Five – Atlantis
While the Atlantis leadership debriefed on Earth the Master Chief and Cortana had been getting settled in on Atlantis. As part of his residency on Alantis the Master Chief had been given quarters and access to the armouries where his weapons were being kept, he had also been given access to one of the buildings where they had created a garage for the Warthogs and Mongooses which had been transported down to the city from the Dawn by the Daedalus. The transporter technology available to these people was impressive on par with that of the Forerunners, not a lot of it made sense the UNSC did not have access to such technology, which they should have Cortana said she was working the problem with history.
The Chief had been busying himself training the people on Atlantis in the operation and maintenance of the Warthogs and Mongoose vehicles and the weapons he had brought down from the Dawn. With assistance from the people on the base he had also appropriated a supply room and they had built the MJOLNIR De-rig with Cortana guiding them. In the middle of the room there was a large circular machine with two arms one in front one behind. "It's ready Chief." Cortana said cheerfully her hologram standing beside him like before her form "wore" a full UNSC Fleet uniform covering her form.
"Understood" he said stepping forwards into the ring he reached up with both arms and grasped the handles. Cortana controlled the machine and moved the arms into place over the armour they then released catches on the front and back of first each arm, his powerful armour fell to the floor in several sections each making an audible bang as they landed on the floor. The two machine arms moved to the front and back armour. Inside his still sealed helmet the Chief could feel the bolts being undone as his protection was pulled away from him. As the back of the armour fell away, he saw his shields deplete completely as the power source was removed, his helmet still had enough power for life support and the Heads-Up-Display (HUD) so he was not completely without the armour's senses.
He and Cortana had spoken at length regarding the removal of his MJOLNIR armour while he did not like it there was good reasons behind it, Cortana wished to repair and work on the armour something she had wanted to do which he was in Cryosleep but had been unable due to the life extending hibernation procedure she had put her program through. Also, the Chief in his armour could never interact with the people of Atlantis in any sort of informal way, this way he could hopefully learn more about these people. The Titanium Nanocomposite bodysuit was still absorbent enough to take fire from anything up to an assault weapon on full automatic, hand weapons would not do enough to slow him down if it did come to a fight.
The front chest piece of his armour fell onto the deck and two Atlantis technicians moved over to remove it from in front of him moving it into a UNSC cryotube which had been transported down along with the other equipment. Cortana had modified it for her purposes and she would repair the armour without the need for assistance from the Chief or the Atlantians, this procedure would also help keep her focused on a task which would hopefully continue to keep the Rampancy at bay, she could almost hear herself questioning every decision she made. Humans would describe it as the angel and the devil on one's shoulders advising and questioning every choice, she made but she knew it was her own programming beginning to degrade. The saddest part of rampancy was that the AI was fully aware of it happening every thought along the way. If they had been with the UNSC then she would have followed procedures and self-deleted by now but they were not with the UNSC, they were in the wrong time and in the wrong galaxy and none of this made any sense.
The Chief's leg armour was the last parts to come off once they were removed from his bodysuit finally the Chief let go of the handles and reached up to his helmet, clicking it to the side he released the catches and lifted the last piece of his armour away. He blinked several times as his blue eyes adjusted to the light; it had been some time since he stood in front of anyone without his armour on. John-117 was officially forty-six years old, he had obvious wrinkles around his eyes but due to the augmentation process and his many years encased in his MJOLNIR armour he had the body of a man who was a decade younger and at 6ft 10 inches he stood over all other even without the suit of armour. He had short dark hair cut to a military style and had a short beard which ran the length of his chin and around his mouth, John took kept it neat and tidy as much as he could in between his battles with the covenant.
"There what did I tell you, worked perfectly" Cortana said her voice full of confidence.
"I never doubted you" the Chief said to the AI smirking, Teyla Emmagan stepped up in front of him.
"It is good to finally meet the man behind the armour, I greet you in the tradition of my people" she said reaching up with both hands he could feel her soft skin against his, the first human touch he had felt for years, Teyla had a warmth to her but also strength as she guided his head down to hers until their foreheads met. The two stood like that for several moments before she released his head allowing him to stand up fully, he towered over her. "I do have a question though?" The Chief nodded "you said you haven't been out of that armour for years?" He nodded again "how do you not smell?" She asked smiling broadly before laughing gently, the Chief could not help but join her with a gentle chuckle of his own.
"Actually, the Chief's bodysuit regulates his internal heat perfectly…" Cortana began to explain but that just made the laughter even louder, the Chief's armour was perfectly suited to him, it regulated his heat, recycled his sweat and urine into drinkable water, it also took in water and purified it if he was in the rain or underwater, he could go weeks without needing to be supplied with water. The armour also contained storage which allowed him to carry Meals-Ready-To-Eat (MRE)'s which he could consume during a break in combat. His Spartan physiology which had been extensively modified during their augmentation process allowed him to operate for days without food.
The next morning the Master Chief awoke from a double bed, it was more comfortable than most marine bunks he had slept in before. Immediately he had headed to the shower for literal years he had gone from one combat zone to the next sometimes barely leaving his armour for months on end, the war with the Covenant had been brutal and now this was a luxury. Now he had an entire suite of rooms with his own shower and a balcony both the water of the shower and the sun had felt good on his skin. He had dressed in his inner bodysuit and put a UNSC Marine utility jacket over the top of it, the rest of the uniform was too small for his larger than normal frame.
John heard the door chime go inside "Come in" the Chief called he subconsciously reached down to his side and found the Magnum hand pistol grip where he had left it, even if fully armoured marines came through the door, it would make them pause in their attack. Today was not the day for an assault squad though instead in entered Teyla.
"John, I wanted to check how you were doing?" Teyla asked with a smile, she was an exotic warrior woman from an alien culture which was even more alien than the humans of Earth. From what John could figure out she had found a place within the people of Atlantis he could not help but notice she was a beautiful woman; John had worked with women all his life, Spartans did not generally think of anyone else in anything other than a professional sense, in fact he had rarely if ever socialized with anyone but other Spartans. But John had been apart from the other Spartans for some time and now he was away from the UNSC as well he had no idea what to expect.
"This is not what I am used to" the large Spartan said raising his arms bringing in the whole room before turning towards the balcony and walking outside. Teyla followed him and stood just at the doorway. "This city is incredible…" he said looking out over the city and the ocean beyond.
"You said before that your people had come across similar technology to that here in the city before?"
"Not quite" the Chief admitted, "we have encountered technology like that available to your ancients before from a race we call the Forerunners but rarely do we come across finds like this…" He explained seeing her curiosity been piqued "The Forerunners existed thousands of years ago, Cortana could explain better than me." He suggested almost expecting the AI to appear but she did not he stepped back inside the room but still Cortana was not present.
"Please go on" Teyla invited him to continue taking one of the comfortable chairs, John remained standing not used to the informality.
"The Forerunners were one of the first and most advanced species in known space, they spread their arms out exploring and colonising worlds. During their travels through space, they encountered an organism known as the Flood" he said closing his eyes briefly remembering his first encounters with them on the first Halo Ring. "The Flood is very adaptable it can invade any biological form, it takes over a body and converts it either into food which it uses to replicate or into what we call Combat Forms which have increased strength, speed and resilience over the body they have taken over." The Chief explained looking at Teyla he could see the horror in her face and he wondered what story his own face was telling. "When the Flood take over a body the person that was once there ceases to be, it becomes part of what can only be described as a hive consciousness."
"That sounds horrifying" She said but did not comment further, he could hear the empathy she felt for what he had seen.
"The Forerunners despite their technology found themselves unable to stop the Flood which spread like wildfire across the galaxy taking over Forerunner colonies and the various species that made up our home galaxy." He explained "the Forerunnners decided to build a weapon capable of stopping the Flood, a superweapon that starved the Flood of food by destroying their food source wiping the galaxy clear of life."
"Oh my…" Teyla said shocked at what the large warrior had said "but how is it possible that your people exist if they took such an extreme measure?" She asked curious
"They had a second plan; part of the Forerunners plan was to repopulate the worlds of the galaxy with the races which had been killed. The entire galaxy started a fresh" he explained "they planned for everything…"
"But you say this happened thousands of years ago, how are you aware of this?" She asked standing stepping closer to him.
"I and Cortana…" He began just as the Hologram appeared.
"Yes, Chief?" She asked appearing to be completely unaware of what he and Teyla had been speaking about.
"I was explaining to Teyla about what happened with the Forerunners and the Flood" the Chief explained
"Oh, hello Teyla, I did not see you there" the AI said glancing in Teyla's direction, she appeared to be confused by her presence. Cortana was in the City's systems but did not appear to be fully aware of the sensors or those sensors did not cover the quarters "what part of the conflict did John get to? I have records from the first Forerunner/Flood War and from the Master Chief's own conflicts with the Flood on the Halo Ring."
"Halo?" Teyla asked glancing between Cortana and the Chief "would that be the Superweapon you mentioned?"
"Yes" The Chief answered turning and walking back out onto the balcony.
"Teyla, would you like to hear the history of the Halo Array and those that built it?" Cortana offered "I can also show you a holographic image of the Halo if that will be of use."
"No, thank you Cortana" Teyla said remaining inside the Chief's quarters "he struggles with it, doesn't he?" She asked Cortana glanced out the door at the Chief who was leaning on the balcony overlooking the city.
"I cannot read John's mind" Cortana responded, these people did not know exactly how the AI and the Master Chief interfaced. "I have known him for several years; I think the Master Chief struggles with a lot of things." She exlained wistfully "who wouldn't struggle given what he's been put through since he was a child…" her voice trailing off, the AI's form looked like she was worried about the Master Chief.
"Since he was a child? What happened to him?" She asked curiously looking away from the Chief's form to Cortana.
"I'm sorry without a valid UNSC Identifying code I cannot divulge information relating to the Spartan II Program, do you have a code?" She asked formally her entire demeanour had changed.
"No Cortana I'm not part of the UNSC, it's me Teyla, you're here in Atlantis" Teyla explained her concern moving from the Chief to Cortana. Even though that she was a computer program Teyla felt like the emotion coming from her was real.
"Apologies, Teyla of course" Cortana said looking around the Chief's quarters "I have diagnostics on the Chief's armour to do excuse me." She said quickly glancing in the direction of the Chief before disappearing. Teyla moved out of the room and onto the balcony.
"John, are you alright?" Teyla asked him standing beside the huge soldier.
"It is too peaceful" he said "rarely in my life have I not had a mission and a team."
"Perhaps I can help with that" Teyla suggested the Spartan looked down at her curious.
Soon after the Master Chief and Teyla were in the work out area Teyla had changed and wore a brown crop-top and a brown leather and cloth skirt which was cut to allow her legs to move freely. In her hands she held two lightly coloured wooden sticks "these are Bantos Rods the traditional sparing weapons of my people" she held them up in a fighting pose.
"Teyla, this wouldn't be a fair fight" the Chief cautioned her looking at her and at the two sticks in his own hands. "I am faster and stronger than most men" he said continuing to warn her as Teyla swung her sticks the Chief moved with his lightning reflexes to parry her shot. "I could hurt you" he warned he said as she pulled back.
"You are an experienced warrior you have learned how to fight and how to train, I trust you" Teyla said quietly swinging her left stick at the Chief he parried it with his own and then moments later he parried her right stick with his own as well. Teyla was not ready to stop spinning in place she swung both of her sticks towards the Chief again but he stepped out of the way before swinging one of his own sticks past her head narrowly missing. "You said that you needed a mission, we train so we are prepared for missions." She said swinging the left stick and then the right followed by the left again, again in the sequence the Master Chief parried each move she made with ease but moved at Teyla's pace.
"Did Cortana tell you about me?" The large warrior asked continuing to step around or parry Teyla's attacks. From her movements he could tell that she was well versed in combat and trained often.
"She said you had been through a lot since you were a child but didn't go into details" Teyla explained as she struck out towards the Chief again, he parried her attack, this time the Chief held her two sticks with one of his own while he used his other arm to swipe out her left and bring her down to the mats which they stood on. The Chief stepped around her fallen form and extended his hand and pulled her back to her feet, he through the sticks over onto a nearby weapons bench as Teyla retook her fighting stance, she began to motion to throw her own sticks away but the Chief held up his hands. "I do not wish to harm you, John" she said using his given name again, he decided he did not mind hearing her say his name.
"You will not" he said even without this armour the Chief's bones were virtually indestructible capable of taking unimaginable punishment allowing her to continue to use the sticks may give her a longer reach. The Chief took up a defensive stance and beckoned Teyla to attack him she swung the left stick towards him he parried it with his forearm, she used the momentum from his move to spin turning her back on him bringing her leg around to kick the larger man. The Chief decided to take the kick on the upper right arm while also moving forward to grab her but Teyla was already in motion dodging him swinging the two sticks again aiming for his head. The chief dodged her attack and moved quickly to grab one of her two sticks quickly stripping it from her hands, the momentum he had built up sent the stick into the air and he quickly reached over his head and caught it with his other. Flipping the stick in his hand once he reached over to Teyla and extended it to her which she took back. She took the stick back and nodded to her and returned them to their place on the weapons bench signalling to an end of the duel. "Perhaps I can show you some of my weapons?"
"Of course, we can go now" she offered the Chief nodded, he grabbed his and her jackets and they walked out of the gym. Soon after they were walking through the facility together Teyla had added her Atlantis uniform jacket over her Athosian clothing. He had noticed that she tended to add the jacket when she was in official areas of the base, he was not sure if it was something conscious or not.
All through the base the Atlantis Expedition looked up at the Master Chief with a little sense of awe all of them had heard the story of what he had done on the Hive during the battle over the planet. He was used to such looks from the UNSC Marines but normally he would be wearing his armour in public sectors, Spartans tended to socialise amongst themselves when not on mission.
They both entered the armoury where both the Atlantis Expedition weapons and some of the UNSC weapons were being kept. The Master Chief stepped over to the UNSC weapons bench a few of the marines were also present as he removed an assault rifle from the rack and handed it to Teyla. "This is the MA5C Individual Combat Weapons System, more commonly known as the Assault Rifle." He explained allowing her to become familiar with the weapon "air-cooled, gas operated, it has a bottom loading magazine with thirty-two rounds. It fires 7.62x51mm armour piercing rounds." He explained as she sighted it, she could see the LED display which showed the numbers "3" and "2." Above the round counter was a compass icon.
"It's very well balanced for its size" she said moving it around the assault rifle was twice the mass of a P90 "it's strange that for all your advances that you still use ammunition-based weapons." She commented
"Beyond my ability to answer" the Chief admitted "perhaps it is because ammunition is easy to replace, you can fire in short bursts or on fully automatic." He explained as she continued to hold the grey weapon "feel free" he said raising his hand towards the target. Teyla shouldered the weapon and aimed down the sights at the target and gently squeezed the trigger sending five rounds down the range into the target. She felt the recoil as the weapon rose when she fired and only two of the burst struck the target. Teyla then regained control over the weapon and fired a longer burst of weapons fire this time controlling the recoil with more keeping the sights on the target this time her fire shredded the target.
"It has quite the stopping power" she said lowering the weapon turning back to the Chief she stepped over and handed him the weapon, the Chief demonstrated the cartridge removal and replaced it again before returning it to the rack. As he did Teyla stepped over to one of their own weapon racks and picked up a black P90 walking back over to him "and this is a P90 Personal Defence Weapon" she said handing the small boxy weapon to the Master Chief, he found it a little small for his larger hands. "It fires 5.7x28mm rounds, with fifty to the top loading magazine." She explained showing him the magazine on top which was see through allowing the user to see any issues with the magazine.
The Chief stood several feet from the firing point and shouldered the weapon he then took a single shot with the weapon hitting the bullseye perfectly. Several of the marines who had been practicing stopped firing as the Chief fired six more shots hitting the bullseye every time, he then switched the weapon's firing mode and he fired off a burst of bullets into the same target hitting with every shot, followed by a second burst hitting the target again. The Chief was not done he reached out with his arm at full extension and fired a single round from the P90 hitting the target followed by a burst into the target again, his enhanced vision allowing him to keep the weapon on target and the strength of his wrist was enough to control the weapon's recoil. Behind them the Chief was aware of a larger number of observers who had joined them watching.
"A well-balanced weapon." He said "do you mind?" He asked Teyla nodded and the Chief went over to one of the Atlantis weapon racks the magazine was simple to change he removed it and replaced it with another he then picked up a second P90 and walked back to the firing line. He then held both weapons up one in each of his large hands, he moved the two weapons in his hands gaining a grip on both of them. he then let off a burst with both weapons obliterating the target at the far end of the range. Firing both weapons took away some accuracy but his control was enough to hit the targets with most of his shots, he then pulled down the trigger on both weapons and fired the remains of both magazines peppering the original targets then strafing over the one either side of the original target destroying both. "I like them, two are quite impressive" he said turning to Teyla he heard many of the men and women behind clap at his display impressed with what they were doing, firing two P90s single handed would break most people's wrists only exceptionally strong warriors were capable of such a feat. They reminded the Chief of the sub-machine guns he had used during their defence of Earth but with better firing options, magazine capacity and range.
He handed them back individually to Teyla who returned with a pair of pistols the Chief glanced at them and held back a smile, after what they had witnessed with the P90 Teyla had anticipated his next move he picked up one black pistol and then the other. "This is the M9 Beretta, standard issue sidearm" she said as the chief turned back towards the targets and fired off several rounds from both weapons "with fifteen rounds per magazine" she continued to say as he continued to fire shots. He stopped firing and placed them on the table at the firing point taking a couple of strides over to the UNSC weapons rack picking up a pistol of his own stepping over to Teyla he handed her the silver weapon.
"M6G Magnum" he explained "semi-automatic with eight rounds."
"Only eight?" Teyla asked looking at the small weapon ejecting the magazine before replacing it, he respected someone who was willing to check the weapons before using them, she had been trained well.
"You often don't need even that many" he said as she stepped over to the firing line, she raised the weapon, she was surprised as she extended it in her two hands that along the top of the weapon was a scope.
"Impressive" she said aiming with the sights she targeted another of the targets and squeezed the trigger the force of the recoil pushed her backwards but the Chief had silently moved behind her and caught her moving any further.
"It can fire semi-armour piercing high explosive rounds or .50 Magnum Calibre rounds" he said standing close to her, she had not even noticed him getting closer to him. "It takes a little getting used to." As he stood there Teyla aimed again and fired another round again the recoil pushed her back into him a little before she righted herself, by the third shot she needed no such support and the Chief had moved away as quietly as before. Around the room the Chief could hear that several people were quite impressed by the small weapon.
Teyla stepped away from the line and moved the weapon into her other hand flexing her right hand which had pulled the trigger. "You wouldn't want to fire many shots" she noted but it has impressive stopping power.
"You do not need many" the Chief said taking the pistol from her returning it to the racks. "I think your weapons and my own are quite compatible, assuming the people of Earth are happy to continue to support me when my ammunition runs low." The Chief said returning to Teyla, with the two now speaking the crowd of people who had watched
"You almost single handedly took down two Hive ships John, I am sure that Dr Weir and Major Sheppard have made every effort to gain more support for you." She said reassuringly, he was an asset to their team it would not make sense not to support him. "Assuming you still plan on working with us?"
"You are humans in this galaxy, a Galaxy I am now some how part of I hope to continue building on our relationships we have began to make. The ammunition for these weapons will last only so long should there be more Hive ships to engage." He warned, he knew there was probably weapon racks on the Dawn which they could still salvage but that was a short-term measure only, they needed something that would last them over a longer period of time.
"Gate-room to Teyla Emmagan" the base Tannoy system called through.
Teyla reached into her jacket pocket and removed a small earpiece "Gate-room, this is Teyla Emmagan" she answered "I understand, I and the Master Chief will be there shortly." She said looking at the Master Chief "the Daedalus has returned."
