Disclaimer: I don't own Halo, all OCs are mine
chapter 35: rejecting your bias
November 9, 2552
location: pelican dropship over UNSC aegis fate
Hocus was kind enough to orbit the aegis fate's LZ for ten minutes to give the Spartans some extra shut eye. Kyle was jostled away as the pelican touched down as was the other Spartans. They reloaded their weapons and stocked up on extra mags before disembarking.
"I've got to go meet up with the commander for the attack on truth's position" said hocus. "Good luck."
"same to you" Kyle replied as the pelican took off. After it was clear, Kyle got an unobstructed view of their LZ, sandtrap.
"Let me guess" said Kelly who read Kyle movements, "this place was also one of those multiplayer things?"
"yep" said Kyle who surveyed the area. The remains of scorpions and warthogs littered the sand along with wrecked covenant vehicles. Some of the ancient rock structures bore plasma scaring and damage from UNSC weapons. A ripple in the air in front of Blue Team signaled the arrival of a Spartan III. The Spartan deactivated their active camo and unpolarized their faceplate.
"Nice to see you up and around, Holly" said Kyle.
"thanks, Chief" Holly replied. "The el-tee wants to see you, follow me."
Holly led Blue Team through the battlefield and the skeletons of the vehicles, bodies of marines and Covenant alike also littered the sand and ruins.
"Must have been a hell of a fight" said Kelly.
"we only got here after the marines softened the brutes up" Holly explained on the walk. "They took heavy casualties and there's not even half a company left. The rest are back on the fate... either in the infirmary or in body bags".
Kyle looked up at the frigate hanging majestically over the ruins, loaded with the wounded.
"A lot got torn up by the mines the brutes planted around the perimeter" said Holly. "We've marked out the mine field, make sure you don't go past the yellow markers".
"I'll keep that in mind" said Kyle who knew where the mines were. Holly took them over to the ravine where Kyle was reminded of many multiplayer battles, but that was another life so Kyle quickly pushed the nostalgia aside. On top of the main structure Kyle could just make out five hidden Spartan IIIs. Their movements he didn't recognize so Kyle assumed it was Team Katana. At the entrance to the crypt stood Tom and Lucy both hefting SPNKrs.
"Expecting trouble?" Kyle asked as they entered.
"you never know, Chief" Tom replied.
Inside the main crypt was Team Saber surrounding Doctor Halsey, Shane, Taloar, Fred and another marine Kyle didn't recognize. They were lording over something on the rock rise in the crypt.
"Sir" said Kyle as he walked forward and saluted. "Reporting as ordered."
"take a look at this, Kyle" said Fred as he pointed at the floor, specifically the weird hologram image in the rock. And the one in the ceiling.
"This 'thing' is the only thing in the ruins that doesn't look old" said Halsey. "Care to elaborate?"
"you know, I don't really think I ever figured out what it is" said Kyle. "I always assumed it was some forerunner thing that Bungie threw in for aesthetic reasons".
"Bungie?" Halsey asked.
"they're the company that made Halo" Kyle explained.
"impossible" said Taloar, "the Forerunners created Halo"
"well I suppose you could call Bungie the Forerunners of my universe" Kyle joked.
"did this 'bungie' ever say what it was?" Kelly asked.
"nope" Kyle replied. "nobody ever cared what it was. Most people were trying to get the flag or plant the bomb one one of the elephants".
"Pardon me?" said the Marine. "how in the hell do you know so much about this place"
"its a long story, lieutenant Sinclair" said Fred.
"I'd very much like to hear it" Sinclair replied, "since it was my Marines that got killed so your scientist and her pet elite could drool over some damn hole in the floor".
Taloar shot a nasty glare at this Sinclair guy, but Halsey continued to stair into her laptop, not even acknowledging the marine's comments.
"Has anyone just tried touching it?" said Kyle as he placed his hand on the surface.
"No, don't!" Halsey cried before she noticed nothing happened. "Well I guess it wasn't booby trapped after all" she said.
"relax, its fine" said Kyle as he touched it again, but this time there was a rumbling sound followed by the glass surface turning to a bright yellow and sending a yellow beam into the ceiling. The Spartans raised their weapons at the beam instinctively, expecting it to lunge at them. The beam cut off after a few seconds and the Spartans lowered their weapons.
"El-tee, I've got activity out here" Megan said over the COM. She uploaded what her suit's camera was seeing to their HUDs. The yellow light had gathered in between the pillars on the main structure and crystal rods emerged from the spine. The yellow light shot down through the rods on the spine before gathering for a moment at the other set of pillars. It only remained there a second as it reduced to needle fine size and shot forth into the desert.
"Megan, get on the COM to the fate" said Fred, "have them find out..."
"wait, Lieutenant" said Halsey as she watched the feed on her glasses.
The yellow light returned and repeated the same process in reverse order, only a hundred times faster. Before they knew it, the yellow beam in the crypt was back, but it suddenly intensified. Kyle's visor tried to tint to compensate but the light suddenly burst forth enveloping everyone in the crypt.
--
"El-tee, respond!" Megan yelled into her COM, there was no response. She dived off the ledge and into the ravine. She entered the crypt, MA5K at the ready. Tom and Lucy were gone and when she entered the main chamber she found it empty.
"What do you see?" Nick asked from outside. "what happened?".
"get the fate on the horn" Megan ordered, "we need a search party down here".
November 9, 2552
location: unknown
The bright light finally faded and Kyle got a look at their surroundings. Everyone was practically in the same positions as they were in the crypt, even Tom and Lucy were there, just a few meters away. They found themselves in some kind of vaulted, cathedral-like room.
"Any idea where we are?" Fred asked.
"its familiar" said Kyle "damn it, what's the name of this place...epa something. Wait, its epitaph".
"What can you tell us about this place?" Halsey asked.
"not much" said Kyle. "I barely remember it. I used to hate this map, too small".
Suddenly, Lieutenant Sinclair walked over to Kyle, drew his M6C and pointed it at Kyle's head.
"Now I know even a Spartan can't withstand a magnum at close range" said Sinclair. "Ackerson said you were hiding something. Parallel universes huh, you are going to tell me everything you know right now or I'll blow your brains out right here".
Kelly, Fred and the others moved to defend Kyle but he raised a hand up to stop them.
"So you're Ackerson's spy here?" Kyle asked.
"that's right" Sinclair replied, "the good Colonel couldn't be here himself so he made sure I was assigned to the aegis fate to monitor his Spartan IIIs. But I never imagined that I would find out what he'd been searching for in you. Now you'll do what you did before and send only us two back to the fate".
"Look, asshole" said Kyle. "I don't even know how we got here in the first place, why haven't you realized what kind of man Ackerson is".
"Be quiet" Sinclair hissed as he drew a concealed pistol with his other hand and pointed it at Kelly. "You'll do as I say or your girlfriend gets it".
Kyle started to laugh a little, "you forgot, we all have shields"
"Kyle, I can't... move" said Kelly.
Kyle glanced around and saw everyone of the Spartans couldn't move, even Tom and Lucy were stuck
"I'm detecting a signal emanating from Sinclair's neural lace" said Kalmiya. "its put everyone's armor into lockdown mode. Except yours".
"No doubt your AI has noticed my insurance policy" Sinclair smirked.
Taloar whipped out his plasma sword and Shane raised his plasma rifle at Sinclair.
"Do nothing or I shoot both Kyle and his girlfriend!" Sinclair snapped. "Now I will count to thr..." he didn't say anything else because a bright yellow beam struck him causing Sinclair to crumple to the floor. The other Spartans were able to move again
"what the hell was that?!" said Kyle.
"I'm afraid I couldn't let him interfere with my plans, reclaimer" said a voice from behind them. Kyle and the others spun around but didn't see anyone there but Kyle suddenly made the connection when he saw the large hologram suspended in the air. Taloar walked in front of everyone else and got down on his knees.
"An oracle" he muttered. "You are like the one in the holy ship."
"that is because I am the same one you refer to" the hologram replied, "but I am neither holy nor an oracle. I am a monument to my own sins. I am 034 Mendicant Bias, Forerunner contender class artificial intelligence".
"Just stand up" Kyle said to Taloar.
"you do not understand" said Taloar. "This is what I have been searching for, one who could prove my claims".
"come to think of it, the name bias sounds familiar" said Kyle. "You were that thing in the terminals showing the Chief all those records".
"I am surprised at how you know this, reclaimer" said bias, "but yes I am the one sending the historical records to the other reclaimer. So that he may understand my reasons".
"For betraying the forerunners during the war?" said Kyle.
"precisely" said bias.
"I do not understand" said Taloar.
"he's the reason the Forerunners lost the war" said Kyle "he turned over to the gravemind. The Forerunners were left with no other choice but to lite the rings".
"What you say cannot be true" said Taloar.
"the reclaimer is correct" said bias "I am the reason my masters are all dead. After they were killed the remaining Forerunner AI fragmented me and took part of myself here for study. I was imprisoned in this very place for eons. The other part of me was trapped aboard the Forerunner ship that the San Shyuum found and eventually built a city and a false religion around. They saw my shard as an oracle to their great journey. When I learned of your species, reclaimer, I attempted to fly the ship to the ark portal, but I was prevented from doing so by the one you call Truth. He and two other of his kind disconnected me from the ship and I was left to ponder while they waged war with the reclaimers. When the Truth meddler brought this ship to the ark I was able to reunite with my other shard and became whole again, I realized my purpose, I realized I must make amends and because my Masters are dead my debt now falls to you, reclaimer".
"Wait, you mean me?" said Kyle.
"you were the one who deactivated the security system that kept my being from being released from this prison. I am indebted to you and only you, reclaimer" said bias.
"Let me get this straight" said Fred. "you were responsible for the deaths of the entire Forerunner race and now you want to play nice. Fat chance?"
"I believe him" said Kyle. "think about it, his two halves have had a hundred thousand years to think it over. Their decision, its consequences. That would drive a person to insanity, or pure clarity which is what I think bias has achieved here.
"Wise words, reclaimer" said bias.
"Ok, lets say I play along with this" said Fred. "what exactly do we get?"
"I am willing to help you when you need it" said bias, "but first I must ask for you help. This place is designed as a prison and as the reclaimer has pointed out, I have very little function outside the confines of the structure".
"What do you ask of us, oracle?" said Taloar.
"I have access to the translocation system used to bring you here" said bias. "I must leave the ark and I have an escape plan ready. But I cannot implement it from here. I will send you where you can put the necessary things in motion".
"Fred, how bout it?" Kyle asked
"ok we'll..." Fred started before they were suddenly surrounded by the familiar rings of golden light and were deposited in some kind of control room covered with holo displays.
"What happened to Team Saber?" said Kelly.
Kyle looked around the room and everyone was accounted for, except Saber.
"If you are referring to the aboriginals you had with you, they were returned to the security center" said bias from one of the consoles.
"What do you mean 'aboriginals'?" said Fred. "they're Spartans, like the rest of us".
"I detected unusual activity with their brain chemistry that was indicative of a primate state" said bias, "or a least approaching such a state".
"Their augmentations" said Halsey, "they're going too long without the counter agent".
"I don't understand" said Taloar.
"neither do I" said Shane. "just what the hell was the el-tee up to?"
"I don't want to interrupt you discussion" said bias, "but I think you should see this". A holographic map appeared around them. It was of the citadel where Truth was located, the one capable of firing the Halo rings. They watched as UNSC forces attacked the shield generators and they went down. The shadow of intent appeared and was slowly approaching the citadel
"now, prophet... your end as come" said shipmaster vadum over the COM.
Suddenly, a slipspace rupture appeared in the sky and a flood infested High Charity arrived and began raining flood debris over the area.
"High charity... by the gods brace for impact!".
The shadow of intent was struck and veered off.
"No... its him said bias. "we must hurry, come"
The map disappeared and a console highlighted. Kyle walked over to it and pressed the largest button on the console. All the other controls winked off and part of the wall in front of Kyle slid away to reveal what was on the other side. They were looking out over what seemed like a bottomless pit, but hovering in front of them was a partially constructed Halo.
"It can't be" said Taloar.
"my god" said Halsey as she took off her glasses to look upon the ring with her own eyes.
"this is what John was talking about" said Fred.
All of the Spartans stood along the open hatch admiring the ring. Even Kyle was impressed at the scope of the Halo, a real honest to god Halo.
"you have activated the override systems" bias explained. "This will allow me to launch the ring before it is completed. This is how I will leave my prison".
"That's good and all" said Kyle, "but I need you to send Halsey, Taloar and Shane back to sandtrap. Get the IIIs into cryo before the damage to their brains becomes permanent".
Halsey nodded and a second later she, Taloar and Shane disappeared in the rings of light.
"Sir" Kyle said to Fred, "requesting permission to storm the citadel".
"Granted, lets do it" said Fred.
Blue Team, Tom and Lucy gathered together, weapons at the ready.
"put us outside the citadel" Kyle said to bias.
"I am detecting someone else attempting to access the system" said bias.
'We don't have time for this" said Kyle, "just turn it on".
The rings of gold light surrounded the Spartans, but when they faded Kyle noticed he wasn't with the group anymore, but surrounded by brutes all leveling brute shots at him.
"I have done it" said the brute manning the console behind him.
"Very good, chieftain" said the creature hovering in front of Kyle, the prophet of Truth. "You will assist me in clearing the path for the great journey, demon".