0200 hours, July 20th, 2542 [MILITARY CALENDAR]\ ORTZ system, inside Galich Base
I was taken to the severe treatment Hospital in Alpha base where they treated my broken bones. I found out that Perrish had completely collapsed the temporal bone plate in the side of my head, just behind the eye sockets. They had to put in a metal plate to act as the bone. They had fixed all other breaks and bruises, fortunately.
I got out of the hospital within two weeks and I am now on my way to respond to a summons from Cheif Petty officer Hokai, our instructor.
Once I reach the room, I recoil quickly and twist sharply, outstretching my arm. My fingers wrap around the blade that was thrown at me. Hokai lowers his arm with a grin. "I see you're as sharp as ever. Good," He says. I try to return the blade to him but he gives it back to me. "Think of it as my last gift to you," He says. I don't know what that means. But I have a feeling that I'll know soon enough. I bring the blade with me as I turn to my team.
There are raised seats that extend back a few feet. Blue team is sitting on the left set and Red team on the right. Perrish glares as me as I take my seating in front of 211 and beside Parkson.
Hokai steps in front of a flat TV, hands clasped behind his back. "Today, you will learn about the true nature of your training. As some of you may have heard at one point, you are training to become 'Spartans'. Now, 'What are Spartans?' you might be wondering," Hokai says, stepping to the right of the TV.
The lights dim and the TV lights up.
A projection of a male appears, arms sticking out. His muscles are bigger then that of a normal Male and he is much taller.
Pieces of what look like armor come into view on different parts of the model. Black underarmor appears to cover the skin as the armor covers the model. A helmet descends over the head to form a type of armored Marine.
"This is what is called Mjolnir Mark V Spartan combat Armor. After you are augmented, you will be given your own set and sent into two month's worth of Spartan Armor training. Your augmentation will begin in two days, enough time to regain your strength for what is to come next. Now, not all of you will survive the augmentation. Only a couple of you might, maybe all. But if you do, you will be stronger then ever before." Hokai points to the model as it shifts to be naked again.
Different points light up as Hokai speaks.
"Your muscular strength will improve as well as your intelligence and your speed. To put it into basics, you will become 100% better then you are now. If you survive. You will be put under anesthesia and if you wake, you will be new. Do you understand?" Hokai finishes.
"Sir, yes sir!" We reply in unison.
"Good. Now go get some rest. You will need it for what is coming up. Dismissed!"
I lead the way back to our barracks and sit down on my bunk, holding my head in my hands. My finger runs across the metal supplement which is hard and unnatural. Light streams in through narrow windows above our beds, illuminating the metal room. It's still early, around 0200 hours. The sun is still low in the air. We'll have a lot of time to think this over.
As we mull over what just happened, I study the combat blade Hokai gave me. It has a serrated edge near the hilt and the end of the blade is curved. The hilt has AH inscribed on the side of it. Gold patterns are distributed along the hilt in swerves and curls.
"Spartans, eh? I personally like the idea," Kia says from her bunk. "But I don't like what Hokai said. 'If you survive.' What's the hell is that supposed to mean?" 211 says. "Isn't it obvious? Not all of us are making it out alive," Parkson says. "But it can't be bad if Hokai is letting us do it. He wouldn't ever let us do something that would kill us," Kia says. "Not unless it's out of his power," I say grimly. "Guys, what we're facing is serious. It's not just another live fire round. This is our final test, pass or die. There's no other way to put it."
The others quiet up after that, processing the excessively heavy weight of my words.
Two days past. Two days of tense waiting that seems like pure hell. I thought the live fire sessions were bad. But this? Much worse.
We train in the gym, pass time by doing push-ups and reading different books. We eat slowly, as we are allowed to do, and think more about what is to come.
Hokai withdraws from us quite suddenly. He disappears after the briefing and we only rarely see him. He was like a father to us, a strict father who wanted nothing but to see his children succeed. I have a feeling that whatever's coming up is going to be bad. And we'll never see Hokai again after it. I hate it. I hate all of it. The training, the waiting, the Spartans and the augmentation. It all seems unfair to all of us. But then again, we're just pawns in a bigger role. Fighting their wars, winning for them.
When the absolute final test comes, are heads are shaved and we are then shipped to a hidden facility that is dug deep into a mountain which is hundreds of miles from the base we called home. We are let out of the Falcon's and are set up into a four man single file line, one for each team. Red Team is there as well, in the second line of four. Each trainee looks exhausted and scared, but also brave and ready. Hokai arrives, looking grim and sleep deprived. "Cadets, this is your last test. If you pass, you will become Spartans. Super soldiers. You will learn to fight your enemy and will save humanity in ways no others could. So follow me. Your augmentation awaits," Hokai says, turning sharply on his heel and facing the large doors that seem like the gates to hell.
We march down the tunnel, ODST's at our heels, Hokai leading the way. The tunnel is wide and circular. Four lanes are set up on each side, one for incoming and the other for outgoing with two lanes in each side.
Scorpions and warthogs as well as other transports roar past us as we walk along the side-path. We pass what seems like hangers with busy personal and Pelican's within as well as Falcon's and Sparrowhawks.
The traffic gets thick and busy as we delve deeper into the facility, but thins out again as we reach our destination.
The door is marked A-12. We go into the room which is small, very small. It looks like an air hatch between space and the interior area. Except it feels like the door behind us is our old lives, and the door ahead of us leads to our new lives.
We stop in the middle of the room, four Spartans in single file with two rows. One for Blue team and one for Red. Hokai turns to us, having stayed behind. He instructs us to turn around and we do so without argue. As we turn, I could have sworn his eyes were...wet. Brimming with tears. But it must have been my imagination. Had to have been...
"Cadets, you will wait here until further orders. Obey the techies when they call you and do what they say. I want a clean operation, don't mess this up," Hokai says. Techies, a word for scientists or those who deal with technology of any kind. A word he made up, and one we always use.
Hokai clasps his hands behind his back and straightens up. "Cadets, it's been an honor being your teacher. But from here on out, you're your own instructor. You will become great soldiers, you count on that. Dismissed." He sounded way too soft, different, unlike Hokai. At that point, I didn't think much of it. I was too nervous. But now, I understand that that's how he was in the beginning. He was being tough on us to mold us. And I appreciate him for it.
He walks out of the room and the door slides shut behind him, closing with a clang that was much scarier then it should have been.
We sit and wait for what seems like forever. We stand at attention, dressed in nothing but our underwear, which was instructed of us as we neared this room. Parkson and I's heads are freshly shaved. 211 shaved early and his head is marked with a brown haze.
When the doctors finally come, they call in Blue team first. Perish leads his team into the augmentation room, head held high and shoulders back. That's the last I see of him as he heads into the large augmentation room. Forever gone from my life.
We wait for what seems like hours, and turns out it was. But after they are finished with the first segment, the doctors come through and call us in. I am told to give them my knife, and they'll hold it for me until I get out. If I get out.
I give them Hokai's last parting gift reluctantly and follow them into the large dark room. As Parkson nears the beds they take notice of his necklace and he is told to give it to them for holding. He takes off the necklace, which is draped around his neck, and hands it to them. He doesn't show any emotion, but I know it hurt him to do that. That necklace was given to him by his parents before he was abducted into the Spartan program. Somehow it got past the Marines and lasted all of these years. It's his only reminder of his old life, what he used to have. We assume he came from a rich family because, as we found out later, the necklace costed five hundred dollars and was in good condition.
The room is large and dimly lit. Many rows of flat beds are set up in two rows on either side of the room. A half-circle of glass and steel lays over the far end of the beds, nearest to the wall. I assume it's to monitor the subject's vital signs.
We are lead to flat metal "beds" with straps on them. The room is dark and seems dead. Almost like a tomb. We are instructed to lay down on the "beds" and put our limbs into the straps and we do so without arguing.
And as I am strapped in, I could have sworn I saw other bodies on the opposite side of the room, all with wires and machines hooked up to them.
But then I look straight up, as instructed, and grimace as a needle is stuck into my skin.
I look over and see Parkson to my right with doctors and nurses surrounding him. But that is right before I lose myself to the Morphine.
I wonder what it'll be like when I wake up...