Halo: Here we go Again!
A Halo/ME crossover with a decidedly humorous bent, without sacrificing overall drama. AU, in order to even the playing-field and allow some of the later plot-points to come to fruition (besides the obvious implied in a crossover)
Has some OC's and some established characters. While this fic does not update very often, it will (typically) have either long story segments, large Codex entries (for example, an entry detailing all ships used by the Asari Republics) or a combination of both. The Prologue (This chapter!) is more of a 'teaser trailer' than an actual chapter. Chapter One: Second Contact will be up as soon as I get it back from my proofreader. Again, this fic is AU. If something does not match canon, It is likely deliberately altered. While I do not own Halo or Mass effect, I do own copies of Halo 1-3, and Mass Effect 1&2.
now then, without further delay:
Prelude: The Gathering Storm
Unknown location: a battered ship drifts through space, sheltering two refugees from a war that ravaged hundreds of worlds. One sleeps in a cocoon of crafted ice, while the other goes slowly mad with boredom.
Earth: a battle-scared ship slowly descends, carrying heroes and martyrs to a continent ravaged by war and fire. There, new bonds will form between former foes, and two mighty nations will plow the stars in search of others.
The Serpent Nebula: an ancient edifice drifts, sparkling with life, and heralding a doom for all life. Little do those who built it know, a far graver threat floats serenely though space, filled with sleeping death and watched by ever-vigilant guardians.
Reach: a lone figure wanders the burning sands, brothers and sisters-in-arms dead at the hands of an enemy they thought stopped. Task failed, the figure wonders if he should just give up all hope, but a burning resolve fills his mind: their deaths will not be in vain!
Deep space: thousands of sleek, organic machines wait, sleeping, for the signal that will call them to harvest. Their lonely callers wait, tending the creation of their masters.
Elsewhere and Elsewhen:
the Man looks up at the sound of footsteps.
"It has begun, then?" a female voice breaks the silence in the darkened room.
"Yes. They will test their steel against two ancient threats, and should the prove their worth by surviving, they will be ready to help their cousins against the storms that beset them. There will be many, but in time, they will bring him to me."
"I wonder, if you wish to meet him to discuss your curse, why do you simply not pluck him from where he sits and bring him here?"
at this, the man smiled bitterly "once I would have. I would have taken my ship to him and asked my questions. But I am stranded here, without the skill to safely move my vessel. Until I find one with the talent, or one with the Spark, I can only make subtle nudges, manipulate things from behind the scenes. My Empire is gone, gone in the fury of a billion stars, but I will have my revenge. For my family, for my home, for my people, and for myself, I sit here, trapped, waiting. He will be able to fix it, if I can but convince him." the man turns back to the glowing screen, watching, waiting for events to unfold.
Softly, almost imperceptible, he whispers:
"And the fires of war did consume them, for the false prophets had made it so. But from that fire rose a Phoenix, transcending the very heavens,smashing aside the Ancient Ones, whose touch was death to mind and soul, then spreading across the lands until Balance was restored. An yea, though the Emperor lay trapped, the Prophet would free him, for a price. Never again would the Emperor allow pride to blind him, een a Pride once exiled. The Empire would rise again,from less than ashes, with the help of the Child of the one who slew his careless masters. And Balance will once again reign."
the Man bent over, watching as fire raged and roared. Soon, very soon now,hundreds of thousands of years of timeless captivity would be over. He would be free to roam, to explore, and, as a great nation had once said, to Boldly Go, where no-one has gone before.
