A/N: In response to a very welcomed and appreciated review, most of what I've explained in the first chapter is more so to have questions and suggestions such as yours to come around: theories or ideas, opinions. All my theories and my shaping of bringing Destiny and Halo together are all laid out, meaning that the story is, essentially, finished; now, I need to write the actual stories and perhaps tweak it a bit. This means that by gaining a review such as yours, I may, perhaps add a little bit of your suggestions or theories here and there.
But, back to the topic on hand, as you know, when the Traveler arrived, technology and living flourished. Yes, this will be incorporated but you also know, when the Darkness attacked, many things (schematics, ideas, information, etc.) were lost and are currently being recovered. Yes, the Guardians should be using plasma and hardlight weapons/technology/etc. but with the data lost and the Traveler (in my opinion) gone dark, it's gotten to the point where it's nearly impossible to find engrams and schematics containing these plans, the improbability of discovering these engrams will be explained in future chapters. All I can say is that the remnants of this technology is used within the Guardians' abilities to manipulate Arc, Solar, and Void energies at will.
With the Vex crawling around and turning everything into machine planets and the Hive infesting what they haven't taken, well, let's just say that the Darkness plays a key role in this upcoming story and explains as to why I put Destiny after the events of Halo.
EDIT (4/21/15): Note to self: stop being so vague, you're an idiot. I am so sorry to everyone else haa.
Details changed are kind of small but here is the chapter, revised. Thanks.
Even in the past, the Darkness follows us. Ghost muttered as Callixtus strode forward, nudging a spore cautiously, shivering as he felt the presence of the Darkness casually swim over him before being extinguished by the Light inhabiting his body, before jumping onto the bulb it spawned. And these are the people who took up the Mantle? Who the Traveler would save? An early type of Human? I...
It is all so disorienting but we cannot possibly be in the past, I am...I am unsure that it is possible, we cannot go by what we see. Callixtus replied as he stomped on another one of the bulbous creatures, ignoring the conversation the armored Human and his AI were having. It explains the language barrier and who knows? But if it is true then maybe we should not mess with it. Did the Traveler tell you a lot about the past?
The Traveler told many stories of the past to the Ghosts, the AI replied hesitantly. Now I just need to see if they're true.
Why would the Traveler lie to you in the first place? Although I do wonder what there is to gain from the past.
Must I really remind you, Guardian? You are from the past, the majority of the Guardians are.It scolded, a wave of irritation momentarily flowing through his mind; the emotion, however, eventually died down into a sense of uncertainty. I must say though, that I do have my...doubts. Especially about a particular one as he is such an old tale it is more of a legend than anything. It's about the Human who initially upheld the Mantle. I think his name was the Mas-
The Human called to the Guardian, interrupting the mental conversation he and the Ghost were having, saying something along the lines of, "You're - with me!"
As soon as he said that, a loud shriek pierced the air and the two men watched as an aircraft flew in the wild form of a fireball on to the landing platform several yards away.
From where he stood, Callixtus could see spores crawling over the craft, feeling the Darkness radiate from it as the infected rushed off, shrieking and flailing about.
As the two soldiers approached it, the Human grabbed a silver rod from his hip and activated it; a loud hiss radiated from it and two prongs of light appeared, Arc energy crackling between them. When the first infected came towards them, the Human lunged forward and sliced the monstrosity clean in half, rendering it unusable for the walking spores.
I'll tell you later, go help the Human! Ghost demanded and Callixtus launched into action without a second thought, once again shoulder-charging into one of the infected and slamming a heavy boot into the chest of another, both beasts collapsing into an unrecognizable heap. Turning, he fired Invective at several of the creatures that began shrieking and charging wildly at the Human, grunting in approval as they fell down in flames and ash.
To be honest, I do not think he really needs help. Callixtus speculated as he fell into step behind the Human, looking over the sage armour curiously. Interesting armor though, I will give him that.
It's subpar as is his skill.
It is interesting. Stop berating him.
He can't hear me.
The Traveler cannot hear me but I do not insult it.
That's because that's the Traveler.
I will throw you at the Human.
Don't. A low chuckle met the Ghost, low enough so the Human didn't hear it although the hum vibrated throughout Callixtus's body and the Titan could practically feel the Ghost roll its eye. Also, make sure you're paying attention. You'll do us no good wandering around as if you were a chicken that lost its head.
As if I was a what that lost its what?
It's an old Human saying. Follow the Human.
The Titan simply did as he was told and kept silent as he followed the Human, they went down a hall that was branching down from the main onel, heading for the ship that Ghost and the AI Cortana had pointed out earlier before they had left; as they delved deeper into the lost space city, the spores of the Plague became more evident and so too did the presence of the Darkness. It was a familiar feeling of loneliness and the coldest of the cold; if he concentrated hard enough, he was sure he could hear them. The Hive. The Vex. Atheon and Crota. It burrowed into his mind and whispered words of doubt, lies, and betrayal. Manipulation. Hate. Fury.
But as soon as he tried to think about it, as soon as he tried to concentrate on their damned voices to drive them off, they left in a flurry on their own accord, leaving only faint whispers that also faded back into the spores from whence they came. It was something Callixtus was used, pushing forward as the Darkness swirled and reached out towards him, only to shrink away from the Light in which he was born from, the powerful element snapping at them angrily from within.
The Human didn't appear to be perturbed by the spores, perhaps a bit of disgust appeared but nonetheless, he didn't display anything beyond that.
It seemed that the Darkness didn't reach out to these Humans nor did the Light. There was no influence on his person.
The Human in physical portrayal was a tank in the loose description of Callixtus whenever they came across a horde of infected; he stampeded through the enemies, the Plague and aliens alike, blowing them away with his shotgun or slicing them with his unusual two-pronged Arc blade, occasionally stooping to pick up ammo or a new blade. He carved his way through the river of enemies in a way only Callixtus had seen in his comrades, with grace yet brute force.
Effortlessly, the Guardian had managed to weave his way into the Human's pattern and the two swirled and barged their way through the halls of the once beautiful space city as if they had lived there themselves. A silent hurricane. Unstoppable.
At one point, Callixtus became curious once more and picked up the hilt of the Arc blade that had fallen from the grasp of a dead infected form; he had seen the Human use frequently to cut down the Plague with ease and wondered quietly if he could use it himself in the future.
Swinging the dead hilt, the blade sparked to life, the Arc energy crackling against the prongs and his shield, glowing softly in the dim area, and he couldn't help but stare at it in admiration, even garnering a whistle of approval from Ghost mentally before he sheathed it on his hip. He'd definitely use this later.
They continued on, unchallenged, the infection of the Plague becoming thicker the farther they went into the space city, attacks from both enemies more erratic and panicked. The deeper they delved, the more aggressive the Plague and the aliens got yet both warriors stood against them, unfazed, until they reached a particularly dark, cave-like system absolutely corrupted with the Plague. As he and the Human walked by a particularly huge spore, the Titan felt a wave of fear wash over him.
It wasn't natural so the Guardian assumed this fear was from his mental companion.
Ghost? What is wrong? He asked softly, taking a calm approach mentally as he brutally kicked in an infected's chest and punched the bulbous spore out of another.
The Darkness. The Plague. I can hearthem. The Ghost shuddered. Some of these infected are old. Ancient. They're talking to me, they know about the Traveler. Some of them are saying they created it. Seekers. They called the Traveler a Seeker. Whenever they talk, Callixtus, I can see into their minds. They're opening it up to me and I want to look but I'm scared of the answers. By the Traveler, Guardian, please, can we leave?
We are leaving, do not worry. Callixtus reassured, beginning to inch his way through the fray and to the opposite end of the cave-like structure, trying his best to hurry through the system.
The Human noticed what he was doing and seemed to get his unspoken message and soon joined him, the both of them sweeping the Plague aside as they continued their trek to the ship although the Guardian's sage-armored companion seemed rather reluctant to leave so many enemies alive. If it weren't for his Ghost's troubling dilemma, Callixtus was certain that he, too, would've stayed and made sure every single hostile thing in that area had given the cave a new coat of color that would last a lifetime on the walls if the city could stand for so long.
As they stepped out of the area and into another hallway, Callixtus twitched when he heard the distant shrieking of the Plague, a sound that he knew he would have to get used to soon; it sounded as if it were angry and in pain, having missed its targets and it set Chill's hand trailing down his spine eerily.
He slowed to a jog and watched as the Human dropped his shotgun in favor of a damn rocket launcher. How a Human-made weapon got this deep into the space city was beyond the Guardian - his best guess was that it was dragged along by the Plague - and he was certainly satisfied that the Plague or any opposing faction whatsoever wasn't wielding the deadly weapon.
Despite this set in mind, he eyed the Human warily for a moment as they entered a large chamber where they stepped up to a podium that held one of those fully-charged Arc blade. The Human's visor met Callixtus's and he gestured towards it, an offering - Callixtus assumed - and so the Guardian complied happily, dropping his nearly depleted one in favor of the good-as-new item. With a nod of approval, the Human turned and marched towards what looked like a lift; he stepped onto the pad and paused momentarily, noticing that Callixtus hadn't stepped on yet.
The Titan stood at the podium, searching deep within his mind for the Ghost who had run off. He had barely brushed against the other's presence when he heard the Human call out in a low, gravelly voice that rumbled throughout the area,
"You coming?"
Get on the device already, I'm fine. Ghost snapped, having noticed the Guardian was poking around for him, mentally shoving the Titan forward.
With a shrug, Callixtus stepped onto the lift, wholly surprised when he was suddenly lifted through an orchid tube, multiple floors of the city racing past him as he soared to the top of the landing to where the ship lay.
Landing at the top of the pad, Callixtus looked around at the chaos momentarily before jumping into the fray with the Human as they fought their way to where the conduit stood, leading to the ship with an eerie teal glow.
The Human's AI, Cortana he recalled her name being, stood on a holotank, waiting for them patiently. She called out something but the translator couldn't work quickly enough but her voice was urgent, telling them to hurry up, urging them on. As they went onto the final pad, the Human stopped momentarily, staring at the AI, almost as if he wanted to take her with them but she shook her head, saying,
"I'll be fine, Chief, go! And take this guy with you, he's helpful!" The Human, Chief, nodded obediently, looking over his shoulder at Callixtus, who had joined him on the pad and was watching curiously, before the both of them were lifted into the conduit. They sped at impossible speeds, the world swirling around them as they launched into the ship just as it closed; they slid around momentarily looking for purchase before they crashed into the walls. The Human got up abruptly, staring at the closed door, saying,
"When I'm - with Truth, I'll-" he was cut off and, over the sound of the ship launching, the Guardian heard Cortana say sadly but teasingly,
"Don't make a girl a promise if you know you can't keep it." There was a pause as the ship left the space city. "Good luck, you two."
The ship shuddered momentarily and suddenly, the overwhelming presence of the Darkness and the chaos disappeared.
We just went through a warpstream. Ghost reported, his presence filling Callixtus's mind once more. I don't know where we're going though.
Are you okay?
Are you kidding? We're never okay.
Ghost.
...I looked into it. I couldn't help myself, Guardian, I looked into the Darkness's mind and I saw it.
Saw what?
What the Plague is, what these Humans are, what this damn ship is for the Traveler's sake! This ship is of Forerunner make!
At that new information given, Callixtus jolted upright from where he was sitting, grabbing his Invective with the intent of getting himself off the ship as soon as possible, startling the Human who crouched low, into a defensive position, weapons ready.
Wait, no! It's not the Forerunners you think of! It's not the Awoken! We've got them all misinterpreted! You remember the story before the Awoken, the other Forerunners?
The story about the Ur-Didact and how he went insane, right? He was a child of the Darkness, dragged the Forerunners down with him.
Yes, that story! When I took a peek into the Darkness's mind, it gave me a glimpse into a distant past, when the Grave Plague began, how the Forerunners became corrupt. Apparently, the Grave Plague was something else, a different species even more powerful than the Forerunners. They were called the Precursors-
Atheon's Vex?
Yes and no, would you let me continue?!
Right, sorry.
Anyways, these Precursors apparently created the Forerunners and yet regarded Humanity above all else; they were the ones that originally wished for the Humans to uphold the Mantle, to become who we were during the Golden Age. But there was a war between them and the Forerunners and some of these Precursors tried to save themselves by turning into dust.
What.
"I know, it's kind of...impulsive? Strange? But before they turned to dust, they created one of their last, greatest inventions: the Seekers. There were thirteen of them overall, created to continuously catalog the expanding Universe. The Traveler was one of them but I'm getting ahead of myself. Over the years, the dust that was, is the Precursors was eventually found by the Darkness. When it touched them, they became corrupt and when they tried to rebuild themselves into what they were, they turned into abominations. The Grave Plague.
The Darkness corrupted them so badly that, even though they left the Humans alone, they went on to annihilate the Forerunners, believing them to have betrayed the Precursors since they took up the Mantle of Responsibility. The Plague, as revenge and under the influence of the Darkness then spoke to one of these Forerunners: the Ur-Didact. By talking to him, he opened up his mind, left himself vulnerable and soon, the Darkness too touched him. And he lost it. See? That's where we lose sight of the truth; the Ur-Didact wasn't born from the Darkness, he was influenced by the Darkness! And because of that, he let the Plague spread and created an army from the minds of Humans and so the Arrays were created, the Arrays that wiped all of life.
The Mantle was too much; they assumed so much power that they thought themselves untouchable from the Darkness. This is why the Mantle is for the Humans! This is why we're here!"
We are here to what?
The Humans we work with now, they're pre-Mantle, they're pre-Patriarchs. That Human you're working with? The one staring at you right now because you didn't wait for me to talk, do you know who he is?
Am I supposed to know?
That's the Master Chief, the first upholder of the Mantle of Responsibility and the leader of all Patriarchs. As the Ghost said this, the ship shuddered and all they could hear was the sound of muted battle from outside, signalling the end of the warpstream and their arrival to wherever the ship was supposed to lead them. The Human, now identified fully as the Master Chief, turned away momentarily, saying,
"This is - one-one-seven. Does anyone hear me, over?" Callixtus watched with his natural curiosity taking over, getting to his feet as he reached for his Invective once more, staring at the entrance of the ship.
The new wave of information was too much to take in at once and now...well, now, he was being thrust into a war that, just a few days ago, was merely stories that the older Guardians told the newly born ones who were naive enough to listen.
"Sir, finishing this fight," the Master Chief replied firmly as the ship shuddered once more, the insides of it suddenly heating up.
We're entering the atmosphere, you might want to brace yourself. Ghost warned. Maybe get ready to pop that shield of yours, it might work.
Callixtus grinned underneath his helmet as he holstered his weapon, Void energy crackling around him as he prepared to throw down his protective shield, crouching low as the heat began making his armor burn his skin momentarily.
What's a little crash to a Guardian? Even if he didn't survive, Ghost could simply revive him.
Traveler's sake, this is Earth! I hope you're ready, Guardian!
He was more than ready. This was his fight now.
A loud roar filled his ears just as he threw down the shield, feeling himself being thrown around inside the Void bubble before his head collided harshly with the side of the ship and once more, he slumped down, vision going dark.
He felt a cool breeze gently lap at him momentarily along with the crackle of fire and the sound of metal popping as it cooled down in the crisp air. Blearily, he looked up, catching a glimpse of stars above him before he went down completely, oblivious to the noise around him and the sage Human next to him, body going lax in the crater they had created.
You are destined for a great many things, he heard a quiet, gentle, feminine voice murmur, echoing lightly.
A/N: Well, here is the second chapter. I hope you guys are enjoying it so far. I know I'm updating pretty quickly but I'd like to get this story moving along before I return to school. When I go back, I'll be having finals and since it's school, updates will be significantly slower.
Any questions, comments, or critiques are happily accepted. Don't be afraid to review.
Thanks for reading.