The Witcher: A Different Breed Of Wolf
I do not own Halo or The Witcher in anyway shape or form, they belong to their respective owners.
"So? This is Kaer Morhen?" Noble Six asked the Witcher beside him after the group had finally reached the Witchers' stronghold after being on the trail for around six days instead of the week and a half it should have taken. What Geralt hadn't considered was a man able to outrace a horse.
Geralt during the trek back to Kaer Morhen had seen the Spartans face a couple of times traveling with him and Eva, who not once had left her guardians side. What through him through a loop was how much he resembled a Witcher. Pale white skin with a few dozen scars from various battles; if he hadn't seen his blue eyes, he could've been fooled into believing that he was traveling with a fellow Witcher.
"It's might not look like much...but it's home." The White Wolf answered to Spartan as he pushed the large brown doors open; Eva meanwhile was sleeping peacefully on his shoulders like she had been for the last few hours since she had exhausted herself from the spars that she and Six had daily.
"So, you've finally returned from the path, Wolf?" An ancient voice greeted the two as they entered the old building." And you brought company!" The old man added as he stepped out of the shadows revealing themselves.
He had long shoulder length silver hair that was slicked back, slit cat-like eyes that had an orange/golden glow much like Geralts, pale white skin and moustache. He was wearing a blue padded coat with brown shoulder pads that were covering the chainmail, spiked gauntlets, brown padded trousers and boots.
"Though I don't think I've encountered somebody as tall or wearing such…. foreign armour." He remarked as he came to a stop before the two and studied the super soldier.
Though I don't think I've ever seen anybody so tall or wearing armour such as yours." The man commented as he looked at the Spartan-III commando.
"Understandable." His neutral response got a raised brow from the old Witcher.
"Vesemir, meet Spartan-B312," Geralt introduced the two. "and Eva." He pointed at the sleeping child. "I encountered them while on the contract concerning the armoured Troll...well meet the Troll."
Six turned his head to the white haired Witcher, only to see his lip twitch.
"He killed the peasants in retaliation when they raped the girl's mother." Geralt told his father figure who nodded in understanding. "Eva could do with some warm clothes and a hot meal once she wakes up."
"Of course. "The old Witcher agreed to the simple request. "Follow me, boys." The old Witcher said turning on his heel and guided them through the hall that was empty of activity. It still felt surreal for Alex to be in such a primitive world that not only lacked the most basic technology, but a world that had creatures that only existed in fantasy, or myths such as Werewolves.
Reaching the room that Vesemir had led them too, Six carefully took Eva of his back and gently lowered her to the bed. Resting her on the mattress, he placed the covers over her bringing a soft smile to the young girl as she snuggled into the pillow.
"So, do you have a name?" The old Witcher questioned the Hyper Lethal who turned to face the old warrior. He tried to get a read on him as he stared into the glass that only reflected his own reflection; damn he looked old.
"Noble Six."
"Somehow I doubt that's your real name." Vesemir vocalized his douts on anyone naming their child Noble Six.
"I think they want to know who you are, Six." A feminine voice with an accent that they weren't quite familiar with came from the Spartan, leaving them both bewildered; none more than Geralt.
"But, you're male. I saw your face."
"I am." The Lieutenant affirmed responding to the white haired Witcher. He had been planning on keeping his partners existence a secret from the primitive humans…though she had other ideas.
Reaching up to the back of his helmet, Six removed her data chip from his interface before presenting it to them.
The two professional monster slayers watched as the strange artefact lit up before them before a tiny blue woman materialized atop it; taking them back.
"Greetings, allow me to introduce myself. I am Auntie Dot, A.I serial number ADT 6849-9, Now partner to Spartan Beta-312, now under the call sign of Noble Six. "Dot introduced herself with a dramatic bow, earning a chuckle from ancient monster slayer.
"This is going to come as a bit of a culture shock, actually it's a first contact scenario, but I stress when I say we're not demons…well I guess one of us is," She began rambling.
"Not helping, Dot."
"Right, sorry!" She apologised looking up to her partner." What I mean is…."
"You're not from our world." Geralt finished for the A.I, earning a genuine look of surprise from her; the Spartan meanwhile just observed the two Witchers in front of him.
"Well...yes. To be honest I thought that judging how your world hasn't even reached its industrial age, it would be considered lunacy to even consider that life exists on other worlds."
"Well perhaps if you had said that a few years go...but we've learned a few things since then."Geralt explained to her. "Of course, we've never seen anything like you two. "The White Wolf admitted to the A.I and her partner.
"Wait, so you've left the planet before? Do you have a ship that we can take then? "Auntie Dot hastily grilled the white-haired monster slayer." Its crucial that return to our home world sooner rather than later."
"I hate to be the barer of bad news, but we don't have a ship; especially the one you need." Vesemir apologised sincerely. "The only ships that are accessible to us are the ones that travel on water."
"There are a few people that may be able to help you." Geralt spoke, gaining their utmost attention. "But the chances of successfully opening a portal to your home world is one in a million."
"I understand." Alex uttered softly. For the first time in thirteen years he hadn't the faintest idea as to what he was supposed to do. Since joining the SPARTAN-III program he had followed orders, whether they came from his instructors, Colonel Ackerson or the now deceased Carter.
He felt lost and alone.
Sure, he had Dot with him, the last thing he had from his time with Noble Team; but other than that, what else did he have? The world that they were stranded on might have been safe from Covenant or even the Insurrectionists, but it was cut off from everything; the damn place didn't even have limited technology that he could send a distress call to either ONI or the UNSC.
"Maybe if you told us more about yourselves, we could help?" Vesemir's voice brought the Lone Wolf back to reality.
"It's our best chance, Six." Auntie Dot voice turning around to face him, unaware of his plight. "I believe our stay may be permanent…. might as well get comfortable." She added gently.
"I couldn't tell you if we were transported to some unchartered world, or maybe this is an alternate version of Earth to the one we know?" The Smart A.I admitted to him; something that he had wondered about over the last few weeks.
Werewolves, Trolls, Wraiths, Ghouls, a Basilisk? They were just myths where he was from, excluding the Wraith that humans had named the Type-26 Assault Gun Carriage. But the others were creatures that only existed in fiction; they were just stories that somebody had cooked up a very long time ago. Half man half wolf? Ludicrous…and yet he had witnessed the transformation himself.
That world didn't make sense.
"Very well." The Lieutenant relented knowing he had little choice. "May we go somewhere private?"
"The Grand Hall would be a good as place as any." Vesemir suggested to the super soldier. "I promise that nothing we discuss will be repeated outside of these walls; I only ask that you return that courtesy on anything you learn about us."
"Agreed." Noble Six nodded to his simple request.
Giving Eva one final look, B312 left the sleeping girl room and followed the two professional monster slayers as they guided him through the castle. The size of the keep was impressive, unless you knew where everything was then it would've been easy to get lost, or even double back on yourself; Thankfully Dot created up a mini map for him.
He also noted that fortress had seen better days and could do with some renovation. There were cracks in the walls, damp mould in the corners, and countless holes in the roof allowing daylight into the keep; perhaps it was nice in the summer, but the winter? It had to be colder than his interactions with Admiral Parangosky.
"I heard that Geralt had brought a guest," A young Witcher remarked upon seeing him; though unlike the other he had seen lacked the cat-like amber eyes.
"Be surprised if you had. "The former ONI operative retorted to the young man that looked around his age. Then reached and removed Dots chip from the back of his head before presenting it to the rest.
Like before a blue light illuminated from the chip and before forming into her avatar startling the Witchers due to all the things they had been expecting, a small blue (and rather attractive one at that) to appear in the armoured giants' hand.
"Hello," Dot greeted the room with a small wave." I've already introduced myself to Geralt and Vesemir, I am Auntie Dot, Smart Artificial Intelligence to Spartan-B312, or Noble Six." She explained jabbing her thumb in her partners direction. "But none of that means a thing to you; so, I'll do my best to explain."
For the next few hours, Auntie Dot true to her word began to educate them on how there was indeed life beyond their own planet, at the state of their galaxy that had been ravaged by war for the last twenty-seven years after experiencing their own first contact with an covenant of alien species that ironically named the Covenant Empire.
She shared everything that was non-classified such as the how far Humanity had advanced sine they had left their home word, artificial intelligence, ships that sailed the stars, colonization of hundreds of worlds that left the Witchers in awe, FTL travel; the part that peaked their interest was the evolution of warfare. Gone were swords, spears, maces and bows, and in their place were guns, guns that were suited for different situations.
Then she spoke about the Covenant in detail. How they had first encountered them on the planet known as Harvest twenty-seven years prior. How there had been no olive branch, no friendly introduction; only a message.
"Your destruction is the will of the Gods, and we are their instruments."
She then showed them what Harvest looked like before and after the Covenant glassed it, sickening them, even the most seasoned Witchers. Dot only made it really sink in when she revealed that Harvest was only the first, since then dozens of worlds had met a similar fate, killing billions that ranged from civilians and military alike.
The Witchers watched the video logs that showed how humanity were unnumbered as they fought a more technologically advanced collection of species. But when all hope seemed lost, they arrived. The SPARTANS; humanities super soldiers. They watched the logs and witnessed in amazement as the Spartans forced the Covenant back, what would've taken an army to do only took a single fireteam.
Though there was one that the Covenant came to fear, even respect in the Elites case, thus earning them the moniker Demon; Master Chief Petty Officer Spartan-117.
When they had finished absorbing the sight before them, Dot played the logs of her partners time on Reach. How he arrived on Reach, met Noble Team, and the various operations that he had partook in; and how every member of NOBLE had fallen over the course of the month excluding Noble Three, himself and Auntie Dot.
She skipped over how they had met the Forerunner Monitor and moved onto his encounter with the men that had raped Eva's mother and how he had brutally murdered the lot after finding the woman in such a state; the Witchers had been taken back at how he hadn't lifted a weapon but instead killed them all with his bare hands, showing off his augmented strength.
Once the bloodbath was over, Six after failing to rescue the mother and getting her aid promised to take care of her daughter; her only request before her eyes dulled. The Spartan reached down to close her eyes and chose a place to burry her, as well as giving Eva time to say farewell to her mother.
After seeing everything, everybody was staring at the Spartan in awe and respect from everything they had witnessed him do during the fall of Reach. They gave him permission to stay at Kaer Morhen as he was technically a Witcher after all the augmentations he had gone through.
The Spartan-III thanked the coalition of Witchers with a nod before he left with Geralt who took him to the library to allow them to get the rundown on the world they were marooned on; also, on the monsters that plagued the lands.
"Did they hurt?" Geralt finally asked the Spartan as he matched his pace. "Your mutations?" He clarified as Six looked down at him.
Alex's thoughts drifted back to that operating table aboard the UNSC Hopeful, his heart beating a mile a minute as the sound of the needles powering up roared in his ears like a sonic engine. How said needles then pierced through his skull, arms and legs, filling his body with the compounds that altered his body to form the Spartan he had trained six years to be.
"Yes. "Alex answered forcing himself back to reality and forcing that memory away. "Like having my bones ignite, and my muscles torn apart."
After walking in a comfortable silence, they finally reached the library. After bidding the white haired Witcher farewell, Six began skimming through the many tomes that were on the bookshelves.
The Spartan-III read how the Witchers were viewed by the public…. It seemed all too familiar to him, much like how the Spartans were treated. Section-3 freaks the Spartans were mocked by the public; most notably the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers. If he had to guess, then the Witchers were the equivalent of the Spartans here; at least the Spartan-II's at any rate. Though unlike them they weren't kidnapped…or so the book said.
Another said that Witches kidnapped children and when they were of aged were tasked with "ploughing" them to obtain their mutations; did people really believe such rubbish?
"Hello. "A soft melodic voice behind him, startling the Spartan that hadn't noticed that he wasn't alone; apparently Dot hadn't either. Turning around he was greeted with the sight of a young, attractive woman.
She had thick vermillion hair that caressed down her back elegantly, bright green eyes that her hair only seemed to highlight and a layer of tiny freckles atop her cheeks, soft facial features with a light tan, a small button nose, supple pink lips and stood average height, around 5'7.
She was wearing a leather dress that had a large V shape on her chest that stopped just below her breasts that were barely concealed by the dress and the fishnet armour that she had on underneath, she had a strange necklace that rested atop her down chest, brown gloves that went to her elbow, knee length leather brown boots that showed off her milky legs under the fishnets.
"Ma'am." Six returned stoically, nodding down at the woman.
"I think I'd remember if I saw somebody like you at Kaer Morhen." The red-haired woman remarked pleasantly as she smiled up at him,
"Oh, where are my manners? I haven't introduced myself. I'm Triss, Triss Merigold."The now identified Triss said with a warm smile as she offered her hand to the Spartan.
Alex observed the extended hand for a moment. Barring a select few, nobody acted friendly around Spartans; not even ONI and they had created them! They were seen as freaks, and he for one had no intention of going out of his way to change their views.
Reaching out he gently took her hand in his shook it, Triss wrapped her slender fingers around the armoured hand.
"Spartan-B312...or Noble Six." The Spartan politely introduced himself; he wasn't exactly accustomed with socializing with anybody that weren't Spartans or military. Beside out of the members of Noble Team, Jorge had the sociable one.
" Guess you could say I'm a guest."
"Nice to meet you, Six." Triss smiled warmly as she took her hand back." But I confess, I've never heard the term Spartan before; is it a new form of Witcher?"
"No, Ma'am. "The super soldier replied as he looked back up from the book. "Similar, but ultimately different at the core."
"Such as?"
"Classified." Alex swiftly answered. He might have been cut off from the rest of the UNSC, but the details of the Spartan program were confidential, not even Fleet Admiral Hood knew about the details concerning the Spartans; and his program technically didn't exist.
"So, what're you reading?" The red head asked as she came to stand beside him.
"A book."
Triss rolled her eyes at his snarky response; honestly it was like speaking to a much taller Geralt.
"Anything interesting? "
"About the monsters that plague the lands." The Hyper Lethal answered not taking his eyes off the page he was on. "The variety, weaknesses…."
"You've never fought monsters before?" Triss interrupted the Spartan, said Spartan turned his head to look down at her.
"I have." The Spartan-III uttered darkly sending a chill down her spine." But none you've encountered." He added before returning to the book, reading it in an awkward silence. He had nothing against her, but he had nothing to say to her. She wasn't military judging by her attire so what could they talk about? Nice weather we are having?
"Well, I better let you get back to your studying." There was a hint of amusement in her tone as she spoke." Perhaps we'll speak later?"
"If you'd like, Miss Merigold." Six responded as he tore his eyes away from the book to look at her. She gave him a soft smile before saying farewell and heading off to who knows where; once she had Six returned to the book, thankful for no more interruptions.
"Smooth moves, Casanova." The Spartan felt a mixture of annoyance and confusion as his partner spoke up after remaining quiet since they had left the Witchers.
"What now?"
"Unless it slipped your notice, there was an attractive woman before you a few moments ago that tried talking to you and you treated her like the plague." Dot retorted to her Spartan. "I get that socializing is not one of your skills, but you could've done a little better than that!"
"I'm busy." Six returned coolly." I'm sure you've heard the term know you enemy."
"I'm perfectly aware, Alexandros." Six frowned at her using his full name; he felt like he was being scolded by his mother. "But you've got to face facts, we're going to be stuck here for the foreseeable future; meaning that you're just going to have to learn to socialize with people that aren't military."
"We're both going to have to adapt to this primitive world. Start by making a name for yourself, making some friends, or acquaintances and raise Eva like you promised you would." It sounded like an order rather than a request, but Six knew that she was right; what other alternatives did they have?
But she did bring up a good point, he had promised Eva's mother that he would protect her…and he never went back on his word. He would ensure that she safe and could defend herself if anything ever happened to him, or he wasn't there; more importantly he would make sure that she never became like him, a cold, angry, hollow shell of his former self, of the person he had been before the Covenant arrived and destroyed his life.
She would be everything that he wasn't.
"Your right." Six conceded.
"I know." Even without seeing her he knew that she was smiling and had her arms cross over her chest. He would've rolled his eyes if it hadn't been uncharacteristic of him to do so. "But for now, get reading; we should have a few hours until Eva is awake."
And cut! Well here is the new updated chapter of The Witcher: A Different Kind Of Wolf; I haven't really changed much just cleared it up a bit from the previous version, and not have Six and Triss brief talk come across so ridged…at least I don't think it does.
Let me know what you think.
And as I said last chapter let me know if the pairing for this story remain a Six x Triss only or add the pairings that I included last chapter; furthermore, the reason why I didn't include Yennefer is for two reasons….
Geralt needs some love too.
I happen to like the whole Geralt x Yen relationship; plus, the two have a long history together.