Outbreak
A/N: Just thought I'd write this.
Anyway, I like writing in this field. Because the author's always acknowledge the works of one another and give credit where needed. I like that. I can't say the same if Mass Effect/Halo Xovers. I write/read a unique story, a few months later; paraphrased ones crop up without crediting to others.
XXxxXX
Watchtower…
Sleep did not come easily for Wonder Woman, nor did it become easier when she fell into its comforting darkness. The Amazon tossed and turned as horrific, unexplainable visions plagued her dreams.
There were two of them, two armoured warriors. They were taller and bigger than the average human. They ran, firing their weapons at an enemy that just flooded out of everything.
The images stopped, but then another one began to unfold.
The thing, whatever it was it was gigantic, its tentacle limbs spanned for miles. Its head, or what appeared to be its head, was like a plant of some kin. Whenever it spoke, it exhaled a green mist. It's voice, was a deep and raspy chorus, like the dying of many, calling out at once.
"I? I am the monument to all your sins," it said, "I am the thinking dead, the mass graves unified into one. I am the Gravemind."
Diana's respiration began to quicken, she felt great fear.
"Join your chorus with mine and sing everlasting victory!"
Immediately, the Amazon princess shot up from her bed screaming. She quickly calmed herself and slowed down her breathing. Having experienced such a nightmare, she flicked on the light in her room, and was welcomed by the sight of her Spartan surroundings. The creaking of the bulkheads and the sound of her breathing was all that could be heard in the room. She was safe, for now.
Realising sleep would not come for her again for the night; Diana threw off her blanket and swung her bare shapely legs off the bed. She put on some casual clothes and threw her shorts and singlet onto a chair, before walking out.
The Amazon walked through the matte grey hallways of the founding member's dorms with grace and elegance. Many of the Justice League members were either planet side or had turned in for the night. Clark was spending time with Lois; Wally was out with friends, and so on. Diana then entered the kitchen and made herself a mocha frappe. As the blender whirred, the Warrior Princess reflected on her dream, it was too abnormal, to strong handed to have been just a dream. It was a vision, a prophetic vision; there was no doubt about it. The blender stopped its low droning, signalling that the blended contents were ready for use, in this case, consumption. Diana then poured the ice cold beverage into a large cup and added cream and chocolate sprinkles before leaving the kitchen.
As she walked out with the drink in hand, she noticed that the Founding Member's Lounge was empty; Diana had always valued the solace that was rarely offered on the Watchtower. But she needed someone to talk to, however Shayera was asleep and everyone would get suspicious if she got up and went to Themyscira. So, she headed towards the monitor room, there was always someone on duty there that she could talk to.
Though when she entered, she noticed something different about the monitor room. Its dimmed lights accentuated the cream colour of her clothes, and there was only one person known to ever have the lights dimmed when on duty, but that one person is supposed to be in Gotham on patrol.
"Trouble sleeping princess?" the Dark Knight inquired.
"Who says I'm having trouble sleeping?" Diana replied equally.
The Caped Crusader swivelled round in his chair to face the approaching Wonder Woman.
"You added whipped cream to your frappe which you then coated in a thick layer of chocolate sprinkles."
"Dammit," she cursed, he was always the one person who could read her like an open children's book with annotations. The two always had this sought of light bantering match when one was irritated, most of the time it would be her, rather than him. It was how their friendship worked. Their personalities complimented each other in so many ways. Diana was open about voicing her opinions because of her warrior like instincts, but Bruce was always stoic and chivalric like a knight.
"Let's stop sparring," he said kindly.
Diana was taken back for a moment, his tone was genuine. She hadn't seen this side of him before. Then again, he always knew what she needed, but than she did herself.
"What's wrong?" his tone was sincere.
The princess sat down on the seat next to him and took a long swig of her drink, letting the cold drink cascade down her throat and chilling her to the core. Diana then exhaled and pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Don't have to tell me if you don't want to." There was that kindness and warmth that was rarely seen, it made Diana feel warm and fuzzy in contrast to where the cool beverage lay within her.
"Not now," she said as she ran her hand through her jet black silky hair.
Bruce gave an understanding nod.
"Can we just play chess?" asked Diana, "It helps me clear my mind."
"Of course."
The Dark Knight unlocked a hidden cabinet under the desk and pulled out a marble chess board. Diana was surprised that he had one there, deep down, she knew he kept it there for her.
"Is it okay if I take some time off next week?" the Princess asked as she helped him set the pieces.
"Sure, I'll cover for you."
Diana beamed a warm smile, "thanks."
XXxxXX
Themyscira…
Diana descended the ramp of the Javelin and was greeted by an honour guard of other Amazons. The sunlight glistened off her fair skin and armour as she walked towards her awaiting mother.
"Mother," Wonder Woman said warmly and hugged her parent.
"Diana," Hippolyta said with equal joy as she planted a kiss on her daughter's cheek, "come, there is much to talk about, Hera wishes to speak to you."
…
Diana had been to many temples during her time in the world of men, though few of them matched the beauty of Hera's temple. The white marble pillars provided a great view over the surrounding gardens and beyond into the soft blue sea. Themyscira is indeed a paradise, a heaven on Earth.
Hippolyta led her daughter to the main atrium where Hera would transcend into the mortal world and talk to the Amazons. The soft trickling of water from the fountains, the vines that clung to the pillars and the beautiful décor varying from paintings to pillows gave a very peaceful aura.
"Diana," said the Queen, "pray with me."
The two knelt in front of the fountain, where behind it stood a statue of Hera.
Diana and Hippolyta spoke their prayers with grace and in a language that men could not understand. It flowed from them like water, soft and welcoming, washing away any doubts and setting things to rest.
Hera appeared in a soft glow of golden light. Her white robes swayed softly in the breeze.
"Princess Diana," she said in that angelic voice of hers, "I understand you've had some troubling visions."
"Yes," the Amazon humbly answered.
"Your mother too, has been seeing these visions in her sleep."
"What does it mean?" asked Hippolyta.
"Dark times are upon us," answered the Goddess, "something beyond this world will arrive in the realm of men. The gods cannot interfere unless the titans have become involved."
As much as the three did not like it, that was the law that all Greek Gods must abide by. They could not interfere unless the titans emerge.
"What of those two warriors?" asked Diana.
"I know next to nothing about them," answered Hera, "other than they're soldiers and will play an important part."
XXxxXX
Unknown location… Five years after discovery of Forerunner Technology Archives on the newly built Installation 00; Seven years after the promotion of the active Spartan-IIs…
"Chief," said Cortana, "take a left onto the ramp."
"Acknowledged. Kelly, man the gun"
"Copy that John."
The Spartan rolled up the windows and tapped into the console in front of her, giving her access of the Puma's main gun, the M899 Heavy Turret Direct Energy Weapon. The turret's camera's flickered to life and a targeting reticule appeared in the centre of the screen. Kelly quickly grabbed the targeting yoke and pulled the trigger. The tri-barrelled gun immediately spun up and spewed out burning Ion rounds which fried and cooked at every single Flood form chasing them. The weapons sounded like fast violent successions of thunder or electricity discharging whenever it fired.
"Chief, I'm picking up enemy armour on the radar," warned Cortana, "recommend approaching their position from the left, it should give time for the Lieutenant to arm up the plasma missile turrets."
"No problem," said Kelly, "just get us their John."
The Puma's engines hummed as it sped along the desert kicking up sand and crushing Infectious Forms with a satisfying pop.
The Puma is based off the Warthog, except it is bigger and more heavily armoured, acting as an Armoured Personnel Carrier and Medium Assault Vehicle. Providing anti-infantry fire support and moderately effective in armoured warfare. The eight wheeled, amphibious vehicle possessed active stealth systems, anti-missile systems and energy shields, which made it effective in long range missions and to act as infiltration units to transport Special Ops teams on the ground when air was no longer a viable option. Commander-117 and Lieutenant-087 along with Cortana were to contain a minor outbreak, and investigate possible insurrectionist activity, however the situations grew out of hand when Brutes appeared and started wrecking everything, forcing the Spartans to retreat.
John drove the Puma over the sand dune and igniting its booster thrusters giving it additional air time, and clearing a tank trap. The vehicle landed with a dull thud as it squashed a brute beneath it, and spat out the mutilated ape like alien, mixing its gore with the sand. The Spartan accelerated the vehicle, narrowly avoiding a plasma round from the wraith nearby.
"Got a lock on it," said Kelly cooly, "firing."
"Hood is calling," said Cortana, "patching him through."
"Chief, insurrectionists have engaged Loyalist and Flood ground forces at the time, I strongly suggest you get the hell out of their before we glass this place."
"Copy that sir."
The transmission was then cut.
"Cortana, options," John said.
"There is a tunnel two kilometres north of our position; we may be able to get the hell away from here."
"Got it," the Spartan slammed the pedal, jolting the vehicle forward and engaged the thrusters.
"John, enemy forces are easing up on us."
"Good."
The Puma then dove into the tunnel and glided down the ramp and past the heavily engraved metal walls, and then into a huge chamber where a portal lay at the end. John applied the brakes, bringing the Puma to a screeching halt before it fell down a chasm below.
"Cortana, we have a dead end," said Kelly.
Before anyone could say anything, a thunderous explosion tore through the area causing the entrance to collapse and the roof begin to crack.
"Chief," called Hood over the COMs, "the Loyalists have detonated an anti-matter charge-" the Admiral was cut off by static.
A large chunk of the ceiling was then dislodged from the cavern and came crashing down onto the ground, shattering into smaller pieces.
"Through the portal it is," said the Spartan as he slammed the pedal and gunned the vehicle forward over the bridge.
"Here goes nothing," whispered Kelly.
XXxxXX
The Puma shot out of the ground and into the air, before landing back down onto the sand; John felt the impact of the land and gave a slight grunt as the shock absorbers kicked in. The sun shone off the grey armour of the Puma as it roared across familiar brown grasslands.
"Interesting," said Cortana, "the portal has led us to a more habitable environment."
"Seems familiar," said John.
John then turned the Puma around and drove back to the portal and parked the vehicle. He dismounted the APC and shouldered his DEW SCAR with Kelly in tow, wielding a Semi-automatic shotgun. He peered back at the portal, only to see that it no longer was active.
"This looks like it's a one-way trip Chief. The other portal must've been destroyed," said Kelly.
"Cortana, radio the Admiral."
"Copy that Chief."
The AI broadcasted a transmission across the UNSC communication bands both open and encrypted but was met with nothing but static.
"I've got static Chief; they could be on the other side," said the AI.
"Something is not right," said Kelly as she looked towards the blue sky.
"What is it?" asked John.
Kelly pointed to the moon.
"It looks like Luna," said Cortana, "no, that can't be right, if we are on Earth, there should be someone manning the COM channels."
John paced around the area, scanning the landscape with his weary eyes.
"We're not going to get anywhere standing here, let's go." Kelly and John began to return to the Puma, they opened the doors and got in, easing themselves back into the seats and then closing the doors. "Cortana, do you have access to satellite networks."
"Negative on current channels, Chief. Switching to different channels, hold on… okay I have linked with current satellite networks… wait, this is interesting."
"What is it Cortana?" asked Kelly.
"Satellite encryptions are very minimal; I have easily passed the firewalls. Wait just one moment, I'm shifting through data." But then the AI's tone dropped. "Oh no. No-no-no-no-no-no. This is not good. This bad, very, very bad."
"What is Cortana," said John with urgency.
"We're at Earth, but not our Earth, that portal has sent us into an alternate reality."
Kelly stared blankly at John, "is she okay?"
"Engage the Puma's stealth systems, Chief, and I'll show you where to go."
XXxxXX
A/N: Well got this little intro done… I really should detach myself from story writing a bit and concentrating on my studies… pulling all-nighters ain't fun.