few times. Knew she was the consort for the Queen. Never knew the Queen was such a self important bitch though."
"You never brought it up before," Ghost said as Shin kicked a screeb straight off the cliff, screaming.
"Been a long life, okay? Also I was a shit head back then-
"I'd say you still are now," Bear grunted as they were reaching the top of the cliff, the worm was steaming in his hands. Shin and Wolf gunned down the last of the Scorn.
"Extra shit head," Shin said as they jumped across a gap to another strange site and there was Mara, waiting for them.
"Over here," Mara said but her words weren't quite so haughty as before. "We're running out of time. The Scorn are sending their strongest to stop us, to get the parasite. Bring everything to me!" Urgency made Bear run a bit faster. "Here," and Bear placed the worm down. "The cryptoglyph," she held her hand out for it. They'd loaded it with all the Hive Light at once earlier. Wolf tossed it to her in annoyance.
"Mara... you don't have to do this," Ghost said. "There's got to be something else-
"Just trust me," Mara said.
"Not like we have much choice in the matter," Shin said, swapping guns. He twirled the Last Word a bit more than usual as Mara took the cryptoglyph. "Because lemme tell you: we don't."
"Then trust that I wish to see us all alive," Mara hissed at him.
They stood below the ritual platform looking up at Mara. Mara spoke some words of an incantation and power flowed from the cryptoglyph into the worm but also at something at Shin hadn't noticed before. But never once did the power touch or enter Mara. The device below the worm rose up to meet the worm and there was a blinding flash of light that made them all have to look away.
"Yes, it worked," Mara said, more smug than Shin had ever heard her and Shin looked back up, blinking and squinting.
"Wait, what is this? What have you done!?" the worm screeched.
"What I said I'd do: provide you with a host," Mara said and plucked the worm contained in... was that a gun? out of the air. "Though I guess this is really more a 'prison' of Light," she said, oh so proud of herself. The... the fucking gun was huge in her hands and honestly Shin wasn't sure she wouldn't break both her arm trying to fire it.
The worm was furious. "Not what we agreed!"
Mara scoffed. "We agreed to a host; which I have provided. Now enough of your sniveling. You live, just like you wanted."
"She just made the worm into a gun," Shin said, head cocked.
"She made the worm into a gun!" Bear cried, way more excited about it than Shin was. "Damn I love when people make shit into guns."
"This... has happened before?"
"You don't even know!" Bear cried.
"The Scorn see the worm as an asset to the Witness. They will not relent until they have it," Mara said, drawing their attention back to her. "Take it. Use it against them. I need to finish the ritual, or we risk our parasitic friend escaping," and she held the gun out to them.
"What is it?" Shin asked and all three Ghosts came out to scan the weapon.
"Heavy 'grenade' launcher," Reggie declared.
"So what's the ammo?" Wolf asked.
"... The worm."
"How do you load that?" Wolf was baffled.
"I think they'll figure it out," Shin said.
"It is a powerful weapon," Mara said. "One of you should use it."
"It's not really my style," Wolf admitted.
"Grenade launchers are for people who can't aim," Shin scoffed.
They both looked at Bear who looked very excited about it. "Well shit, I'll try it," he said and Mara dropped it into his hands.
"Do not touch me, human! How dare you do this to me."
"Shut up," Bear said, turned around and fired the gun. The grenade launcher launched... a worm. A full worm. Or at least it looked like a worm. It screeched like a worm. It exploded on impact of some walls nearby. "Aww yeah! I like you like this now."
"The Scorn," Mara said.
"Hell yeah! Bring them on!" Bear cried and jumped down from the platform.
Wolf sighed. "Lets go make sure he doesn't get himself killed," she said to Shin and they went after him.
--
Bear was having way too much fun with the new gun and Wolf and Shin just let him do most of the heavy lifting. They mostly kept the Scorn away from Mara but Bear went in deep. It never ceased to not make him laugh when he fired the grenade launcher and a whole ass worm got spat out. Shin thought it was pretty stupid.
But finally there was a lull in the Scorn. More would come but everything nearby had been killed so far. "Thank goodness that's over," Ghost said as they came back to Mara.
"Not quite," Mara said. "Our little friend still owes us information."
"Me? Make good? After your deception?" the worm spat.
"Perhaps you'd prefer my earlier proposal? It's not too late to take you back out and have the Guardians turn you into viscera," she said mildly, folding her arms.
The worm hissed but in its cage of its new form as a gun it sighed, defeated. "Always violent. Fine. Have information. But only this. No more. Ever," it growled. "Truth you seek. Humanity's Collapse. Even the Witness deceived. The Witch Queen did its bidding. Earned its trust. Rode alongside to apocalypse. Watched many burn. But the Witness turned a violent gaze to Traveler. Witch Queen projected lies. Clever deceptions wrapped in shadow. Tides turned. Witness sent away, back amongst the stars."
"Anyone get that?" Shin asked. "I know I hang out with Savant but I don't actually speak idiot."
"You're saying Savathun deceived the Witness?" Ghost asked the worm. "Is she the reason humanity survived?"
"Mmmm. Not the reason. A reason. Not for humanity, but for Traveler," the worm intoned. "Now my promise, delievered. Will say no more. Ever," it declared.
"Well that was only sort of helpful," Ghost grumbled.
"Consider the deal upheld. This is exactly what we sought," Mara declared.
"Shit at least someone's happy with the way this turned out," Shin complained.
"Speak for yourself. I got a new gun," Bear said.
"I only have one final task for you-- the weapon," she nodded at it in Bear's hands. "Keep it safe and secret."
"What? You mean I can't even use it?" Bear cried.
"We can't afford anyone else getting their hands on the information it holds," Mara said, unsympathetic as always.
"I can't even use it?" Bear whined.
"Now I must go. Parasite it's been... well-
"Spare me," the worm growled with more vemon than Shin had ever heard out of anyone almost ever. Drifter came close when he'd shot Shin in the face last year but it was a close thing.
"Gladly."
"Hey you be nice to the Queen," Bear scolded the gun. "She's a bitch but she held up her end of the bargain even if she did trick you."
"Tricked all of us," Wolf said, arms folded, fuming. "Asked us to trust her; couldn't even trust us with her plan."
"And risk you speaking of it and alerting the parasite? No. I couldn't risk it," Mara said.
"That's the thing about trust Mara. You just gotta do it even if you think there's a risk. Just like we did with you this entire time when we were all sure you were actually going to host this thing," Wolf growled.
"Yeah but it wouldn't have lasted long," Shin said. "Newly minted gods are the easiest things to kill," he made sure the mean smile was heard on his voice.
"Can I really not ever use the gun again?" Bear complained.
"You can use it when I'm with you, papa Bear," Wolf said.
"That-
"That's what I said," Wolf snapped over Mara.
"Is unwise."
"So is giving a Guardian a gun. Trust me," Wolf said in a mean way. Mara just flexed her hands uselessly. "Let's get out of here."
"Long way or short way?" Shin asked.
"Short way."
"As you wish," Shin said and Shin looked directly at Mara as he opened a portal to their reality. He wouldn't miss that look for the world. She did her best to keep her face neutral but there was a slight widening of the eyes, a lifting of the muscles around her cheeks and ears. "After you, darlin'," he motioned to Wolf.
"Gladly," and she stepped through. Bear did so right after.
"How can you do that?" Mara asked before he could step through too.
Shin shot her a finger guns. "You ain't the only thing talking to the Darkness. Except mine thinks the Witness is an annoying little shit and you think it's going to have a snowball's chance on the Sun when Wolf gets to face it," he said with a smirk.
"She's going to die too," Mara said but not in the same way she always did.
"Come again?" Shin asked.
"I didn't say anything," Mara said.
"Magpie?"
"She didn't say anything," Magpie said softly.
"Cool. Anyway, stop letting the Witness fuck with your head. Bad enough its fucking with mine and I can actually do damage," and he jumped through the portal. His hand coated in Hunger snagged the edge and turned the hole inside out so he was dangling it open air by a spider's thread. But below him a ship hovered. He recognized Wolf's ship and released his hold on Hunger. He dropped onto the ship with a thud. The ship barely noticed and he climbed down the back to get into the airlock.
Wolf was in the ship talking with Ikora and Bear over Ghost. Ghost closed when they saw him and Wolf immediately left the conversation and came over to him. He gave a little yelp of surprise when she grabbed him by his cowl and yanked him forward and down so she could take off his helmet and kissed him hard. It took Shin exactly half a second to get with the program and kissed her back, coiling his arms around her waist.
"Not that I'm complaining but what was that about?" Shin asked when Wolf finally stopped kissing him. That was legitimately the most she'd kissed him at once since he'd come back and it ruled.
"I love you," she said and that didn't fail to make his heart skip a beat. "And listening to you talk to Mara like that was hot as fuck."
"Oh!" he said and smirked. "Happy to be of service," he said and kissed her again. Wolf curled her arms around his neck. "Always nice to knock someone off their high horse."
"Or at least jab them in the eye with a long stick," she grinned and they both laughed.
"Love you too, in case you forgot," Shin said quietly, rubbing their noses together, their hoods casting them both in shadow. "And we haven't had a second but what you did in the Pyramid was amazing," he pressed a kiss against her lips briefly. "You're amazing," another kiss that Wolf deepened and had him slouching to return so she didn't have to stand up on tip toes. Even if that was really cute when she did that.
She pulled away when he let his hands wander just a bit too familiarly over her butt and up the line of her spine. "Sorry," she said, meaning she wasn't into it.
"Oh, sorry," he put his hands back into a well behaved orientation and not cupping her ass in one hand. "Too stressed to be actually horny huh?"
"Lil bit," she said like it bothered her.
"Well you know I can help with the stress-
That was when she gently pushed him away. "You mean you can distract me," she said but wasn't annoyed at him, a smirk tugged at her lips.
"Eh, same difference," he shrugged. He pulled her back to him snugly. "Does this mean you're done in the Throne World for now? All the dragons slain?"
She sighed. "For now," she allowed. "The Hidden and Legion can do mop ups and now that Rhulk and Savathun are gone Zavala is allowing certain other fireteams into the Throne World for normal patrols and strikes."
"Sooo, did you want to go back to Earth? We were only dealing with Mara a few hours and Solstice is going to be ending in a week." He smiled when her purple eyes lid up excitedly.
"Does this mean you'll actually wear something that doesn't look like four hundred years out of style?" she teased him.
"I don't-
"Yes," Magpie said over him. "He doesn't even dress himself," he said when Shin shot him an annoyed look. "I think he should look fancy."
"Me too," Wolf said and gave him a peck on the lips. "I'm going to take us back to Earth," and he let her go.
"And what about the swarm on the moon?" Ghost asked as she went up to the cockpit.
"Eris will call when something is happening. Nothing's happening yet so we can chill," she said. "Hopefully that's the only nonsense between now and Festival of the Lost," Wolf said.
"Ugh. Don't remind me. Glint has been sending me messages about how he's got more information about the Headless Ones. Which I say is still a stupid name," then they were in the cockpit and Shin couldn't hear them as well.
Shin looked at Magpie. "Uhh... you know anything about that?"
"Not a clue," Magpie said, shrugging with his shell.
"Greaaat," Shin groaned and went to take a seat as Wolf pulled them into high Martian orbit to head to Earth.