Date: 3rd May 2026

Location: Squ'bai Shrine

[Deep within the Helldivers Universe]

"FTL Jump to Squ'bai Shrine"

After travelling many light years across the galaxy Thorn's Super Destoryer has reached the southern parts of the Illuminate front all the way out back, pushing past multiple Illuminate forces and ships we had now arrived at a planet far beyond the Galatic map, left completely alone, desolated, abandoned.

A Planet "Thorn" himself once fought on many years... Decades... A Century ago

- "Squ'bai Shrine... Was once the Homeworld and Capital of the Illuminate Empire, now just an empty world with memories trailing across it's lands and a tomb world for the many Helldivers that lost their lives here"

- "...Especially yours, Thorn"

Thorn standing outfront on the observation deck looking down at the planet before him. PTSD coming back to him as many flashbacks begin to flood in and fill his mind with every terrifying event, battle, and death he had faced or witnessed in all his years of serving but pushing it aside he was only here for one thing.

With that he would get into a hellpod and drop down to a specific location, upon landing he'd reach a cliff that overlooked the entire valley where below was filled with many aged ruined structures covered by the overgrown vegetation from years of build up.

- "It's certainly changed alot over the years passed. Skies have cleared up, vegetation and nature blooming and grown beautifully across the land."

Thorn spoke as he would take in this view, scanning all over the world slowly as if soaking up memories from the past once more, his mind conflicted and thoughts all over the place that would leave him dazed but soon get his bearings back and focus onward as he moved to the edge where he was met with a stone burial mound, with an old worn Super Earth Flag still standing tall, stabbed within the rocks and flowing free with the wind.

Upon coming in close "Thorn" would stand infront of the burial, hands behind his back and head lowered as he stood in silence. Not long after he would then speak up.

- "Been far too long... I hope you've been well, Thorn"

Silence comes after one more, clearing his throat he would speak up again.

- "I see everything here has changed, alot more peaceful even, leaving you and the many others we buried here undisturbed I hope..."

- "Even so im glad you've been resting peacefully without any disturbance, you deserve it.

Silence follows again, "Thorn" would slowly tilt his head up as he gazes towards the sky, the time here still early and the sun dawned across the horizion

Moments later he would move his hands towards his helmet, slowly lifting it off and rest it by his side as he took a deep breath and inhaled. Feeling the cool breeze hit his scarred face, right side covered with a burn scar while the left had a large horizontal scar on his eye

Both eyes still intact with each being different colors, one being yellow and the other purple. "Thorn" would then sit on one knee, his helmet by his side as he looks down at the burial before speaking

- "This healed real well after the battle here of Squ'bai Shrine... my mind was hazy back then, I thought i was gonna die also until I was rescued and taken back to Super Earth for immediate care."

He would gently touch the side of his burned scarred face

- "It was agonizing..."

Flashbacks from many years ago appear in "Thorn's" mind. Remembering the time he took a large blue beam straight to the face, burning through his helmet and made contact with his skin. All from a massive Illuminate sentient AI... he recalled it being called "The Great Eye"

- "It was Hell..."

He says touching the otherside of his face with the large eye scar, mind recalling a massive lluminate being, high up in the hierarchy with a polearm of some sorts, sending massive slashes into him before landing a fatal one across his face.

- "But in the end we pulled through, we made those squid bastards capitulate and retreat... Super Earth had won the first galatic war"

- "We were Free and at peace for the next 100 years... until the second galactic war came and all our favorite enemies returned bigger, badder, and more undemocratic than ever"

"Thorn" would chuckle at that before continuing. Taking a deep breath as he spoke up once more.

- "War never ends... it always seems to find its way back. But don't worry Super Earth remains as superior and Democratic as ever. We'll always come out ontop, I've trained my Divers well, all are one with freedom. Could say I learned from the best"

He says as he smiled down at the burial before moving a hand down and placing it firmly ontop of the rock pile. Placing it flat as I bow my head down and close my eyes before speaking up in a more deep somber tone.

- "Everyday it still feels like i walk around in your shoes. You're leadership, skills, strengths and sheer democratic will has rubbed of on me... even now I still feel like I could never be like you. Tch... I even wear your own name because you've inspired me more than you could ever imagine."

- "I keep your name, Thorn to honor your legacy, your title, your name. I continue to become Super Earth's Vanguard in your name just like I promised you... I even got another world to protect, there are people there I care deeply for and I'd dive to hell and back for their safety, all in the Vanguard name"

With renewed determination he would turn his flat hand into a fists, pressing against the burial as if trying to reach out to him

- "I thank you for everything. You've taught me everything there was to becoming a true Helldiver. Taught to me to fight, to survive, and to live freer than ever before."

- "I know I could never be you that much is true but you showed me that I don't have to be though that'll never truly stop me letting your name be known across the entire galaxy. Gotta let em know who trained this handsome and badass Hell Commander standing before you today"

He would laugh for a moment before calming down slightly and gently place a medal ontop of his Grave, embellishing our signature Helldiver logo

- "You made me into the Helldiver i am today, and ill continue to be that Helldiver, be our people's Vanguard, protector, and the most democratic freedom fighter of em all!

- "But depsite everything... I hope I made you proud, Thorn."

Just then he would feel a hand hold firmly onto hisshoulder, his body tensed up but never moved once he got to feel that familiar warmth as he relaxed. Just then he would hear a voice speak up behind him, a deep and low tone.

Thorn - "More than ever before. You've certainly grown and shaped into Super Earth's perfect Vanguard more than I could ever imagine. Never stop fighting for freedom, protect our beloved Super Earth and its people, continue to protect all you love and care for. Fight for them and always be their Vanguard, you're more of a leader than me than you think and I couldn't be more proud of you.

Everything felt so real to "Thorn" as he heard the feels the touch and hears the voice of Thorn himself, he didn't dare look back as he fought tears at the words he had said, hands clench to both sides as he lowered his head but Thorn would only smile and rub his shoulder comfortably

Thorn - "You're me and more, never forget that, Elias"

Elias would now come to a stop, hearing his first name, his real name after so long of putting up a fromt and using his old commanders name in its place but coming from him had only made him feel more emotional.

Elias - "Never will, Commander Thorn you have my word, i wont let you down.

Thorn - "Never doubted you one bit. Now then, quit going soft on me now, Super Earth and Grand Tracen need their Vanguard back and only Liberty's finest could anwser the call"

Elias - "heh... well consider it done, Commander"

Thorn - "As expected of a Hell Commander now get back out there, Hell Commader Thorn you've got a job to do, places to liberate and spread managed democracy againat all tyranny and evil that dare face our wrath!"

Thorn - For Super Earth! ✊️

"Thorn" - For Super Earth and Grand Tracen! ✊️

With a gentle smile Thorn would then vanish, the touch and voices gone. With a much more determined and encouraged look Thorn stands up infront of the burial and would send him off with one last salute, raised his fist high up into the air

Thorn - "Stay Free, for liberty, for democracy, and for Super Earth!

Just then the sun began to rise into the planets sky, lighting up the world as it looked even beautiful, Thorn would then spend the last remaining time enjoying the view and cleaning up the grave before warping back to his Destoyer and leaving to head back home.

From there he shall forever wear his name to remember the man that gave him everything, Elias though being his real name would remain a secret to everyone though it'll probably be mentioned in the future of more lore posts.

- Until next time

// Also hello it's me it's been a hot minute since I've done a post, but i hope you enjoyed it and now know a lil bit about Thorn, this is probably the start as there is more im cooking up but im curious to see how well I have written this up, need feedback as i haven't written this much since the begging of FFS!!!

Anyways love you all and thanks for reading all this! ✊️