Relic of the Past
Chapter 3: Curiouser and Curiouser
March 5, 1077/Steel Robot City Outskirts/Entering Mining Site 46/
Rim Billiton
The sun had barely risen, casting long shadows on the dusty ground of Steel Robot City, as John exited the massive elevator and joined the miners of Group Three near the entrance to the mines, falling in line beside them. He could feel the weight of the other miners' gazes, their eyes sizing him up, judging whether he would be a valuable addition to the team or a liability.
Seeing Caleb, John nodded to the young Cautus as he sent him a friendly wave with his free hand, a mining hammer occupying the other.
To the side, John noticed the Infected group of miners as they shuffled to their position in the formation. The rest of the uninfected miners were quick to give them a wide berth once they noticed their arrival.
"Alright, everyone!" Jarek shouted over the clamor of conversation and machinery. "Time to head in! You know the drill!"
The miners adjusted their respirators on their faces, doing last minute checks on their gear before they began to make their way toward the massive dark mineshaft, their headlamps illuminating the way. John followed closely behind; his helmet firmly sealed over his head as he followed them into the darkness.
The air, ventilated through the built-in filters in his helmet, smelled stale as the clattering of tools and shovels echoing throughout the tunnel as Group Three advanced further in. John took in the sight before him as they marched; there was a seemingly endless network of tunnels stretching out in every direction- the very thought of getting lost in these depths was overwhelming.
He caught up with Caleb, who seemed to share the same thoughts. "It's like a maze, huh?"
"Yeah," John muttered, "it's pretty big."
Caleb chuckled softly through his ventilation mask, the muffled sound somber and hollow in the cavernous space. "You'll learn how to navigate with time," he said, his tone heavy with exhaustion. "Or... you die trying."
"Do not worry, Spartan." Durandal spoke up. "If navigation becomes an issue, leave it to me. I have a map of the mines tunnel network downloaded."
John kept silent and kept walking; it wasn't like he didn't appreciate the gesture, there just wasn't a need for the offer. He knew well enough how to navigate through tunnels if he had to, he just never seen such an massive organized and efficient network made with tools that could be considered centuries behind the technology his Humanity and the Forerunners had utilized before.
As he continued to follow the group, he noticed that they were heading toward a series of tunnels away from his objective.
"Excuse me," The group leader, Tom, threw him a glance over his shoulder at the call as John gestured toward the series of tunnels that led to his objective. "Can we not work in those tunnels?"
Tom grunted in response, his mask warbling his voice a bit. "Not our section rookie, those tunnels are considered extremely hazardous compared to these. The originium veins in them are of higher concentration than the others around us. Makes them more volatile, dangerous. The infected work in those instead of us."
John looked back at Caleb, who gave him a shake of his head, urging him not to continue.
He frowned and instead spoke up once more. "I understand that, but wouldn't it be better to work there instead if the yield is better? Is there any way I could work there?"
Every step he took in his current direction took him farther and farther from Durandal's AI fragment. It was beginning to grate on his nerves, being so close to his objective yet, for the sake of appearances, forced to walk away from it instead.
Tom raised an eyebrow as he turned around again, sizing John up. "You're a new recruit, aren't you?"
John nodded, his grip on his hammer tightening.
"Then I suggest you stay in your lane and stick to the tunnels we're assigned to. Don't go wandering off or trying to take shortcuts, rookie. You'll only end up getting yourself and others hurt, or worse, killed."
John's jaw clenched, but he forced himself to keep his cool. He had to stay on Tom's good side, at least for now. "Understood, sir."
As the group continued on their designated path, John's eyes scanned the walls, looking for any signs of the valuable mineral they were here to mine. Even in the darkness, his eyes could pinpoint the walls were lined with originium ores, the black crystals that were the life blood of the entirety of this planet the natives called 'Terra.'
Finally, they arrived at their designated mining area. It was a large open space that seemed to have been carved out from the rock by hand, with deposits of originium ore poking out from every crevice. The miners quickly got to work, each taking up various tools and forming teams and pairs to aid in the extraction process.
After a quick orientation, John split away from them and settled into his own mindset as he started to dig around one of the ore veins. He worked methodically, robotically almost, as he broke apart the ore from the surrounding rock with his hammer. John worked diligently, the sound of his hammer echoing through the tunnel alongside the sounds of pickaxes and shovels. He soon found himself in a steady rhythm, his swings becoming more synchronized as he mined away at the ore. Despite the grueling work, John's concentration was unwavering.
His movements eventually caught the attention of some of the other miners, who quietly watched as the Spartan worked with incredible precision and efficiency. Some commented on it quietly under their breath while others were louder with their praises, but John paid them no mind as he focused on his task at hand.
The only reason he was working so hard was so he could keep his mind off the irritation he felt being denied his objective for the moment.
As John worked, his mind began to wander, his thoughts drifting to the words Tom told him when he was denied access to the tunnels. How only infected were allowed to work in them despite being hazardous to everyone else. Was it because the possibility for infection when dealing with higher grade originium was greater? It made sense, in a pragmatic sort of way. Why risk healthy miners from getting infected when you already have a perfectly good and already disposable work force at hand to take care of the more dangerous jobs?
But something about the situation didn't sit right with John. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he felt like he was missing something important. Maybe it was the way the infected were treated, like they were nothing more than tools to be used and discarded. Or maybe it was the fact that even though they were infected, they were still forced to work in such a dangerous environment. Either way, John couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of his stomach the more he thought of it.
Or maybe it was just pity for the infected. They surely still had families and loved ones, still had a sense of self. Were their lives truly deemed less valuable than those of the uninfected miners? It was a harsh reality in this world, but John knew that was just how things worked out sometimes.
An explosion echoed through the tunnel, causing the walls to shake and tremble. The Spartan tensed, ready for action, but the other workers didn't seem alarmed.
"Controlled blast," One of them reassured him. "It's from the infected tunnels. But it's a good reminder – don't get too close to the infected. They're dangerous, even worse with the work they're stuck with, and you never know when one of them might... well, explode."
"Good to know."
With a sigh, John shook his head and went back to work, his hammer striking the ore with renewed vigor. From the inside of his helmet, he could feel the sweat dripping down his brow, his muscles beginning to ache with exhaustion, but he pushed through it, determined to make the most of his time here.
As he continued to work, John's thoughts drifted once more to the AI fragment he was supposed to retrieve. He wondered what kind of possibilities it held once it was united with Durandal. How would it enhance the fragmented AI? Would he finally begin to get answers to the many questions in his mind—like the events that led to him being placed in the Sarcophagus? His curiosity burned within him like a flame, and he couldn't wait to get his hands on it. But for now, he would have to bide his time and wait for the right opportunity to arise.
Any impulse decisions may result in collateral damage, or worse, him losing the opportunity to get the fragment. For now, he would play his part as a miner.
Perhaps after the shift was over for the day, he would talk to Tom privately, see if he couldn't switch groups without causing too many issues. And if he couldn't...
Well, John would stop being so polite, and reach his objective no matter the hurdles he would have to jump through.
March 5, 1077/Steel Robot City Outskirts/Mining Site 46/
Rim Billiton
As the hours wore on, John worked tirelessly, his pile of mined originium growing steadily. He took note of the time on his helmet's display and realized that they would be heading back to the surface soon.
Suddenly, the steady rhythm of labor was shattered by a guttural scream that reverberated throughout the caverns. John felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end, and he glanced at a worried Tom, who stood some ways beside him, pickaxe in hand.
"Stay here," Tom ordered, his voice terse as he clipped his tool to his belt and made his way toward the epicenter of the disturbance. John hesitated for a moment, torn between his not causing suspicion with his crew by continuing to work and his desire to investigate the panic that had seized the mine.
"Go on, new guy," urged one of the older miners, sensing John's inner struggle. "We'll manage here."
With a nod of gratitude, John followed in Tom's footsteps, his augmented eyesight allowing him to navigate the dimly lit tunnels with ease. As he loosely followed the senior miner toward the source of the commotion, John's eyes widened at the sight that greeted them.
A huge swarm of large arthropods writhed and chittered on the floor of the tunnel, their grotesque, swollen abdomens glistening under the dim light of the mine, warped in a bright orange glow. The one of the mining groups must have unearthed them while digging, and now the entire mine was in danger as the workers fled from the creatures.
Gripping the handle of his hammer tightly, the sounds of the creatures brought unbidden memories of a certain enemy he'd rather not think of, leaving him tensed beyond belief. John stepped forward to intercept the threat, only for another hand to grip his hammer, causing him to pause.
Following the source, he saw an alarmed Tom. "Don't do it! Those are infused originium slugs! You'll detonate the originium inside their bodies if you kill them! It'll cause a chain reaction with the ore! That'll kill us all!"
John lowered his hammer.
Well, that was inconvenient.
After seeing how volatile a bundle of originium could be, he doubted even he would be able to outrun the subsequent explosion before he escaped the mine.
The sudden screeching of an alarm startled John, the piercing sound echoing off the cavern walls.
"Evacuate!" Tom bellowed; his voice nearly being drowned out by the wailing alarms. "Everyone out, now!"
Panic took hold of the remaining miners as they scrambled to exit the mine, a cacophony of shouts and desperate prayers filling the air. John knew that there wasn't much time—every second they lingered in the tunnels brought them closer to catastrophe.
The frantic rush of miners clawing their way towards the entrance, driven by sheer terror, sent a shiver down John's spine. He fought to keep pace with his group as the air grew thicker with dust and the pounding of panicked footsteps echoed around him.
"Keep moving!" He heard Tom shout, his voice hoarse from the dust that clogged the air. It felt as if the very walls of the mine with the mass of miners filling the tunnel, threatening to trap them with the abominations that now writhed in the darkness. "Stay together!"
As they rounded a bend in the tunnel, John spotted the infected miners trying to escape, being swept in the tide of workers as their worn bodies struggled to keep pace.
"Hey, watch it!" One of them stumbled towards a miner next to John, almost knocking him over. The miner shoved him back, a scowl on his face. "Get out of our way, infected! We don't have time for your kind here!"
John watched the infected miner stumble back, looking dejected and defeated as he struggled to rise to his feet. He knew that this was just the reality of the situation, but it didn't make the cruelty any less palpable.
He turned to the infected miner who had been shoved aside, noting the fear in his eyes as he struggled to keep up with the others.
"Come on," John told him. "We're getting out of here."
He wrapped an arm around the infected miner's waist and half-carried him along, determined to get both of them out of the mine before it was too late.
The clatter of the miners' hurried footsteps echoed off the walls as they rushed towards the exit, their hands clinging to whatever solid support they could find. John kept his arm firmly around the man he had taken under his wing, helping him along as they quickly moved.
Suddenly, a voice sounded from behind them. "Wait!"
It was a woman's voice, loud enough to pierce through the chaos and cause them to pause in their escape.
John turned around and saw a short figure striding towards them. She wore an dirt-stained jumpsuit with a bandana tied around her head that flattened her rabbit ears, her face covered by goggles that glinted in the dim light of the tunnels. He recognized her immediately—it was one of the members of the infected miner's team. She had obviously noticed John's act and had come to help.
"Thank you," she said as she reached out to take hold of John's arm. "Let me help."
Together, they half-dragged, half-ran their way through the mine, the infected miner coughing and wheezing with every step.
A pained cry emitted from the rear of them, and John turned around only to notice another infected miner sprawled on the ground, his face contorted in pain. The effects from the oripathy and grueling work had exhausted him as well, and he had tripped or been pushed by the mob, injuring his ankle in the process.
"Help me, please!" the injured miner cried, his voice barely audible over the thunderous cacophony of evacuating feet. Despite the plead, none of the other remaining miners from the other teams even deemed to turn around.
The arthropods were getting closer, chittering as they closed in on the group of miners. The air was thick with the stench of originium, and John could feel the tension building in his chest. He had to act fast if he wanted to save the injured miner and himself.
John looked toward the infected woman, only to see her nodding firmly as she pulled the miner he was assisting toward her, completely taking on the burden. "Go get him! I've got this!"
John didn't hesitate for a moment before veering toward the fallen man, determined to help him.
But as he neared the wounded miner, someone had stopped him by gripping his forearm tightly, attempting to yank back the Spartan.
"Leave him!" Caleb cried; his eyes locked on the slithering mass of infused originium slugs in the distance. "He's as good as dead. We can't risk our lives for him."
John's jaw clenched, and his gaze darted between Caleb and the injured miner from beneath his helmet. He could see the resignation and fear etched onto the fallen worker's face, and it tore at him. This man, already suffering from the ravages of oripathy, now faced certain death at the hands of the monstrous creatures that bore down on them.
"Damn it, Caleb," John muttered under his breath. "We can't just leave him to die."
"Think about the others, Spartan," Caleb urged, his voice strained. "We have a responsibility to them, too."
The pained cries of the infected miner mingled with the guttural growls of the originium slugs, creating a nightmarish symphony that clawed at John's resolve. He supposed Caleb was correct by this Terra's standards, but he found that couldn't abide by that way of thinking.
"Every life matters," John whispered. Even in fights for survival, sacrifices should only be made when all other options have been expended.
And for John, he hadn't reached that point just yet.
With a surge of determination, John shook off Caleb's grip and sprinted back toward the injured miner. His heart pounded in his chest; each beat a reminder that every second counted. As he neared the fallen figure, he could hear the ominous sound of the infused originium slugs, their rasping movements echoing through the cavern.
John quickly assessed the situation as he neared. The miner's ankle was twisted at an awkward angle, and it was clear that he wouldn't be able to walk on it. He would have to carry him out.
"Stay with me!" John shouted to the injured miner; his voice filled with urgency. He dropped to his knee beside the man, adrenaline coursing through his veins as he easily hoisted him over his shoulders in a fireman's carry.
"Thank you," the infected miner wheezed, clutching at John's shoulder for support.
"Save your breath," John instructed as he rose to his full height. He could hear the miner's labored breathing against his back, a stark reminder of the fragile life he carried.
As they raced through the winding tunnels, John could hear the sounds of chaos grow louder and more frenzied as they crawled on the walls and ceiling of the tunnels. He could feel the heat of the arthropods' breath on the back of his neck, and he knew that they were getting closer. He kept moving forward, his heart racing with each step as they navigated the twists and turns of the mine.
John could feel the miner's grip on his shoulder tighten, causing him to look over it briefly, seeing the slithering bodies slick with the glow of originium as they tightened the gap.
John could see the faint glow of daylight ahead. It spurred him on, pushing him to go faster.
"Almost there!" he barked, as the entrance to the mine finally came into view.
The moment they emerged from the darkness, John spotted the security officers lined up, crossbows and guns aimed at the opening. While he was glad to see guns were a thing on this world, he still had to move out the way with his cargo. When they were out of the line of fire, he gently set the injured miner down, and gestured toward the formation.
"Clear!" he shouted.
"Fire!" barked an officer, and a hail of crossbow bolts and gunfire tore into the swarm of infused originium slugs as they poured from the mouth of the mine. The creatures shrieked in agony, their bodies quivering before detonating in a series of violent explosions.
Feeling the vibrations of the detonations, John watched the scene unfold from a safe distance, the acrid scent of spent ammunition and burning slug flesh filling the air. The infected miner, now safely out of harm's way, reached for John's arm, his eyes filled with gratitude.
"Thank you," he whispered again, his voice barely audible over the din of the explosions and gunfire.
John nodded, his chest tightening at the weight of the man's simple words. For while it likely didn't mean much in the grand scheme of things, he was glad he was still able to save the few when it mattered.
"You're safe now," he murmured to the man, as the final echoes of gunfire and explosions faded into silence.
But as with all choices, good or bad, there came consequences.
John knew that his defiance of Tom's and Caleb's orders to save the injured miner had not gone unnoticed, and he braced himself for the reprimand that he was sure would come. Sure enough, as soon as the battle was over and the remaining miners were safely evacuated, Tom approached John with a stern look on his face.
"What the hell were you thinking?" Tom spat, his voice low and angry. "You endangered not only yourself but the rest of us as well."
"I couldn't just leave him there to die," John replied, his voice steady. He knew that he had made the right choice, but he was prepared for the consequences of his actions.
"You have a responsibility to all of us," Caleb continued. "We have orders to follow, and you went against them. What if you had been infected? You could have brought the oripathy back with you and put all of us in danger."
"I understand the risks," John said calmly. "But I couldn't just stand by and watch someone die, especially when I could help them."
Tom shook his head, his eyes narrowed. "You're lucky that nothing happened to you, or to the rest of us. Your recklessness could have cost us more than a single infected."
John knew that Tom was correct, but he also knew that he couldn't have acted any differently.
"I take full responsibility for my actions," he said, his tone firm. "But I stand by my decision."
Tom regarded him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, his face softened, but his eyes filled with frustration, his rabbit ears twitching. "I understand where you're coming from, Spartan. But we can't make exceptions. The safety of the group has to come first. You want to help the infected so much? You can work with them. I'll put in the request through Jarek myself. After what you pulled, you won't be accepted in any other group than theirs."
John nodded, relieved that he wouldn't face any severe punishment. Besides, this transfer would put him in the direction of the AI fragment. It was a small victory, but a victory nonetheless.
"Thank you, Tom," he said, giving the man a small nod.
Tom gestured toward the rest of the group, who were busy packing up their supplies and preparing to move out back into the mine. "We're leaving in ten minutes. You're done for the day. Pack up your stuff from the bay and get checked while you're at it. Your transfer should be processed after the shift is over."
As Tom turned to leave, Caleb stepped forward, his expression tense.
"I don't agree with what you did," he said, his voice low. "But I respect it. Just be careful, Spartan."
John nodded, acknowledging the begrudging respect in Caleb's words. "I will."
"Well," Durandal spoke as he watched as the miners from Group Three walked away. "That whole incident worked better in our favor. Excellent instincts, Spartan."
"Sure," He turned his attention back to the medic, who was now currently tending to the two miners.
"Humility is a virtue, Spartan. You may have been doing your duty, but don't sell yourself short."
John mulled over Durandal's words as he packed up his gear and made his way to the medic. He couldn't deny that there was a part of him that was itching to do more, but that would have to wait until he reached his objective first.
As the medic finished checking up on the miners, she looked up as she noticed John's approach, her ears twitching in his direction. Interestingly enough, instead of having rabbit ears like most of the locals, she instead had a pair of feline ones.
She grinned at him, which belayed the wary look in her eyes. "So, you're the hero of the day, eh?"
"I wouldn't go that far."
The medic shrugged, a mischievous gleam in her eyes. "Well, you did save their lives. That counts for something."
John nodded, appreciating the medic's attitude. "Is there anything I should do before I head out?"
"Yeah," She replied, rummaging through her bag. "Dump the bucket off your head real quick, just gonna do a quick swab. Check if you're oripathy free after your little stunt."
After a moment of hesitation, John complied, removing his helmet and holding still as the medic ran a swab through his mouth. He watched as she put it into some test kit and examined the results, her face unreadable.
"Well?"
The medic finally met his gaze, her expression softening. "You're clean. No signs of oripathy. Just be more careful next time, okay?"
John nodded, feeling relieved as he reattached his helmet. "Thanks."
"Thank you," The sudden words made him pause before he could walk away. He looked down to see the miner with the injured ankle smiling gratefully at him. "For saving my life, mate. Names George. My friends call me Georgie. The sleeping bugger next to me is Miles."
"Spartan."
Georgie chuckled, wincing a little as he shifted on the makeshift stretcher. "Well, Spartan, I owe you a cold pint at the least. If it weren't for you, I'd be lying dead in there with those slugs. You're a good man. Who would've thought there would be a nest of them burrowed so deep underground? "
"It was no problem."
"You say that, but I heard what your Group Leader, Tom, said when he was telling you off," He grimaced. "Sorry you got lumped in with us."
"I'll manage."
Georgie's grin widened. "Well, if you ever need anything from me, just let me know. I'll be sure to repay the favor when we're back up in a couple of days, since it looks like we're in this together now."
"I'll keep that in mind, Georgie."
With a final nod, John turned and made toward the barracks to pack his things for the upcoming transfer, his thoughts already turning to the next step in his mission. He knew that he had to be careful, especially now that he would be under the watchful eye of Jarek and perhaps that man's superiors once word of what the Spartan had done got out.
Even so, John couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. He had saved a life today, and even though he had faced repercussions for his actions, he knew he had made the right choice.
March 5, 1077/Steel Robot City/Mining Facility 5/
Rim Billiton
Once he had gotten notice for his transfer toward the infected group, Group Six, he had promptly headed to his new living quarters in their bay.
The reception he had received once he arrived had been... warmer than he initially expected.
As soon as John entered the bay, he was greeted by a group of infected miners. They were a motley crew - some with rabbit ears, some with feline ears, and some with other animal mutations that were unique to them. But they all had one thing in common: they were infected with oripathy.
An infliction that caused them all to be shunned by society, from what he had seen so far.
The infected miners he would be working with were all staring at him, sizing him up. He felt a little uneasy, but his helmet hid any kind of expression he made, keeping his appearance stoic. He couldn't afford to show any weakness in front of them.
One of the miners, a relatively tall woman with a long mane of red hair and eyes with a similarly colored scaled tail, stepped forward.
"Hey there," she said, her voice friendly. "Name's Lily. You must be the new guy."
John nodded in greeting. "Spartan."
Lily grinned. "Well, Spartan. We've heard all about you."
John raised a hidden eyebrow. He hadn't expected a reputation to precede him so quickly.
Lily continued, "Word is, you saved not just one, but two of our own from certain death. That's pretty impressive."
John shrugged, trying not to show his discomfort at being the center of attention. "I was just doing what needed to be done."
Lily clapped him on the back, not noticing how he stiffened at the foreign touch, her smile widening. "Well, welcome to the family, Spartan. We're all in this together now, though mind your distance. Don't wanna let a healthy one like you catch what we got if we could help it. Our cute little leader, Mira, is out right now. Went to look after Georgie at medical. Won't be coming back until later tonight. You got any questions, feel free to ring me up until she's back."
John nodded, a little taken aback from the warm welcome. He knew that he had to be careful around these infected miners, but he couldn't deny that the kindness they showed him was a pleasant surprise.
"Thanks, Lily. I appreciate it." John nodded, taking in his new surroundings. The bay was small, cramped, and not nearly as well-maintained as the one he had previously stayed in. But it was home for now.
"No problem, Spartan," Lily replied before turning to the rest of the group. "Alright, don't be a bunch of mutes! Welcome him in, let him know who you lot are!"
"Hey there, new guy," one of the infected miners called out first, his rabbit ears twitching. "Name's Mason. Welcome to Group Six."
"Thanks," John replied, still a little taken aback by the friendly reception. He had expected to be met with suspicion or hostility, not kindness.
"I'm Jonah. Don't mind these guys," another Cautus miner said, gesturing toward a small group of infected who were playing cards in the corner. "They're just not trying to lose anymore money between one another. Don't forget to introduce yourselves guys."
"Yo, I'm Dewey," the first Cautus miner said with a wink.
"Nice to meet ya. I'm Taylor," another miner chimed in with a friendly wave.
"Brandon," another man nodded in greeting.
"What's shaking, bro? I'm Milo," a third miner said enthusiastically, feathered ears on the side of his head wriggling.
"Chester - aw hell nah! That's bullshit man!" shouted one of the card players as he slammed his fists on the table, scowling at the last miner as she slapped her hand on the table, revealing a royal flush.
"See it and weep suckers!" Guffawed the last miner at the table, a Feline woman, as she grabbed their blue bills off the table. She looked over at join, grinning mischievously. "Name's Lydia, love. Want to join in?"
John just shook his head in response.
At least it seemed like getting in the good graces of the infected group was done with. They seemed to be the friendly sort, thankfully.
Too bad it would be wasted on him; he wasn't planning to stick around for long.
A sudden pang of loneliness struck him, but he easily brushed it off. He reminded himself that he couldn't afford to get attached to anyone in this line of work.
As John chose an open cot to drop his personal belongings at, he watched as the others went about their daily routine. He felt oddly out of place here, like he didn't belong. Though they had welcomed him with open arms and were friendly enough to him, he was still an outsider, a stranger in this tight-knit community.
John took a deep breath and reminded himself that he was only here temporarily – until Durandal was repaired and he could move on to his next mission.
—And find the source of the Spartan signal connected to its first fragment. To see if he truly wasn't alone in this new world.
That thought alone comforted him slightly, and he was soon able to relax somewhat.
Enough to finally allow himself a few moments of respite, closing his eyes and drifting off on his cot. And while he would wake up no less than an hour later, it was the most rest he would get following the past days of troubled nights.
March 6, 1077/Steel Robot City/Mining Facility 5/
Rim Billiton
The next morning, John woke up early, feeling more refreshed than he had in days. Despite this, he decided to lay on his cot a little longer, only finally getting up once the sound of shuffling feet and murmured voices, signaling the start of the day.
John stood up and prepared to start the day, double-checking his equipment before making his way to the communal area where they gathered for breakfast. Like before, he grabbed a plate and entered the line of miners waiting for their portion of the prepared food.
Nodding to the server when he received his portion, John went to sit down, noticing that some of the infected miners were already sitting at their assigned table at the corner isolated from the rest of the uninfected ones. He didn't want to disturb them, and despite seeing Lily and a few others notice him and wave him over, he chose to sit at an empty table nearby.
As he ate his breakfast after removing his hood and helmet, he couldn't help but overhear the conversation of the infected miners nearby. They were talking about their families, and how they missed them.
John couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for them. He knew what it was like to be separated from loved ones, and it wasn't a feeling he would wish on anyone.
The difference between them and him was that he likely didn't have anyone he knew to return to. If Durandal's words of him lighting the the Halo rings and his lack of memories rang with any form of truth, he had also been the one who pulled the trigger that had killed them.
He couldn't help but wonder if someone else had tried to stop his plan, perhaps to save what remains of humanity from being wiped out. Or was it unanimously agreed on that this was the best course of action for the entire galaxy. After all, if the Flood had gotten so out of control that the rings were the only way to defeat them, every sentient being would be threatened until the Flood had consumed them all.
Had they been pushed in a similar way together one against a common foe? Or- and John's heart plummeted at this thought - had he acted individually? Betraying all that was close to them just them get what he wanted; an ending against this holocaust against all sentient beings?
Had they really been pushed to similar brinks as the Forerunners?
Had he?
Lost in these daunting thoughts, John didn't notice as someone approached him until they spoke up.
It was one of the infected miners, a Cautus woman with long, flowing blonde hair and a jumpsuit, had approached John and smiled timidly at him. It took a moment for him to recognize the small woman as the same one who had helped him with the exhausted infected miner yesterday, noticing a familiar pair of goggles hanging from her neck and a bandana tucked in her pocket.
"Hey there, Spartan. Mind if I join you?" she asked, gesturing to the empty seat across from him.
At the question, John hesitated for a moment as he shrugged off his thoughts; there was nothing more he could do right now as only time would tell what secrets were still hidden from him.
John nodded, "Sure, go ahead."
The woman introduced herself as Mira, the leader of Group Six. John had heard of her from Lily the night before, but he had not expected to already have a face to the name before their shift started. Despite her small stature and seemingly gentle personality, he couldn't help but notice how Mira gave off a small air of hidden strength.
"You know, I saw you sitting alone and thought I'd come keep you company," Mira continued, smiling a bit shyly as she raised a hand to scratch her cheek. "You looked kind of lonely."
John raised an eyebrow at that but didn't say anything, instead choosing to take another bite of his breakfast. He couldn't deny that he appreciated the company, even if he didn't want to get too attached, it helped him from being distracted from his own thoughts.
Mira seemed to sense his hesitation and smiled kindly.
"It's alright, Spartan. We don't bite," she joked, gesturing to the group of infected miners sitting at their own table.
He chewed thoughtfully on his words for a moment. "You guys are... friendlier, than my last group. To say the least."
Mira beamed at the compliment, "We try our best. To be honest, it's not like we have a lot of options. We're stuck here, so might as well make the best of it, right?"
John nodded in agreement, "I understand that."
They ate in silence for a few more minutes before Mira spoke up again, "So, what brings you here? You seem like you're not from around here."
John looked up at her, considering his answer carefully before responding. He didn't want to reveal too much, but he also didn't want to lie outright. "Just passing through. I'm on a mission to find something."
Mira raised an eyebrow curiously, "Something? Care to elaborate?"
"It's personal."
Mira nodded understandingly, "I won't pry then. But if you ever need any help or information, don't hesitate to ask. We all have to stick together in times like these."
John nodded in agreement, appreciating the offer but also knowing that he couldn't get too involved with them. He had a job to do, and getting too close to anyone would only complicate things.
After they finished their breakfast, they moved to form up with Group Six at the elevator before descending toward the mining site. When they and the other groups arrived at entrance of the mine like the day prior, Jarek gave them another speech of the importance of safety and working together. It was only after their beginning of the day brief that they were allowed start filing into the mine.
As they did, Mira approached John hesitantly, her rabbit ears twitching nervously under her bandana. Her deep brown eyes glanced around before settling on John.
"Since it's your first day, stick with me," she said, her voice, muffled by the mask she wore, tinged with a hint of authority. "Since our job is to blow more holes here to mine in, I'll show you the ropes with the explosives."
"Sounds good," he answered, grateful for her guidance.
As they walked through the tunnels alongside the rest of Group Six, John took notice of how the other workers treated the infected. He saw healthy miners avoid their infected counterparts, a few even going as far as to openly sneer or mutter derogatory remarks under their breath as they passed.
"Does it always go like this?" he asked Mira.
"Unfortunately, yes," she sighed, her ears drooping. "But believe it or not, it's better here than in some other places. At least in Rim Billiton we get paid and have access to medicine for our condition. In other countries, the infected are left to die, or worse."
John clenched his jaw in frustration, but he didn't ask what could be considered 'worse'. If his search for the fragments took him to more places, he knew he'd have an eyewitness account of what it could possibly be.
"You mentioned medicine, is there some form of treatment available?"
"Sorry, but when we say 'medicine', we mean 'less painful means before we die'," she said solemnly. "The majority of the medicine we receive for oripathy comes in the form of pain killers. There's no 'true' form of treatment for us. The infected are seen as a lost cause, doomed to die from the disease or succumb to violence."
"And no one's tried to do anything about it?"
She shook her head. "It's not like no one has tried to treat oripathy. There's been a few instances of researchers attempting to find a way to cure it, it's just none of them were able to get far in their research before getting deemed insufficient and funding would go to more important projects - like maintaining the infrastructure of the mobiles cities or other projects."
John frowned at the unfairness of it all. It seemed like those who were infected were treated as expendable, a fact that didn't sit well with him. He couldn't imagine being in their shoes, having to live every day with the knowledge that he was going to die soon and there was nothing he could do about it.
"There has to be better way," John found himself saying before he could stop himself.
Mira looked at him, surprise evident in her eyes. "Better way?" she repeated, her ears perking up in interest. "What do you have in mind?"
John hesitated, not entirely sure himself what he meant by his words. "I don't know. But there has to be something that can be done to help the infected. To give them a chance at life."
Mira smiled softly, "I appreciate your sentiment, Spartan. But unfortunately, the world doesn't work like that. There have been many people who have tried to make a difference, but at the end of the day, we're still seen as a threat. It's just the way things are."
John frowned, not wanting to accept that as an answer. "But that doesn't mean no one should try. There has to be a way to change things. To make people see that the infected are more than just a disease."
Mira nodded slowly, considering his words. "You know, you're not like the other outsiders who come here. They usually just see us as freaks and avoid us like the plague. But you... you seem genuinely concerned about our situation. I like that."
John shrugged, "I don't know if I care the same way you do. But I do know that things can't keep going on like this forever. Someone has to try and change things, no matter how small the effort may seem."
Mira smiled at him, "Well, I think you're right. And who knows, maybe one day we'll find a cure for oripathy."
Maybe.
The Spartan couldn't change the world, but he could at least try to make a difference in his own way after he completed his mission.
John nodded, falling silent as they walked. The entirety of Group Three eventually arrived to their work site, and to his relief, the tunnel they were digging was in the general direction of the fragment and Spartan signal. Mira showed John the intricacies of setting up the originium-based explosives in the mine, making sure the correct amount of explosive power was properly calculated each time. He watched as she expertly placed the sticks of dynamite in strategic locations, taking care not to set them off prematurely. Her focus was intense, and John couldn't help but admire her dedication to her work.
Later, Mira showed John how to set up the charges, carefully explaining each step and ensuring that he understood the process. John followed her instructions closely, setting up the charges as she directed. Luckily for him, these were dynamite sticks than the makeshift bomb he had to create to save Sergei and his group, so the only thing he really learned was how the inner working functioned with originium crystals instead of nitroglycerin like he was used to.
As they finished, Mira turned to him with a smile. "Not bad for your first time," she said, patting him on the shoulder. "You catch on quick."
"Thanks for teaching me. I appreciate it."
Mira nodded, "Of course. It's always good to have more hands on deck, especially since we've been behind our quotas for a while now."
After a few hours of detonating explosives and clearing debris, the group took a break.
Finding a spot for himself, John sat down and glanced at the waypoint Durandal had set up for the fragment.
About 1,600 meters left to dig underground their current position.
"You and the group made considerable progress today, Spartan." The AI commented. "By my approximations it should take by the end of the week to reach the fragment."
John nodded, his mind already calculating how he could speed up the process. He couldn't waste any more time than necessary. The longer he stayed in Rim Billiton, the greater the risk of his true intentions possibly being discovered.
"Any ideas how we can get to the fragment faster?"
"I may have an idea, but it's going to require some flexibility."
John raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What do you mean?"
"I mean that we could save some time by using the explosives in a... unstable manner," it said, emphasizing the word 'unstable'.
"Explain."
"If we were to set off more explosives than necessary, it would create a chain reaction with multiple buried originium veins, detonating them and creating a shortcut to the fragment. However, it's important to note that this method is highly dangerous and could result the compromising the overall integrity of the tunnels, causing them to collapse. In the event of both infected and healthy miners being in the vicinity of the act, it could result in collateral as well. Much less ourselves if we're caught in the middle of it."
"Sounds like a quick way to get ourselves killed."
Durandal agreed. "Indeed. It's a risky move, but it could also save us valuable time."
The idea of killing hapless miners and possibly himself wasn't what John considered valuable, not to mention just a little too cruel and wasteful for his tastes. He was in a rush, but he wasn't desperate...yet.
"Got another idea?"
"A moment, please." Durandal fell silent before speaking up again. "Hm, if we use the explosives to create a weaker, yet controlled blast in specific spots of the tunnel, we could detonate isolated originium deposits underneath them instead of detonating a series at once. We can potentially shave off more digging time, rendering it to a maximum of two days if all goes well. Unfortunately, this possesses the risk of our intentions possibly being noticed by others due to the power of the explosions and the unorthodox methods being used, but it's also a fast, yet safer way to reach the fragment."
John weighed the options in his mind. He didn't want to put the lives of the miners in danger, but he also couldn't afford to waste any more time. "How dangerous is it, exactly?"
"It's hard to say," Durandal said, sounding almost apologetic. "There's a chance that, due to potential miscalculations due to the current data of the scans I currently have, the explosions could trigger multiple originium veins at once instead of one at a time. It will result in the same chain reaction as the prior plan and the collapse of the entire mine. But there's also a chance that it could go smoothly, and we'd only have to deal with some minor cave-ins at the worst."
"Hm."
"I'll leave the decision up to you, Spartan."
Weighing the risks and the benefits of the plans, John leaned back against the wall, deep in thought. "Alright. Let's do it. But we'll need to convince the others."
"I'll leave that to you, Spartan. I'll review the scans we retrieved from the control room to make sure the calculations and detonation sequences are ready."
John agreed and turned his attention back to the group. They were taking a break, and some of them were chatting and laughing while they ate their rations, which suspiciously looked like carrots. Mira caught his eye and made her way over, sitting down next to him.
"Hey," she said softly. "You look like you're deep in thought."
John glanced at her, as she rummaged through her pack, pulling out one of her rations and handing it towards him. "Hungry?"
John just stared at it, a little dumbfounded.
It was a carrot.
So, he really wasn't misunderstanding.
He felt like there was a joke about carrots and bunnies somewhere in there, but he didn't have the heart to make it out loud.
Despite his lack of hunger, he took the offering with a quiet thank you, but made no move to remove his helmet.
"Well? What's on your mind?" Mira asked, pointing out his silence as she removed her mask to nibble on her carrot.
John hesitated for a moment before speaking up. "I'm sorry if I got a little too passionate earlier, I just can't stand to see people suffer needlessly."
Mira smiled understandingly, "Don't worry about it. I know how you feel. Sometimes I wonder if there's anything we can do to change things for the better."
Despite himself, the Spartan found himself drawn to Mira's empathy and understanding. She clearly was a kind person, and he couldn't help but admire her resilience despite being dealt with a bad hand with her condition.
Well, either that or he was feeling lonelier than he thought.
John stuffed the vegetable into his coat pocket as he pushed those thoughts aside for now, knowing that his mission still needed to be completed.
"Actually, I was thinking about asking for your permission with something," he said, turning to face her.
Mira looked at him curiously, "What is it?"
"We're moving at a good pace but digging through all this rock is taking too long. After you showed me how to use them, I've been thinking about using the explosives to create a controlled blast that could help us save time and get more done faster to catch up to our quotas."
Mira raised an eyebrow, "And what's the catch?"
"Well, there's a risk of cave-ins and potentially compromising the stability of the mine. The main factor is that we'd use buried originium veins to detonate in conjunction with the blasts. But if we can convince the others and get it right, we could potentially cut our workload by half if we do."
Mira tilted her head, "That's a risky move. We don't want to hurt anyone or cause any unnecessary damage to the mine. Not to mention we're here to collect as much originium as we can, not sure how happy upper management is gonna be if we start destroying deposits of them, even if it's to make up for lost time."
"I know, we'll just have to be careful and make sure everything is calculated properly."
A flash of suspicion crossed her features. "Are you in a rush for something?"
John hesitated for a moment before answering honestly. "Yes. Once I find what I'm looking for, I'll be on my way. I won't bother you again."
"You mentioned that before. What are you looking for, Spartan?" Mira asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"It's...complicated. But it's important that I find it," John said cryptically, not willing to reveal too much to someone he barely knew.
Mira studied him for a moment. "Important enough to suggest destroying parts of our main source of income?"
"Yes."
"...I'll have to think about it. You're not giving me much to work with here."
"I understand," John replied. "I'll let you think about it, but I hope you'll consider it."
Mira nodded, still deep in thought. "I'll talk to the others and see what they think after our shift is over. We'll need to make sure everyone is on board with it and that we take all the necessary precautions. If they all agree, then I'll take it to Jarek and run it by him. If things go wrong, it's his head the higher ups are gonna be asking for."
"Thank you," John said, grateful for her consideration. "I'll leave it in your capable hands."
"No promises, Spartan. But... thanks for bringing it up with me first." Mira flashed him a small smile before standing up, wiping her hands clean of her finished carrot. "Now let's get back to work."
John watched her go, hoping that they would be able to come to an agreement and speed up the process.
Pulling out the carrot she gave him from his coat, he lifted his helmet just enough to stuff the vegetable into his mouth.
Surprisingly, it's taste was sweet, and its texture was rather crisp. Better than he would've thought a ration could've been.
Then again, it didn't surprise John at the thought that a nation city of rabbit people would make the best carrots.
That kind of stuff just writes itself, doesn't it?
The group worked tirelessly for the rest of the day, taking turns to dig through the rock and debris that littered the tunnels.
Contrary to what she had told Spartan, Mira decided to talk to the other miners in the group individually between pauses. While the quiet giant of a man seemed cordial, she had a feeling there was a sort of impatience bubbling from deep within.
She rather not see what might happen if it were to boil over.
Mira wanted to see what the other members of Group Six thought about Spartan's proposal, and gauge their opinions on whether it was worth the risk, while withholding the helmeted man's personal reasons from them. Most of them were hesitant at first, but as they talked it out, they came to the conclusion that it was an option they didn't have too much qualms with.
One miner, however, wasn't convinced.
"I don't know about this," Brandon said, shaking his head. "It seems like a lot of unnecessary risk. And who knows what else we could trigger with those explosives? And besides, the company wants us to dig out the originium we find here, not destroy it."
Mira understood his concerns, but she also saw the merit in Spartan's plan, risky as they were.
"I understand your point, but we're already falling behind schedule. This could be a way to catch up and get back on track, and as for the originium, we'll make sure to calculate everything properly and take all necessary precautions. I'll be talking to Jarek for the go ahead after, I just want to make sure we're all on the same page here." she explained, hoping to sway him.
The miner still looked unsure, but he didn't push the issue any further.
"Fine. But if anything goes wrong, I reserve the right to say 'I told you so'," he said, holding up his hands in defeat.
Mira couldn't help but smile. It wasn't a resounding yes, but it was a start.
The rest of the shift went by smoothly, and they made good progress, making it deeper into the mine. Spartan and Mira worked side by side, with Spartan using his strength to move the larger boulders while Mira used her expertise to clear the smaller debris.
They worked well together, with Mira appreciating the calm and efficiency he worked with, despite being a beginner to mining itself from what she had heard. Though, she found herself growing more and more intrigued by Spartan's intentions.
She wondered what could be so important to risk this type of danger for, and why he was so determined to find it.
She was still mulling over the possibilities when their shift finally ended, and they began to return to their mining facility above ground.
"Spartan," The helmeted head, still covered by his hood, looked down at her call. "After dinner, I'll have your answer. I'll just need to clear it with Jarek first. Meet me at the pavilion next to the miner's quarters then."
"Thank you, Mira," he said, giving her a small nod before heading off to take care of his own business.
As he walked away, Mira couldn't help but feel a sense of intrigue and curiosity about the Spartan. She had a feeling there was more to him than met the eye, and she was determined to find out what it was.
Dinner was a simple affair, with the miners gathering in the communal dining area to discuss their day's work and eat their rations, which consisted of cabbage veggie salads with mushroom pies. Spartan sat at a table by himself, lost in thought as he ate his meal. Mira observed him from across the room, wondering what was going through his mind.
After dinner, she made her way to the control room and to the shift leader's office, where Jarek was going over the day's reports. She knocked on the door and entered when he called for her to come in.
"Jarek, I need to talk to you about something," Mira said, taking a seat across from him.
"Mira? It's not often you ask for something. What is it? One of the miner's oripathy getting worse?" Jarek asked, putting down his reports to give her his full attention, though she could see the way he gazed at her warily due to her condition.
She ignored it. "It's about Spartan. He's proposed a plan for a more efficient use of our controlled blasts to speed up our mining process, and I wanted to get your go ahead on it before we move forward."
Jarek raised an eyebrow. "Spartan, huh? That guy's name been coming to my desk more than I would've liked. What does he have in mind? If it means we can catch up on our schedule, it might just be worth it."
Mira hesitated for a moment, having an idea of the reaction she was going to receive and bracing for it. "He thinks if we detonate our explosives in areas where undug originium ore veins are at, we can use their addition to double our explosive power so we can clear more ground."
"...What?" She held back a grimace at the cold whisper. "Your oripathy finally making its rounds inside your head, Mira? Is this a joke? Why in hell would we destroy the ore we mine?"
Mira remained composed, despite the condescending tone in Jarek's voice. "I understand it sounds counterintuitive, but Spartan has calculated that the benefits outweigh the risks. He believes that by detonating in specific areas, we can clear more ground at a faster pace than we currently are. It's worth considering, don't you think?"
Jarek leaned back in his chair, his expression suddenly becoming unreadable. "It's a hell of a risk you're asking me to take, Mira. My ability to manage might get brought up into question by the higher-ups, if they don't just laugh at my face with this type of proposition. You're young, but you're not the type of person who jumps at the first idea given to you - especially not one this out there. What gives?"
Mira took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she knew was going to be a difficult conversation. "Spartan has his own reasons for wanting to do this, Jarek. Personal reasons that I'm not at liberty to share, but I believe he's being genuine in his proposal. And besides, we're falling behind on our schedule. We need to take risks if we're going to catch up."
Jarek's eyes narrowed. "And you believe him?"
Mira nodded firmly. "I do. He just started but he's been working just as hard as the rest of us infected, and I believe we should at least send his proposal up if nothing else."
Jarek considered her words for a moment, before finally nodding. "Alright, Mira. I'll send this up to the foreman and see what we can do, make some calls to the guys in upper management if we have to. I should have an answer for you by tomorrow morning before our shift starts. But, if we get the go ahead and anything goes wrong, it's on you. And Spartan."
Mira felt a sense of relief wash over her at his agreement. "Thank you, Jarek. I appreciate it."
"Anything else?"
"Eh..." She shrugged, giving him a wry smile. "Got a smoke?"
Jarek chuckled, pulling out a pack of cigarettes from his drawer and tossing it to her. "You know those are bad for you, right?"
Mira caught the pack with a grin. "Yeah, but so is working in a mine full of originium. A little smoking won't hurt."
Jarek shook his head, a hint of amusement on his face before it vanished. "You know, Mira, I don't like the idea of you hanging around that Spartan too much. He's not good news."
Mira raised an eyebrow as she pocketed the pack. "What do you mean?"
"I've heard stories about him. Rumors. He's only been here for two days but he's already caused trouble in other mining operations, and he's not exactly a team player from what I hear from the guys at Group Three. I don't trust him, and I don't think you should either."
Mira frowned. "I appreciate your concern, Jarek, but I think you're being a little paranoid. We're just working together, that's all."
"Well, just be careful, alright? The last thing we need is more problems around here."
Mira nodded before excusing herself and leaving the room. As she walked out of the control room, she couldn't help the feeling a sense of unease settle in her stomach. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more going on with Spartan, something that she wasn't quite seeing yet. She knew she needed to be cautious, but her curiosity was getting the better of her.
As she made her way to the pavilion, she caught sight of Spartan already waiting for her, leaned against the railing.
She quickened her pace.
"Spartan," she greeted him, trying to keep her voice casual.
"Mira," he replied, inclining his head in greeting. "I assume you've spoken to Jarek?"
"I have," Mira said, taking a seat next to him. "He's agreed to send your proposal up to the foreman, but he's still skeptical about it."
Spartan nodded, his helmet keeping his expression unreadable. "I expected as much. Jarek strikes me as the cautious type. But I'm glad that we're at least being considered."
Mira couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for Spartan's confidence and determination. She wished she could feel the same, and not just fake it every day. "You really believe in your idea, don't you?"
Spartan turned to look at her, the blue faceplate of his helmet reflecting her face from its surface. "I do. I know it's a risk, but I believe it's worth taking if it means we can mine more efficiently. And besides, like I told you, I have my own reasons for wanting to make this work."
Mira's curiosity was piqued. "You mentioned that before, but you gonna tell me what that is yet?" she asked, leaning in closer.
Spartan hesitated for a moment, before finally speaking. "Let's just say that there's some things that were misplaced. I'm here to make sure they don't fall into the wrong hands."
Mira raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What kind of things?"
Spartan shook his head. "I can't say more than that. But trust me, it's important."
Mira was silent for a moment, mulling over Spartan's words.
"Well, whatever it is, I hope it's worth it," she finally said. "Jarek doesn't trust you, you know."
"I don't need him to trust me. I just need him to follow my lead."
Mira felt a sense of unease settle in her stomach at Spartan's words. There was something about him that made him feel dangerous, something that she couldn't quite put her finger on.
As they sat in silence, watching the miners come and go from the pavilion, Mira found herself drawn to the enigmatic man next to her. She couldn't help but feel a sense of trust towards him, despite the warnings from Jarek. There was something about his confidence and determination that made her give him more credit than she should.
And yet, she knew that this trust could lead her down a dangerous path, given Spartan's unknown background and agenda.
Though dangerous or not, with her condition, she was running out of time sooner than she would like. Even if she wished it so, didn't have much of a future in the mining industry, much less a future in general.
Not enough time to realize the goals she needed to fulfill.
Maybe... Maybe he can help with...
She tore her eyes away from him, feeling a sense of guilt wash over her. Grabbing the pack of cigarettes from her jumpsuit pocket, she pulled one out and lit it with a snap of her finger with her originium arts, the weak sparks emanating from the tips of her fingers.
This seemed to shock Spartan, from the way his head whipped in her direction.
"How did you do that?" He asked, his voice laced with surprise.
She paused at his reaction, eying him as she took a long drag. "My bad. It's just my originium arts. Didn't mean to take you off guard like that."
Spartan seemed to study her for a moment longer before shaking his head. "...Originium arts?"
She quietly regarded his odd behavior. "What never seen Arts before?"
He seemed to mull over the question. "I've seen someone shoot a fireball before, if that's what you mean. They had a staff to do it though."
Mira raised an eyebrow at his response.
"Well, that's the way most people use them, staffs are often used as a conduit of sorts for them, but there are many types of originium arts. It's not just limited to shooting fireballs," she explained, taking another drag from her cigarette. "Some people use it for healing, some use it to enhance their physical abilities, and some, like me, can only use it to create tiny things, like sparks."
Spartan seemed to consider her words.
"...You make it sound like magic."
"Sort of," Mira replied with a shrug. "But it's more... grounded, I'd say. There's a science to it. It's energy harnessed from Originium. This stuff is not just a resource; it's like it's alive, resonating with some people."
Spartan said nothing but she could almost feel his skepticism. Mira couldn't help but smile as she noticed his disbelief; this was an experience that could not be easily explained by words alone and yet here she was trying her best to do so anyway for such an odd man.
It was almost cute in a way - for such a suspicious person to try to pass themselves off as anything but despite his actions repeatedly giving him away.
"Resonating?" He finally asked after a few moments of silence had passed between them.
"Yeah." Mira nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her as she noticed his curiosity peeking through his disbelief. "Most of us, especially those who've been in contact with Originium, develop these abilities."
"Sounds like a advantage."
"Definitely, but it's a double-edged sword. Using Originium Arts means you're exposing yourself to the risk of Oripathy. It's deadly."
"A risk for power... Just like everything else here it seems like."
"It is. But there's plenty of people that believe about using that power responsibly, to protect and heal. It's not just about fighting, you know?"
"But you said staffs are conduits for Arts? You did it without one."
The smile on her face became tinged with bitterness. "Well, when you have oripathy, you can use the originium growing inside your body as a conduit instead. Problem with that is it causes our condition to move at an accelerated rate. Kills us quicker. Which is why I thought you were pissed for a moment there when I used it, being a ticking time bomb and all."
He shook his head.
"No. But you shouldn't use it if that's the case, Mira. Especially for something like smoking," he said, his voice low and rough. "They're bad for you. Make your bones brittle."
Mira shrugged, taking a long drag before exhaling the smoke into the air. "I know, but it helps me think. Plus, it's not like I'm going to live long enough to worry about the long-term effects anyway."
Spartan's demeanor softened. "Don't talk like that. You have plenty of life left in you, Mira."
Mira looked at him, surprised by the concern in his voice. "What makes you say that?"
Spartan hesitated for a moment, before finally speaking. "You seem different from what I've seen. You're smart, resourceful. You have potential, Mira. Even with your oripathy. Don't waste it on something like smoking."
Despite the sense of warmth spread through her chest at his words, Mira couldn't help but roll her eyes a bit. "Alright, 'Dad'. This smoking stuff is because you're already stressing me out so much, even though you're the newbie."
She was already twenty, for goodness sake! She was a big girl.
At the face of her sarcasm, Spartan quietly shook his head at her.
She extinguished the cigarette on the ground before standing up and offering Spartan a small, timid smile.
"Thank you, Spartan," Mira whispered, her ears perking up ever so slightly. "It means a lot to know that someone cares."
Nodding, Spartan stood up.
"We should get back to the before lights out," he said, already walking towards the entrance of the pavilion.
Mira stood up quickly, following him. As they made their way back to the barracks, Mira couldn't help but feel a sense of unease settle in her stomach. She knew that she needed to be cautious around Spartan, but her heart was telling her otherwise. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more going on with him than he was letting on. She needed to earn his trust and figure out exactly what he was up to.
So, for now, she would follow his lead and trust him - even if it was just for the moment.
A/N
Mumu never came home T-T
But crazy hot snake lady didn't stop bothering me. Like I'm glad I got her, but sheesh, I wanted my water elf to show up.
Snake lady's voice lines tho...
Eh, I'm a little iffy on this chapter, but this is the learning arc of Terra and the Arknights world and such for Chief. I'm trying to move at a natural pace, but if you guys find this boring I'm seriously sorry, but there's likely to be 2 more chapters left of this mini miner arc for now. Trust me I want to get to writing the good parts too you know, but my need to explain world building in a meaningful way keeps hitting me in the gut, especially with the way I want to tie in the two universes.
Damn why do I do this to myself.
On that note I was wondering if anyone would like to help beta this story, and maybe bounce ideas back and forth with each other when it comes to making chapters. No major reason, but if anyone would like the position, you'll likely be making this easier for me.
Hope you guys had a good Turkey day and ate a lot. Already, the Christmas music has already started before we could get through that day. Then again, I feel like Japan just cares about Christmas and not much of Thanksgiving lol.
Stay safe there yall.
Please, feel free to review.