Installation of Knowledge
Answers to some reviews:
Maroon567: The spider is smaller than Scarab just for you Forerunner-Neuroi hybrid is just you. However, there is a reason why they have a Forerunner-like appearance.
downyawood: Of course: Gravemind and 343 Guilty Spark. Worry not since none of them are going to make an appearance.
…maybe.
New Universe Returns: Sorry, friend. Never watch Ultraman since elementary school and can't suggest someone good.
October 24, 2557 (UNSC Calendar)
Library Facility, the Alps
After two days of the discovery of the Forerunner facility, the UNSC and the Swords of Sanghelios established their presence inside. Most of them are still nervous with the existence of the Prometheans, but the Monitor, 074 Sadness Gateway, assured them that they won't attack unless provoked. And even if someone – either humans, elites, or other species – decides to shoot them, they still need a clearance from her to counterattack. Of course, if the Promethean's existence becomes threatened, it will eliminate the threat.
Both Thomas Lasky and Rtas 'Vadum are currently walking through the facility with Sadness Gateway.
"So, Gateway, mind explaining why this facility is called 'Library'?" Asked Lasky.
"Because this is the Library." Explained Gateway with matter-of-fact tone.
"I think what Captain trying to say is the reason of the naming. We have found a library in Installation 05." Said Rtas.
"Oh, why don't you asked that earlier then?"
Lasky tries not to roll his eyes. The reports are correct; the monitor – despite being smart – can be called annoying. Looks like now he knows the reason.
"The library at Installation 05 is a library. This facility is the Library." Explained Gateway.
"Does that mean this facility holds all of knowledge that belongs to the Forerunner?" Asked Lasky.
"Oh, dear. Of course not. Almost all Forerunner knowledge were stored in the Domain, and I don't have the knowledge on how to access it. After all, storing such knowledge on a facility is beyond foolish. Can you imagine what happen if the Flood manage to gain it?"
Both Lasky and Rtas think about most of the Forerunner technology that they know, then imagining the Flood using them. Both shiver a little at the thought. Lasky then realizes that there's something important; something that he must ask.
"Gateway, is there a Flood in the Library?" Asked Lasky.
Rtas looks at Lasky with a surprised face before looking at Gateway.
"Worry not. This facility does not contain even a trace of a single Flood spore. You can relax." Answered Gateway.
Both Lasky and Rtas let out a sigh of relief when they heard that. At least they don't have to deal with the parasite. That kind of situation is the last thing everybody need.
A teleportation grid suddenly appear. Its appearance is similar to the ones at Requiem. The UNSC and the Swords become tense when they see that. Their fingers are on the trigger of their weapons, prepared to pull it at the slightest hint of aggression.
Appearing from the grid turns out to be another monitor. This monitor though seems to be darker in color than Sadness Gateway. Its illumination is also orange instead of purple. After the monitor, five Promethean Knights appear from the grid. The foremost however looks different from the other four. Most of its body is segmented to numerous disparate components that are not physically connected. The glowing "skull" on its face is not covered like other Knights. Like the other Prometheans though, his illuminations is blue.
"Ah, it appears that you have returned from Sector 01, Aggressive Fiber." Greeted Gateway to the other Monitor.
"I have returned. There is nothing wrong with Sector 01." Replied the other Monitor.
"Wait, wait, hold on." Said Lasky as he raises both of his hands. "Another Monitor? Aggressive Fiber? Sector 01?"
"Ah, forgive me for my neglect, Reclaimer. It had been approved that due to the circumstances, the Library Facility will be monitored by two Monitors." Explained Gateway.
"Greetings, Reclaimer. I am 711 Aggressive Fiber. I am Monitor of Library Facility." Greeted the other monitor in deep male voice, 711 Aggressive Fiber. "As for your other question, the facility is separated into several sectors. Sector 01 is located at the northern part of the continent south of our location."
"South of us? That's Africa." Said Lasky.
"Mind telling me who or what is this, Oracles?" Asked Rtas as he gestured the outstanding Promethean Knight.
"Oracles?" Said Lasky dumbfounded.
"Try to call your planet something other than Earth unconsciously, Captain." Retorted Rtas.
"If both of you don't mind." Said Fiber to gets the attention of both individuals. "Alright, this is the AI responsible to lead the Promethean forces in case of an attack on the Library Facility; the Warden Solo."
The Warden Solo walks a step or two before formally introducing itself.
"Greetings, Reclaimer. I am the Warden Solo. I responsible for the entire security of the Library Facility." Greeted the Warden with a smooth, deep male voice.
Lasky is a little surprised when he heard how smooth the voice of the Warden considering his terrifying appearance. Well, it's not like he's terrifying for him. But if a civilian just even has a brief look on the Warden, Lasky can bet that person is going to run for his live like a little girl.
"Can I ask a question?" Asked a marine with both monitors, well, nodding. "Why is it that the Library is built separated? Every other Forerunner installations that we found, they always intact."
"It is build that way to accommodate the tectonic plates that keep moving at least an inch every year. With this way of construction, the possibility of two sectors or more colliding is 0.000375%." Explained Fiber.
"Not completely zero?" Asked an elite.
"Tectonic plates' movement is something that's quite hard to predict. While the Forerunner have created a way to do so, we do not possess such knowledge nor any device capable of doing that." Explained Gateway.
"How long have this facility been built?" Asked Rtas.
"It has been built at least 10,000 years ago." Replied Gateway.
"So, that means the plates had moved at least 10,000 inches." Stated Lasky.
"Correct. When that the result of the movement started to become significant, the protocols that must be done are numerous." Said Fiber.
Everyone turn their attention to the Warden Solo when he clears his throat, or at least creates a noise similar to that.
"I informed you that we must prevent the meddlers from finding Sector 01. I do not believe that our previous measures were enough." Informed the Warden.
"I do not think we are currently inspecting the continent of Africa." Said Rtas.
"Incorrect. While you are not Reclaimer, you are also not a meddler because the Reclaimers have given you a permission to access the Library." Replied Gateway.
"Then who are you…are you talking about the humans of this planet?" Said Lasky when he suddenly got that idea.
"Correct. While both of you are humans, there is a difference between the humans seeded on Erde-Tyrene with the humans seeded on Chese-Pece, which is the designation of this planet. The genetic imprint that the Librarian placed on the humans of Erde-Tyrene makes them Reclaimers, while the imprint that the humans of Chese-Pece have makes them 'backup' Reclaimers. Unless all humans of Erde-Tyrene are annihilated, there's no possibility except one for the humans of Chese-Pece to become Reclaimers." Explained Fiber.
"Wait, how do you know if all humans from…'Er-de-thy-reen' are annihilated?" Asked Lasky as he butchered the word "Erde-Tyrene".
"There is a way. The protocol dictates that we do not explain the details of it." Replied Gateway. "Also, it is spelled 'Er-da-ty-reen".
"Right. Back to previous business, you said you want to prevent the humans of…this planet from finding Sector 01?"
"Indeed. They're currently too primitive to have the right to receive what this facility holds. Also, their last experiments show that these humans cannot be trusted with non-human technology."
"What are you talking about? How could they have access to something not human by origin if they do not have the capability of space travelling?" Asked Rtas curious.
Both monitors and the Warden look at each other before Gateway asked something.
"You…do not know the condition of this planet, do you?"
"Except the part that their technology is our equivalent of WII's, not so much." Said Lasky.
"I believe that we have no choice but to give you the full briefing of the situation." Stated Fiber.
Empire of Fuso
It is currently night at the Land of the Rising Sun. Most of its people are sleeping, with some are still awake because of work and other reasons. They can peacefully sleep and doing other activities because ever since the Fuso Sea Incident, the Neuroi never make even a single attempt to attack the empire.
But not tonight. This night, people of Fuso will remember how fear feels like.
A male Fusoan is currently has a very frightened face. So frightened, he could die because of shock and heart attack. It makes sense because right now, in front of him, is a pitch black mask with two glowing blue eyes being worn by someone, or rather something as the thing in front of him is too large to be a human. The thing's hand is holding his head, forcing the man to look at its eyes. Then, its other hand grabs his shoulder before it twists his head in such a way that his neck brakes.
The thing raises the corpse before throwing it off a cliff. It then start to walk towards a nearby town. Its entire body is covered by pitch-black armor with glowing red lines. The only other color it has is blue which its eyes. As the thing moves, half a dozen same figures appear out of nowhere. They're wearing the same armor albeit looking less elaborate than the first being. They're also shorter, although still taller than average men.
They are here for two reasons; to strike fear at the hearts of the people who had been accustomed with the overall peace of their country and to cut some flowers before they bloom.
When they're close enough to the town, the figures activate their active camos, making them invisible to the humans. They then walk through the town silently either through the empty street or the rooftop. Despite its importance, the presence of the military is minimum and most of the security they found are consisted of police officers who aren't even capable of giving them a challenge.
Once they passed the town, only a mile or two is their target; the witches training facility. It's a long walk, but what makes human tired hardly makes them sweat. When they see the facility, which resembles an airport for obvious reason, they can see that there's barely any guard.
Foolish. That is what inside the thought of them. While they can understand the lack of security if the country haven't been attacked since that incident, the fact that the lack is to this extend almost incredulous them. Nevertheless, they won't waste this chance.
They manage to silently pass through the guards. They look around and find their target; the witches-in-training dorm. One of them stand guard in front of the door while two of them go inside with a knife at their hands. The duo see eight bunk beds, which means there are at the most eight would-be witches inside.
A pity. At dawn, they won't see the sunshine.
The two of them approach the furthest bunk bed. One of them approaches the lower bed from one side while other approaches the upper one from the other side. With their way, they signal each other and strike at the same time. First, they smothered their mouths, preventing them from screaming for help. Both of them can see the fear at the wakened witches-in-training. Then, they raise their knives before finally…
August 25, 1945 (Local Calendar)
Camp Metabaru
Kuroe Ayaka is waiting at the field in front of the runway for the witches-in-training to come. She had been send by the Fuso Imperial Army Flight Evaluation Bureau to oversee the quality of the training in the facility.
However, it has been more than half an hour since she arrived and there's no sign of them.
"Damn it. While I know this place is not one of the best, at least the report said that this place is good enough to…"
"AAAAAAHH!"
Ayaka stops muttering when she heard the scream. She immediately run towards the source and see a frightened soldier is crawling away from a building while keeping his eyes on it.
"What happen, soldier?" Demanded Ayaka as other personnel approach the building.
The soldier looks at her, still having that frightened face. He points his shaking hand at the building.
"T-T-T-The witches! T-T-They…"
Ayako spends no time and immediately looks inside. What she sees is something that she won't forgot for the rest of her life.
Inside, there are bloodied bunk beds. Both the lower and upper beds have blood on them. Ayaka approaches the closest lower bed to check it. There, she sees a corpse of a girl with stab wounds on her chest. Her face indicates that she's on the verge of crying when death took her.
Ayaka turns to the personnel outside, almost all of them have a terrified faces.
"Get me your superior! This is emergency!" Ordered Ayaka.
"Y-Yes, ma'am." Said one of them before running, trying to search for his superior.
Ayaka exits the building as people from medical bay arrived. That won't be necessary, she thought. She grits her teeth and clenches her right hand. Never since the start of Second Neuroi War, there's a record of witches died this way. To make it worse, none of them have not even served once.
This war, it's going to be more brutal than ever.
And this is done.
So, can you guess the "figures" who killed those witches-in-training?
By the way, about the Warden Solo's voice, think about Morgan Freeman.
If you have question or suggestion, feel free to tell me.
Review please.