Fields of Glass, Mercury

Guardian transmats in

Ikora: This is our only chance. We can use the Infinite Forest against the Vex, or… we prepare for the end.

Sagira: I'm calculating where to send us. The place is easy. Finding a simulation of the right time is a little tricky.

Ikora: Alright, find the algorithm that produced the Forest. That will lead you to Panoptes.

Sagira: The Vex will know they're at their most vulnerable here. This simulation will be well defended.

Ikora: The point in history where you invent a reality engine? There's nothing more important.

Infinite Forest, Mercury

Guardian traverses the Infinite Forest, and enters the tree leading to the Simulant Past.

Sagira: The Vex have been two steps ahead of us so far. But you and Ikora have given us a chance to actually SURPRISE them. That's impressive.

Sagira: So I guess what I'm saying is, when this is all over, I might miss being your Ghost. Just a little.

Simulant Past, Infinite Forest

The Guardian enters the simulation

Sagira: All right, we have to get to the top of that tower, and download the algorithm before the Vex create the Infinite Forest.

Guardian begins to force their way into the Spire.

Sagira: Remember how I said the Vex anticipate everything? They have automated intruder countermeasures here. They'll react and block anything we do. Be unpredictable.

Guardian fights their way through the security measures and enters the Spire

Sagira: We're in! Let's get to the top and find that algorithm.

Guardian reaches the top and confronts Dendron, Root Mind.

Sagira: Let's shut this machine down.

After a long, drawn-out engagement, Guardian destroys Dendron.

Sagira: That's it! We've done it!

Guardian ascends to the very peak of the Spire, and plugs Sagira into the network.

Sagira: Bingo

Sagira: Scanning… isolating Panoptes' patterns, overlaying onto the map…

A Projection of Osiris appears.

Sagira: Annndd….Got him! Panoptes always ends up in the same coordinates. It's over, this is how we beat the Vex!

Projection: I've detected a change. A new future, I will inform Osiris.

The projection disappears

Sagira: Wait, a defensive subroutine? New reality branches forming… No. No!

Panoptes appears, and begins to pull Sagira out of the shell.

Sagira: Ahhhhhh! It's got me!!!

Panoptes and Sagira disappear in a flash of blinding light.

Guardian and Ghost find themselves outside the gate to the Infinite Forest.

Ghost: Where are we? Mercury? How did we get back here? Last thing I remember, we were in the EDZ, we found that device and then— WHAM. Oh I feel so strange, like someone's rearranged all the furniture in the house, except the house is my brain.

Guardian tries to force their way back into the Forest.

Ghost: All right, look, I'd never thought I'd have to ask this but—who else has been inside my head? Accessing memory core… Huh. You've been busy. Correction: you've been busy without me. I don't know how to feel about that.

Guardian fails to push their way into the Forest.

Ghost: Wait a second. There's something else in here with me. Encoded holoimages… big ones, definitely Vex.

Ghost: Look, I can't decrypt those files, or open the gate. We need backup, we need Ikora.

Guardian nods in agreement

Ghost: Good idea right? You're welcome. Wait… why did I just say that?