Halo: Primordial
Prologue: Shallows
Silence fills my prison, a prison without bars. Yet defeated are my jailers, their blood is strewn across the stars.
It talks to me, its voice speaking my language flawlessly, its sound coming from everywhere in the chamber bar the creature itself. Or to itself. Or to neither. But I step forward. Alone, but armed. Not adversarial, but still armoured.
Child of my makers, brother to your foes. Here you stand before me, flesh beneath this stone.
"My foes are not my brothers," I say. "You are alone. They cannot help you."
Your words cast out the silence, yet your voice betrays your mind. Beneath this world you've ventured, yet no salvation you will find.
"I do not need salvation. My people do not need salvation. And it is only thanks to our mercy that your former captors stand a chance of salvation."
It doesn't answer this time. It…lies there. It does not "stand." It has legs, but does not need them. It has arms, but does not use them.
Is it afraid, I wonder? With a word I could destroy it. With only slightly more words, I could destroy this entire planet, to torch more than just the cities of those who did us harm. Indeed, part of me does not know why I am here.
Answers you have sought my foe, will they replace your lies? Will truth replace your falsehoods, or with me will the truth die?
"I have come for answers," I say. "If you give them to me, you may live. If not, you will see our mercy only extends so far."
Mercy you denied us once, but still a tale I shall tell. It begins upon this world you stand, yet long before it fell.
I stand firm. I am ready to hear it. Whether I believe it is another matter. But I owe it to my people to listen.
A thousand years ago, this creature's jailers went to war with us. For at least a thousand years, they kept this creature. For a thousand years, both our peoples fought, and bled, and died. And if this creature can provide insight into the reason, then I will take it. So I will endure its voice. Endure its defiance. Endure everything. After all that has happened, after all I have lost, I can endure this much more.
Of a thousand years ago I speak, it's where this tale begins. Listen well, my makers' child, and reflect upon your sins…
A/N
Note (21/09/13): Below is preserved text from my original take on the story. I will give forewarning that this story is not canonically accurate due to timeframe inconsistencies . I will address this again in the epilogue.
Bit of a story behind this...story. Anyway, it's better summarized on my homepage, but suffice to say, the original concept for this occurred 6-7 years ago with Diary of a Forerunner, inspired by the 'leaked' Halo 3 script. Ended up with that story being taken down in part only due to said script being fake, me using the format for Shadow Blade (which was also rendered null by canon), and having since found the original Diary of a Forerunner story again, I've converted the story to fit current canon...in all its "why 343, why?!" glory.
Snark. It's a human thing. :)
Update (18/07/13): Altered lines as per feedback.