Slowly things began to return to normal, since Locus and Felix were in the heart of both armies so there was no need for cloaked scouts, also both armies began to centralise their troops into main compounds leaving old bases for us to move into. We had acquired several Fed facilities including weapon factories and research labs. The scientists recently had a breakthrough in our main base, which was an alien temple, they had managed to use it to bring down ships from orbit using gravity manipulation, because of this Control said that they would reroute more ships to Chorus.
Who is this person calling themselves control? How much power does he have if he is capable of rerouteing ships? Even if I never find out his true identity he will remain a sick person for paying for all this death.
I was sat in the workshop of the main base with my sniper, the one thing that had taken so many lives. It rested on the work bench while I searched for paints and materials. The room was empty since it was three in the morning, I could not sleep every dream I had showed the people that I killed, that number counting up everyday. I wondered if I could ever forgive myself, if it was worth it. I took the job and I must finish it no matter what I must do, either way after this I will make sure that who ever Control will pay for what they have done.
I neatly lined up the tools I will be using and put the paints out of the way. I wanted to personalise it a bit to show everyone else that it was mine by adding a silencer and a paint job. I started by crafting the silencer and once that was done I moved on to the sniper. Slowly, I sprayed a purple line across the gun from the stock to the end of the barrel and did the same on the other side. After this I grabbed the red and blue paint and painted red above the line and blue below the line. I did this to show that two groups can get together and make a better one, ironic given what I do for a living. I looked at the holographic clock on the wall it read 6:45.
Suddenly I heard Felix's voice over a PA system "Good morning people I hope you all had a wonderful night, this morning for breakfast we have toasted waffles made by our very own Locus. Now everyone get down to the main hall we got something to show you." I began to make my way over there as fast as I could I did not want to be the last there again after what happened last time.
In the hall there were a few others gathered all looking at Felix as he stood there talking to Locus. Looking to the crowd I could see that everyone was in their armour while I was in my sleep wear. I mentally face-palmed as I saw Felix look at me, luckily he did not say anything and continued to talk to Locus. As time went on more and more came into the room to see what all the fuss was about.
"Okay," Felix began. "I know you all want to get along with your morning so let's make this quick. The tech guys who have been studying these alien weapons have combined them to make some seriously awesome guns." he then proceded to show us all a large looking rifle, it had orange glowing streaks across it. "Now shoppers if the look alone doesn't have you totally convinced allow me to show you a demonstration." Just then Locus began to drag a man, who was tied to a chair, into view and took off a bag that was covering his head.
"The man looked at us with pleading eyes and began to panic, "who are you people? What do you want from me?" he pleaded. Felix took aim at the man's leg and pulled the trigger, the man screamed in pain as his leg began to incinerate. The leg began to turn into golden flakes and began to float away, then the incineration began to travel up his body. Once it reached his torso the screaming stopped and it engulfed his head leaving nothing but the golden flakes as the floated away, it almost felt tranquil.
Felix coughed to get our attention, "folks, this is what we call the Binary Rifle and one luckey person here will get to keep it. sadly we don't have enough to share seeing as this is a prototype, but don't feel down the tech guys are making more of these and different types as we speak." He placed the rifle back down and Locus spoke.
"The binary rifle will be mass produce here on Chorus along with any other weapons developed for us, there are two other planed weapons including a rocket launcher and sub machine gun. What is key though is that they are producing a teleportation grenade which will allow instant travel to anywhere on the planet." This announcement was met with nods of approval, I must admit instant travel was pretty impressive but the weapons looked like they were designed to cause pain. "The owner of the weapon will be chosen within the week, you are all dismissed." As I walked back to my room I began to think to myself, I could never let myself use such a weapon, the reason I always aim for the head is because they will not suffer, but with this gun the people I shoot will feel their body slowly burn as it turns their body into flakes.
After returning to my room to get dressed in my armour I was supposed to wait for further instructions, since both armies were infiltrated there was no need for scouts near the generals so most troops were put on defence missions and sometime to watch over important battles and disrupt supply convoys. I picked up my sniper examining it in my hands while I sat on my bed, I had killed so many people now that I don't think I am the same person I was when I arrived on Chorus. This was my tools of destruction, I remember every shot taken and every person I killed.
Just then Felix came through the door holding the Binary Rifle, "congratulations to our lucky winner!" he shouted presenting the rifle to me. I looked at him shocked, "for being in the top ten kill count you have been awarded your very own Binary Rifle," the mercenary continued with a mock game show host voice.
"I can't accept this," I stated trying to be subtle, he preceded to take my sniper out of my arms and replaced it with his.
"See, you both are a great match for each other." I dropped it to the ground almost feeling sick at the nature of the weapon. "What? You don't like it?" he asked sounding upset.
I shook my head, "no, I do not like it, I like the gun I already have. You can give this to someone else, I do not want it." I took back my sniper holding it tight.
Felix sat next to me and put his hand on my shoulder, "what's wrong? You have not acted like this before."
I looked to him, "it's just, I have killed so many. I thought I could handle it but I guess I was wrong. I don't like all the suffering we are causing"
"You're getting regrets," the black and orange soldier stated. He started to shake his head, "I had the same problem when I started killing for a living. I knew you were not fit for this kind of work," I took my helmet off letting my long dark hair flow out as I looked to where Felix's eyes would be. "You are too innocent yet you are so good in combat, how is that even possible?"
I looked down to my feet "I-I don't remember fighting anyone. It is like being in a dream, when ever the fighting starts I lose myself but it is like waking up when it ends."
"Well, I don't think I had ever had that problem before."
"How do you do it?" I asked, "How do you live with yourself?"
"I see it as doing everyone a favour, they all die eventually I am just shortening their wait. Also the thought of money helps me deal with it. I was not always a bad person though, I used to try and help people with my skills with Locus."
I gave him a shocked expression, "what changed? Why are you here now then?"
"I could ask you the same thing," he shot back.
With a sigh I stated "I need money, I was kicked out of the UNSC and this was the only job available."
Felix let out a loud laugh, "I don't think someone like you would sell their soul like that. What is the real reason?" Why would he think I was lying? That is the reason I am here, isn't it?
He began to walk away holding the rifle. "I guess you can take the rest of the day off, I was gonna let you nuke the whole planet but I'll get someone else to do it, seeing as you don't like killing people" Felix looked back to me to see my unimpressed face, "What too soon?"
I looked back to the sniper rifle if I was to finish the job and kill more people then I prefer for it to be quick and painless. These new 'binary rifles' seemed inhumane and I wanted nothing to do with them even if it meant I was under equipped compared to my comrades. I did not know how long I laid in my bed thinking, was Felix right, did I have other motives to joining up? Would I ever live with my self? It seemed like this line of work raised a lot of questions within myself.
True to his word Felix allowed me the rest of the day off, other mercs had been sent out on recon or capture missions, which left only guards and scientists at the main base. I still kept my armour on except for my helmet which I left in my room along with my sniper.
As I walk through the empty halls I tried to find peace of mind in my footsteps, "Do I really know why I am here?" I pondered out loud. Walking past many of the rooms of the temple, most had been re purposed into storage rooms and labs for the scientists not many people went this far into the temple unless they were looking for equipment. I travelled further inwards aimlessly, "why was Felix so quick to dodge the question I asked him?"
Looking into the windows of the room I saw vehicles, alien weaponry and spare armour, I began entering places where no one had ventured before seeing an open door at the far end of the corridor I began to quicken in a jog to see what was so far away and kept secret from everyone. The closer I got I could see a bright light emitting from the doorway, reaching it I gasped as I took in my surroundings.
It was an indoor garden, fresh grass lined the floor with trees and flowers sprouting out of the floor, the chirping of birds reached my ears as I saw them fly around where they flew to a pond in the back populated by fish. I sat down on the grass unable to comprehend how no one had seen this place yet, I inhaled deeply taking in the scent of the mixed flowers and laying down to fall asleep to the relaxing sound of the birds overhead, I was in complete bliss when I fell asleep.