Okay, this is the start of the Part II and this part focuses more on the mysteries surrounding Novus Pacis. From here on out it's going to get a little more interesting!!! Enjoy! PLEASE REVIEW!!!!
Part II
Chapter 7: Insanity
0245 Hours, July 19, 2563 (Military Calendar)/
Lambda Serpentis System, Surface of Novus Pacis, City of Spero
Gunnery Sergeant Chris Overton groaned as he slowly awoke in his barracks. Judging from the darkness outside, the two red suns hadn't even risen yet. He sighed and sat up in his bed and rubbed his face in exhaustion. He wanted more than anything to simply lay back down and go back to sleep, but unfortunately, when Chris Overton woke up, he wasn't able to go back to sleep.
"Damn," he muttered as he reached for his boots and uniform jacket. Above him, Corporal Tyler Walkins muttered something in his sleep and rolled over. It had been five years, and he still hadn't managed to get promoted. Mostly because he still loved to play hooky even though he'd been punished nearly thousands of times.
Chris was careful not to wake his friend and grabbed his battle rifle. If nothing else, he could go for a small walk before the city began to stir. He checked to make sure his weapon was on safety and then stood and walked out of the barracks into the cold morning air. It always amazed him how much this planet was like earth.
As Chris opened the two massive doors leading out to the city and massaged his brow one last time, ridding himself of the last of the fatigue. As the doors slid open, he almost fell over as he ran into the massive form of a Sangheili soldier.
The giant turned around and said, "Oh, sorry, sir."
Chris sighed and walked by as he nodded. "It's no problem." It was incredible how much could change over the course of a few years.
The treaty had been completed on time and humanity celebrated a new year with another alien ally. But, some complications arose with announcement. Up until then, they'd managed to keep the peace talks a secret from most civilians. When the news got out, not everyone was happy. Riots broke out all across the human colonies over the matter. Most of the belligerents were people who still harbored deep hatred for the Covenant. Which, unfortunately, was almost everyone.
But, eventually everyone got used to the idea and the riot slowed down. After a few more improvements, Dr. Hawes informed Fleet Admiral Thark that Novus Pacis was now ready for a full-scale colonization. Once he sent the word out, people flocked to the planet. Most had lost their homes in the war and were looking for a new place to live. With this in mind, Thark and Rtas 'Vadum thought it best that only part of the planet be used for the integration of the Covenant species. That way, people who didn't want to live with the Covenant could still find a new home.
Still, that time was yet to come. Some people were still totally unaware of the alliance made between the Sangheili and humanity, and had to get used to living amongst giants. At their request, Thark decided to push back the date of the Covenant incorporation until at least August, 2563. But, the good thing was that the elites had offered to serve as law enforcement since the UNSC soldiers were stretched out across the galaxy.
Along with the all the activity on Novus, other colonies were also coming back to life. The army was also beginning to gain strength. The first recruits since the end of the war had graduated, and were spread across the galaxy to keep order in the growing colonies. The UNSC Navy was growing rapidly. In the wake of the war, many had lost their jobs, and when the government offered jobs to help build starships for the Navy, they jumped at the chance immediately. Ten new ships had just been finished, seven of which were on their way to Novus Pacis.
Chris smiled as thought of the Covenant arriving here and seeing how much they'd built on this planet after only living here for a few years. Then, he thought of them seeing the massive fleet they were amassing around their planet. As he headed out of the city, he grinned broadly. Oh yes, he was looking forward to August.
As he approached two Sangheili guards, he nodded to them and asked, "Night watch duty?"
One nodded and the other said, "The bane of our existence."
Chris almost burst out laughing at their wording and nodded again as they passed each other. He remembered back when he had that job. When Tyler would go AWOL and he would get in trouble. When the captain would catch him asleep on duty. Or when he'd fall asleep and wake up to find that someone had drawn a mustache on his face as a funny prank. Good times.
But, since he'd been promoted, he was in charge of protecting Dr. Heinz Hawes. Which was, honestly, an extremely boring job. He was loved by the people and the thought of someone actually trying to kill him was rather absurd. But, oh well.
Come to think of it, he should head over soon and make sure the night watch in that area was fully alert. He sighed and turned and headed back down the way he'd come. Maybe the barracks kitchen would be open.
A few minutes later, he stepped into the dimly lit building and looked around. It was completely empty save for a few officers that would soon check on night watch. In the kitchen though, he saw a few cooks preparing breakfast for over two thousand men and elites.
He grinned as he saw a friend of his and marched over toward him. "Hey, Porkman!" he shouted.
Oddly enough, that was the man's real name, and Chris was one of the few that actually called him by it. Sam Porkman was quite possibly one of the largest twenty year olds Chris had ever seen. He had on a greasy apron covered in messy hand prints; obvious evidence of him taking some of the food for himself. His nickname amongst the soldiers was "Porky". The man jumped slightly as he heard his name, and then relaxed as he saw Chris. "Hey, Gunny," he replied. "Gunny" was the common nickname for Gunnery Sergeants.
Chris walked over and leaned over the counter in front of him. "Hey, Sammy, think you could do me a solid? I don't wanna wait in the lines this morning."
Porkman had given Chris food before everyone else many times. In return, Chris convinced Walkins to give up some of his precious booze and give it to Sam. Plus, the man didn't have many friends anyways and Chris wasn't so low as to simply ignore the man when he wasn't doing him favors. Porkman glanced over at the soldiers and nodded his head toward the kitchen door. Chris grinned and headed over, having done this many times before. Moments later, Porkman opened the door and handed him a greasy box. "There you go, Gunny."
"Thanks." Chris glanced over at the two officers and said, "Hey, I'll get you some of the good stuff tonight. Thanks, man."
The large man simply nodded and disappeared. Chris did his best to hide the box as he exited the mess hall. He glanced around and quickly ducked into a small alley nearby and set his weapon down on a dumpster. Hmm, filthy allies already. Spero had the makings of a great city alright.
Chris paid the filth no mind though as he opened the box and grinned. Bacon, eggs, and a biscuit. Sam even threw in packages of butter, salt, and pepper. Oh, he'd get his booze alright. As Chris dug into the hot food, he thought about the day ahead of him.
Organizing Dr. Hawes's security troops. Taking orders, giving orders. Preparing emergency simulations. It all seemed so old. As he munched on the bacon, he thought about life on some other colony. Honestly, it'd probably be the same anywhere else. But, pretty soon the Covenant species would be integrated into society on Novus Pacis. That should make things rather interesting.
Minutes later, the two red suns just started to peak over the mountains in the distance. Chris took that as his cue and headed over toward Dr. Hawes's home. He nodded to the two guards there, strapped his battle rifle to his back, and entered into his home. It was very large and hardly filled with furniture at all. At least the front room was. Chris knew from experience that the old man spent most of his time in his office or on his balcony. He walked up the stairs, stopped at the door to Hawes's office, and rapped on the door lightly with his knuckles. "Dr. Hawes? It's Sergeant Overton."
He waited for a reply and after a while sighed and headed down the hall toward the balcony. There, he saw the old man leaning on the stone railing looking at the rising suns. Instantly, instinct took over and he straightened, saluted, and said, "Dr. Hawes."
Hawes merely sighed and said nothing else. Chris then dropped his hand and folded them both behind his back. After several long, relatively awkward minutes, he began to turn and leave. But, he heard a laugh and then, "Have you ever feared you were crazy, Sergeant?"
The question was so out of the blue and unexpected that Chris was afraid he might've heard the man wrong. But when he saw the serious look in the man's eyes, he knew he'd heard right. "Um, no, sir," he said with a shrug.
Hawes looked back at the rising suns and said, "I fear for my sanity, Sergeant."
Chris was slightly concerned with this confession and said, "Why, sir? You're not crazy."
The man ignored the statement and pointed toward the rising suns… or was it the mountains? "Years ago, when we first landed on this planet, I saw something fall from the sky. It… landed in the mountains. At least that's what it looked like." He glanced back at Chris who took another step forward. "Every night since then, I've come out here waiting to see it again. To see… something…" he trailed off and looked out across the landscape again.
Chris glanced over and then leaned on the stone parapet. "Well, why don't you go try to find it?"
Hawes laughed. "No. My security team would never let me."
Chris figured that he must've forgotten who he was talking to. He laughed a little and said, "Well, um… You're talking to the head of your security team…"
Hawes didn't move for a moment and then slowly looked at Chris. He smiled and turned around so his back was facing the mountains. "Sorry, Sergeant."
Chris shrugged and said, "I could… let you go to the mountains. For a little while at least."
Hawes sighed and shook his head. "I don't know. I mean, I have a lot of responsibilities here. I don't know if I can just leave."
The gunnery sergeant looked at the distant mountains and said, "Well, I could probably sneak you out some time. At night, of course."
The doctor glanced over his shoulder at the mountains and sighed again. "Lot of land to search…"
Chris laughed and said, "If this thing was as big as you say it was, I think we'll know it when we see it."
"It really wasn't that big, sergeant... And… I'm just… afraid that I'll get there and find nothing. What if I really am crazy? What if there was nothing?"
With a sigh, Chris stared at the mountains and said, "Well, there's only one way to find out."