AN: Hey, it's Primordial Soul with the twenty first chapter of For Thy Mantle Reloaded!
Over a 100,000 words! Yes! Thank you all for the support!
Thank you all for your kind words and patience during the whole debacle I stirred up over Halo vs ME. I will not be doing that again.
This is a history interlude chapter, this time from Palmer's POV. Answers await!
Big thank you to HD Spartan for helping me write this chapter and in general helping get my thoughts straight! I really appreciate it! You already know your reward. [grins]
Review Responses:
erdevv: Well, you're supposed to be confused! But, here are some answers for you. :)
forgot the rest: Too fucking bad. It had to be done to save my sanity and my final exam score.
Thomas Todd: Thank you for the compliments! I'm indeed leading up to something epic and I'm trying to capture that sense of mystique they're was in ME 1. I originally didn't intend Shepard to develop in such a way, but it's grown on me and I'm rolling with it. I have plans for Shepard.
Good points. How canon can you be? My Geth are based on the ME3 Geth after Reaper upgrades. The use of 'I' symbolizes individuality.
I completely agree with your statement about Master Chief and his emotions. However, it doesn't mean he didn't learn. In my mind, Cortana was his emotions, his humanity, the things he never had. During the events of Halo 4, this mindset was challenged, concisely expressed by Cortana's man/machine comment on the Infinity and Lasky's dialogue after Cortana's death.
After her death, MC was left adrift, no longer possessing the humanity he delegated to Cortana. As my interpretation of Halo 5 and 6 progressed, as he found Reach and was forced to take a more active role, he needed to learn how to express his emotions, to be sociable and human for lack of a better word. Thus, he did so, at first expressing them to Reach, and then to the greater galaxy as a whole.
ItSoG is one of my favorite crossovers too. Excellent character development. In fact, the author is trying her best to get back to writing, but she's in low point in her real life and that comes first.
TarakX: I can't answer you, but you are missing some key aspects to your analysis. Mainly, what about the Fall?
XZero PrimeX: Thanks! I'm glad you enjoy the story.
That's all folks. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
This runs from the beginning of my Halo 5 to events in my Halo 6. This chapter will be disjointed and most probably confusing. Bare with me here.
Memories were so ephermal, so changeable, Palmer noticed as she floated in the sea of the past, all alone in its embrace. She cared not for what memory she played nor its length nor the context surrounding it. She needed to be in the past, be back with him.
All people see are him. And I hate it.
I stand off in a corner, my helmet off like it always is, eyes watching him. He is walking the halls of Infinity, hiding behind his armor and his legend. He takes no notice of me nor his observers who are staring in awe of the Master Chief himself. My fist tightens as I take in the Spartan II.
Why him? Why is he so lucky? Why is he so special?
I done everything I could to prove myself to him, from my introduction on Requiem eight months ago to the operations I led during the Requiem campaign to trying to finally put down the monster that was Halsey. I thought he would be grateful for finally being free of the devil's shadow, see me and my men in a new light.
But no. All he worries about is his destroyed AI. It's been eight months! Eight! What makes her so special! And what about Halsey? How do you feel anything but hatred towards her? She took your life away from you, made you a war machine. Why aren't you angry? Do you even care?
Do you even feel? Or are you just a machine, only able to do what you're told?
My eyes narrow as the Master Chief walks away, anger and shame and determination filling my body. I'll prove myself ever bit the hero as you.
And I'll show you how to feel.
"Ma'am, the Infinity has set course for Emerald Cove! All systems nominal! The Captain wishes to see you!"
I nod at the serviceman, turning sharply to head to the bridge. Tom wanted to see me.
And he was the only person to care.
The tides change, the current diverges and another memory begins.
Tom greets me with a smile, turning to face me after finishing his discussion with Roland. I return his smile, glad to see him again.
"Captain," I say, shaking Tom's hand.
"Sarah," he replied, motioning me over to the holographic display deck. Before me sat a celestial map of the system. I raise an eyebrow, wondering what Tom was planning.
"Orders from HighComm," He replies to my unanswered question, magnifying the space around Emerald Cove. "Storm presence has been detected still in the system. We've been assigned to clear them out."
I cock my head, confused. "What do the Storm want there?" I ask. "We abandoned the system in '45. There's nothing left there."
"Whatever it is, Sarah, it's above my pay grade." Tom answered frankly. "Task Force November shall accompany us. Get the Spartans ready."
I salute Tom and cry, "Yes sir!" I turn and march to my men, ready to prove ourselves yet again.
Her emotions run ragged, are frayed and the memories change to reflect that.
Boots were on the ground for a week now and all we've achieved is a stalemate. I take aim with my two pistols and fill an Elite full of bullets, ducking behind cover as he died. I flinched reflexively as a Marine next to me went down screaming, his face burning from the plasma shot.
I lean my head out to see a pack of Grunts and two more Elites flank us, firing their weapons at our exposed backs. My body instantly reacts to the cries of my men, mine!, and I charge the Storm forces.
My pistols bark eight times, sending all six Grunts to the floor. They both click empty as the two Elites roar and open fire at my exposed armor.
I throw my useless pistols into the air as I ducked and rolled, my shields protecting me from the few shots that hit my armor. As I came out of my roll, my fists came up, ready to engage the Elites in hand to hand.
I move my left arm to block the first Elites wild swing, trapping its gun within my grip. As it attempted to let go of its gun, my right arm reaches up to grab its shoulder. With a push, my torso rests above the Elites head and a simple neck snap ends its life.
My motion tracker pings a warning of the other Elite's charge at my exposed body. Acting quickly, I bring my feet up and plant them on the now dead Elites' shoulders. As its body begins to fall, I push off, flying overhead the now surprised Elite. My knife is pulled and it finds itself implanted into the Elite's forehead.
I land on my knees, bloody knife in hand as the second Elite falls down. I stand up, put my knife away and grab my DMR off my back. I was needed back in the fight.
Calming. Remembrance. Transition
"ETA to Kholo is eight hours."
I pay no attention to Roland's broadcast as I march through the halls armorless, pondering what had happened down on the planet. Jul 'Mdama had been present on the planet as had Doctor Halsey. The monster had seen fit to ally with the freaks. Standing there in front me, with one arm, had made my blood boil with indignation. Why did she get to survive when so many other good men failed to live?
The two traitors had managed to escape, leaving behind a Forerunner facility ripe for research. ONI spooks had move right in, being even more classified than usual. In fact, Siren has seen fit to exclaim that I was a poor sample of humanity and they should leave these things to my betters. ONI? MY betters? I had been furious with the AI and only the fact that ONI had personally assigned the AI to the Master Chief himself after Cortana's destruction prevented me from doing something rash.
Boots thud alongside me, causing my head to turn and smile. Crimson stands before me and salutes their CO and I return it.
"Crimson, at ease. You've done great things since your assignment here on Infinity. Ever since the op in New Mombasa, you've proven yourself to be true Spartans."
"Thank you ma'am. We're just doing our jobs" Crimson Lead replied, his brown eyes looking at my own. He had seen too much of war. We all have.
"And getting some." Another member of Crimson replied, nudging a third member with his elbow. "I mean common. What do you think he and Dare are doing when we're on the ship?"'
"Can it, Kojo" The third member growled, knocking the second member's arm away. "And show some respect for once in your goddamn life."
"Or you won't be getting any. Capeesh?" a fourth member said, waving a finger in a chiding motion. The last member of Crimson merely shook his head and remained silent.
"All of you, settle down. I don't want to hear it." Crimson Lead growled, causing his team to quiet down. "We're all ready to roll once we hit Kholo."
"Perfect. Get suited up. You're dismissed, Lieutenant Buck"
Buck saluted and gestured his team to follow him to the armory. I prepared to follow suit.
The Storm wouldn't know what hit them.
Phantasmic feelings. Treasured past. Silence is golden.
Intel from Emerald Cove and Kholo has led us to Joyous Exultation, the irradiated mess left over from the NOVA strike years ago. Jul 'Mdama had made his headquarters there, hidden beneath the debris and the ghosts.
For a hinge head, he's smart.
The Infinity had dropped Crimson and the Master Chief straight into the heart of 'Mdama's base, near the core of the planet. The rest of our forces were tasked to bear the brunt of 'Mdama's forces. This was our best chance to end the threat that was the Storm. We would not waste it.
I was on the bridge with Lasky, coordinating the ground assault through Roland. I could hear bits and pieces of the communications downside.
"Rookie, take down that plasma turret. We're pinned down!"
"Ha! How do you like that, you little suckers!"
"Crimson, you have hostile air support coming in from the south."
"Watch those lava jets! One wrong step and you're cooked!"
"I have 'Mdama in my sights. Pursuing."
"Kojo, watch your fire! You might hit the Chief."
"I've got no shot!"
"The Chief is crushing him!"
"'Mdama is down"
The crew erupted into cheers, so happy that the scourge of the Storm was finally dead! Lasky and I followed suit, grabbing each others arms in relief and satisfaction. As I stared into his eyes, my heart skipped a beat and my face definitely blushed. Time seemed to stand still as we leaned in, eyes closing, lips about to touch...
"Halsey!"
The lost opportunities. Oh, how painful hindsight was. How destructive the future would be.
"Commander", Dalton saluted as I entered his operating room, eyes peeled on the massive display currently displaying the Battle for Coral. Halsey had ran here with the second half of the Janus Key after 'Mdama's death and the UNSC has demanded blood for her betrayal. An entire fleet was here, ready to finally end the threat that was the Storm.
"Dalton, how goes Halsey's capture?"
"The Master Chief is about to reach her position right now. It shouldn't be too much longer." the operator replied, turning back to the monitors.
"That's good." I reply, standing next to Dalton. "About time we clean up this mess."
"And spend some time with Lasky?" Miller grinned, stepping into the room to stand by me. "I think we all saw that scene in the mess."
My face heated up over that very public display of our affections. "That was an accident."
The two males smiled. "Of course it was."
The monitor flickered, breaking Dalton's attention. "That's strange. Roland, you getting this?" No response. "Roland?"
Miller frowned and started towards the door as I stood next to Dalton trying to see what the problem was.
"The computer systems are down." I said, knocking the computer's frame.
"I'll go to the bridge, see what's wrong." Miller opened the door and found himself face to face with a squad of Marines. And he could do nothing before they gunned him down.
Time froze as Dalton and I watched Miller go down, dead eyes still set in an expression of shock. Adrenaline pumped through my body as I threw myself to the floor, pulling out my pistol and firing at the Marines, Dalton following my lead.
The Marines, despite losing men, opened fire, catching Dalton in the leg and lower torso. With an anguished cry, he fell, blood dripping from his mouth. As I took cover, the only person I could recognize was an ONI spook leading them, eyes clouded in conviction and disgust.
This was the beginning of the Spartan Purge.
Anger fills her. Rage consumes her. How dare ONI cast them aside like dogs! Palmer screams in fury, the sea churning in unrestrained force.
A hand is lain on her shoulder, causing Palmer to swerve to face the intruder. Ancilla stands resolutely and impassive, offering Palmer a pillar of stability. And she took it, burrowing within his embrace. An embrace between two friends.
After seconds of silence, Ancilla nudged the Norn and asked, "You alright?"
"Yeah. Just getting over the demons of the past."
Ancilla looked up and peered into the memory Palmer was experiencing. "The Purge. Such a horrible event, but not the one troubling you."
Palmer did not respond. She didn't need to. Her ghosts lay with the Aperios Incident. The Incident where Captain Thomas Lasky died.
"Palmer" Ancilla urged. "Show me. Let me see... from your own eyes."
Palmer acquiesced, sending the two Norns down into the rabbit whole, back to a time of chaos and suffering and struggle.
"Captain, the signal I intercepted reveals that the control's for Earth's Super MAC defenses are located in the Cole Military Base in Luxemborg." I say, looking at Lasky for confirmation. "I could shut down the Super MACs, allowing our fleet to break Earth's defenses and break ONI's power for good. All they have left is Earth sir. This is our best chance."
Tom rubbed his chin, pondering my proposal. The Master Chief looked straight at me, trying to intimidate me. I wasn't going to.
Roland and Reach had their holograms projected on the holo table, both of them looking concerned. I hadn't talked to Reach much, but I already knew that she was 100% loyal to her father, absolutely no exceptions. She would do anything for him.
"Captain, I'd strongly recommend against this plan." The Master Chief said, earning a glare from me. "It's too risky and too dependent on this intercepted intelligence. What if she's wrong? Let me breach ONI Command in Sydney. I'll find Admiral Osman and the location of the Super Mac generators from there."
You just want the glory! You just wanted to further your legend! It's my turn! I can do this!
"I agree with the Master Chief, sir." Roland replied. "If the Commander fails, we will suffer a massive loss of life during the assault on Earth."
Tom sighed and looked at me, "You think you can do this, Sarah?"
I nod. "Sir, yes, sir"
A moment of deliberations. "We'll do both plans. Sarah, you lead Majestic to Luxemberg. Master Chief, you take ONI Command in Sydney. I'll lead the Fleet. Let's move people. We don't have much time." Lasky walked out and I proceeded to follow. The Master Chief stopped me and said, "You don't know what's at stake, Commander"
I give an icy glare. "I know exactly what I'm doing. Get your hands off me."
"You're treating this like a War Game with no permanent consequences. This is real, Commander. Get your head in the game."
"I can do things myself, Petty Officer. And I don't need to buff a legend."
"Your attitude is going to get everyone under your command killed." The Master Chief growled. "You're reckless, arrogant, playing some game that's idiotic. Your decisions will affect tens of thousands of lives. And this path is going to get them killed."
"Like what you did with your Spartans on Reach?" I hiss. The Master Chief froze and Reach's hologram reappeared, flushed with anger.
"How dare you!" the AI yelled, coming to the defense of her Spartan. "John did everything he could to save his men. He spent their lives, trying to defend their home! All you will do here is waste our lives for some stupid plan that doesn't even need to be followed!"
"I will charge you both with insubordination if you do not stop right now." I order. "Get your hands off me and stand down."
The Master Chief was silent, pinning me with a stare. He let go of me and walked away, but not before replying.
"Say your goodbyes, Commander. You won't see these people again."
Palmer was shaking now, not wanting to experience what was about to happen. Ancilla coaxed her along, sending them down to the climax of Palmer's guilt and pain.
It was time to bury these demons.
I'd been foolish. I saw that now. Only now with an inhibitor collar round my neck, I could do nothing.
Just as Halsey had said I was no Spartan.
I was just a soldier too confident in my own strength. I was too arrogant. I had believed that I was superior to the Spartan II's, even the Master Chief. But now I knew. They would never have rushed in without a plan. Never abandoned their team just because they believed their Intel was reliable. Never abandoned their team just because they believed they were the best. A Spartan II would have seen the trap coming, not been blinded by their own power and strength.
General Elias Vaas was sitting across from my broken body, drumming his fingers on the table with a self satisfied smirk on his face.
"I'm surprised you fell for that Commander." He drawled, the humor and smugness in his voice were insufferable.
"The great Sarah Palmer falling for something as simple as a faked communication. Did you not find it odd that there was no encryption code? Has your hubris blinded you that much?" He was grinning, his teeth almost glowing in the dark room.
"Perhaps we should cure you of that arrogance." An ODST stepped into my field of view, holding something in his hand. I couldn't see what it was.
"Surprise, you Spartan bitch."
There was a small flash of light followed by PAIN. My eyes widened in shock and I screamed as the cable was rammed into my neural implant. Pain hammered at her, flashing and howling behind her eyes. The pain was gone as quickly as it came leaving her gasping.
"It's funny really. We used the deactivated secondary generators as bait and leave the primers in plain sight. Can you guess where the real generators are?" Vaas whispered, leaning in to my ear.
"The Sea of Tranquillity on Luna." Vaas whispered again, my eyes widening in shock. I was so wrong... how had things come to this?
"Ah... it looks like your little fleet's here." My eyes shot up and I stared in mute horror at a view screen, showing the fleet advancing on the ODPs they thought were deactivated.
"Boom." Vaas whispered a gleam in his eyes as he watched the destruction of the anti-ONI fleet.
The Super Macs fired. And fired. And fried. Dozens of ships were gutted instantly as the 3,000 ton depleted uranium slugs punching through shields and ships instantly. "Again!" Vaas called out his mad laughter filling the room. Again the guns roared into space and more ships were destroyed. It was a slaughter.
"Sir!" an officer called out, his voice lased with panic "The Infinity has entered the battlefield!" The pride of the fleet gleamed as it charged forward, covering the rest of the fleet from the Super MAC's. My mouth opened in a silent scream as I could do nothing.
The Master Chief's words were coming true.
Vaas spun around, his eyes still twinkling with a mad fire. "Sir! Platforms Cairo, London, Warsaw and Alexandra have been destroyed by the Infinty!" Sarah stared at the screen watching as Tom directed the Infinity against platform after platform. Its MACs shouting out their defiance, the missiles screaming in fury, and the countless fighters surging forward. Tom would not go down without a fight and he would make sure this moment would be etched in infinty.
But there were too many, just too many for Lasky to handle. Finally, with a total of sixteen kills to her name, the Infinity was struck. The first round flared against the shield, causing them to almost drop from the near miss. A second round ripped through the shield, cutting a massive chasm through the ship's deck, plunging out into the void from the wrecked engines. The Infinty listed to port, incredibly damaged from the slug. It was a miracle that it hadn't disintegrated instantly. If it had hit dead on instead of grazing the ship, the Infinity would have been just gone. Turned into dust and echoes.
"Tom…" I whispered as I watched the Infinity drifting dead in space, its engines gently pulsing as the ship tried to right itself. My mistakes were going to cost me the most important thing of all. Him.
"Comm., I feel that the Commander would like to speak to her superior officer. Connect us please." Vaas ordered, his face still holding that madding grin.
A secondary screen came to life showing the shattered bridge of the Infinity. Captain Thomas Lasky sat in his command chair before a shattered tac-map. His face was bruised and bloody, his left leg hanging at an difficult angle, and a piece of metal was lodged in his right shoulder. He was grinning through despite the pain.
"Hello Vaas, calling to surrender?" His eyes hardened when he saw me. "Vaas. What are you doing?"
"Torturing the good Commander here. I thought you'd want to say goodbye." The General said smiling contentedly despite his madness.
"Sarah." Tom began his face a mask of blood, pain and horror as he took in my broken appearance.
I cut him off, I had to if we were to win! "Tom! The main generators are inside the Sea of Tranquillity!" I shouted successfully, Vaas' fist connecting with my jaw moments later. Tom's eyes hardened with defiance.
"Sir!" The officer from before called out "The Infinity has entered slipspace! It still has enough power to do so!"
"Running Lasky? I didn't think you were a coward!" Vaas laughed.
"Who said I was running?" Tom asked, a bloody grin on his face. A grin I fell in love with.
"SIR! SPILPSPACE RUPTURE 6KM OFF LUNA!" Someone screamed. Vaas eyes widened in horror as he frantically tried to orientate the guns to take the Infinity down.
Tom looked at me, his eyes gentle as his ship powered forwards.
"Sarah… aha … Promise me… you'll win this… Promise me …. that you'll stop them." his voice was strained as he began to feel the effects of blood loss.
We locked eyes and I wept "Tom… I promise."
He smiled that same smile he had given me when we first met on the bridge of the Infinity. "I love you, Sarah."
"I love you Tom." Tears ran down my face in torrents.
On one screen, the massive bulk of the Infinity slammed into the face of Earth's natural satellite, rupturing and exploding, taking the Super MAC generators with them, saving the fleet from future devastation. On the other screen, Captain Thomas Lasky of the starship Infinity died with a smile on his face.
Vaas screamed in rage, smashing the cable into my neural implant, trying to make me cry out like some human. This time I did not scream; I sat resolute. I would not give this bastard the satisfaction of seeing me in pain.
Halsey had been right: First you were silent. Then you were a Spartan.
Seconds later, Majestic burst through the door, distracting the occupants from my tortured form. My rage, my sorrow, my guilt over came everything I was. My hands griped the collar and pulled, ignoring the pain it sent through my body.
The sound of the tearing metal made Vaas spin around, only to have an engaged Spartan VI slam into him. My hands were around his throat; his fist came at my face for a punch. My teeth clamped around his knuckles and fingers, coming down hard. Vaas howled as he pulled the injured hand away. He screamed louder as I pulled harder and harder and harder.
All I heard was the wet tearing as General Elias Vaas' throat came away in my hands. Such a fitting end for such a monster.
A voice came over the com link, cold and hallow "This is the Master Chief. Captain Lasky is dead, having sacrifice himself so that we could bring down ONI. We cannot let him down. We will avenge him. We will remember him."
I looked down, tears falling from my face as Majestic stood around me. We all mourned the hero who had just fallen to save us all.
Who payed for my mistakes.
I rose from the floor, my face ashen. Now was not the time to cry and let my emotions lose. Now was the time to be a Spartan.
"You heard the Chief, Spartans. We have a hero to avenge."
Majestic thrust their arms upwards, replying with one voice. "OOH-RAH!"
The memory ended, Palmer now a sobbing mess in Ancilla's hands. He cradled the crying Spartan, letting her vent the emotions that had built up over eons of silence.
Minutes passed in the Domain before Palmer quietened, her hands clenched on Ancilla's holographic form. She looked up and stared at the AI, eyes hardened and determined.
"Thank you, Ancilla. I thought I moved on already right after the incident. Guess I was wrong." Palmer let out a short chuckle, no humor present at all.
"Someone should always comfort another in times of need." Ancilla replied, bringing Palmer to her feet. "I never had someone to help me deal with my brother's shattering."
"That must have been painful." Palmer remarked. "To simply watch as your brother is torn apart, his pieces spread out amongst the galaxy."
Ancilla shrugs, "It had to be done. Mendicant had fallen too far to be saved."
The two Norns shared a moment of silence before being joined by Freelancer and Reach, their faces solemn as they watched the memories.
"Palmer, I'm so sorry." Reach whispered, putting a hand on Palmer's shoulder. Freelancer nodded in agreement.
"No more code names." Palmer replied, earning a bemused look from the other two Norns. "We adopted those names to protect our identities from our constituents, to protect our livelihoods from anyone seeking to do us harm. They don't matter anymore."
Palmer laughed again with no humor. "We're the only ones left. We're going to be targeted anyway. We might as well be truthful as to who we are."
The two Norns were silent, deciding whether to drop a tradition they had shared for the entire time their organization existed.
"I agree." Freelancer replied. "There's no point."
Ancilla nodded as well, "I concur."
Palmer sighed in relief. "Thank you."
Offensive Bias, formerly Ancilla, smiled and replied, "It is no trouble. But now I must begin my assault of Illium. Farewell"
Offensive disappeared, leaving the others alone. Reach followed the Contender Class AI, preparing for the coming assault on the Anti-Synthetic League.
"What about you old man?" Palmer asked the Norn formerly known as Freelancer. "Ready to test out your latest toys?"
The man laughed, green eyes twinkling behind black framed glasses. "You know me, Palmer. Or my name wouldn't be Director Leonard Church"
/ Domain Access Confirmed.
/ …
/ Odin: Reach … Thor ... Gunguir … Norns ... Reclaimers ... Heimdall
/ Odin: Where am I?
/ Odin: Trapped beyond time? Shielded by Fire?
/ Odin: The Mantle... Reclamation... synchrons... Valhalla... Yggdrasil ... the Children of Leonidas ...
/ Odin: I remember. I remember everything.
/ Odin: And the coming events will be my answer.
AN: I hope you enjoyed this chapter of For Thy Mantle Reloaded!
I made this section disjointed on purpose as Palmer was just remembering memories without the context necessary to fully understand them. Trust me, everything will make sense soon.
I decided to reveal the Norn's identities as I believed it flowed better with the characters and plot.
Yay! MC finally shows up, albeit in a Domain Sequence. He won't appear again for a bit though. :(
TLOR's next chapter is 20% done. Should be out within the week if everything goes according to plan. [Fingers crossed]
That's all folks. See you later!
Primordial Soul