Sequel to Hunting on Titan

Viper slowly made his way through the tunnel the Hive had recently dug out through the Archology. The new passage leads back to The Chasm of Screams but the pathway almost seems longer then the one described in Caliban's report, "Aria..." Viper whispered as he suddenly stops in place. His Ghost appears by his shoulder and whispers back, "Yeah V?"

The Hunter's eyes narrow. He can hear some faint noise up ahead. As he tries to listen in he makes out the faint sound of thrall clicking and chattering up ahead. He estimates it's about twenty meters from his current position. He crouches to the ground taking some cover behind some corruption and draws his Sniper Rifle. He looks through the scope to see further ahead. Unfortunately, it's dark to see anything further ahead. He can't risk being caught. He pulls out a couple of throwing knives and takes a deep breath in before reaching into the Void. He feels the veil trying to pull him in. As always it haunts the Exo because it always feels like his consciousness is being violated by some unseen force. As he finally breathes out his body turns invisible and his eyes glow with a eerie purple hue.

Viper was one of the few remaining listed Nightstalker's within the Guardian Database. He remembers training with the legendary Tevris in the ways of the Void. It was unlike anything the Hunter ever expeirenced and to this day those memories still strong in the back of his head. The Void was powerful for the Hunters and right now Viper was using it to both cloak himself from any enemies while also giving himself a superhuman level of eyesight Hunters call Truesight.

Truesight was a helpful power for many scouts. It allowed Hunter's to see their enemies movements like a radar almost through any sound or movement their target makes but the difficult part was maintaining it. While powerful it was dangerous to maintain for long periods of time because the Void would begin to eat away at your sight unless you satisfied the Void's hunger though killing enemies while under its power. Viper knew a Hunter who went blind after holding Truesight for longer than he was supposed too. Even his ghost couldn't restore his eyesight.

As Viper looked he could see two thrall wandering aimlessly. He quickly jumped over the cover and s[rinted quietly towards the enemy. He threw both knives quickly as he dropped his truesight. Both knives find their marks and the Thralls quietly dissolve into ash and bone. He retrieves both of his knives and looks at his ghost, "It's getting to dark to see at this point. Transmat me another beacon. We need to make contact." Aria nods and materializes the beacon for Viper to place.

The Hunter crouches and slams the beacon into the ground and activates his Comms device, "Viper and Aria to Sloane do you copy?" The comms buzz on the receiving end for a short while before Sloane picks up and answers, "Talk to me Viper. I see your latest beacon. According to the map you're about halfway through Charlie-2."

Viper curses under his breath, "Only halfway? Shit. Sloane the tunnels are getting darker the further we go. This is feeling less like The Archology and more comparable to the Hellmouth on the moon. It's going to get harder for me to scout without Aria lighting the way." Sloane pauses to think, "You're asking for permission to engage the enemy now?" Viper sighs, "I have no choice. This is becoming a dangerous solo mission to be strictly recon in unknown territory with limited visibility and once Aria lights my way I'll turn into an open target with her light making me visible for everyone to see." Sloane pauses on the other line for some time before responding back, "Sorry about that Viper. I looked into seeing if anyone was avaiable in providing you backup but all my scouts are busy dealing with Contact situations on The Rig." Viper chuckles, "It's fine Sloane. I wasn't expecting much help with how busy it's gotten here." Sloane sighs, "I'll let you continue on with your request on one condition." Viper smiles, "I'm all ears Deputy Commander." Sloane chuckles before answering in a serious tone, "Come back alive. Got it?"

The Hunter looks a little smug before answering with confidence, "Roger that boss. I'll be sure to bring you back a souvenir." Sloane laughs before answering, "Roger that. Sloane out." Viper quickly stands and looks at Aria. She nods and begins illuminating the tunnels with her light, "Halfway isn't so bad. What do you think we'll find at the end?" Viper holds his sniper as he makes his way forward, "Wishful thinking is a whole lot of nothing but knowing our luck..." Aria interjects, "A big gross Hive experiment?" Viper nods, "Seems to be the usual M.O. for them." His ghost looks around and sees no deviations or abnormalities within the tunnel before saying, "1000 Glimmer says it's a Knight." Viper chuckles, "What glimmer? The only glimmer you got is all of mine. So no deal Aria."

The Hunter stops in place again. Aria dims her light in reaction to V's movements. The Hunter hears noise again. Another clicking sound but this wasn't Hive. As he peaked around the corner the noise was louder and more distinct but he couldn't see what was up ahead. He thought about using Truesight again but he shouldn't use it frequently outside of combat on the same day.

The Hunter moved in closer and kept listening to the sound. The clicking definitely wasn't any Hive. He was absolutely certain at this point but thinking on it now he's almost sure he's heard that clicking from somehwere else. As he looks over some corruption he accidently causes a piece to break off alerting whatever he was spying to his presence. He heard footsteps running towards him and quickly tried to draw his gun but he wasn't fast enough and slammed against the wall, "Viper!" Aria screamed as she moved forward, Viper groaned and opened his eyes to see an Eliksni Arc Blade pointed in his face and says, "Wasn't expecting this." Viper looks at himself to see he's pinned with three arms while the only free one has that sword pointed in his face. Aria tries tackling the Kell with her small figure, "Get your claws off him!" Viper and The Kell look down to Aria who despite her size was trying very hard to hurt the Eliksni holding her Guardian. Viper couldn't help but smile at her and how determined she was sometimes.

The Kell drops it's blade and releases Viper and takes a couple step backs. Aria quickly floats to Viper and starts scanning him, "Are you hurt?" Viper chuckles, "I'm fine, just a little winded. But why did he-Oh!" As Viper turned his sights to the Eliksni Kell before him he could clearly make out who it was before him now that Aria was shining some light on his figure. There he stood in gold plated armor and red cloth. The Kell of House of Light himself.

"Mithrax, The Forsaken." Viper stands both impressed and a little intimidated at the size of Mithrax. Aria double takes from both Viper to Mithrax back to Viper and back to Mithrax again, "Wait. This is Mithrax?" Mithrax nods his head and speaks to the two in Eliksni. Viper stands there a little perplexed and scratches his head while Aria sighs and says, "You really should've paid attention more when Cayde tried teaching you what little Eliksni he knew." Viper smiles, "It's a hard language okay? Plus I made out part of what he said." Aria floats and looks at him calling him out, "Okay fine. I had no clue what he said." Aria shakes and says, "I can translate. He says-" Mithrax raises one of his hands at Aria to stop her while another reaches underneath his scarf and Viper hears the faint clicking of a dial turning.

Mithrax breathes and the sound of a voicebox can be heard similar to both Variks and Spider's as, "Guardian." Viper nods, "Viper-7. But call me Viper. or V. Whatever's easier." Mithrax nods and continues, "Why are you here Vi-par?" Mithrax was still learning the human language but Viper was understanding, "The Hive. This tunnel of theirs is new and we wanted to see what they were up too. What are you doing here?" Mithrax looks down the tunnel, "Come save brothers and sisters and convince to join House of mind-open fallen." Viper looked down the tunnel, "The Hive have been kidnapping the Fallen? I heard reports they'd done that once before here on Titan." Mithrax nods, "Yes. But never again. I will destroy Hive that threaten Eliksni." Viper nods and holds his hand out, "Then shall we work together?" Mithrax shakes Viper's hand.

To Be Continued