Chapter 15: The Garden Of Remnant.
-Vale-
Gun shots rang through the streets, an Atlasian Solider, a VPD Officer and an Atlasian Knight-200 took impromptu cover behind vehicles. White Fang had recently stolen a shipment of Dust and the VPD were going to take it back.
"Where in Vale did they get Light Machine Guns?!" A Cop shouted
An Atlasian Soldier took a quick peek over his cover, firing pot shots at the enemy "You tell me!"
The Atlasian Knight raised from its cover and began shooting at the armed assailants, successfully killing one in a window, before one of its hands was blown off by a bullet. The Knight aimed at the perpetrator and killed him.
"They're in the windows!" The VPD officer raised his pistol and fired at the aforementioned windows, causing the White Fang to duck behind their cover. "I'm suppressing, move!"
The Atlas Soldier quickly ran from his cover and jumped behind a wall. A much safer option than a vehicle. The Soldier raised his rifle and fired at the windows as well. "Come on! I'll cover!"
The Officer sprinted to the Soldier's cover and jumped in as well. "When's your back up coming?"
"In a few minutes. Why?" The Soldier asked
The Officer sighed "We don't have a few minutes! Maybe a Huntsman? Or a Spartan?"
"Most Huntsmen are out fighting Grimm and I don't even know if the Spartans would be capable!" The Soldier peeked over his cover just in time to see the Knight be torn to shreds in a hail of gunfire.
The White Fang started firing at the duo's cover "Just call for some damn Spartan backup!"
The Soldier relayed a message through his TACPAD "Alright, but we're gonna have to dig in if we wanna survi-"
Powerful shots begun erupting from the streets, followed by sounds of a fully automatic weapon. "What's that?"
The duo emerged from their cover, which was riddled with bullet holes, and saw a towering Spartan dual wielding what looked like The World's Biggest Pistol and an LMG. He was shooting at the windows, each shot landing on White Fang, none at the walls or ceiling.
Magnus noticed several in a lower floor, so he fired his SAW tearing through them as they peeked from their cover. He aimed back to the top with his Magnum, killing a White Fang member before he could fire a rocket.
A White Fang Lieutenant jumped over his cover, ornamented blade in hand. He begun spinning it around himself, as he did, a fiery aura begun emitting from his body. He stopped and passed his hand across the blade, eyes full of fiery aura.
Magnus raised his Magnum and shot the Lieutenant in the face, not giving him a chance to raise the blade. He looked around and saw the now fleeing White Fang, he raised his Magnum, but restrained himself. He wasn't in the Colonies, he was in Remnant, where the public would be watching him, it was best if he kept a lighter image.
"Holy Moly Spartan!" The Solider was struck with pure awe "That's some mighty fine shooting! Where'd you learn it?"
Magnus stared at the duo, then simply walked off.
"Man of few words, huh?" The Solider chuckled "Me too."
The Officer stared at the latter "You sure about that?"
-Beacon-
"Does everyone have their Ice Dust?" Glynda asked. It was Dust Manipulation 101, they weren't in the classroom however. They were in a field near the campus, still within the confines however.
The student all gave a positive answer. Glynda smiled "Very well, today we will be learning how to use Dust in a defensive manner."
"I'm sure with our last lesson, you all know how to apply Dust onto your weapons?"
The students all nodded. They also noticed one of the Spartans sitting nearby on a tree stump, the Blue one, Damian.
"First off, you'll be creating an ice construct. It doesn't have to be a barrier, but something that could take a hit and not crumble instantly. Who would like to begin?"
Cardin confidently flourished his Mace "Right here."
"Very well, stand in the square." Glynda ordered. The teen walked to the mentioned square "Now, apply your Dust, channel your aura through your weapon, then release it while you push it forward."
Cardin replaced the usual fire dust on his weapon for the ice dust. He spun the Mace, then slammed it downwards. The Mace exploded with a large ice chunk being made from it.
"Good going kiddo!" the class heard, it was from Damian, who had a thumbs up.
Glynda agreed with the Spartan "Yes, quite indeed. So, who's next?"
Jaune carefully applied the ice dust into his shield, making sure not to freeze himself like last time. He raised his shield and readied himself.
"As earlier, channel your aura through your weapon, and release as you push." Glynda, again, explained
Jaune breathed in "Ok… you got this"
Jaune clutched his shield, he leaned back and then pushed forward. His aura incase his shield, triggering the Dust in it and creating a perfect rectangle of ice. "Ha! Oh my-Look at that, I did it!"
"Damn, that's a good barricade there Jaune." Damian nodded, then gave two thumbs up "Good job"
Yang flipped the dust shells into her gauntlets, cocking them, ready to make a barricade. She channeled her aura and leaned back, then pushed forward and clashed his fists together. The barricade in front of her was very circular, with spikes in front of it.
"Mm, good." Damian mentioned
Yang smiled and walked back to the group, although she was, internally, sad. Just a 'Mm, good?' did she do something wrong? She didn't mean to look too agressive! Maybe she should tone herself down a bit, she was probabl-
Ruby gave Yang a tiny barrage of slaps "Wake up!"
"Is that all of the Students?" Glynda asked, the class nodded "Good, now onto the second part of the exercise, as suggested by Mr. Corral."
Damian stood up, now wielding a hammer of sort, it was big with a large blade in the back. It had weird components all over the blunt part of it, very scavenged look.
"This. Is a Gravity Hammer." Damian held the hammer and pressed a button, opening the interior of the hammer. It had various parts, bits of light and bobs of technologies that were completely alien looking. Damian flicked the hammer and closed said opening.
"This can kill a Major Ursa with one hit. Plus, it produces a gravity Shockwave on impact, so that Ursa is gonna get a whole face lift on impact."
Ruby's eyes were sparkling, the Spartans just seemed to have cooler and cooler weapons by the minute! Ruby let out a faint squeak "I wanna hold you…"
"Fortunately for you, I will be reducing the power of the hammer. Just so It's fair for this stress test." The students begun talking amongst themselves, many of them thought the Spartan would simply punch the ice barricade, not hit them with a Ursa Killer.
"So, Cardin's is up first." Damian slowly walked to Cardin's ice structure
Cardin chuckled "Mine's ain't gonna-"
Damian slammed down the hammer in front of the ice, completely shattering it, save for the base of it.
"Oh, come on!" Cardin shouted
"Don't get cocky." Damian spoke, he walked to the next ice chunks, maybe he'll shatter some expectations or they'll be able to hold together.
Damian stood before Jaune's ice barricade. "Next up, it's Jaune"
Jaune anxiously smiled "Oh boy…here we go."
He felt a hand on his shoulder, it was Pyrrha's hand. She had a comforting smile "You'll do great."
Damian rolled his shoulders and then slammed the hammer down in front of the ice barricade. The whole outer rim of the barricade was shattered but the inner portion remained intact. "That's a good barrier"
Jaune gave a loud sigh of relief as he sat down "Oh thank the stars..."
The Spartan finally came to the last ice barrier. Weiss Schnee's. It was highly detailed for a summon, although Weiss did show proficient use of Dust. "Very elegant barrier Ms. Schnee!"
Weiss lifted her head in confidence and pride "Like myself"
Damian lightly spun the hammer "Let's see if it holds"
The Spartan lifted the Brute weapon, and slammed it upon the ground in front of the Barrier. But in a surprising twist, the barrier remained tall and unscathed. "Damn! That's the first one that didn't break!"
"Fantastic work Ms. Schnee." Glynda marked her final note on her scroll. "Very well students, that will be all for now. You better be heading to your next class, you know how Obbleck gets…"
As the students all walked towards the next class, Weiss raised her hand "Professor Goodwitch? Could Mr. Corral hit my barrier with the full power of the hammer?"
Glynda raised an eyebrow "Um. This won't be giving any extra credit Ms. Schnee"
"I know, but this isn't about better grades Professor. Simply a request." Weiss continued
Glynda looked at Damian. The Spartan shrugged, but ultimately motioned Glynda to make the call.
"Very well. Corral, if you may?" The Teacher complied with the heiress' request
"Right away." Damian opened the hammer, tinkering with the inner components then closing it again.
Damian then lifted the hammer, and viciously slammed it down. Lifting him a foot into the air and utterly and absolutely decimating the surrounding Ice dust creations.
Except for Weiss'. Hers had a mere crack in the middle of it, yet the whole creation did not falter. "Sheesh. That's some tough stuff!"
"Thank you, Professor Goodwitch." Weiss placed her hands behind her back and walked off with her team, full of confidence, and a newly inflated ego.
"She definitely lives up to the title of a Dust heiress." Glynda mumbled
"That's legitimately impressive Glynda I hope you realize" Damian rested the hammer on his shoulder "Honestly, a gravity hammer isn't a joke."
Glynda closed her scroll "Of course. Well, I better find replacements for the ball organizers, team CFVY has been busy with assignment that it's affected the preparations."
"Wait, wait there's a ball? Like a Prom?" Damian had not been informed of a Ball. "Can I come?"
"Why wouldn't you? All the Spartans are allowed to come. " Glynda smirked as she walked off.
Damian chuckled and started to walk back to the warehouse. He was going to tell the rest of the gang.
"A ball?" Xavier asked "Like a prom?"
Damian nodded "Yeah"
"Someone say prom?" Hannah snapped at the two Spartans, interrupting her work on the jetpack. "Like students dancing and fruit punch?"
"I'm sure, Glynda's out finding replacements for the organizers"
"I remember my experience with Proms." Jirou butted in, sitting next to the Spartans "A lot of girls wanted me to go with them, I'm not sure why."
"Because you were good looking?" Hannah chuckled
Jirou chuckle-scoffed "Were?"
"I never got any sort of invitations from anyone. I still went because of the fruit punch though! That was the best part." Hannah softly chuckled
The Prom conversation was interrupted by a incoming transmission from Xavier's scroll. It was Dr. Myra. The Sergeant opened their scroll. "Dr. Myra?"
"Greetings Spartans, I do hope I'm not interrupting anything but we have a little situation here."
"What is it?"
"We've found a…locked door."
The Spartans looked at each other, somewhat confused when they unlocked most of the site and deactivated the security. Everything should've been unlocked. "Locked? Have you opened it?"
"I would request that you come and check it out, given your extreme cautions about the site I thought it would be best."
"Alright, we'll see what we can do."
-Site 18-
A Bullhead landed at the site's landing pad. It contained only Damian, armed with his MA5D and Hydra Launcher. An Atlasian soldier walked to the Spartan. "Spartan. Right this way."
Damian looked around the site, it was littered with Atlas buildings and barracks. He could see some Atlasian Soliders looking at him with awe "Anything unusual happened besides the door?"
"No, sir. Although have discovered several information logs and schematics" The Soldier answered
"I would like a copy of that info on my scroll"
The Soldier nodded "Consider it done Spartan."
Damian and the Soldier walked through the entrance. The hall once more showing off its elegant brutalist forerunner architecture. Dozens of Soldiers patrolling alongside Atlasian and Promethean Knights.
The duo kept their stride until they reached an inconspicuous area of the halls. Atlasian Knights and soldiers were at the ready, along with some other individuals.
"This is it Spartan. Meet with the Ace Ops and I'll be getting that data for you ASAP" the Soldier gave a salute and walked off
One of the individuals walked up to Damian, probably one the Ace Ops the soldier had mentioned. "You must be the Spartan."
Damian nodded "Spartan Damian Corral. You must be the Ace Operative?"
"Clover Ebi. Ace Operatives Leader, actually." Clover smiled, looking at the Spartan head to toe "You're taller than the news let's on."
Damian gave a soft laugh "It's the armor really, I'm 6'1 without it!"
"Really? Then I'm two inches taller then!" Clover chuckled "Come on, we can talk after we've solved the door mystery"
"Of course, lead on"
Damian followed the Ace Operative to the door, several Atlasian Soldiers and Knight were waiting along the door, with three other individuals. Probably Ace Ops too.
"This the Spartan?" The Tall woman asked
Clover gave a positive gesture "Yes. Spartan Corral, these are Elm, Vine and Harriet. Also Ace Ops. We have a fifth named Marrow but he's on other duties"
"A pleasure to be working with you." Damian grabbed his Hydra Launcher "Now, no one's opened the door?"
An Atlasian Soldier shook his head, he was leaned next to the terminal to open the door, it had an Atlasian device attached to it "No Spartan, we're waiting on your mark."
"Good. I say we let the Knights go first, make sure it's safe."
Clover nodded "I agree, send the Knights up front."
Two Atlasian Knights walked up to the door, guns aimed and waiting to enter. "Should I open it now?"
Damian leaned against the side of the door, along with Clover. The rest of the Ace Ops leaned parallel to them. "Open it."
The Atlasian Soldier nodded "Opening now." He then pressed a button, sending a stream of data through the attached device and into the terminal. The terminal began to rapidly display various symbols, then stopped at one and the attached device gave a green signal.
The doors opened and the Atlasian Knights walked for a whole two steps before being shot and impaled by several large wooden stumps.
"Son of a bitch-" Damian recoiled, he noted the slight shock in Elm's and Harriet's expression. Vine remained neutral. "Alright, give me a minute."
Damian grabbed his scroll and started to press several symbols. It was the data they had copied prior to their departure from the first expedition to the site.
"What're you doing?" Harriet asked
Damian flipped his scroll and had an audio file at the ready "I'm going to tell whatever's there to not shoot at us." Damian threw his scroll around the corner.
The watch light's focus was on the scroll, which started to emit garbled and completely alien noises. Damian leaned into the hall and saw an unexpected picture.
The watch light was emitted from a tree, which was now emerging from said tree, its full body looked similar to that of a Promethean Soldier, but made of wood, vine and grass with a blue light coming from within it. The hall in question was also overgrown, flowers growing in the walls and plant life sprawled across the floors.
Damian stowed his Hydra Launcher and breathed in. He slowly raised his arms and begun to walk ever carefully around the corner.
The wooden soldier observed the scroll, slowly reaching for it. The language emitting from it was…familiar, yet still foreign to it. It knew who spoke it but could not remember. Nor remember why it was defending this hall.
The Wooden Soldier noticed Damian. It dropped the scroll and locked his watch light on the Spartan.
"Hey, it's alright." Damian held his hands up, the Soldier fiercely staring him down "I'm not going to hurt you, but I need you to turn off those…tree ballistas…"
Upon closer look, the Wooden Soldier was overgrown, flowers were even sprouting from its head and dried leaves made a sort of skirt around its waist. The Soldiers watch light looked into Damian's UNSC symbol on his chestplate. It seemed to be scanning it.
From the entrance, the Ace Ops looked as the two 'Interacted' with each other. Vine was the first to speak "What's it doing?"
"I don't know, scanning the Spartan I think…" Harriet leaned in.
The Wooden Soldier's watch light suddenly stopped and flickered green. It looked suddenly ecstatic, almost as if Damian was supposed to come here. The Soldier then motioned the Spartan to join it.
"Go with you?" Damian asked
The Soldier nodded
"Will you deactivate the…tree turret things?"
The Solider nodded and raised its hand to the trees. The trees lowered and 'relaxed' themselves. The Soldier grabbed Damian's hand and insisted he join it.
"Alright, show me what you got" Damian nodded, the Soldier ran off into the hidden hall. The Spartan looked back at the Atlasians and motioned them to come along.
Damian walked along the Soldier. The Atlasian team not far behind him, they awed at the surreal beauty of the hidden hall. Flowers, Grass, Vines and Trees were the decorative delight for their eyes, even various Bioluminescent plants placed in…seemingly artificial ways, as if someone had planted them there.
The Spartan and Soldier made it to an overgrown door. The Soldier's arm morphed into a branch with a bioluminescent end to it. It combined into the door's vines, sending a small wave all across it. The door opened, revealing its incredible contents.
A colossal tree was situated in the middle of the room. The sheer scale of the tree was astronomical. He saw what looked like a Retriever Sentinel in the distance, the Sentinel was a mere speck compared to the tree.
Damian started to record everything in the room. This needed to be looked into, the overgrowth in the halls was weird enough. But for the Forerunners to grow, or even build a tree was completely out of the norm from what he'd seen.
"What in the world is that?" Clover asked, he stood in sheer awe of the sight before him. "Is this something you've encountered before Spartan?"
"No…first time."
The wooden soldier walked past the two and went down the path, showing an atlar of sort. It emitted a beam directly to the tree. The wooden soldier motioned to an artifact of sort.
It was a small hand sized object, it had a very angular and sharp shape to it, yet it resembled the very tree in front of him. The soldier kept insisting upon the object, as if it wanted Damian to take it.
Damian slowly reach for the object, but retracted "You want me to take this?"
The Soldier nodded excitedly. The Spartan breathed in, reaching for the object. "Alright then."
Damian carefully grabbed ahold of the item. The Atlar suddenly powering down and the beam emitting from it vanishing. The tree showed no difference, no change. Damian held the object, inspecting it closer. "Gonna have to ask Beacon for some potential history on this."