This chapter will focus on Philips and what the crew of the Eye of Intent were doing during the time Shadow Team spent exploring the Forerunner ruins.
Episode 12
Desert Ruins
The peaceful silence of the still desert air was broken by the loud engine roars of 3 Republic dropships. Hovering over the Forerunner structures, the ships disgorged their platoon across the desert structures. Shortly after the troops had deemed the area to be secure, the ships landed and several scientists stepped out.
The science team was clad in weaker and lighter armor than the soldiers, and they began scouring the ruins, with an escort of two soldiers each. One group began studying the crashed Phantom, as slicers began pulling all the data they could from the computer network. Two other groups were looking through the other ruins, while the final group was studying the interior of the temple itself.
And all of them were trying to ignore the sensation of being watched.
Within the temple, the scientists found Chozo hieroglyphics plastered on the walls. They showed a group of the avian-like aliens surrounding a Forerunner artifact. In the air above the artifact, a strange orb was depicted, unlike any of the Leviathan spheres scattered all over the temple grounds.
What's more, it appeared that an unknown figure was trapped inside the orb.
"What's your take on this?" The younger of the science team asked the Givin science leader, who walked towards the wall in order to get a closer look.
"From what I know of Chozo rituals, they appear to be sealing something away."
"You mean like what they did on Tallon IV?" One of their escorts asked.
"Something like that," The scientist said, "though in this case, it's likely a being that the Ancients wanted locked away."
The senior Givin turned away from the ruins and turned to look at the rest of his team.
"Record and document everything here." He ordered, "We'll send our findings back for analysis." The squad nodded and got to work.
Meanwhile, the Eye of Intent reported that they had uncovered a power plant that had been a few dozen miles from the crashed Phantom. The brief scan from earlier hadn't spotted it, but a more comprehensive scan had discovered the electric facility.
One squad and dropship detached from the platoon, and took off towards the power plant. Once there, they found the remains of a Reaper artifact. The squad began studying the artifact and noticed all the power cables that had been connected to it.
Thorough investigation revealed that the device had been jury-rigged to send someone's consciousness across dimensions. After determining that, it didn't take long for the team to come up with a working theory; the Ancients had already developed working models of this technology, but they wanted to know if any Reaper technology could do the same. So they experimented on it, using the Quantum entanglement abilities to strengthen the resulting connection.
Whether or not they ever used the device openly was up for debate, but they had a good guess on who recently used the device. The Nautolan squad leader activated a communication channel to their orbiting mothership.
"Theta team to the Eye of Intent. Do you read?"
"We read you, Theta." Gerald replied.
"We believe we've discovered how the ODST got on board the ship." The Nautolan reported. There was a pause on the other end, then the Captain came on the line.
"Alright, Theta team." Kre'lye said. "Tell me what you found."
While Theta team had uncovered the device that had brought the Republic here, and while the scientists were off exploring the ruins in the desert, Delta Squad had been deployed to an old human bunker.
This had initially been considered to be a waste of time, especially with the manhunt for the missing ODST. However, the Eye's sensors had picked up signs of life within this complex.
The readings were faint and rapidly fading, which was why the team was quickly moving through the bunker. After 5 minutes, the squad had found what they were looking for.
"How's he holding up?"
"Not good. This guy's lost too much blood. We need to get him to the medical bay, stat."
"Alright, activate the emergency slipspace translocation module. I'll call the Eye and tell them to get ready for one incoming patient."
Mtan woke in a daze, which was surprising on its own. After being betrayed by Philips, he had fully expected to be dead. But what was more surprising was his current surroundings; he had woken up in what appeared to be the medical bay of a human ship, though the equipment seemed much more advanced.
He tried to move, but found his arms and legs restrained by cuffs made of energy (which looked similar to Forerunner technology). Mtan struggled against the restraints for a moment but found it futile. His struggling drew the attention of the medical staff who quickly rushed over to him.
"Easy, there." An unknown alien doctor (who looked like a human with dark green skin and had dark blue tattoos in a line across his cheeks) said, "You took one hell of a wound."
"Who are you? And why am I on a human ship?!" Mtan shouted, trying to grab the doctor.
"Oh, right." The alien said, "I forgot, you still think the Covenant are at war with humanity."
"What are you talking about?" Mtan said, not expecting this development.
"Perhaps I should speak to him." A deep voice emerged from Mtan's right side. He turned and his mandibles opened in shock.
"You have a lot to catch up on." A female Sangheili said to him.
"How's the patient doing?" Inquired Kre'lye.
"He's very confused." Gerald said, as Kre'lye snorted inwardly 'No surprise there.' The captain thought as Gerald's voice brought him from his thoughts.
"But he will make a full recovery." The AI continued, "We even offered to restore his missing mandible, but he asked that we do not."
"Did he give a reason?" Kre'lye said, though he could already guess the answer.
"Sangheili cultural pride," Gerald answered with a smirk which quickly faded, "And to remind himself of this betrayal."
Kre'lye nodded somberly. He had expected a reaction like this. Though the crew had explained the effects of Indoctrination and Marker Dementia to the confused Spec Ops Elite, he still took the ODST's betrayal rather personally.
"Can't really say I blame him." The Bothan muttered before addressing the AI again. "Now, do we have any information on this Private Philips?"
In response, a holographic screen appeared on the table next to Gerald's avatar.
"Private Jacob Philips, 105th ODST Division." The AI started, "Born in 2523 on the colony world of Draco VIII in the capital city of New Sanctuary. Joined the UNSC Marines in 2549 and signed up for the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers one year later. He was one of the few people to escape the Battle of Tribute in 2552. He and his squad were declared MIA on October 20th, 2552, suspected to have been caught up in the Slipspace incident caused by the Prophet of Regret."
"That matches up with what Shadow Team reported." Kre'lye said, "But who's the other soldier he's currently with?"
"Based on Mtan's descriptions, and Shadow Lead's reports, I believe it is a Captain Marcus Toni, the leader of this squad." Gerald replied.
"So, I'm assuming that they're both indoctrinated and/or suffering from dementia?"
"For Private Philips, that's a safe assumption, but from Mtan's reports, it would be more prudent to assume that Captain Toni is being controlled by something else."
"You mean he might be possessed?" The Bothan asked.
"It's more than that," The AI responded, "I believe that whatever is happening on that planet, Private Philips is in the center of it all."
"I'm not following." Kre'lye shook his head, confused. Gerald almost rolled his eyes and gestured to the image on the screen, which had shifted into an overhead view of the city below them.
"This is the major city on that planet." The AI explained, and another image appeared next to the first one, "And this is the topographical map of New Sanctuary, before the city was destroyed and Draco VIII was glassed in 2530. Barring some changes due to the recent battle, they're the exact same city." Gerald overlapped the two images as he finished.
Kre'lye blinked rapidly in surprise. "You're sure about this?"
"I've gone over the data, ten thousand times. This is accurate. And there's more." Another image popped into existence, this one showcased the power plant where Theta team had found that Reaper artifact.
"This power station, and the nearby beach and seawall, are an almost exact replica of a similar station on UNSC Earth, on the coast of Zanzibar. From what little intel I've been able to gather, Private Philips used to spend time at the beach here while on leave."
Kre'lye walked over to the viewport and stared at the planet, utterly bewildered by everything the AI had just told him. The fact that human-made structures existed on this planet didn't surprise him (the Ancients were fascinated with the human species, considering they were in almost every universe) but the fact that this world seemed to be almost tailor-made for ODST Private Jacob Philips was rather unusual to say the least.
"We'll figure this all out after we find him." The captain said, turning to look at the sensor officer. "Lieutenant, have you been able to find him?"
"We're still unable to pinpoint their position, sir." The human male responded, "Something keeps bouncing the Warthog signal and human life signs around the planet. We're still trying to narrow it down."
Kre'lye sighed. This had been a common problem since they arrived; sensors had often been erratic everytime they scanned the world below them. Diagnostics had come up with no issues, so it was likely something on the planet that kept messing with their long-range scanners.
"Keep searching." The captain ordered, "And alert me if anything changes." The Bothan turned to leave, but Gerald's voice stopped him.
"Sir, Shadow Team has just made an important discovery. You'll want to hear this."
"Where are we going exactly?" Philips asked.
"Somewhere that'll allow us to go home." Toni replied, eyes focused on the road.
"And how do you know this?" Philips said, curiousity and suspicion tinging his voice.
"From some of the files inside that bunker." Toni responded, his tone suggesting that he didn't want to talk about it.
Taking the hint, Philips kept his thoughts to himself. But that didn't stop his mind from questioning all the information he had just recieved. He had just found his superior officer, and said officer had apparently been able to find a way for them to get off the planet. It sounded too good to be true. But as much as Philips wanted to return home, he also wanted to know what was happening here, and how his mother was involved.
His musings were interrupted by a static-filled message emerging from the Warthog's radio.
"This is- of the- public star- broadcasting- message for- ilips. This- looped record- UNSC E-band- aiting your reply-ver."
Captain Toni punched the radio, turning the feed off.
"What the hell, Captain-"
"Those Covie bastards are trying to trick us. Do you not get that Private?" Toni yelled. There was a tense silence before Philips spoke again.
"I understand that sir, but shouldn't we-"
"Philips, I know you've had a rough few days, but I am in command here! Understand?!" It took a second before Philips responded.
"Yes, sir." He muttered.
Satisfied, Toni turned his attention back to driving, seemingly unaware of the suspicious glare Philips was sending his way. He could have sworn he had heard his name during that transmission, but why would Toni think that the Covenant are behind that? The Captain seemed to be hiding something and using the Covenant as a scapegoat. The Private chose to follow Toni for now, but he would be keeping a close eye on him.
The Warthog drove off through the wilderness, as a female figure watched them from a rock. Soon, it would all be over. The female vanished into the wind.
Captain Toni's POV
Unknown amount of time earlier.
"Corporal Benedict, what's your status? Over." Static greeted him. "Michael, do you read me?" Sighing, Toni tried to contact the others.
"Doc, what's your position? Respond now!" Silence responded. "Philips, sound off!"
Nothing. He had been trying to contact his team for hours now, but all he got was static. Sighing, the Captain looked at his surroundings. He had woken up in the middle of this forest, with no idea what had happened to the rest of his squad.
Choosing a direction, the Captain made his way through the dense foliage and soon came across a bunker in the middle of the woods. Noticing that the doorway was wide open, Toni cautiously made his way through the bare hallways of the facility, determined to find something that could explain where he was.
As he was walking through one of the corridors, Toni suddenly heard a barrage of whispering voices coming from all around him.
"Hello? Is someone here?" Toni yelled, then mentally kicked himself for giving away his position. Regardless, the cacophony of whispers seemed to have no intention of letting up, so he continued down the hallway until he reached the entrance to some sort of office, whispers disappearing as he passed through the threshold.
The only furnishings in this room was a desk with a computer. Walking over to the terminal, Toni was surprised to find that it was active. Keying through several files, one caught his eye, titled; 'Elisa Philips.' Activating it, he discovered that it was a personnel file.
Something in his memory clicked, and Toni remembered overhearing conversations between his squadmates, about Colonel Elisa Philips, the mother of Private Jacob Philips, who apparently disappeared when he was a child. Curiousity piqued, the Captain read through the file, but found that most of it was blacked out.
'Like ONI all over again.' He thought. Coming across her status, he was surprised to find that it listed her as KIA. Before Toni could dig any deeper, movement at the door caught his eye, causing him to pull out his battle rifle and aim it at the entryway.
Carefully exiting the room, Toni returned to the hallway, constantly scanning the area with his VISR. Turning the corner, he found a dead body in green armor splayed out in front of him. As he approached the corpse, an inhuman howling filled the halls and the ambient lighting flickered out.
When the light returned, the body had disappeared, but the howling hadn't. Spinning towards the source, Toni found the green-armored figure standing right behind him, its hands having morphed into claws.
The captain let off a burst from his rifle, but his aim was wild, completely missing the lunging monster. After that, his vision became hazy, and the last thing that Toni heard was a short conversation.
"Will this be enough?" A demonic voice questioned.
"He will be sufficient for our purposes." A female voice replied, "Let's begin."
Everything went black.