Destiny Grimoire

We should have been more careful. Should have never contacted the Warmind. Trying to help. Trying to rebuild. Thought ~consume enhance replicate~ was the key.

Feels like we’ve been fighting for days. Weeks. But we’re close. Once we get to the replicator, we ~consume enhance replicate~

Go! I’ll hold them off!

~SIVA.MEM.??0313

---

Felwinter tried to communicate with the Warmind. Called it Rasputin. ~consume enhance replicate~ Said he could make it understand. Tell it we meant no harm.

Rasputin didn’t answer with words.

~SIVA.MEM.??0314

---

I stood at the edge of Lords' Watch and watched the enemy ~consume enhance replicate~.

SIVA curled and thrashed, creating tendrils that lashed out at us. It formed shapes that could grapple us, and angry swarms that buzzed around us before breaking apart to worm their way into every chink of our armor.

Warlords I know how to fight. This is ~consume enhance replicate~

~SIVA.MEM.??0315

---

I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want... ~consume enhance replicate~

Ghost? Ghost, where are you?

~SIVA.MEM.??0316

---

This is not my end! I have come too far to die here! I've let one unknown force make me, now ~consume enhance replicate~

~SIVA.MEM.??0409

The struggle. Fighting my brother. Fighting myself. The SIVA ~consume enhance replicate~.

A tendril reaches out, crushes my Ghost. I turn to face it. My boots slide in snow thick with blood.

If I am gone, then why am I still here?

~SIVA.MEM.??0308

---

Colovance died by the tanker. Dozens of frames, hundreds, more... he cut them down until he ran out of bullets. Then he smashed them ~consume enhance replicate~. It was not enough.

The same thing that killed Colovance killed me.

~SIVA.MEM.??0309

---

My axe’s flames are almost dead. Even its fire requires fuel.

I need an Urn, but the SIVA has already taken them. The tendrils seek them out, wrap around them, and then ~consume enhance replicate~. More mites swarm out to feed on anything they can touch.

The SIVA learns from what it consumes.

~SIVA.MEM.??0310

---

Ashraven’s cutting her way toward the bunker. Says we should meet her there. She’s got an idea – thinks we can hole up in there, maybe get those guns working. Draw off enough of the enemy to give Jolder’s group a shot ~consume enhance replicate~.

It’s a bad idea, but it’s the best bad idea we have.

~SIVA.MEM.??0311

---

Finnala always says she doesn’t mind dying, because it doesn’t last. A few seconds and then the Light comes, bright and warm. And she rises again.

Get up, Finnala! Please get up.

~SIVA.MEM.??0312

~directive = KILL while enemies = PRESENT: execute(directive)~

The Captain stands with his primary hands braced on a command table. He stares down at a static holoprojection as though it might reveal some new secret. Nearby, the Hunter combs through scout reports. The Warlock taps rapidly at a datapad, running simulation after simulation. No one speaks.

There is a deafening boom. The holoprojection flickers; the whole Skiff tilts seventy degrees off-kilter. The Captain holds tight to the table, reaching out with a secondary arm to snatch the Hunter as he goes toppling by. The Warlock is not a concern; she has Blinked her way to a secure handhold.

The Captain calls to his crew, speaking Eliksni too fast for the Hunter or the Warlock to follow. Someone calls back. The Skiff tilts nauseously, then stabilizes.

"Eramis?" the Warlock asks.

The Captain nods. Letting go of the Hunter, he disappears through an access hatch to consult with his crew.

"I don't like this," the Hunter says lowly. "We should be there with him."

The Warlock chews on her lower lip. She doesn't like it either, but they've argued endlessly with their Captain and gained no ground. "We have to trust him," she says finally. "This is what he wants."

"Trust him to die?" the Hunter hisses. "Let's break down how stupid this is: not only does he wants to infiltrate the Tower without us, he's planning to wear Devils colors to interrupt a Devils heist to reclaim SIVA. And instead of leaning on us, his good Guardian friends, he's banking on some stranger—"

"Not a stranger," the Warlock cuts in.

"Fine! Not a stranger, but definitely not a friend!" The Hunter grits his teeth. "We should do it. We need to do it. Let's just go; let's go now. We can cut them off." He conjures his Ghost with a twist of his wrist, readying for transmat.

"We have to trust him," the Warlock repeats, reaching out to grasp the Hunter's forearm. "I think he's right when he says it doesn't mean anything if we do it. Guardians do extraordinary things all the time. And he needs more allies…"

The Captain reenters their little ad-hoc war room. They draw up guiltily. The Hunter hides his Ghost.

"All well?" he asks, looking between them.

"Eia, Mithrax," the Warlock murmurs. "We're all good."

The Hunter says nothing.

"We walk this hardship-path with joyful hearts. Be brave."

Outbreak Perfected