Disclaimer: I do not own anything here except for the concept of DreamLand and John Call.
Chapter 10: Two Betrayals
Larry wondered what the Ninjutsu master had in mind for his next lesson, because clearly the last one was not considered a great success. He looked for Delaine but everyone in the now lit room was covered in black clothing, and he couldn't tell the difference from one person to the next.
"In this exercise," Genji Taka-no-hemi said as he came to a halt next to a blue mat, "You will learn humility." With that, the lights went out in the room, and Larry immediately began to sense danger all around him.
"Crud," he muttered.
That one word turned out to be a mistake.
Ownage looked over the pit to where the green T-shaped object was hovering. The Icon…
Reaching out to grab it, he had to lean over the pit while Recon and some other CH members were creating a human chain while Ownage grabbed the Icon. As they pulled him back, a flash of light next to the pit resolved into a hologram. John Call materialized in another flash of light and surveyed the room.
"So you have gathered the Icon. That is the key to the entire Halo weapons system, but it can only be activated by the person who touched the weapon first. If the person, herby called 'reclaimer,' dies then the next person who touches the Icon after the reclaimer's death becomes the next one.
"It is important that you realize the importance of the Halo system, it should not be used unless there is no other choice. In addition, now that you have it the coordinates of the Halo ring and the clans currently on it will be published. Thank you and Have a nice day!"
"Will be published?" Fate said his eyes widening.
"What does that mean?" asked Rouge.
"Well whatever it means," FOX said, "I don't reckon it means anything good for us."
"It means that what was keeping us safe from other ambitious clans is no longer a factor. Every clan will know the location of at least one Halo and try to come here and maybe take the Icon from me," Ownage said, "Get High Command on the phone now and let them know that our position has been compromised, and also call for evac now!"
Larry could feel another blow coming from the darkness, and he rolled to the ground, striking at the legs of the attacker. With a cry, the attacker fell to the ground.
Genji Taka-no-hemi's voice cried out, "STOP!" and the lights flashed back on and Larry stood there panting. In front of him, a black garbed student was already getting back on to his feet.
Behind Larry stood a ninja with a wooden sword pressed right into his neck.
"You are dead, Larry Thompson. No surprise really, because you were outnumbered and out of your element, but still just as dead," Genji Taka-no-hemi said with a musical note in his voice, "That is all I will show you today. Should you wish to return, the course cost 50$ a lesson or 200$ for unlimited lessons each month. Good day." He turned and strolled away.
The ninja behind Larry pulled off its mask to show Delaine standing with the fake sword, "Don't worry everyone fails that lesson, Larry." She said as she pulled off the heavy black top, "Let's go, I gotta change first though. Your clothes should still be in the locker room." And she hurried off to change herself.
Larry saw with a surprise that all the other ninja had gone back to their sparring, but with their garb being removed. What a peculiar man, Larry thought as he saw Genji.
Ownage cradled the Index as though it was a new born child, and jumped onto the UH-60 Blackhawk. As he did so, Ownage could hear the voices of more Heartless coming up out of Halo.
He glanced over to Recon, who came over after talking on the radio with High Command. Whitestar also came over.
Ownage frowned at the young officer and almost told him to go away, but decided that his rank of 'Captain' was strong enough.
"What did they say?" Ownage asked.
"They are recalling us immediately and are ordering you to give the Index over to Ginge upon arrival at CH HQ. Also, with regard to the exterior threat and other clans coming here, both Ben and Cano believe that no other Clan has the resources to currently dig us out of Halo and feel that it could happen later but not right now," Recon glanced sideways at Ownage, "You know if you break that from gripping it so, Ben might drop you down to Crewman?"
Ownage frowned over at the younger man, "It won't break. The Forerunners wouldn't create something that would be so easily undone."
Whitestar said, "You know an awful lot about these things."
Recon and Ownage exchanged a glance, "I have been researching this for sometime. I always thought John Call stuck one in here."
"In where?"
"In DreamLand," Ownage turned to Recon as the chopper hit a pocket of turbulence, forcing all three to snatch for hand holds. The Index flew out of Ownage's hands and thanks to the quick reflexes of Recon, it was caught.
Ownage looked through his beard down at Recon, "Give it back to me."
Recon gave the Index slowly back, but Ownage snatched it away.
Recon looked pointy at the Admiral who glared back, Whitestar just sat there studying both of them without any expression on his face. The UH-60 flew on over the water toward CH HQ.
Larry walked up the steps to his house, and waved good bye to Delaine. She grinned at him as she gunned the engine and left peeling out of his apartment's parking lot. He winced, if his landlady had seen that, he would get an earful.
Unlocking his door he walked in and looked at the clock on his microwave: 4:30. He pulled out a Coke can out of his small refridgerator and plopped down on the couch. He felt completely drained of energy. His muscles ached and his head spun. He had a Science essay for Biology 101 that he had neglected to do….
His eyes drifted closed, and before he truly knew it, he was dreaming true dreams.
Ownage and Recon stood at parade rest in the main chamber of the Clan Hunters. In front of them sat the three High Command members: Bobby, James, and Nikita. All three of them were frowning at the Admiral and the Lt. Commander. The two field officers had just finished their report.
"So you're saying that the Heartless were already on this ring before we came?" James said scowling heavily.
"That's right sir," said Recon.
"About this part that you said had occurred after you obtained the index," Bobby said on top of Recon, "John Call appeared in a hologram and told you that he would broadcast the co-ordinates of Halo to every clan and every major power in DreamLand?"
"As I said sir," Ownage replied stiffly, "With respect, we don't have time to argue about the particulars. The point is that we will soon be swamped like a King of the Hill game with every clan trying to make a name for themselves. We need…."
"WE will decide what needs to be done, Rear Admiral Ownage," James cut Ownage off.
Fleet Admiral Ben stepped forward then, he had been standing in a chair behind the two officers, "Sirs and ma'am, I believe that Ownage is correct here, and even if John Call was bluffing (which I doubt) it would be wise to prepare for an attack or at least devise an evac plan."
Nikita nodded, "Your concern is noted Ben, but we already have such a plan in place. The Pride of Clan Hunters has moved away from the center of the ring and now sits behind it, hidden from sight and sensors. Should any ships enter the area we will wait for them to come in range and then attack."
"But what about the Stargate?" Asked Ownage, "They could come through that!"
Bobby answered this question, "We have a small squad stationed outside of the Stargate, watching for traffic. If they see any activity they are to report immediately."
Ownage glared at the High Command, especially James, "You've already gotten this planned out? Then what about the Index?"
"What about it?" James said, his eyes narrowing.
"What are you going to do with it?"
"That is none of your concern."
"But I'm the reclaimer!"
"All the more reason for you not to know the location," Bobby said, "It cannot be used without your direct contact to the Control Room. Which we still have not located."
Ownage looked over at Recon and caught his eye. Recon looked back and gave a slight nod.
Larry woke up without any real comprehension of where he was. Outside the light was beginning to fade. In the gathering gloom, he saw his DreamLand device. With a mutter and without realizing it, he plugged the ports onto his head and activated it before he fell asleep again.
With a rush, all the memories of the last fight came back to Larry and he woke dressed in the same World War II jacket on a bed. Around him were more men, many still sleeping.
The room was clearly an infirmary. Stretching, Larry sat up only to feel tightness in his shoulder. Looking down he could see where the bullet had penetrated it in his clothing, but the wound itself had healed up and was only a white scar.
Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, he stood up. Aside from the usual stiffness that comes after a long sleep, he felt fine. He noticed his Lightsaber was gone, and began to move toward the door.
He was intercepted by a sentry, he recognized him immediately.
"Spacer?"
"Yeah, that you Harrod?" rather then his usual joking manner, Spacer seemed down and serious. He carried only a pistol in his belt, but not the huge Grenade Launcher he had carried before.
"Yes, where's my Lightsaber?"
"Ownage has it with him."
Instantly Larry remembered the mission, "We got the Index?" He shouted.
"Keep you voice down!" Spacer said gruffly.
"Why? They're not going to wake unless they plug into the system."
Spacer frowned at this, "Yes, we got the index," he said in a normal tone, "But there's been a…change in command."
Larry stopped his celebration and looked back to where the man stood and frowned, "What do you mean 'change in command?'"
"It's like this Harrod, everyone knows we're here. John Call gave the co-ordinates to every clan and major power in DreamLand, and they'll all be here soon. The old High Command wasn't doing anything to prevent or stop the invasion so…Ownage and Recon took thigns into their own hands…"
Larry felt his skin go cold, "What happens to us now?"
"Well you can do two things," Spacer said, "Join us, or die."
"Ah. I thought that was what you were going to say."
Ownage was standing in the conference room and was issuing orders to the Clan Hunter members when Larry walked in. Two guards flanked the door. Around the room there were plasma burns and bullet holes on the walls. A spot of something red and sticky was still smeared across the floor near the entrence.
Larry walked in escorted by Spacer and Biffy (who had been standing outside) and was brought before Ownage just as the three soldiers he had been telling off left.
The big man smiled broadly when Larry came in.
"Ah Harrod! So glad you managed to pull through that business after the SeeDs! We were afraid you would have died. The Doc managed to patch you up pretty good," Ownage stroked his axe disconcertingly as he walked around the room. At his belt sat Larry's Lightsaber.
"What has happened here?" Larry asked as Ownage turned away. In the small of his back was a green "T" shaped thing. The Index?
"The High Command of the old CH and I had a slight….disagreement in management, so I replaced them."
Larry frowned, it was too vague. "Why?"
"They don't see the threat that is coming. Even now I'm setting up defenses to deal with the problem. There is one task that remains now."
Larry frowned again, "Threat?"
Ownage explained about the clans knowing the location of the CH HQ, "There is one problem," Ownage explained, "Ben and a few others have barricaded themselves inside of the Flag room. The situation is similar onboard the Pride of Clan Hunters. Fury and Tex are leading an attempt to defend the bridge. They're outnumbered and will eventually fail, but I don't have time for this. If you want to join us, I'll give you your Lightsaber back and you can go dig out Ben and his bums."
Larry looked at Spacer, who had just picked up his grenade launcher again. He considered and then nodded.
The smile from Spacer and Ownage were bright enough to light the room as well as the Lightsaber on Ownages belt could have.
"They're down in the bottom of the Island. Take Biffy with you. The commander in charge of the effort is a man named Sol, good luck." With that, Ownaged tossed the Larry's Lightsaber to him and walked off.
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