Patrick was far too worked up in his apartment whilst neck deep in the wiring and soldering of his projects. He was in a hurry to try and present his latest findings in robotics applications. Nothing gave the engineer more pleasure in trying to finish his prototype, his way into gaining some form of prestige or fame in the colony. However, many of his latest inventions had not been pleasing to his potential employers. Making attachments to the combat suits in the UNSC was unattractive to the already strained corps, datapad recertification didn't even get him a second glance, and biochip modifications nearly got him into trouble with the local authorities.

There were so many problems with engineering a new product, but robotics without a vast resource took ages to perform. It was why he was determined to finish the latest prototype of Android. Yes, the model itself was more robot than android, but with the parts displayed before him; the robot he was designing was almost complete. With a SMART chip installed into the cerebral cortex and several CPU and RAM systems were prepared to contain the mobile data, Patrick was ready to begin selling off his designs to a company that he hoped would invest in him.

As he was completing the designs through interlacing the final wires together, Patrick smiled and sealed the exposed materials with the protection of rubber; before taking his match to heat up the material to properly seal it. Finished with his prototype, the light skinned and bearded man in ragged mechanics clothes walked over to his terminal to finish his task list. The second he would move to his chair and sit on it, he would begin to turn on his terminal.

And when it powered on, a communication screen was the first thing that popped open.

"It seems as if you are finished with your project."

Through a dreaded sense of shock and awe, Patrick would yell and nearly jump from his seat. "Wha- who are you and why are you here?" He asked rather quickly.

"I am... someone who is working on behalf of my employer who is currently looking for someone of your... interests." The voice spoke, it was almost robotic in a way, taking more important measures in what he was doing.

"I hate to keep him curious, but what exactly is he interested with me for?"

"Robotics, your thesis on utilizing Artificial Intelligence and mobile platforms has him interested... and quite possibly open to the possibility to what you seek."

"So he's really offering me a job?" Patrick asked.

"No... he is offering you a company."

Darkness again... pitch black in the caverns of his mind. Griffin knew it was here, waiting for him to return to this state. And much like before, his body was useless to stand against such a monster aching for control of himself. He could feel it rummaging through his mind, crawling, moving, trying to gain every ounce of control of him. It was when he was shot, did he lose complete control over his own bearings.

In this thought, the creature arrived.

Before Griffin, the form and figure of The Primordial emerged. A great and lengthy beast of incomprehensible size and a mold of an insectoid head, four arms, two degenerate legs, and a long-creaked tail behind its head. He started to sense in a memory that was not his own know it as a Sea Scorpion... a term of the Precursors... something not of his own mind.

However, the moment it attempted to make its way to reach up to Griffin...

Voices speaking in eldritch tongues began to speak. In response, the dark cavern of Griffin's mind sparkled in a violet energy. At regular intervals, the voices grew in number and in pitch. In the effect of these voices, the violet energy started to grow brighter and even more powerful. Deep within his mind, a tall and feathered avian that looked like Augustine appeared before Griffin and started to hold a certain energy field directly at The Primordial. He could see the Avian had an owl face and had feathers like one too...

Soon, many more of these owls would appear and hold a field against The Primordial before Griffin.

"We will see about that." The Primordial boomed, just as a few of the owls appeared beside Griffin and picked him up into a bright light.

In the awakening of his own senses, the young man could feel the strain of his breath catching in his chest. He felt the world rolling around him, his mind was dizzy and disoriented, especially when he felt the chill of the air and the windy brush of the air conditioning. Through the opening of his eyes and the flashes of artificial light, Griffin would be able to squint and adjust to his surroundings quickly. And what he saw before him was a medical station.

And standing beside him was a neatly robed Owlfolk staring down at him from the side of the bed he laid on. He could see the avian held a bright cyan coloration of feathers, mixed with the flickers and glow of a violet luminescence that radiated from the sidelines. Slender in shape and tall as a tower, the young man laid still, not wanting to startle the owl as much as he was.

"Good morning, Griffin." The sweet voice of the owl replied, almost chirping in hum to the man's sudden awakening.

"Good... morning." Griffin replied with his mouth, not remembering the owl even speaking audibly through its beak.

"You have deeply worried The Empress young one, how do you feel?" Asked the avian.

"Eh... I have been-" in seconds, Griffin tried to move himself up from the bed; just to feel a harsh and sharp pain all over his upper body which made him lay back down. "-in pain." He grunted, hissing at the stings of the bullet wounds that cut into his body. The young man shook his head, still looking up.

"I worried as much... lay on your bed a little longer, I am summoning some assistance for you in a moment." The owl implied, before she turned her head.

"What... happened in my... head?" Griffin asked, causing the avian to turn to Griffin.

"Ah... you were suffering from something... parasitic in your mind. We quarantined and contained the threat for as long as you do not seek to release it." Replied the avian, looking to him in possible suggestion to not do it.

"That is... hard to believe." Griffin sighed.

"Still, you are expected to meet with The Empress momentarily after your awakening. The machines are what brought you in here, so they will be your guiding stone to her." The sweet owl replied, just as her violet eyes pinioned in the same energy. "Such is everything that comes into her realm."

"I am… aware." Griffin grunted, resting still as he looked into the ceiling. His body pained him to move, but he stilled his mind and self upon the softness of the cushions he laid on.

"How interesting, you were aware of our Empress and her expectations." The owl humbly giggled, before she would take out a container of strange fluids from underneath the bed and place it to the side. "This will help with soothing your flesh while you recover." Implied the supposed nurse at this point, just as she would take an empty glass bottle and fill it with the strange concoction.

"Just continue to lay down and relax, this will be over shortly." With the nurse's words echoing through the young man's mind, he would fail to notice the sweet female's hand lowering upon his bare chest and nearing the wounds he had sustained. The moment he did, a vast chill washed over his nerves in realization.

He had literal holes where the bullets impacted. And with the female's soft hand rubbed his wounds, a sting pricked his mind into reality. "Ah… that hurts." He hissed, clenching his hands into fists at the painful reminder of his mortality. With the reminder of pain, the female would soon pour a few ounces of the fluid along his chest, covering his wounds in an oily and greenish haze.

The warmth that the fluids provided for him were comforting and desirable in its smooth and sensational application. By rubbing the contents of the oil along his wounds, the stings and the pain would subside in a wave of warmth. Everything that he had previously felt about the pain would eventually pass, numbing him to the feeling that rushed through his system.

After being given the oil to spread throughout his body, the sweet smells and the calming lotion would bring the young man to move freely and without pain. It was easy to tell that he was given the oils as a means to pepper his more physical ailments. Even looking at the nurse was easier, especially since he could tell that the brightly robed and feathered owl gave a more pleasing facial expression to note her happiness.

"Thank you… eh… what's your name?" Griffin asked.

"Talia, of House Starlight. Now let's get you dressed; Empress Augustine awaits." She spoke telepathically. It wasn't long before she began her efforts by softly bringing the young man to sitting upright on the bed so that she could be able to bring him to getting into something that wasn't bloodied up by the shooting. With a silk robe that was white and attuned to his size and shape. She even pulled some slip-on flat shoes for the man, just so that he would feel comfortable with the travel.

Safe, eased, and ready to move, Griffin would put on the single robed outfit and put on his shoes; snugly rolling off the bed and getting up beside Talia for the walk. "So, I think it would be best if you follow me through the place; I assume we are where your House's people dwell at?" He asked, standing and long of breath before her.

"We are, yes, and with pleasure; but we must press to get you to the empress. I cannot shirk away from my duties, so we can make this quick." Talia nodded, turning to make the slick walk to the door. Her tail feathers fluttered at a couple meters in length behind her, rifting the dim lighted room that bore into the exit of the nursery.

Nodding, Griffin accepted the words of Talia and made his way to her side. He looked like a silken noble prepped out of a leering and distant family tree. And when he looked around to take purchase into the depths of the room, it was easy to tell this area was much more of a spitting image of UNSC architecture than an alien's habitat.

With a press of a button, Talia revealed the outside of the nursery for him.

If magic existed, this place would be it. What had been the outer layers of a UNSC military compound had been converted entirely into a dim environment of bristling holographic starlight, runes of owls, falcons, ravens, and more creatures upon the walls, ceilings, and whatever had marks in the area. As a man, he could barely see the dark shadows of the floors and the guides through the area.

Even many tall owls that should be here were not so easily seen. Their bioluminescent lights blended with the starlight that flickered and moved like dots through the room. Starcharts were all over the place, with a few pairs of eyes observing everything within and around it.

"It must be strange for you to barely see what is before you." Talia giggled, soon lowering a hand for him to grip for guidance.

"Yeah, you can say that. No human has the night vision of what your people can see, but it is a gift. I daresay your people have the insight to see beyond in mind and spirit, besides the advantage of seeing in the shadows." Griffin implied, looking to the bright pair of eyes of that of Talia. He softly laid his hand on her own, soon blushing at the smoothness of her feathers.

"I see why the Empress seeks your presence." Talia hummed, giving a much considered thought before bringing the young man by pull into the path of the stars, many included the greater galaxies and the nebulas of the mists. "We are speakers of these tones you bring, guides to the greater empire that shall come to claim their place in the starlight."

While he was being guided, the young man looked up at what looked to be second story balconies and soon looked at an observing Owl that was radiant, violet, and most definitely male. There was something to him, causing the man to stick with Talia and speak to her more. "I feel there is more to what impositions you bring to the table, Talia. Is The Empress seeking to reveal what you keep?" Griffin asked directly, looking up at Talia.

"Ah… perceptive and intuitive. Yes, I am keeping knowledge from you. No, I will not reveal it to you, but that is for Empress Augustine and the House's Shaman." Talia hummed, looking at the nearing the edge of the massive and dawning chasm of starlight, Owlfolk, and their illuminating colorations.

Until the pair reached a bright and stellar doorway. At the moment they would reach its passage entrance, fifteen lights flickered from both sides of the entrance.

"Howdy there Griffin, you put a scare on the owls there for a while!" The voice of Mack would speak from what looked like brightly lit VISORs of what now looked like ODST troopers.

"Getting shot does that." Griffin humored.

"Well, you are looking better for wear and your contingencies are already working. CAMS only knows of your message." Mack implied, causing Griffin to grow grim as he stared to one of the star charts that another owl was looking into.

"Yeah, I hope Lasky forgives me for the burden he will have to bear." Griffin sighed, before he would begin to look up to one of Mack's ODST drones and nodded. "I am ready to proceed." He spoke, causing the unknowing Talia to curiously look at the drones and then back at the human who had some sort of plan. However, with the human and the drones being that of an expected body by The Empress, she would set these thoughts aside before motioning Griffin to the drones with the bow of her head.

"Good luck Griffin, this is where I let you go." She whispered in his mind, before letting the man go with the ODST's.

"Thank you, Talia, for letting me see a glimpse of your people." Griffin smiled, whilst taking the time to nod and appreciate the owl and move forward with the ODST's to the large hatch. With a flicker of the suits lights, a large break in the hatch would cause it to open more and more. Revealed to the young man would be a deep and dark chasm.

Up ahead, there was a glowing throne that luminated the dark and several pairs of eyes looking upon him from other angles. The march of the drones made him walk forward and the glowing robes let his presence be seen before them. It was a walk to the center of the chasm, even while the presence of more than two people were around them.

"There are more than just a shaman and an empress around us."

"Eh, nobles have precedence in these chambers. They believe you are some kind of 'chosen one'." Mack spoke, putting in a voice line from an ancient movie.

"Common Mack, I might have been shot or the one with intel, but I am definitely not a Skywalker." Griffin chuckled.

"You are more than a tool to be used… Griffin." A different voice would speak that was not Augustine's nor Mack's. The mental presence came from nearby the throne. He could feel that Augustine was watching from the throne, but observed how the young man would react to such a state.

"That is left up to those who have saved me. Every action has its reaction, just as every cause has an effect." Griffin replied in thought. He could sense the female voice before him flinched at such a reply, as if she was not expecting a human to do such a thing.

"You know and see much for ones we assumed as unable to speak to us through the wills of the mind. Who has taught you to obtain such a term?" Questioned the owl, now determined to know what he knew in form and position.

"Only if you will tell me why I am more than a simple tool." Griffin replied, smirking at the voice.

"Enough, Griffin. That is more than enough." Augustine replied, standing up from her position to look at the young man. "If my esteemed Eterna has had her insight of you, I am simply here to see you. Danger was coming for you and so I was not willing to risk your life over keeping cover." She spoke telepathically, soon standing up to look to the male. Her minor glimpse at the Shaman would cause the loyal servant to bow her head and back away slightly.

"Thank you, Empress Augustine." Griffin replied, bowing his head in respect.

"Now that you are here, I am happy to see your presence among us." Augustine spoke with much interest. It was something genuine in her voice that only Griffin fully understood, whilst the rest of the avians in the room showed confusion. By their nature towards each other, many would assume both the Empress and this prophesized guide were already familiar with each other.

"And your welcome is an appreciation I am pleased in seeing." Griffin replied.

Augustine, pleased with the words of the human, nodded her head, and turned her glowing eyes into the direction of the owls. "In this, I welcome you to the realm of Solaria; my growing Empire… and you are expected by House Starlight as a guide; beyond my eyes."

"Beyond your eyes…" Griffin hummed, nodding in interest. "So, this is the implication that tallies my presence and why many are expecting me?" He implied in question, taking a walk to the head of the throne. "Is this a plan to bring me into the fold… or something that you need me to fulfill?" Griffin asked, crossing his arms.

"Neither, your safety was threatened and your life was at stake. And so I bring you here as a guide, even if this may not have been something you wished to partake." Augustine implied, looking to Griffin whilst he stood there.

"I half expected there would be a cost to everything. However, being a guide to an Empire is… well… quite the Healthcare plan." Griffin implied. "To which Guidance do you wish me to provide… if I may ask?" Griffin asked, looking into the Empress's glowing eyes.

"Everything." Empress Augustine replied. "However, your most important task is to find a home not of the humans and hidden from the eyes of all."

Griffin, knowing this task would be a true test of his knowledge of Halo and what would be their survival. In essence to the wars that would come, a hidden home would be essential in ensuring the building of fleets, armies, and forces that could halt the advance of The Covenant forces. Upon further thought, Griffin could see that Augustine was more than happy to see that the young man being here would ensure their survival… even if he might be forced back to humanities hands.

"It will be done, Empress Augustine."

Cadmon Lasky

Circinius IV, CAMS

May 10th, 2525

The Academy had been engulfed in a frenzy ever since last nights events were revealed to the student body. In the wake of the abduction and the bloody aftermath that Griffin left behind, cadets freaked out over the realization they had just been attacked and one of their own taken so savagely. The level of insecurity that was felt by every cadet that loomed in the halls was peaking in silence, but the looks in their eyes were nothing short of terror, anger, and a pitch of fear laced in every student.

No one's rage boiled to the level Sagilius Squad was feeling today as Lasky, Orenski, and the rest of their squad looked over the empty pod of Griffin's bunk. It was quick for everyone in the academy to know who exactly was taken by the URF intruders and who may have put down such a fiendish fight.

"How could this happen? I thought we were protected." Orenski stammered.

"We were a big target Orenski, they mostly planned this from the get-go." Sarah implied, looking at Orenski.

"That doesn't explain why they were after him specifically. Were they monitoring him, or do we have someone working from the inside that wanted Griffin shut up?" Rika questioned, not knowing if this was a plot or a reaction.

"None of those options are plausible or undeniable Rika and if they were, we would be dealing with a lot worse now." Niko replied, not wanting to know exactly how deep that rabbit hole went.

"Enough," Lasky boomed as he walked into the room. Already, he had blood-shot eyes as he rushed in with his fatigues still on. The man looked like he had not had any sleep at all since the abduction, a fact that many of the squad could see and were worried for. And in his stance, everyone was at attention before he could realize it.

Sighing, Lasky would speak:

"General Black briefed the staff and our platoon leaders. It is confirmed that he was the only cadet taken. Surveillance shows that he was the one who instigated the lockdown and trapped us all inside while he ran to the armory." He spoke to the cadets. "Cadet Phoenix is the one who showed the fiercest resistance to the URF infiltrators. Intel confirms low-ranking, but highly dangerous terrorists were identified among the masses of dead." Lasky voiced.

"What did they do to him?" Orenski asked.

"One of the URF members who were close to death shot Griffin five times in the back. It is unknown whether he is dead or alive at this moment." Lasky replied, his eyes showing the pain that he felt to the squad. In a looming resonation with the squad, many of its members were leaning their heads forward; the shock of losing a close friend and battle-companion was a loss that was incomprehensible and too soon into their service. "… but he has been captured and taken to some unknown destination. It is possible that they are already off-planet."

Lasky, in finishing his words, would shake his head.

"It's like he really did know he was going to get hit one day. He really did hate them, now I know why." Wilhelm sighed, looking up. "Sir, permission to access his holoterminal?" The cadet asked of Lasky.

"Why?" Lasky asked.

"To see if he had any messages to send to friends or family back home." He replied.

"Granted."

Turning to the center of the room, Wilhelm would walk over to the terminal, press onto the center key; and wait for the device to activate. However, when the golden holographic interface activated, Wilhelm gaped at the terminal with an audible gasp. Lasky, seeing Wilhelm's reaction, walked over to the young man to see what was going on. The only file that was on the drive of the terminal was one made last night.

Title Header: To Sagilius Squad.

"Sagilius Squad, close the door and come inside. Griffins has a last message for us." Lasky gaped, surprised and wonderous over what the young man's possible last words could be. Many of the squad rushed inside without need to be told twice. And when the button was pressed to activate the message…

The terminal shut off and the hatch closed at the entrance, blocking the squad inside. Even the window was sealed shut, leaving the room encased in concrete. When the terminal activated once more, the holographic image of Griffin would project in the air now as an avatar of his former self. Once activated, he spoke:

"Sagilius Squad, this message was meant for you. If this message has been activated, then I am either taken away or dead. I hope you can forgive me for the problems I have caused in our training and the hardships that were caused because of my late coming. However, considering the subroutines have detected we are in a sealed and contained area, then I can talk to you all freely."

The image of Griffin would look to the side, sighing regretfully.

"Regardless over how I have left you, there is something I must warn you of: Do not believe The Insurrection as a force that will test us. Our fight is not with them, it will be with ourselves among the militaries we serve. You can tell by my words, that I speak against ONI, as they are the ones whom my fight is truly with. Think of me as an Innie as you wish, but my truest fight was with those who have the real power in our society. They will never tell you the truth and the life around you will fall to their lies in time."

He then looked to the others.

"Because what I am going to tell you is going to debunk every single lie that will be told by ONI for many years to come. We are already in the beginning of another war."

Many of the squad mates would look at each other in extreme confusion and worry around them. Lasky read the message further and waved his hand to silence the looks of shock.

"-they have kept this from you since the initial attack on Harvest. Since then, The UNSC has been in the middle of a losing battle against a superior foe. These Aliens seek to wipe us out and decimate every living colony, every living man, woman, and child that bears humanity in them."

Griffin at this point would give the squad time to digest the information, before he looked upright.

"If I do survive, I will reveal how I have gotten this information to you. But I must tell you to keep this secret. War is coming, but information is being kept. I pray that leadership will not listen to ONI, but it must be you all that should rise to power and change ONI to become something better… or destroy its foundations entirely. If humanity is to survive, it must not be from the people who takes the greatest shortcuts to get it."

It was at that moment, the avatar of Griffin looked at Lasky.

"This part of the message is meant for you. Lasky, you are the greatest among us. It is here where your path must change in order for you to survive. Go into the lion's den. Join ONI. Make them think you are one of them… and trust no one. If you seek this path and not what your heart desires, then you may save your friends anyway in the ODST branch."

Nodding at this, Griffin then asked.

"Now then, it is time to decide. I have a subroutine that will observe your reactions on choice. If you wish to follow this path, then you will receive information on who to talk to. If not, then this message shall delete itself and the information is expunged."

Not even hesitating, Lasky nodded at the holographic interface. "I will join ONI." He responded.

"In five minutes, you shall receive a data packet containing information that shall help you find a way to save more than just human lives. I hope we meet again." At the end of Griffin's data block, he looked to the rest of the squad and nodded. "I wish you all luck in the times ahead… ending message and deleting files. Griffin Phoenix out."

At the end of the transmission, the avatar would shut down and the door and window would finally open. There was nothing strange on the other side, only the massive information dump that the entire squad needed to digest. And in the few minutes that passed between them, Lasky would see something pop off of the terminal.

Taking the slot out, there was a universal drive port that slotted from the disk. Taking it out, the young man would see one name that was stamped upon the crystalline display port:

Lieutenant Jacob Keyes.

Chaos was something Smith had expected whenever a plan that was intended goes belly-up in the very place you live in. The resulting combat situation that was spurred in the wake of the 'abduction' was something that went smoothly in a direction away from his involvement. However, the consequences of his actions to betray Garvin kept him hurrying on his work.

In his logistics room, Smith had taken a medical device for forensics purposes only. That enough was the authority that kept the chief medic from being suspicious of him. Yes, evaluating items with a medical device was strange, but in his databanks, he used the blood of the rebels were easy deflectors to identify them in the UNSC list of collaborators and terrorists for reporting. Due to this outcome, Smith was able to conduct further investigations into Griffin and find out what was going on with the man.

What could be explained as an answer with more questions had been an understatement of the evening. Everything that he saw inside the man's blood sample was something that made him want to reconsider Griffin being human. By evaluating the man's blood, he could see the cells of the man containing strands of genetic coding that was beyond any human cell. Looking at the sample, he could see the parts that were human being there, and something else that was added upon it. So much was added to the cell that only one word could explain what Smith was observing:

A Supercell.

Such a classification was correct in assuming what was in the human's body; which could explain the strange growth of height and size that the man had. However, his thoughts would be interrupted when Orlin cued into the PA system.

"General Black has issued an all-hands meeting. Please report to the atrium at this moment."

Hearing this, Smith would sigh and stand up, turning from the medical device and shutting the device down. He placed the blood sample to the side and he would dispose of the material later. The man would soon take his walk and make his way to leave the room.

In the darkness, an insect would be seen popping off from the cracks of the nearby wall. As it would near the blood samples, the insect merely took pieces from the exposed crimson blood that tinged from the side of the table. Immediately, the small creature would feel its chitinous body crack and splinter; causing it to rush into the crack to escape the dangers of what it was about to become…

Another Chapter completed!

Now, things are getting even more interesting with secret revelations, new plotpoints, and the beginning of new environments! To be fair, college has been ramping up its deadlines, lab assignments, and many more rough course materials into my head as this semester draws to a close. Obviously, the results of this term have messed with my head to where certain parts of this story have suffered due to a lack of proper motivation or outright forgetfulness. As a result of that, I will properly adjust and keep up with where we are going!

With that being said, a new plot has entered the field; and that comes in the form of Robotics enthusiast's and the shift of the story to the Spartan front! In these new chapters, a time shift will be coming soon and the war we all knew that was coming shall soon be upon us!

As for the insects, I shall leave you to a few guesses on what they shall become:

They are known to be a deadly Sci-Fi race.

It is easy for them to make weapons.

They are a rather peaceful in nature and their language is comparative to a lovely song...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone,

-True