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He had no idea how long he’d been asleep for, but as he stirred in the darkened room, he knew it didn’t feel nearly long enough. Maximus’s body ached in ways beyond physical exhaustion. He exhaled sharply as his feet hit the floor and a myriad of muscles protested him standing. He wanted nothing more than to crawl back into bed, but he’d ignored orders long enough. Maximus knew that they would not tolerate his behavior for long, regardless of why he was sequestering himself.
Managing a quick shower, Maximus slid into his armor before making his way to the hangar. Depression gnawed at his ribs more fiercely than any hunger he’d ever felt and because of this, he had no appetite. He also didn’t want to risk having to socialize. The thought of small talk made his head hurt. And that’s why he’d agreed to this mission as he was being sent off alone to the Plaguelands. There would be no fireteam, no chatter, just the mission at hand.
The flight zipped by in a dissociative haze. Tendrils that once glimmered red and, as best as he could articulate, alive with SIVA were now dead and defunct. The building ahead seemed no worse for wear as Lodi and Ikora chattered briefly via his Ghost. Retaining little Maximus was shocked to see a large Psion waiting, protective bubble ringing his figure. Did they tell him about this? He couldn’t be sure and that alone had a small voice in the back of his head begging him to go back to The Spire. To go back and appeal to Rhemy and whomever would listen. But if he did this, he feared he’d be indefinitely suspended from service and idle hands were not going to help him make it through this pain. Maximus hoped instead that action would.
It turns out the Psion was there to protect him from intermittent radiation that ebbed at the opening of the building. With the help of a pair of them, Maximus made it into a large room with yet another Psion, Vex enemies, and nodes that needed attending to. Fire-fights were akin to breathing for him as he cleared the room and triggered the four nodes. It was comforting how second nature this had become as Maximus felt his mind thousands of miles away, searching for solace it may never have again.
Descending into a room with many doors, the ease of the room prior taunted him. He found himself electrocuted time and time again, unable to focus long enough to understand why. The enigmatic Psion stayed in the room above, offering no further assistance or clue as to which door was the correct one. At this moment he longed for his fireteam, for Rhemy’s dry quips and Araidne’s ebullient chatter. But much like the razor wire ringing his heart, this too was a challenge he had to face alone.