Disclaimer: This story is purely a work of fiction and meant as nothing more than a simply fan made story relating to Halo. Halo and its characters and concepts and designs are owned by Microsoft and their workers over at 343 industries and the previous owners Bungie. All other characters and ideas belong to me and anything connected to real life is a complete coincidence.
The Next Generation of ODST
Prologue:
Present Day, on the bridge of the UNSC Redemption.
"You know I never wanted this right?"
"Sir?"
"I was just a teenager, we all were… we all lived a normal life. Going to high school, our classes, doing homework, heading home and messing around, whether it was wondering who was going to bring who to homecoming, or laughing at a mistake that a freshmen made. You know what I am talking about right ensign?"
"I… I believe so sir."
"You believe so? Well, ensign let me tell you a story then, one that will change your view on life for the rest of your days." He said as he picked up a data pad.
Chapter 1: The Storm
October 20, 2552.
"Beep Beep Beep" went the alarm clock at 6am earning a tired groan from the person in the bed.
"Joe get up now!" shouted a voice from downstairs.
"I am up mom!" replied a tired but awake teenager. As I sat up in my bed, I muttered "No one is up the second their alarm goes off mom…" to myself. After that I continued with my usual routine of getting dressed, brushing my teeth, brushing my hair, eating breakfast, getting on the bus, and going to school.
It was a normal day, the first hour passed without a problem, as did the second hour. However, it was third hour, during my physics class where my life changed forever. It was a dark day, a storm was raging outside, rain and thunder were heard all throughout the building. The one sound no one expected to hear, though, was the sound of an explosion.
The whole building felt the tremors left behind by the explosion. Then there was the sound no one could forget, the sound we had all heard before, whether it was from a game, a movie, or a TV show. It was the sound of gunfire. Naturally, everyone ran to the window to try and see what was happening. When we got to the window we saw something terrifying, something that shouldn't have been there. "The Covenant…" I whispered.
"How is this even possible?" I thought, "They aren't supposed to have reached Earth yet!". By the time I realized it, we had all noticed something falling out of the sky. I recognized them instantly, the drop pods of the United Nations Space Command ODST marines, also known as Helljumpers due to them dropping from low orbit to the planet. The pods hit the ground proceeding to shake the school even more. The doors, or rather the hatches, popped off, some of them even managed to hit a few of the Covenants troops. Out came the feared ODSTs, the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers of the UNSC, the best humanity has to offer besides the legendary Spartans teams.
They then proceed to do what they were trained for, efficiently and quickly disposing of enemy forces with extreme prejudice. The football field quickly became a glowing field of blue, green, and orange as the ODSTs and Covenant exchanged fire. Everyone was either too scared or oblivious to realize that there was a big glowing green ball of plasma flying in the very room I was in.
"Everybody down!" I shouted.
It was too late. The plasma connected with the concrete wall and exploded in a brilliant shower of green plasma and blackened concrete, knocking me unconscious. I soon regained consciousness to the sound of groans and screams. I stood up and realized I was the only one that was, for the most part, unhurt.
"Ahhhh!"
I whipped around and heard a sound I knew all too well. The Covenant had made it inside the building and were proceeding to kill anyone they encountered. "I can't help them, at least not now, not without a weapon. There's got to be a way out of here." As I looked around I noticed that the blast had made part of the floor collapse onto the second floor. "Ah ha! There you are." I then slid down the floor, trying to ignore the blood covered debris and the bodies embedded in the rubble or crushed underneath it. I then proceeded to the doorway and peeked my head around the doorframe in order to spot any survivors and or Covenant forces. What I saw scarred me for the rest of my life. Fellow classmates lied in pieces, whether it was from an explosion of plasma or the recognizable cut of the infamous energy sword used by the Sangheili otherwise known as the Elites, a race of humanoid creatures with four jaws earning them the nickname Split Chins and SquidFace.
I shook my head, paid my respects and moved on. There was a stairwell to my left about two classrooms down. It was going to be risky but I had nothing else to lose. Besides, that stairwell had an exit that lead to the football field, which was where I had last seen the ODSTs at. If anyone could help me it was them, unless of course I ran into a Spartan team or something but that was impossible.
I proceeded down the hallway staying in a slightly crouched combat stance in case I was spotted or needed to defend myself. I made it to the stairwell with no problems and proceeded down the stairs to the first floor. I peeked my head around the corner again to check and see if there were any Covenant there, however, I was again met with the blood filled hallways of the newly destroyed high school. I payed my respects and went out the exit and into the storm. I looked around and saw that there were craters, bodies, as well as pools of blood of both the aliens and humans alike, debris, and there in the stormy clouds I saw the familiar shapes and weapons firing of the Covenant and UNSC navy which were engaged in ship to ship combat.
However as I looked to my left I saw something that I never thought I'd get to see up close, an ODST. I ran over to the ODST and grabbed ahold of his head to try to speak to him. "Hey, can you hear me? Hello?". He didn't reply, so I then began looking for the helmet's emergency release switch, the rain making it difficult. Needless to say, I eventually found it and removed the helmet and saw his face. He didn't look much different from me, having very dark (though there were quite a few strands of white and gray) hair, white skin, and the facial features of a strong man. He also appeared to be the same height as me. I then checked his pulse hoping he was just unconscious… I was wrong, he was indeed dead.
I then looked at the area surrounding him. In his right hand he held the UNSC BR-55 Heavy Barrel, also know as the Battle Rifle, a select fire rifle with Single Shot, Three-round Burst, and Full Auto settings, which used 9.5x40mm ammunition from a 36 round magazine with a Trijicon ACOG-style optic. A beauty of a rifle, deadly at any range. I then looked at the equipment clipped to the marine's belt, seeing two fragmentation grenades and a M6C/SOCOM, the equivalent to a silenced magnum. I also noticed the ODST's specialized rucksack which was laid against the wall, containing ammo and medical supplies. I then checked the armor itself which was mostly gray but with a faded blue stripe on the right arm, the right leg and the center of the chest piece.
It appeared to be the Recon armor set which is only given to the ODSTs, used by the Office of Naval Intelligence, often called ONI. The armor itself appeared to be in great condition, with no visible damage that breached the suit, however I did notice what appeared to be the battalion number, the 501st, scratched into the right side of the chest plate. I grabbed the helmet which had the same faded blue stripe on the top of the helmet. I then looked into the silver blue visor and saw my reflection, it was then and there I knew what needed to be done.
Authors Note: Well... this is my first story to ever be posted and originally this story was never meant to be read by the public. However some of my friends really wanted me to post this and they finally wore me down. As of right now I have another 6 chapters ready to be posted in case you guys actually like this. So if you guys want more and could give me feedback that amazing. ~BattleFrontline
