Chapter 1: Azura's secret

They did it. The War is over and Sera has a tomorrow.

A tomorrow wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for Delta Squad and Marcus Fenix.

It all happened during the months of the Lambent pandemic as the COG Chairman Prescott arrived on the Warship Sovereign with critical information on a new weapon that could wipe out the lambent infestation and the Locust.

It was revealed that Prescott came from an island Azura a COG containing the COG Elite secret bunker hidden from the war all this time. Revealing that Marcus's father Adam Fenix was alive and the lambent were launching a siege upon the last bastion of the COG. Before succumbing to his wounds after the lambent assault on Sovereign, Prescott in his dying breath confessed that he had Adam build a new weapon that can save what is left of Sera.

Marcus and Colonel Hoffman organized a plan to launch an assault on Azura, with the help of Cole and Baird able to reach out to the scattered UIR and COG remnants to launch an assault on the besieged island of Azura by the Lambent.

Marcus and Delta fought their way through the besieged island and linked up with the Azura survivors held up on the island and reunited with an alive Adam Fenix who was thought to be dead since Prescott adducted him. Marcus and the Gears defended Adam against the lambent as he activated the final touches of his machine. Several COG scientists with Adam injected themselves with imulsion , giving their lives to ensure the machine is working through

A historic moment of a having new tomorrow for Sera.

Gears and people came together in the battle of Azura now celebrating the war ends and drinking to their hearts of the end of the Lambent and Locust for good.

Marcus sitting in the middle of the beach listening to the waves from the ocean and the cheers of everyone. Now Marcus was lost in this new future as he reflected on everything; he was a soldier who continued to fight against overwhelming odds and endless horrors until his last breath to fight for humanity. Things are different for now.

On the patio were Delta, the Gears, and the survivors rejoicing in the celebration of the war and alive to see it through.

"What is left? The grubs had disappeared to god knows where. Hardly anything left good in this world let alone rebuilding from what we have lost. What do we do next?" asked Marcus as Anya came next to him before sitting beside him.

"We rebuild and live our lives to the fullest all thanks to your father." Smiled Anya lending closer to Marcus's side.

"As long as I am here and not the only one who cares. Do you see Marcus, we finally have a tomorrow?"

"At least you have a father and son do over, short version recount with your father." Added Anya

Squeezing hands together before looking up at the horizon, Marcus turned to see Adam standing on the beach, there his father was giving a bittersweet smile.

Marcus stood before his father, his face etched with gratitude as he nodded in appreciation for what his father had done for Sera. The memory of his fallen comrade, Dom, weighed heavily on his mind, casting a shadow over his foreseeable future.

Baird Damon was many things and curiosity is one of them. He gazed at the tower pulsing the blue energy wave as he was standing next to the baloney as a thought about the machine came to mind.

"Hey Cole, you got a second." Asked Baird

His best friend Cole was next to him while the celebration continued with all the communion.

"The Cole Train is all ears Baird. Baby, you can tell me anything." Chucked Cole crossing his arms and lending against the Baluster.

"First thing first, since we moved out of Vectecs avoiding the glowies for the past two years. It worked a few times just to avoid the lambent and shit confrontation head-on. It is obvious since we never seen the grubs ever again or the Queen again."

Baird continues " I thought we flooded them out of their tunnels then got this weird feel that we never seen a single grub again. How did Marcus's dad figure out how to kill the glowie miracle fuel turning us into rabid glowie zombies."

"Beats me, Damon. Don't look at me I'm not the king. Best to ask Marcus's dad if he knows something The Cole Train doesn't know any super miracle stuff, Baird. Ask the old man no offense." Cole suggests as Baird about heading towards the crowd.

"Yeah, a point made Baird not to mention a little weird that the grubs disappeared and all but Marcus's dad give them a taste of extermination medicine that they can't fix." Added Cole."We seen them once at Port Farrall, yeah second point made is that we haven't seen the Locust Queen in months which is kind of strangely weird you know. I think she is dead for good or maybe not. Guess we take a raincheck on her.

Baird gave a short frown and started walking where Marcus and his father were heading.

"I be back Cole after I ask a few questions, and then we party like college dumbasses." said Barid , he walked past Samantha Bnye chatting with a few Gorsani and heading towards Marcus and Anya along with Adam chatting in the corner.

"Baird! Do leave the Cole Train hanging."

"Hey Professor, I can touch bases with you? I am just curious about how you figured out to kill the lambent and the imulsion? I wonder if there is something Prescott or you knew how to do it." Asked Barid. "Even if Prescott had more secrets like to know how."

"Good question. Barid you are capable of figuring out how the science works if not. Not here follow me ?" said Adam lending Marcus, and Baird. Marcus gazed at Baird looking skeptical for more questions to explore. Marcus knows his father but he cannot help it there is more to his father

"Don't mind you tagging along to make sure my old man doesn't break a hip. For Good reason." Marcus said to Baird.

"Ha, ha, ha." Snorted Barid in a mocking tone.

From her vantage point atop a towering palm tree, Anya's gaze was fixed on Marcus and Baird as they strode purposefully towards a secluded corridor, their figures gradually receding from view. Unable to contain her curiosity, she descended the tree with nimble steps and quickened her pace towards the same direction.

Both Baird and Marcus followed Adam through the rocky tunnel that led into a concrete hallway.

"Dad? Is this part of the island or does Prescott here have something to hide big that we don't know of and I don't like where this is going?" Said Marcus glazing at the dozen security cameras in the way plus a machine automatic turret above the ceiling.

"Better watch out for accidents." Added Marcus.

"I got a bone to pick Doc? You been in Azura all this time and Prescott finds a super secret cave of top secret tech in Azura and then Prescott had you have assigned to this lab of state of the arts ironic lavatory or some sort." Asked Baird next to Adam

"Prescott is many things, he has reasons. Even I explain all of this, If you are looking for answers there are something that you have no idea of. All the answers will be coming from me and that place." Said Adam as the group stopped at the rocky wall in front.

Adam removed a rock panel revealing a hand scanner, Adam place his hand on the scanner then looked up to the camera in the corner.

"Access granted, Professor Fenix. Facial recognition confirmed. Opening doors to Area 03.6. No incidents for 245 days," said the automatic PA system. Baird and Marcus frown at the security measure.

"Apologize for the security measures, only me and Prescot and a handful of others knew about this."

"Dad, are you setting us up?" Marcus narrowed his eyes upon entering.

"This way." all Adam could say.

As the three men step in, Marcus and Barid find themselves in some kind of facility or chamber or lab but are unable to describe what they are looking at.

"Did you build this?" Marcus blurted out and Baird looked confused looking left to right as they stepped through the hexagon-like entrance

In a strangely mystical room. The silver and blue lining on the walls was glowing, illuminating the entire space. The walls themselves were transparent, made of silver alloy-like panels, and each panel had a few glowing glyphs on it. The floor was equally fascinating, made of a transparent grey-like metal, with light lining at each corner, top and bottom. The room was spacious and wide, and I could not help but marvel at its beauty.

Barid and Marcus looked around the room, he noticed the COG laboratory equipment on both corners. The equipment was neatly arranged, and they could tell that they were well-maintained. The room was so captivating that the Gears couldn't help but wonder what kind of experiments had been conducted there.

A silver metallic arch-like table with a hexagon-like device hovering in the center.

"What the ?!" Baird exclaimed in disarray looking left and right

"What?" Marcus was clueless about what he was seeing

"Did you build all of this ?" Baird asked the same question again as Marcus asked likewise he was confused as Marcus was unable to process what he had just seen.

"No," said Adam to Baird.

"We found it," Adam explained. "This is unlike anything we saw, never seen something advanced like this.

"How? What? When? What are we looking at ?" Baird asked skeptically while Marcus was glazing around the makeshift lab of this mysterious chamber.

"It was discovered on the island by accident years ago," Adam explains coming close to a computer as he activates the console. "A patrol was called in to investigate sematic activity and a hole was breached and two men fell in and broke their necks. At first, we thought the Locust was finally located in Azura. Inside we stumble into this chamber unlike anything we never seen."

"I admit that Prescott doesn't have anything to do with this or what is looking at." Said Adam. "Prescott was there and he had no idea what kind of technology this chamber contains. He tasked me to investigate this."

Baird taps on the floor. "Not going to lie, the Locust aren't too fond of silver or blue. But with this kind of technology, I can't starch my head of what is that and what is that ?"

Anya slowly walked through the tunnel as her curiosity drew towards the source. She saw the chamber and the three men standing around a mysterious hexagon-like object hovering.

"Professor? Marcus? Baird?!" Anya spoke out loud nearly spook the three.

"Relax Anya we are…handing….. this." Said Marcus as he awkwardly scrambled to explain to a completely confused Anya about this new facility.

"I ask the same thing to the old man here." Chucked Barid raising both his hands"I know What! When? How? Why? Plus did you build this? It is obvious we are in a secret lab that no one had any idea of ?"

"What else has your father been involved in? How many weapons does he make?" demanded Anya looking up and down the chamber "Does Prescott have everything to do with this? Did he build this?"

"This is not a weapon." Answered Adam "It is a rare discovery of anything we never seen." Anya looked lost as she studied the chamber.

"Not a weapon?" as Anya frowned.

"Well technically speaking." Said Baird starching his head. Marcus stands next to his father. "I got no clue and no idea what my dad had something to do with this kind of stash tech house."

"It is not a weapon. This is the object that is part of the device that is used in my machine." addressed Adam. " It helped play a role in generating the pulse against the lambency. This artifact and this facility that is not developed by human hands is beyond our reach."

"So you are saying these Aliens made this and how special is it on a scale of 1 to 10?" Baird accused as Anya leaned close at that artifact floating and turned to gaze at Adam.

"How could this alien artifact be under everyone's noses the whole time and god knows what we are dealing with here." Said Anya looking away from the artifact. "How can it float I am no scientist and you are suggesting that Aliens put this there." Puzzled by what Anya was concluding.

"I can't believe that we hearing this. Aliens?" Baird gave a short frown as he turned away from the artifact." Do aliens exist? Is that all you say or for real? Aliens exist can you believe this Marcus."

"Aliens and science fiction crap or shit in the fan aren't real," Marcus added. "I know my dad but he is not a lair."

"I know it sounds ridiculous." Adam turned at the Spherical device. " This is the only logical conclusion we had." Said Adam placing a hand on the device. The mysterious object responds with lines glowing blue much to the curiously of the Gears.

"Can you explain the part of how you figured out that this thing helps to kill the parasite killer fuel, kills the glowies and the grubs that we haven't seen for 18 months at the same time," asked Baird.

"The artifact gave me a vision. It only happens after I put my hand on it. It shows me a vision of a pulse spreading across the planet wiping out the lambent and the Locust at the same time. The vision even showed me how to transfer some kind of energized pulse into the power frequency then a series of codes and an algorithm I couldn't describe. If this chamber had never been found I wouldn't have enough time to see the device through."

Anya, Baird, and Marcus blinked and glazed at each not sure what to say, Anya didn't know what to say.

Baird is the smartest one of Delta "So let me process this; this Alien thingy gave a vision that finds a way to kill the glowies and the rest of the grubs we have seen for over eighteen months. It is the most fuck up and awesome way to do it. This alien thing provides something for your machine to work and buy a day to make it work. It completely works by killing the rest of the miracle fuel that is been killing the entire planet. That is the strangest truth I ever heard you say in a completely awesome fuck up way."

Then Baird reaches out to place a hand over the mysterious device as the device softly vibrates and lines glow blue.

"My dad is many things, not a lair but my dad had no idea of this thing works or what it is," Marcus said to Baird standing next to Adam.

"This is actually how the object shows me." Said Adam "But it only showed me once when I was dealing with the lambent crisis, I discovered a much bigger picture I could explain, and the rest I have not yet to explore what else this object contains."

" Touching that is one of them." scoffed Marcus. "Dad we don't know what else it contains after that countermeasure you build with that thing."

Suddenly the Sphere's inner lines in the middle click as a hole glows blue shooting up a blue light that displays a digital hologram of different planets and a ring with known symbols glowing on the walls of the chamber blue. Baird, Marcus, and Anya along with Adam's mouths dropped open in amusement and awe.

"Amazing that never happened before." Said Adam looking at the hologram." I had never seen anything like this. Is this our-?"

"Professor I…" Baird didn't get to finish his sentence. The Entire chamber went dark and back on and suddenly light went off as a thin pulse of light flick and it phrase through everyone's bodies like a pulse scanning through their bones and flesh as the symbols on the walls glowed blue brighter. The Gears were stunned at what happened and the device began to pulsate in mysterious blue light with the pace of a time bomb.

"What did you just do?" demanded Marcus at Baird as he backed away.

"I don't know!" Protest Baird "I just touch it like your old man did."

"Oh god!" gasped Anya "We have to evacuate the island."

"We got to get out of here! Just run ! " cried Adam as the Group took off from the chamber back into the tunnel.

"All Gears! Evacuate the island now!" shouted Anya pressing on the coms as the Gears continued heading towards the light of the tunnel.

Hoffman and other Gears were there hearing the commotion and they were standing close to the tunnel with the Delta rushing out.

"Everyone! Get off the island the hell now It is going to blow!" shouted Marcus to the entire crowd.

A pulse of cyan-like light ignited from the glowing artifact as the energy of mysterious anonymity swept over Marcus and his friends along with Hoffman and flashed bright light all of a sudden leaving nothing but glowing dust and sparks of digital flickers.

The crowd was left stunned at what just happened and they wondered what happened to War hero Sergeant Marcus Fenix and the ragtag Delta squad.

Someone broke the silence in the crowd. "What the hell just happened?!"

Everything was strange and enduring the pain was like catching on fire as a flash of light appeared.

With his eyes opened, Marcus gasped for air and stumbled forward with his arm thrust forward before grabbing the grip of a ledge and letting out a mouthful of vomit into some kind of fountain with a statue of a woman in a toga holding a scroll and a torch.

He thought he had ringing in his ears as his senses resumed normal as he glazed around left and right. In some kinds of cities, buildings look futuristic in metal and linning never seen before not a city in ruins. After a second wave of puke, wiping off the shit off his mouth as Marcus frantically swing his head left and right. He saw buildings completely futuristic with billboards, flying small machines, and the clear sky, even people dressed in different outfits or clothes with horrified looks like they had seen a ghost. As murmurs broke from the stunted crowd.

"Dad!? Anya?" Marcus cried out loud looking on his right as he saw his friends lying on the ground unconscious. Stumbling forward trying to shake them up ignoring what was happening. Next Marcus shakes his father's body on the ground who is out cold like Baird and Anya flat on the ground

"Dad you got to wake up! Dad! Anya!" shouted Marcus shaking his father and then Anya.

Thank god his father was alive but Baird on the other hand will have a very short conversation then kick his ass until Sunday for this shitshow to happen. Things are different.

A gunship hovered out of plain sight as it just came out from the corridor from a dozen buildings discarded soldiers with guns drawn at the same time. Over twenty soldiers were present: Half of them were holding the crowd of civilians back and the others rushed to secure the Gears still unconscious and the rest aimed their rifles at Marcus barely had time to lash out.

"Hands up!"

"Are you fucking deaf? I said put her hands on the ground!"

"This is the UNSC?! Laid down on the ground with your hands up!"

"Get the medics."

Outgunned and numbered "Dad! Wake" Marcus turned to see a dozen armed soldiers aiming their weapons plus a trio of hovering aircraft that did not resemble King Ravens hovering overhead. It has flappy wings connected to thrusters and a chain gun under the chin of the cockpit. Three of them hovering over the area with autocannons leveled down ready to fire.

"Get on the ground , on your knees !" shouted one of the soldiers.

"Dad! You got to wake up." Marcus called out to his dad shaking him on the shoulder as more of those soldiers in camouflage fatigues mixed with body armor with plating with assault rifles trained on them.

"Switching to taser! Subject not complying. "A trio of officers brandished out the tasers while the others with lethal weapons aimed their rifles at Marcus yelling at them.

"Dammit, hold your fire! Get the hell away-" Marcus rose with his hands up as he took a step forward but the tasers fired. Marcus fell to the ground shaking in spasms with his nervous system scrambled.

The last thing Marcus to see was a rifle butt to the face and everything went dark.

The UNSC Military Police Officer handcuffed the large man in the bandana while the medics and the soldiers took the mysterious people to the awaiting transports. The crowd watched as the suspects were placed on the Pelicans breathing a sigh of relief at that event that nearly scared them.

"Uh Sir, you have any idea what this is ?" called out one of the officers holding up a JACK -robot in a large central body with two servo spinal-like arms. It was beeping in distress. The officer holding Jack by the side with other soldiers looking at it with curiosity.

"Put that thing down, Jerkins." ordered the Commanding officer.

"Get the techs to find out what this thing is made of. Looks Covie to me. "

"Does that thing look purple to you? This thing is in blue on it I am telling you. It has some kind of Gear symbol." Scoffed the other Military Police officer. looking at it.

"Look like a bomb." said another MP officer. "Get the Bomb Squad here and keep this thing contained. Not taking chance with this thing blows up."

The Military Police Officer pressed his comns in the ear. "Command that we have nine suspects down and captured and some robot. For trying to bomb New Alexandria on Reach." The officer grumbled glazed at Marcus looking more confused with guns at his head.

"Get them out of here before I lose my patience."

Author Note

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