I know what it's like to wait. To feel so bored. Yet to wait nonetheless. Patience, perseverance, yet this chapter arrives all the same. And now it's here. Or should I say I am?
No, I should say the Chapter is here. Let's be honest about this folks, this is what's really important. So, I think an apology and perhaps an explanation is in order. For five months I was busy slaving away on my graduate research. In the end though, I was able to walk away with a Master's Degree in Biomedical Engineering. After that, and a great deal of assistance from the talented mcknight93, we were able to finish this chapter. He has been a great friend and if you like what I write, you should most definitely see what he has written and what will come. He has a new short story that will be coming out soon and it's something I know that you all will enjoy.
As a side note, the story has changed to a degree and some of the characters that were mentioned in Chapter 2 have either been dropped or placed on hold.
Anyways on to Chapter 10!
Location: Library, Traveler
Time: 6:30
Designation: Master Chief
When the Master Chief awoke he found himself slumped over a table littered with tablets. Provided by Ghost, each one displayed various information on the Avengers and other costume individuals. SHIELD had gone above and beyond in categorizing profiles such as writing up history, real names, home addresses, and powers. It seemed SHIELD wanted to keep tabs on the heroes at all times, and judging by the highlighted weaknesses, to take them down if needed. The organization appeared to have developed contingency plans in case any powered person were to attack civilians. They were dark calls, but when push became to shove, absolutely necessary to maintain order. From his experience a number of UNSC had switched sides and provided firearms to the Insurrection. For a moment he heard the name Soren drift through his mind, but he silenced the thought and set the tablet aside.
Pulling up his suit's diagnostics he began examining his armor and body. Thanks to Cortana's improvement upon Dr. Halsey's design, the nanites that flowed through his body and surrounded his armor could repair him at a much faster rate. He could already feel that his muscles had transitioned from bruised mass to just being sore. The diagnosis also supported that his bones no longer possessed the hairline fractures. The suit, however, was another story. Enduring the punishment from Diablo had left his MJOLNIR Mark VI cracked and burned. Nanite technology had made some repairs, but the rest would either need supplemental titanium or a complete replacement. The Master Chief knew he was more than just his armor, but that didn't mean he would be willing to part with it.
As he continued to scan his physical body he felt a different ache, one his nanties couldn't supplement. His stomach began to growl in discomfort from the lack of nutrients. The Master Chief first looked through his kit to see if he had any MREs or nutrition bars, but to his dismay he had none. Remembering the mess hall he had passed on his way here the Chief rose to secure some much needed food. With a swipe of his hands he disabled the display to the PDAs and left them where they lay so he could come back to them later.
Stepping into the hall the Chief couldn't help, but be subtly reminded of the Forerunners. Not that the Traveler's design had similar architecture, but that it was solidly geometric and monolithic in nature. An unnatural feeling went up the Chief's spine as he tried to suppress his combat instincts at the memory of the Flood and Promethean Knights. This wasn't his gut speaking to him, so he had no reason to be on edge. However, he still didn't know what to make of this Traveler and kept his mind open.
It wasn't too hard to find the mess hall as the door was annotated in blazing white neon letters. Inside, John counted at least twelve rectangular tables with a buffet style counter on the left side of the room. On the opposite were giant waste bins. However, he wasn't the only person seeking a meal.
Commander Sarah Palmer sat in the middle of the room facing the door. She had her helmet off resting beside her on the table. Her nose hovered over a mug to sniff its contents while only crumbs dotted the plate before her. The Chief could count on one hand the number of moods he'd seen her express, but relaxed was not one of them.
"Chief." Palmer greeted as he approached.
"Commander." The Master Chief responded with a salute. This wasn't a battlefield and she technically was his superior. Protocol dictated such a response.
"You don't have to salute, Chief. If anything I should be saluting you. You were the first Spartan leader and the most capable. For what you've done for the UNSC, and for humanity you shouldn't have to salute anyone."
The Chief said nothing in reply, but gingerly tested the bench like he did with the chair. Much like the chair it held.
"Where are Rtas and Zeratul?" the Master Chief questioned.
"I woke up awhile ago to those two talking about their warrior, honor-bound like cultures." Palmer paused a moment to shake her head. "I had to get out. Saw that everyone in the medical ward was pretty much asleep and that you yourself had been up to your eyeballs in research on the Avengers, and everything else SHIELD had."
"Yes, we only faced a few, and yet we were almost…"
"Chief." Palmer cut him off. "We got away. We have our freedom and our victory. Let's just take this moment to enjoy it. More battles will come soon enough."
The Chief nodded in reply. He could understand taking in the moment to enjoy the victory. Like Palmer said, there would be more battles ahead. It would be best not to take what they had for granted. His thoughts were interrupted when his stomach growled again.
"No soldier moves on an empty stomach."
"No, they do not." The Chief said as he got up from his seat.
The Chief approached the buffet only to be stopped when he found it empty. The buffet table was aligned with squares indented along the wall. Each square was about a third of a meter wide by a third of a meter tall. Small red strips separated each square.
"It's voice activated. You have to say what you want. If you want coffee I would recommend the breakfast blend if you need a quick pick me up or the hazelnut if you want something special." Palmer called from where she sat.
"Eggs, biscuit and gravy. Coffee, breakfast blend."
Light similar to the one that had constructed the chair shone forth and food that he had ordered was presented in front of him. The corner of his mouth twitched from the state of the food, cold, curled and utterly unappetizing. There was flash of light that persisted for five seconds before fading away leaving the food he had requested hot and ready to eat.
Grabbing the materialized tray he took his food and sat across from Palmer. Reaching up to his helmet he undid the lock and lifted it off of him.
As he began to dig into his eggs he had an eerie feeling he was being watched. Glancing up he witnessed the strange sight of Palmer being transfixed. Her body frozen in place, while her mug hovered below her nose, hiding her mouth. Brown eyes bore into his blue. Immediately, his instincts kicked in, his mind trying to decipher the hidden message behind her stare. Had the room contained some concealed tech to immobilize her? Was their food poisoned or drugged? There was the possibility of someone sneaking up on his six, yet he heard nothing. If he had his helmet on...Then a random thought struck him. It has been some time that anyone has seen his actual face.
"Not what you expected?" he asked.
"You're better looking than I thought you would be." Palmer blurted out.
That was not the answer the Chief was expecting, and it was his turn to be surprised. However, he did a much better job of controlling himself.
Palmer drank deeply from her mug before speaking again.
"Chief, let's just pretend that that never happened. Alright?"
"What happened?" he responded. It wasn't the first time that he had to play a game like this.
Palmer gave a rare smile in return. The rest of the time was spent in silence, eating their meal. When the Master Chief finished by downing the last of his coffee, he placed his helmet back on. As soon as the pressurized seal clicked-in they heard the conversation of the others drawing near.
"Everyone's starting to filter in." Palmer said as she eyed the group.
"Maybe it's time we brief everyone. On the Beyonder, and why we're here." the Master Chief suggested.
"A soldier needs to know what they're fighting for." Palmer agreed.
The Master Chief watched the ensemble parade toward him, Palmer's words buzzing in his mind. Two young women, a pair of anthropomorphic animals, an adult dressed as a bat, two extraterrestrials and a telekinetic bird.
"Soldiers." he repeated to himself solemnly.
Taking the initiative, the Master Chief stood in the middle of the isle. Seeing his pose the others began to fill out infront of him in a semicircle. Korra, Rev, and Tech took the front. Zeratul sat in the middle on the opposite table of Rtas. Batman sat in the back just behind Rtas. Nyx, however, being the rebellious girl she was sat behind the Chief on the opposite side of Palmer. This earned her a few curious stares, but attention was soon directed to the Chief as he began to speak.
"It's time to answer why we're here."
"I mean it's one of life's great mysteries." Nyx said with a pondering look on her face. Why are we here? Is it some cosmic coincidence? Is there really a God watching everything? You know with a plan for us and stuff? I don't know man, but it keeps me up at night."
The silence that followed was deafening.
"What?" Palmer asked breaking the quiet.
"We were brought here by higher dimensional beings to be apart of a test between good and evil." The Master Chief stated the situation in its simplest form, lest he let this madness continue. Though if he was being honest with himself, Nyx sounded more sane than what he was going to explain. If he hadn't witnessed the Beyonder first hand, John wouldn't even believe the very words coming from his own mouth.
"What was all that stuff about God?" Batman asked, folding his arms over his chest, while casting a weary eye at the youngest.
"Nothing." Nyx replied, no doubt realizing that this was not going to be a philosophical discussion.
Nyx was hunkering down as her faux pas came back to bite her. Her face was that of a teenager who was fully done with the conversation.
"Yeah," Batman focused back on the Spartan-II, "I'm going to need more than a simple answer of a test between good vs evil."
"It is that simple." Zeratul stated cryptically as he positioned himself so that he was facing everyone. "The Beyonder, the one responsible for our current affair, approached us. He revealed he has done this test before, good against evil. We watched the previous world get torn apart to be the battleground of what they called Phase I. Our test is on a larger scale. He wants to see if the results will be the same if the candidates are from different realities. He is now subjecting this world...perhaps even this universe to such a trial." Zeratul said as he closed his eyes envisioning the terrible cost of the conflict ahead.
"Oh." was all Batman could say.
"But we can stop it, right? That's what we're here for. Isn't that why we've been assembled?" Korra asked standing up, looking between each and every person in the room. "We were able to stop Diablo. Couldn't we also beat whatever else comes next?"
"The Power of Friendship!" Nyx cried out with her hand held proudly in the air waiting for a high five.
The two armored individuals only gave her a sidelong glance before turning away. She wasn't left hanging for Rev was quick to fulfill the high five. There was a look of victory on both of their faces, which earned an eye roll from Tech.
"You know, I was really building to something and I kinda felt like you ruined it." Korra remarked as she as she deflated back into her chair.
"Zeratul, please continue." the Master Chief said before Nyx could open her mouth to retort.
"The Beyonder, also said that he and his people would continue to pick 'Champions' of their respective alignment to take part in the conflict. Our battles to come will only escalate as the number of participants begin to swell." Zeratul warned.
"So what do we do next? Do we focus on finding people or taking on these evil chosen ones?" Tech asked, clearly seeking some direction.
"I-think-we-should-focus-on-growing-our-numbers-and-building-up-our-teamwork." Rev began. "We-beat-Diablo-through-superior-numbers-and-working-together. At-least-after-he-handed-our-butts-individually."
"Well that is a good sentiment, but we have nothing to go on at this time and there's still much about this world we don't know." Zeratul said.
"Ghost was able to find us by our emissions. He'll alert us if he finds more. All we can do now is wait." the Chief said.
After the Chief's last statement about the next move a silence descended over the group. A question however, at the back of everyone's mind bugged them.
"Is uh... the meeting over? Are we done?" Korra asked.
"Shouldn't we come up with a name for our group?" Tech asked.
"Yeah," Nyx shot up from her seat, grinning from cheek-to-cheek, seemingly forgetting her foolhardy question from earlier. "Every team needs a name!"
"What about Champions?" Korra said getting back up.
"I like it." Nyx said as she got up.
"Second." Rev agreed.
"Sure." Tech joined it as he stood with group.
"It is a suitable name." Zeratul agreed as he stood with them.
"Hmmm." was all Rtas stated as he continued to sit.
"I need a bit more than that." Korra said.
Rtas just nodded in response.
Then it came to Commander Palmer.
"Well we need a callsign, but why are you all standing?" Palmer asked.
"Don't ask. Just stand up and join the group." Nyx said.
"Fine." Palmer said as she stood up. "Congratulations, we're all standing together. I hope your happy."
"Very!" Nyx hollard.
While there were many unknowns that they still had to deal with the overall mood seemed to have increased from where it had been before. The young and the superpowered had some form of smile on their face whereas the older and more battle hardened seemed more at ease.
"I'll be in the library." The Chief said getting up.
"Not going to take a break?" Palmer asked.
"I'm not shooting at Covies now am I?" the Chief returned. He offered a brief nod to the others as he passed by.
Location: Cafeteria, Traveler
Time: 8:10
Designation: Avatar
Korra watched as the largest man that she had ever seen walked out of the cafeteria. The armored behemoth was quick, to the point and she still knew next to nothing about him. She wondered if anyone else would stay, so they could talk and get to know each other a little better.
Hearing a quick, but deep grunt, Korra looked up to the tall alien, Rtas. Her brief smile then faded.
"When this is finished I will place my sword in the heart of this Beyonder." the alien stared at no one at this declaration and no one challenged him on it either.
Without saying another word, he walked out of the room. It was still odd for her to see an actual alien, and now she had met two. The feeling was a stark contrast to when she saw a spirit. Whereas a spirit was bright and held a sense of mysticism, the aliens were large and almost menacing. She made a mental note to talk with one of them later. Maybe she could learn something about them she could relate to. Other than being forced to be apart of a test for the Beyonder.
As if mirroring the alien's action, Batman also quietly left. He was another case. His aloof and stoic personality reminded her too much of Mako. She and her ex had just gotten back on good terms, only for her to get whisked away in a portal the very next second. If Batman was anything like the firebender like she assumed, anything they would say to each other would only lead to a heated argument. The last thing Korra was to add drama to the never ending pile of problems.
If there was one person she thought she could get along with it was Nyx. She seemed friendly and rather…
"Hey, wait up!" Nyx shouted, and then leapt from her seat.
Korra herself slightly jumped in surprise.
The younger girl rounded the corner to follow Batman or Rtas with Ying flying closely behind her.
Korra blinked in astonishment, then another to prove Nyx had suddenly sprinted out of the cafeteria. She just got up and left out of nowhere. Nyx was certainly an… interesting character, but it was nothing new to the Avatar. If anything Nyx was another Ikki who wore darker clothes. Something Ikki's father, Tenzin, probably wouldn't approve of.
"Now that that's outta the way, Chief's got the right idea." Tech announced, grabbing everyone's attention. "We need to learn all we can about this world. I for one want to know more about this Traveler. I have a few theories on how this Traveler can still function if its supposed to be uh…" Tech brought his hands up for an air quote, "dead."
"Oh-good-idea! Who-knows-what-we-can-find-out? Maybe-it's-not-dead! Maybe-there's-a-tiny-person-inside-controlling-everything-or-it-could-be-a-spooky-ghost." Rev spouted, throwing out random possibilities that were either too crazy to believe or too fast to understand. Then again they just found out they were all brought together by a being with otherwordly powers.
"I shall partake as well. I too am curious about this Traveler." Zeratul said as he walked next to them.
"Hey-three-heads-are-better-than-two-unless-" Before the three left the cafeteria, Rev zipped back to the door, flashing a smile on his beak to those who remained. "It-was-great-teaming-up-with-you-guys. I-can't-wait-to-see-what-we-do-next." He yelled before disappearing from view.
Korra barely saw an outline of a thumbs up when he sped off.
As quick as it was Korra still smiled from his speedy farewell. Even if the words raced a mile a minute, she still picked up on his energetic kindness. It felt nice to see someone with an upbeat attitude. She certainly needed it so she wouldn't think about the overbearing stress in being in an entirely new world. Rev reminded her of Bolin only if the goofy earthbender was a bird and talked much faster.
All that was left was Korra and the woman in snow white armor, who was sipping from a steaming mug. From where she stood Korra got a whiff of the drink and was pleasantly surprised to find it familiar. The bitter, yet invitingly warm smell filled the atmosphere, making her taste buds ache for the creamy, smooth coffee. Finally something she recognized from her world, and Korra took some comfort in the small moral discovery. At least she hoped it was coffee. This new reality was filled things she just couldn't understand, and she knew the imaginary list would only get longer.
An awkward silence filled the room until Korra took a seat across from the older woman. Hearing the shuffles of her own body hitting the chair nearly made her cringe. The Avatar tried to smile, hoping to lighten the mood.
The cup was set down while an eyebrow was raised, as if already asking 'what do you want.'
"You know, I don't think I ever got your name." Korra brought up as she rested her elbows on the table.
The armored soldier was quiet for a moment, her stare on Korra not lingering in the slightest, perhaps thinking if disclosing her name was even necessary.
"Sarah Palmer. Commander Sarah Palmer."
"Nice to meet you, Commander Palmer."
Korra hummed at the answer. She had hoped to get more than three words to get to know Sarah, but then again it was what she asked. At least the rank had told her that Sarah came from a military and has some experience along with leadership. She felt it was safe to assume she could fight if she was here. Being unconscious after the Diablo showdown, Korra missed seeing what Palmer could do.
She would just need to try harder to get Sarah to open up. But having a person from an entirely different reality, sitting right in front of her, there was just so much she could ask. Once again her eyes fell upon the cup.
"What're you drinking?" Korra finally asked, mentally slapping herself for not coming up for something better.
"Coffee."
"Coffee?" Korra parroted, "Like, actual coffee? Grounded beans and caffeine?" She had took some joy in knowing coffee was a drink her world and this shared. It gave her a glimmer of hope that there could be more, more she could understand.
"Yep."
Korra fought the urge to frown. The conversation did not have the best start. Sarah was just about as secluded as Chief Lin Beifong. Barely get three words out of her would be a miracle in its own. However if she learned anything from Tenzin it was to keep trying. Over time Chief Beifong had warmed up to her.
"Mind if I try some?" Korra asked gingerly.
Palmer simply raised her thumb to point behind her.
"You can get your own cup at the isle."
The Avatar looked in the direction and saw metal contraptions that she had no clue how to work. Normally she would try it herself, but she was too tired, not after everything she learned today. Maybe later.
If Asami was here, she might know how to work it. Korra thought to herself.
"That little machine…um Ghost? It filled me on everything, or at least what I can understand. There's just so much to absorb. Where I'm from there is only one planet with four different nations." Korra explained, her chest feeling lighter as she recalled everything she had done as the Avatar along with her friends. "Now I'm told there are different universes, other planets, aliens, space, and this weird technology. And I thought the Spirit Realm was confusing."
"And where I'm from half of that stuff is trying to kill me." Palmer said casually before she took another sip.
Korra's eyes widen from her statement.
"Really? Wow. Hopefully it won't be like that here."
"I wouldn't count on it."
Korra frowned, already picturing how hectic her future was going to be in the new world. Palmer's blunt nature wasn't helping, and the Avatar really wanted to switch topics.
"So, you and the Chief came from the same… place?"
"What gave it away?" Palmer replied sarcastically.
Korra fought the ever growing urge to sigh, but decided to press on.
"Is he a… good guy? From where you two come from I mean."
Suddenly Palmer perked up.
"He's more than that. Chief's a damn hero. I can't tell you how many times he saved the human race from extinction. He's the best Spartan out of all of us." Palmer said.
"Extinction?" Korra asked befuddled. "What's something so bad that can wipe out so many people?"
"It's a long story." Palmer frowned while raising the cup to her lips. "In layman's terms, don't trust any aliens."
Once again a small smile tugged at the corner of Korra's mouth. If the man in the green armor saved so many lives before, then she knew she was in good hands now.
However like before, the smile fell. If the Chief and Palmer knew each other, and Rev and Tech arrived together, where were her friends? Where was Asami, Mako, Bolin, Tenzin, or even Beifong?
Korra folded her arms on the table. Back and forth she rubbed her thumbs against her fists, nervousness eating away within her chest. Even if she was apart of the Champions, they were still strangers. Fighters in their own way, but people she didn't know.
"I wonder if there is anyone from my world here? Anyone I know? The last thing I saw, I was being dragged away from my friend." Korra recalled the frighten look on Mako's face when she was taken.
Korra's cerulean eyes fell upon her hands, mesmerized by her thumbs digging faster and harder into her dark skin, while her mind ran amok. The new world was a complete mystery to her. The moment she was forced upon a city she was instantly hated by its people and she wasn't sure why. Diablo, the first thing she fought, easily overpowered her, causing her to pass out from sheer pain alone. When Korra woke up she learned her new group were on the run from SHIELD. She didn't want to face this challenge alone. If she had one person she knew, it would lift her spirits.
But where was Tenzin to guide her? Where was Mako to encourage her? Where was Bolin to make her laugh? Where was Asami to cheer her on?
Despite that Korra was with a new team, with folks who already risked their lives for her, she had never felt so alone.
"Hey," came the stern voice of Palmer.
Korra quickly brought her eyes up to the female soldier.
"If they're a part of this test, then we'll find them." Palmer said.
For the third time, a smile fought its way out and her negative thoughts were pushed aside. She didn't need to drag herself down in pity. Korra knew it wouldn't get her anywhere and definitely wouldn't get her home. She was the Avatar. Countless Avatars before her had proved there were always ways to win even when hope had looked its bleakest.
Warmth burned in her chest, confidence boiling within her. If they were out there she would find them, and she would need the Champions' help.
Location: Champions' Quarters, Traveler
Time: 8:02
Designation: Avatar
Korra wearily awoke from her slumber. Rising up she stretched her back and punctuated the silence with a loud yawn. The lights of her room rose in brightness to a comfortable level. It was a barren room in her mind, as the only defining features were the bed, an empty closet, and empty drawers.
Rolling out of the bed she examined the only pair of clothes that she had in this crazy world. They had been burned, singed, and suffered an innumerable number of tears in her fights, but had been sewed back together. However, when she felt the material, there weren't any bumps from fresh stitching. The speaking metal bulb named Ghost, but wasn't a ghost, had repaired it for her. She remembered the event vividly as Ghost simply flashed light over her garments and they were as good as new. It was all so strange, it appeared like magic, but Ghost assured her that it was not.
Korra slipped on most of her clothes, but left the parka where it lay. She approached the door and it whooshed open for her. All of this was new to her, such advanced technology that did things she didn't think were possible. Asami would have loved to have seen this place. A pang of regret filled her heart as she remembered her friends and family that she had left only a few days ago. Shaking her head she dismissed such thoughts from her mind and proceeded into the "living room."
It was startling when she had seen it. Azure light that formed a hovering sphere over the table. It was like looking at a map that wasn't on paper. Immediately she had pinged it as an oddity, but to the others they claimed the "hologram" was quite normal. Korra had seen so much in a short amount of time, but this by far had been the most surprising. Earth, the planet, a planet, was a sphere. Asami had told her of such things, but she hadn't thought much of it as it hadn't really concern her. To see it, however, was something else altogether.
It was almost entirely dominated by a blue ocean and white clouds. Where there was landmass there was a wide variety of colors such as white, brown, greens, and other hues of color that she had no words for. She had circled the globe numerous times seeing the ferocious power of storms at sea and the dark side of the planet that was dotted with lights of civilization. Her tongue was at a loss as she could not describe the beauty and majesty of it all. The desperate urge to touch the world sparked within her, only for her hands to pass through it.
She looked at it now, almost two days later, and still it captivated her. A new dawn had just begun on what had been dubbed as Europe and Africa. For a moment she didn't do anything, just simply taking in the sight. When a large white armored being crossed her line of sight, she flinched. Upon a double take, she found it was one of the two aliens, Rtas. The hulking creature said nothing as he passed by and snapped her out of her illusion. Whatever he was, he made no sound as he moved. The only proof she had was watching him walk in the direction of the mess hall.
Her own stomach began to grumble at the thought of food.
"I've talked to spirits before, but I've never spoken to an alien. This should be interesting."
By the time that she had gotten to the mess hall she saw that only a few of the "Champions" were present. Rev and Tech were talking to themselves while Rtas was far off in a corner. Sensing that this would be a good time to get some one on one with her fellow teammate she proceeded to box him in.
Rtas didn't recognize her presence until her tray had cracked against the table. As she sat down it was impossible for her to determine exactly what the alien's facial features were supposed to mean. Her mind was guessing either angry or intrigued. The awkward silence between them drew on more than Korra could stomach.
"So you're an alien?" were the first words that flew from her mouth. "Smooth move Korra. That was one way to break the ice."
"I'm as alien to you as you are to me. I am of the Sangheili species." Rtas replied in a level tone that once again did not give Korra an idea of his emotional state.
Korra repeated the word Sangheili several times in her head, knowing if she said it out loud her tongue would get twisted. The young Avatar preferred not to upset Rtas by accidently mispronouncing his words, and judging by his remarks about the Beyonder, getting on his bad side was a death sentence.
"Where did you learn to fight? I saw you against Diablo, you carried yourself as an experienced warrior." Korra asked.
Rtas eyes' widened as he took her in. His continued silence was not the response she expected. As his features returned to a resting position did he speak again.
"I'm not use to getting praise from a human."
"Why's that? I mean who wouldn't be respectful of someone so dedicated to the martial arts?"
"My kind's relationship with the humans is a contested arena. We may respect one another, it does not mean we like one another." Rtas said flatly.
"So…where are you from and what is it like there?" Korra asked, as she decided to change the course of the conversation to a less sensitive topic.
"I am from Sanghelios. The fourth planet in our solar system, and my homeworld. It is a world where merit is honored. To succeed one must prove themselves. All are warriors without exception."
"What are the sunsets like?" Korra asked.
Rtas looked Korra over as if trying to determine her true motive.
"That depends on the season. Sometimes all three set at once, and at others they set separately. Much like Earth's the sky goes from bright blue to dark purple."
"You have three suns?"
"Yes, and with three suns it has made my planet's environment harsh and capricious. The ideal world to mold strong warriors."
"I can't imagine you getting much sleep either."
Rather than answering her, Rtas turned to his food, his predatory irises dead set on the meal.
The quiet bothered Korra, she wanted to know more. Like some of her teammates, Rtas was stoic, but she had made some ground. She had an idea of what she could ask, though it was rather obvious. It was times like this, she would go for broke.
"Do you miss it?"
Rtas spared her a glance once more, until he stared off at nothing but the wall. Seemingly lost in his own thoughts.
"Yes. As a Shipmaster, I have seen many worlds." He paused for a moment, "Many sunsets. My world is my home and it will always hold a degree of importance to me. And I will see it's suns again.
Before Rtas could respond the voice of Ghost boomed from speakers attached to the ceiling.
"All Champions, report to general living quarters. Another Champion has been found."
"Eat your meal as we move. It is not wise for a warrior to fight on an empty stomach." Rtas said as he downed his own plate.
Korra gave a look of disgust as she watched the Elite's mandibles spread wide and consume his food. It wasn't until after he had ran past her that her mind comprehended what he said. Downing her glass of water she began chasing after Rtas with a partially eaten muffin in one hand. Air blasted from the soles of her feet and she rocketed forward at an accelerated rate. With a second blast directed in front of her she was able to slow herself down.
Coming up beside the alien she downed the rest of her rather large muffin in two bites. Quickly wiping away crumbs she saw that they were the last two to arrive.
"We're all here now. Tell us what you know." the Chief spoke first as he confirmed everyone was present.
"As you all know the event that brought you to this world deposited various Champions all over the world. Finding these Champions has been difficult. The initial panic dumped various footage across all forms of media. I've been combing across it and I believe I have located one." the floating shell of the Ghost whizzed past them.
The holographic representation of the Earth highlighted a northern segment in green. It grew in size replacing the world.
"There have been numerous reports in Germany of sightings of other Champions. Most have been proven to be false, but multiple video footages have confirmed this figure here."
The green nation of Germany was replaced with a shaky amateur camera filming what appeared to be a market square. There was a blond woman posing in front of the camera. Gunshots rang out grabbing the attention of the camera wielder. People screamed as a heavily black and blue armored figure ran past them with several cops in pursuit. Sirens could be heard off in the distance.
"This video was taken in Koblenz several minutes ago and the figure caught in the footage matches several other images found in nearby cities."
"Alright. So when do we get this guy?" Korra spoke first. She was ready to start doing something.
"I don't like this. It's too soon and there is not much that we know about this situation or this character." Palmer spoke, completely ignoring Korra's previous question.
"If we acquired this information, then how long do we have until SHIELD does? Or for that matter what of their enemies?" the Chief spoke loudly, remembering the warning that Captain America had given.
"Unknown. SHIELD and other government agencies are more than likely pouring efforts into locating and containing as many Champions as possible." Ghost replied.
"Time is not a luxury we have. We should act now. Acquire this individual and then find out who or what it is." Rtas stepped forward balling one of his hands into a fist.
"He's right. We can sort out what to do after." Batman said siding with Rtas.
"This mystery is confounding, but it will not be made any clearer if we don't act." Zeratul said as he came to stand by the three who were ready to venture forth.
"This could be fun." Nyx said as she saddled up with the rest.
"Who knows that kind of technology he has?" Tech spoke up.
"Keeping-him-from-being-tortured-by-SHIELD-goons-is-good enough-for-me." Rev said as he stood by the rest.
Both the Master Chief and Palmer shared a look. They were Spartans that went into dangerous situations with barely any information. This however, was a completely different ball game. Although, it was beginning to look as if they joined or risked being left behind.
"We need a weapon." the Chief spoke to Ghost.
Location: Koblenz, Germany
Time: 9:38
Designation: Team 1
At the edge of the thick woods of Germany, the Master Chief took a knee to inspect the primary weapon that Ghost had so kindly given him. It was an assault rifle of their rare stocks as Ghost had so pointedly praised. Silimar's Wrath, a weapon forged from the Iron Lords for those who participated in the Iron Banner. Whatever that meant.
The weapon was silver with gold trim. On the weapon's side was the stamp of the Iron Lords' sigil. Two wolves facing a silver tree. It was a bit flashy for the Chief's taste. However, it's large ammo count reminded him of the MA5B Assault Rifle that he had used on Delta Halo. He would inspect the other weapons later.
"Team 1 is in position." The Master Chief reported as he checked his compatriots.
Korra was overlooking the city with Nyx and Ying directly behind her.
"Team 2 reporting in." Rtas replied. "We are situated in the northwestern corner of the peninsula. Batman, Zeratul, and I will proceed inward to the city with our active camouflage to see if we can get a trace of the individual in question."
"Team 3 here." Palmer spoke next. "I have Rev scouting the residential countryside. Tech is working on scanning for different frequencies to see if he can find anything out of the ordinary and acquiring a satellite for thermal imaging. Hopefully our target is isolated from the general populace."
It was a shame that even though Rev had an inherent tracking ability, it too had its limits. He could distinguish individual markers, but he couldn't discern a specific marker unless he had already met that person.
"Understood. Maintain radio silence until the location of the target is confirmed." the Chief spoke back into his mic. In truth everyone had a mic for communicating, but it was simpler for communication to limit the number of speakers to team leaders.
The Chief received double the confirmation before rising up.
"You two know what to do, right?" the Chief asked the pair one more time.
"Yeah, yeah. Behave like 'normal' tourists and scout the area." Nyx replied with a hint of snark.
"Look for non-populated areas and inspect them. Not too hard to follow, Chief." Korra replied with a bit more respect.
"Good. I'll stay close and watch you the best I can."
"As will I." Ying said as he circled overhead.
Location: Koblenz, Germany
Time: 10:04
Designation: Archangel
A light wind blew through the castle that had stood since ancient times. It had once been a steady bastion, a haven of commerce, and a place for entertainment. Now, as the times of Kings and Lords had passed it had become a common tourist destination for the curious and adventurous. It was closed to the public while renovations took place, but for the sole occupant it was a safe haven from mankind.
His chest heaved under his armor. He could only recall a few times that he had ever had to run so hard before. The top of his list would have to be escaping an explosion from a space station at the edge of a black hole. This one, however, would be in his top ten at least.
Humans could be a difficult species to deal with, but never before had he seen them so feral…and so primitive. The technology here seemed to be postindustrial, which would make no sense given the viable alternatives. However, being ripped through a glowing portal to land in a human medieval fantasy land didn't seem too normal either. He was in a castle, of all things. No one would use such methods anymore, of course there was always the possibility that this was something completely new.
He didn't stop moving until he had reached a terrace from which he could view the city that he had just fled from. Thankfully, the room was dark and concealed his presence. Taking a moment he sat in a chair that wasn't meant for him, but took the rest anyways.
"What was the saying again? 'I don't believe we're in Kansas anymore?'" He would be sure to inquire when he made it back to the Normandy.
After catching his breath he took off his helmet to grab a drink of water and inspect the rations he had left. It wasn't good. Half a canteen of water and enough food for two whole days. It could be a week if he severely limited himself.
From his back he liberated an oblong contraption with a scope on it. With seamless precision his weapon unfolded itself as he grasped its stock. This sniper rifle had been with him for many years and had served him well. Pushing a table in front of the window he began to spy on the city to get a sense of its state of affairs.
Despite the commotion his presence had brought, all seemed quiet. Most of the city seemed to go about its business. He spied police officers patrolling frequently, but he had no idea if that was normal. Only once did the police come close to the castle, but after a quick inspection of the locked gate they had left. If they were still after him, then they were only concerned within the city limits.
His eye strained as he peered through the scope of his rifle. Blinking his heavy eyes he decided to search over the land once more before taking a rest. Through the lens he saw nothing out of the ordinary of his previous search other than a cloud of red dust on the horizon. Peaking his interest, he tried focusing in on it to get a better view.
He couldn't make out much, other than it wasn't very big.
"A single occupant vehicle?" he thought to himself.
As he continued to watch he realized that the vehicle wasn't slowing down, and was headed in his direction. His hand tightened around the trigger. All of a sudden dust and wind gusted into the room causing him to cough and lose focus. When he looked again all he saw was a raptor like creature decked in black and red armor. It stood before the locked gate looking back at the city.
"What-was-that-Chief?" the creature said in a very rapid voice.
There was a moment of silence as someone responded back over.
"Understood. I'm-on-my-way." The creature then took off in the direction of the city.
He watched it run, completely flabbergasted at what he had witnessed. What was that creature? Who was the Chief? Why did it run?
The popping of gunfire answered one of Garrus's questions.
So I believe the question of Mass Effect Characters has been answered. Are we all good with that? Are we all happy with that? Good, then.
I thank everyone for the kind words that have been left in the reviews and that you are interested in the continuation of the story. I hope to improve my skills as a writer and deliver better chapters. IF you need me to be further prompted to finish this story or have a question that you need me to answer (about the story or anything else) leave a review or shoot me a PM.
Angry lil elf: I thank you for your praise. It helps keep me going. I understand how difficult it can be to juggle so many characters and keep them in character as to how they would be reacting in this situation. I will be in contact soon.
Mandalore the Freedom: Thank you for your interest. There are many paths that I'm exploring for the characters to pursue.
DarkLight Kage: The character submissions are closed and are currently under review. It's probably not that answer you wanted, but that's all I can say at the moment.
Nightmaster000: Thank you for enjoying what I've written. The evil "Champions" are being set up quite well and I think some people might be surprised by the choices and what happens. These character interactions are the truly engaging and frustrating parts as these are established characters and I must make their actions in these situations plausible for them. Character suggestion are currently closed.
2 good 2 kill signing off.