Halo: Shadowfall
Prologue
Year:2537
Location: Leonis Minoris system
"Mommy! Mommy!"
A young boy cried in the middle of an abandoned street. All he could hear was gunfire and scream. The smell of smoke and plasma filled the air. The boy continued to wander his war ravaged town. He did not hear the e-vac alarms on the TV or see the usual caravans of United Nation Space Command (UNSC) forces coming and escorting civilians into bunkers like he practiced in school from time to time. No, all he heard was ,"What about the boy?," asked one voice. "Leave him, his mother left him anyways." replied the other. "Was it true? Did his very own mother abandon him in the streets to fend off the monsters we humans call the Covenant?" Asked the first voice. "He doesn't know and know he has do two things: Find evac center and survive or die trying." replied the second. He quickened his paces, checking every street corner for monsters. Finally, he spots a parked M12 Warthog behind several burned cars.
"Hey! Hey!" he was yelling at the top of his lungs, running towards the warthog. He then saw a green figure turns its body and point a gun at him. The boy froze as he realized the figure was an UNSC Marine.
"Did anything follow you kid?" the marine asked.
"what?" he replied.
"Did anything follow you, like a large insect."
"No sir." he replied.
"Good." said the marine," Get in, there's a drop-ship nearby."
The boy did not show his happiness of being saved. The ride to the drop-ship seemed long and almost serene. The gunfire died down as the smell of smoke and plasma still covered the air. Finally, at the end of the road , there was a D77-TC Pelican.
The Pelican opened it drop doors and the boy ran inside. The marine walk past him and into the cockpit.
"Anymore survivors?" The marine asked.
"You're my last pick up," the pilot answered," We got evac orders."
The marine cursed. The boy was seated in one of the troop bay seat, listening to their conversation. Was he the only survivor? In this whole city? The boy began to cry at the thought. His mother was dead, his family gone, and he was alone in this crazy war.
"Hey, don't cry." The marine said, returning to the boy.
The boy look up at the marine and saw his face. A long thin mark across his right eye. The marine looked no older than 30 yet has possible fought the monsters before. He fought and survived.
"I'll fight one day and survive." The boy said. The marine made a smile. The Pelican began to move and lift up. The boy fell to sleep on the long ride to the one of ships orbiting the planet. The loud clunk of the drop doors opening woke the boy up.
"Here," The marine offered his hand. The boy grabbed the man's hand and walked out into a lobby with children and a group of men in black suits.
"What is this?" The boy asked.
"A daycare center," The marine said avoiding eye contact," You said you want to fight?"
The boy nodded his head. The marine release his hand and disappeared into another crowd of people. The boy chased after the marine until someone grabbed him.
"What your name?" The person asked
"Darien." The boy replied.
"A little boy told someone he wants to fight."
Darien look up at the person, a man in a black suit and sunglasses. Finally understanding the situation before him, these children were in same place as him. No home, no where to run to, and all that left for them is to fight back or die on another colony. "No, I can't die here." Darien said to himself, "I want to fight."
"I want to fight." Darien said in most serious tone he could muster.
The suit nodded and took him into a smaller room with less children. Darien looked around to see the same kind of determination worn by kids. The suit stepped back into the larger lobby then came back a few minutes later with another suit. They began to escort the children into a shuttle that flew to a UNSC frigate. The children were all marched into large empty area. Marines watched them from a walkway above the area as the suits began a series of tests and some of children started talking to one another. Darien laid back against a crate, as he tried to get some rest.
"Hi." Said a girl from out of no where.
"H-Hello." Darien was surprise from greeting of an unknown girl.
"Asra." She said with a big smile, with some missing teeth in her mouth.
"Darien."
"Dar what?'
"Dare-ree-en," he said having to pronounce his name.
"Can I just call you Dare?"
"Sure."
Darien took a look at the girl. He guessed she was a year older than him and wore a black t-shirt with shorts. Her skin was reddish, black hair, and her eyes were green. Compared to his light brown skin tone and Afro.
"Do you know what they're doing?" Asra asked, pointing at the suits.
"Don't know, don't care." Darien answered.
Asra then puffed up her face. Darien look at her and sighed.
"If I had to guess," he said, " they're pairing us up or something."
"Oh if that's the case," she turned around and faced Darien," Want to be my teammate?"
Darien smile and offer a handshake, which Asra accepted.
A suit called Asra and she left. She did not return when her test was done, same with all the children. One by one, once test was done, they left the area and was escort by marines somewhere else. When the time came for Darien's test he answered the questions the best he could. He even answered the questions he didn't really understand. Darien was escorted out the area and into the cryo-sleep chambers. Darien stepped into his chamber, as the frigate jumped into slipspace.
Chapter 1: Training
Year: 2537
Location: Zeta Doradus system, Camp Currahee, Onyx
This was the first time Darien experience cryo-sleep as well as puking out what little he had in his stomach and being rushed out by marines into bright sunlight. He could see a tall marine checking all the children and began headcount.
"Look at you, all of you." The marine's voice boomed loud and hard," Orphans! Your homes are gone, darkness threaten humanity and all you piss ants can do is cry."
Some of the children began to mutter until the marine opened his mouth again.
"This is your home now as you all are now brothers and sisters in arms! The UNSC, no humankind, needs you to fight for her, fight for Earth and bring death to all those who threaten her. You are soldiers now. You are now fighting to save your brothers, your sisters and everyone here."
The children began to cheer and some even started chanting, "Death to the monsters! Death to the Covenant!"
The marine waved his hand and the chanting stopped. He scanned every kid, as if trying to determine which will die and who will survive. He looked up into the sky and said something that no one could hear. Finally, his eyes return to the children.
" My name is Senior Chief Petty Officer Franklin Mendez and your training begins within the next two hours."
The children were marched into a mess hall which was only offering bread, water, and crackers. Darien sat at a table on far end of the hall. He then heard the crash of a second tray right next to him.
"Hi Dare!" Asra said.
"Oh it's you."
"What you mean oh it's you?"
"Exactly what it sounds like."
Asra puffed up her face and ate her bread. Darien sighed, this was not the time to argue.
"Oh it's you," she said, somewhat upset," Is that the kind of greeting you give to family?"
"What?"
"What Senior Chief whatever Mendez said," She attempted to speak with her mouth full, "we're all brother and sisters now."
Darien thought about Mendez words; they were all orphans of the same conflict. They shared a bond now.
"You're right," Darien said," we're brothers and sisters now."
Asra gulp down her water and last bit of bread. "And team mates."
"If they allow us."
Asra shrugged," They will."
A load bell rung then suddenly marines poured in and rushed the children outside. Mendez ordered them to run 12 laps around the base. Anyone who walked or slowed down would make the entire group run another five laps. In total, after what seemed like an eternity while in reality was only, they ran six hours and forty-two laps. Night came and the children could finally rest. Mendez began to call out those who walked, slowed down, and simply stopped after the three laps.
"Darien!" Mendez yelled. Darien looked at him and said nothing. He ran at full speed, and did all forty-two laps. What could Mendez fault him for?
"Lap 16, Douglas felt right next to you," Mendez walked closer to Darien,"Why didn't you stop and help?"
"I um..."
" 'I um' is not an answer soldier, because of your failure to help a comrade, everyone will run additional five laps."
Many began to moan while others began to blame Darien for making them run more laps. A full day passed before the first day of training was done. They would only get three hours of sleep before the next training section.
Days turned into weeks then weeks turn into months and each training section became more advanced as time went on. Darien lost count how much time was spent on the training fields as well as classroom sections with the A.I. Deep Winter. One day a black suit, most likely O.N.I., came up to Darien after weight training. The spook took Darien into a small room, Mendez was standing by a table.
"Sir, what's going on?" Darien asked Mendez.
"I'm pulling you from regular training."
"What?" Darien's heart sank.
"What I mean is these men wish to offer you a different career path."
Darien didn't understand, but took a seat as well as the black suit.
"Starting today, you'll be paired with a partner and begin the process." The black suit's voice was cold as ice.
The suit gave Darien a series of open-ended questions and Darien answered within the best of his ability. The suit checked his datapad and closed it.
"Take this boy to Point Hathaway." The suit said to Mendez and left the room. Mendez nodded and motion Darien to follow him.
"I'm to no longer be trained sir?" Darien asked
"Not this training," Mendez answered," those men have a more important role for you."
Darien follow Mendez to his personal Warthog and left the base. They drove deep into the forest and reached their destination by nightfall. It was a small fenced-off camp with armored men and checkpoints. Inside was group of children. As Mendez and Darien left the warthog and started to walk to the group, Darien could see Asra in the group.
"You're on your own." Mendez said before turning and leaving.
"Dare!" Asra yelled and ran towards Darien. She gave him a hug. How long she been here? What is this place?
"Hello!" A voice announce, there was a stage in the middle of the camp. A man with bleach blonde hair and black suit walked into the middle of the stage with a microphone in his hand. He was rather slender and had to be about 40 years-old.
"My name is Churchill, I'll be your new instructor for next few days for those of you who survive."
"Survive?" Someone asked.
"Yes, starting tomorrow we will begin a process to select the best of you, train you, and to begin a career not as simple foot soldiers in war," he paused for a few seconds," To be a Spartan is to be warrior, but not all warriors serve on the frontline. No, some prefer to infiltrate, sabotage, and are willing to sacrifice their lives for the greater good. Now, you will be given the chance to strike The Covenant at their heart and deliver the killing blow."
Was this the career path Mendez talked about? It has to be! Darien did not jump into hell for his own enjoyment. A chance to fight, that's all he ever wanted. Churchill began to smile as some of the children began to cheer at thought of fighting the monsters that destroy their homes so long ago.
"Get well rested," he said," there will be trying days ahead." Churchill left the stage and lights turned on to reveal several tents. Darien and Asra walked to the tent nearest to the fence. Both slept on the mats next to each other.
"What you think will happen now?" Asra asked
"Well we can finally be teammates," he said, " like you always wanted."
Chapter 3: A game of choice
Year: 2537
Location: Onyx
The next day came much sooner than anyone expected. Churchill organized the children at the edge of the forest. Darien and Asra stood next to each other. Churchill took out a metallic ball from his pocket and held it high up for all the children to see.
"I have a game for you young warriors to play," He shouted," It's a simple game. You can work together or on your own and each one of you will be given a metal detector. I will then give this ball to a carrier and the first child or pair of children that returns with the ball will move on. Those that return after an hour has passed will be brought back to Camp Currahee where Mendez will decide your fate. You may use any tactics you have learned and take whatever necessary path needed. Even if it means killing another child."
Darien felt a hand hold his, it was Asra. He looked at her and quickly understood. We're brother and sister now, he said to himself, we're going to survive this. Men started to hand out detectors to the children. Churchill handed the ball to a man in a black uniform and he jolted into the forest. The children rushed into the forest, chasing wildly after their target. Darien and Asra chased after him until they lost sight of him. They then made a turn for some thick bushes and hide.
"Where you think he went?" Darien asked, whispering.
"I don't know," Asra said, looking up into the trees," Think you can climb this?"
Out of all the training they received Darien found freerunning the most enjoyable..
"Watch," He climbed into the tree like a squirrel in the park. Then he climbed slowly back down into the bushes.
"I have an idea. You watch from above and scout ahead. I'll watch the ground and listen to anyone that passes by." Asra said in a hushed tone. Darien nodded and made three suggestions with his fingers. One count was a single child, two count was pair or group working together, and three count was their target. Asra nodded, moving deeper into bushes while Darien returned to the treetop. They followed a limitless path of forest and bushes. They ignored the minor cuts from the branches as well as passing by groups of kids. They soon came across a group of three kids arguing over some situation.
"Let's forget about this," one of children said,"I think this one of Mendez games."
"It can't be Hawk," said an older boy with brown hair," why would he send us out here."
"Cain, I look inside this detectors," said the third boy and shortest of the three,"they have missing parts, this has to be a game."
"Vaas, 'this game' allows us kill each other. That doesn't sound like something Mendez would do."
The three boys stared at each other for while until Hawk through up his arms.
"It one of his games! It has to be. We need to be fighting the monsters not each other!"
Asra and Darien move far the group and into a patch of open grass. They disassemble the detectors to see if Vaas was telling the truth and he was. Parts like the battery were missing. Was really just some game they cook up for them?
"It can't be..." Darien look at Asra, as if he was about to cry.
"Let focus on the mission." Asra said.
"But..."
"But nothing!," Asra jump to her feet, crying," They took my home and my mom. I have to fight!"
Darien got up, putting his hands on her shoulders.
"Listen," he said, trying to calm his teammate down," game or not, we'll win. Mendez, Churchill, whatever, we have to win. This maybe a game of choice, testing us to see if we are soldiers they train us to be. There no more crying for us."
Asra stopped crying and looked at Darien. She wiped her tears and smiled.
"No more crying, we have to win." she repeated his words.
"Now let's find our target and finish this mission." They returned to their plan. Detector or not, they were going to win.
They finally found the man after hours of searching. He was tall, dark skin, and had about dozen scars on his face. He took out an centuries old pocket watch to check the time. He check the time with his right and held the ball in his left. He was in an open field large enough for a drop-ship to pick him up. Darien and Asra were only six feet away, hiding in the thick bush.
"He's in the middle," Darien whispered," too far out from the trees to attack from above."
"It OK, we've won." Asra said and rush out into the field.
"Hey! Look over here!" She started waving her arms, gaining the man attention.
Darien barely understood what was she planning until he realize it. She was causing a distraction for Darien to sneak up on the carrier. Clever girl.
The man walked toward the one child he saw and not pay attention to the second one running from his blind side. The second kid, a boy, tackled the man's legs and tripped him over. The kid then put all his body weight on the arm hold the ball. The man punched with his free arm into the left side of the boy's ribs. The boy coughed up blood but continued to hold down the arm.
"Now!" the boy yelled. The girl took notice and grabbed the ball. The boy jumped off and together they ran back into the forest with prize in hand.
"Interesting, very interesting." Churchill was back at the camp, watching the whole game from a monitoring room with other ONI personnel. Drones have been watching the children give up, return to the camp, and some even killed those they believe held the ball. Drinking his green tea, Churchill was amazed at both their resourcefulness and brutality.
"To tell these children to kill each and for them to take the bait," he said in calm yet callous voice," but it seems we have a winning team." He sipped more of his tea. He got up and order the man who was the carrier to return to the camp. He walked out of the room to find the winning team panting and bleeding from cuts. The girl was carrying the boy.
"He's hurt and needs medical attention." She spoke.
Churchill motion for guards to take the boy to the med center. The girl tried to follow but Churchill blocked her path.
"I want to congratulate you on your victory," he said,"you and the boy will be moving on to the next test."
The girl looked up at Churchill with weakness in her eyes. She was withered and torn from hours of searching. . Her long black hair was mangled, she had cuts and marks all over. Yet she stood here, like as if nothing that just happen to her will compare to war that ahead. If her or the boy would live long enough to see it end.
"Thank you sir,"she said,"but I need to check on my friend."
She walked around Churchill and followed the path to the med center. She made it inside to find the who other children who have been beaten and hurt. Darien was at far end of the center where he was stripped of his clothes and put in scrubs. The boy was fast asleep. He was the boy she started calling brother and the boy whom she partnered with. The mat next to his was empty. She went to sleep there.