AN: (4/2/24) I've made some minor edits (mostly for clarity and consistency) and added a couple tidbits of worldbuilding to the previous chapters - I recommend re-reading them! But if you don't, it's ok - the changes aren't essential for the story going forward.
June 21, 2561
1427 UTC
Capt. O'Brian
"There!" one of the Kig-Yar exclaimed. I zoomed in on where he was pointing. Sure enough, the sharp-eyed alien had spotted our mysterious local, on the far side of the lake, ducking into a cluster of boulders surrounded by open land.
The Phantom turned and moved in that direction.
"I think I should approach him alone," I said. "If he sees a human face, maybe he won't run."
'Taham nodded. Sgt. Jacobs didn't appreciate the suggestion. "At least let me come with you, sir."
"Fine," I said. "but no one else." I turned to 'Taham. "Have your pilot put us down a hundred meters from him. Be ready for a quick pickup, but hold back for now." He nodded. "Do it," he called to the pilot.
The Phantom slowed to a stop. The hatch in the floor opened, exposing the grav lift. Jacobs stepped in and I followed.
We walked slowly across the open land. As we neared the boulders, I reached up and removed my helmet. "Sir…" Jacobs started, but I cut him off with a gesture.
"Hello?" I called. "We're humans. We mean you no harm! We just want to talk."
Slowly, the human and Lekgolo stood up from behind the rock where they had crouched. The man - he was much younger than I first thought - looked at us warily.
I stepped forward, and extended my hand. "I'm Captain O'Brian, UNSC Fremont. What's your name son?"
He gave me a skeptical look, but stepped forward. He stood a foot and a half taller than me, but the Lekgolo shifted their form until we were eye to eye. They uncovered his hand, and he shook mine. "Jake."
"It's really good to meet you Jake," I said. "I'll be honest with you, we didn't expect to find any humans here."
Jacobs interrupted, raising his rifle halfway. "Hold on. How do we know you're not just puppeting a human corpse?"
"Stand down, Sergeant," I snapped, shoving his rifle down. Where did that come from? I would have some words for him later. The man was a veteran of the Covenant War, and his experiences understandably made an impact on him. I brought him on this excursion, hoping that working with our allies on a fairly low-key, low-risk mission would help improve his attitude toward non-humans. But I didn't like the blank spots on his service record, and this behavior did not help my opinion of the man.
The young local didn't seem too offended, and relaxed once the gun was pointed away. He just rolled his eyes. The Lekgolo climbed down from his body and settled on the ground, leaving him standing on his own legs. He was clearly a human boy, in his mid teens, barefoot and wearing a simple black bodysuit made of some natural fiber. He was short and stocky, less than 5' tall, but built like a Spartan. He stood straight and spread his arms casually - impressive for an unaugmented human in this gravity. "See?" he said. "Real, live human. I don't know what you were expecting, but Lekgolo can't 'puppet a human corpse.'"
Jacobs still looked suspicious, but seemed to relax a little. "Sergeant Jacobs," I said curtly, "Go back to the dropship." He started to open his mouth, but thought better of it after meeting my gaze. He nodded shortly and began marching back to the Phantom. "Private Singh," I called on comms. "Yes Captain?" "I'm sending Jacobs back to the Phantom, I need you to come take his place." "Right away sir," he said.
The kid reached out and tapped the Lekgolo with his toe. They climbed back up his legs and reformed into living power armor. I noticed they did so in two layers. The first group wrapped seamlessly around his body, spiraling around his limbs and torso and flattening themselves out somewhat. To provide equal pressure everywhere, I supposed. The rest formed up on top, twining together like muscle groups to provide strength and structure, lifting the young man up and absorbing him into their own form, supporting his neck but leaving his head uncovered.
I was used to seeing these creatures encased in spiky armor and slaughtering people with their plasma cannons. But here was one living symbiotically with a young human; using their own body to add strength to his small form; making him a part of their own colony so he could live and move in this crushing gravity. And if he was here - they must have been doing the same for generations of his ancestors.
"How many other humans are here?" I asked.
"A few thousand," he said.
I nodded. "And how long have you all been here?"
"All my life," he replied. "My great-great-great…great grandparents, I think, were on the ship that landed here. In 2371." The Lekgolo hummed. "Oh," Jake said, "yeah, there's another 'great' in there."
I raised an eyebrow. Seven or eight generations of humans living here? No wonder this kid looked like he could bench press a Warthog in normal G.
"So who are the others with you?" Jake asked, looking up at the Phantom. "They're not human."
"No they're not," I answered. "They are two different alien species we've recently become allies with. The tall ones are Sanghelli, and the smaller ones are Kig-Yar."
He nodded, taking that in stride. Not surprising I guess - he's grown up with creatures far more alien than them.
"Why hasn't anyone else come to find us before?"
"Honestly? We didn't know you were here," I answered. "We just found out that there might be humans on this planet. It's a very, very long way from Earth. It's only in the last few years we've had ships that could travel this far. I have no idea how your ancestors got here." I paused. "So Jake, is there anyone else around? Any adults?"
"Yeah," he said. "Can you take us to them?" I asked. He hesitated, but then nodded. "Our village is that way." He pointed to the nearby hills. Toward the canyon where the colony ship was. "We live underground. You'd have to crawl through the tunnels on this side, but there's plenty of room to walk once you get in."
I frowned. "Is there another way in?"
"Yeah," he said, "but its a lot further. Up in the hills. About a 15 minute walk."
I looked over at Singh, who had just joined us. He already looked geared up for a hike.
"Ok. Jake, do you mind if some of our allies join us?" He shook his head.
I called the Shipmaster over comms. "We've met the local. He's a young human with a Lekgolo colony. He says his village is up in the hills, and offered to take us there. Would you and your people like to join us?"
"I would," came the reply. "I'll bring two of my warriors, and the Kig-Yar." I commed my people next, asking them to all come down except for Jacobs and Hernandez.
They joined us, and I introduced Jake. There was a chorus of greetings, with attitudes toward the young local ranging from uneasy to fascinated. The Sanghelli stared at him with thinly-veiled amazement, and no small amount of respect.
"Ok," I looked at Jake once everyone was ready. "Show us where to go." He nodded and started walking toward the hills. I followed, with the marines and scientists behind me. The Kig-Yar walked with them, one of them talking to Sam. Shipmaster 'Taham and his warriors brought up the rear.