Chapter Twenty-Two: From the Stars
With a hiss, the lid to the Cryotube slowly opened and a hand touched the edge where a Spartan Warrior with the number 083 on his armor slowly rose, his helmet turning on and scanning the unfamiliar room.
"This is not the UNSC Starbound, Merlin what's our status?" the warrior spoke climbing out of the Cryotube expecting his A.I. to respond but got no reply, "Merlin?"
Looking around the soldier spotted his gear on a nearby table approaching he reached out and stopped noticing that all his weapons had been tampered with, perhaps an upgraded? He then noticed the armor on his arm seemed different too.
Looking around he approached a mirror where he saw his armor had been altered too, but that was impossible. He had been in a Cryotube someone would have to wake him just to get him out, he had no memory of being awoken, only the events leading to the point when he entered the Cryotube.
Hearing a noise, he looked to the table to see a blue crystal pulsing with an unusual light. Approaching the table he picked up the gem that fit in his hand for some odd reason it reminded him of his portable communicator for his A.I. companion Merlin.
Watching the gem crack a ball of blue light escaped flying around him before stopping a few inches from his face, a woman's voice spoke, "Chief Petty Officer Neo, is that you? I...something wrong sir."
"Merlin? Why are you in that form?" Neo asked confused as to why she was not in her humanoid form.
"I feel...I shouldn't feel...something very wrong has happened sir, I have no data on the last...gods I have no idea how many years it's been," Merlin spoke flying around, "but it is you, I...the connection, our link is still intact, I can't see your vitals and status but I...feel them, sir I fear someone must have tampered with my programming!"
"Not just you," Neo spoke approaching his weapons and picking up his Energy Sword which the blades had become two blue crystal-like metals and a handle now extended from the main grip, "my gear, my weapons, it's all be tampered with."
"Sir I have no access to any of my networks, it's like I'm cut off," Merlin spoke both she and Neo looking up when another cannon fire hit the building making small pieces of debris rain down, "are we under attack?!"
"Seems like it," Neo spoke grabbing his weapons attaching his MA5C Assault Rifle and his sword to his back, and holding his M6G Magnum pistol in his hand looking at the strange markings on it, "I see no way to change the ammo."
Pointing his pistol, he gave it a test shot on a nearby wall seeing it was still shooting at it should. Walking down the stairs Faraday looked up to see Neo and Merlin.
"Oh, you're awake," Faraday smiled upon seeing Merlin approach.
"An A.I. are you with the UNSC?" Merlin asked relieved to see another like her.
"I've never heard of those abbreviations before, it is as I suspected when you arrived on my island, you truly are from another world," Faraday spoke.
"Wait...I remember," Merlin spoke moving away, "sir the ship! It was hit while we were entering slipspace, the haul was compromised and we...were lost."
"So, we ended up on a different planet? Is this planet under UNSC authority?" Neo asked hearing another boom and looked to the cameras to see live footage of Connor's group fending off Patrol from getting into the factory.
"Damn! That ship of theirs is going to hit something dangerous!" Faraday growled locking onto the main ship with its cannon.
Approaching the screen Merlin glowed then floated over to Neo, "Sir this is uncharted territory, what should we do? We may be caught in another planet's war."
Studying the map Neo looked around the room seeing a screen listing the Cryotube statue and how many years had passed since they arrived on this island, "has it really been five hundred years?"
"Huh? Oh yes, it happened after the destruction of the Spire," Faraday spoke bringing up an image of a drone footage of the spire destruction so many centuries ago.
"Sir, that pillar destruction giving off some strange readings on this screen, I would hypostasis that this world destruction intersected when our ship was hit going into slipspace, then it must be true, we were pulled into another world, one that must have altered us," Merlin spoke floating towards Neo.
"How would that be possible?" Neo asked seeing Connor on the screen using the Blade spell, "What the-?"
"That there is how," Faraday explained approaching, "in this realm, some of its people can wield magic."
"Magic? What utter nonsense, magic isn't real," Merlin spoke.
"Ok then, explain how you an AI was turned into a Wisp? How the soldier you serve, armor, and gear was transformed while he was frozen? Come up with a rational explanation for these changes," Faraday smiled challenging the former AI to come up with a logical explanation for their situation.
"I...I have no data on this sir," Merlin spoke approaching Neo, "how are we going to get back to the mission?"
Thinking it over Neo looked at the machinery around them, "We don't, I am going to take a guess this world has yet to achieve space travel."
"Only to the moon and back," Faraday spoke watching Neo look at his pistol and then look to the fight outside.
"Who on your side?" Neo asked looking over to Faraday.
"The ones not dressed in heavy black armor, the ruffians seek to use my creations for war, I have no interest in letting my children be used in such a barbaric way," Faraday spoke.
Looking over the skeleton in the corner of the room Neo had a better idea of what happened with Faraday, "Merlin, stay close."
"Yes sir," Merlin spoke following Neo who came down the stairs into the factory where he saw many androids cowering.
"Please remain calm," Huxley spoke looking up when glass windows were smashed in a Patrol grunt came down on a rope and pointed his rifle.
"Don't anyone move!" the Patrol spoke not seeing Neo who came from the side and with a quick movement of his hands chopped and disarmed the soldier, slamming his knee into his gut before throwing him over his shoulder and slamming him on the ground.
"Watch who you're pointing that at," Neo spoke wrapping his arm around the grunt's neck and twisted, snapping his neck, and looked up to see more patrol rushing towards the doors.
With one pistol in one hand, he drew his Energy Sword Neo rolled out of the doors and while crotched fired and shot down several grunts, using his sword to slice another Patrol Guard and then with another slice taking off one head.
"On your right!" Merlin warned seeing Neo roll and pull out his rifle and shooting down another grunt that tried to sneak up.
On the street of tomorrow, Connor and the others stayed behind the wall with Seth and Connor peeking out to fire their pistol at the Patrol trying to enter the town.
At the dock, the Patrol swarmed the beach, and exiting the warship a cape Patrol Captain exited, "What's the status?"
"We've located the Criminal Terrorist group sir," a Patrol Solider saluted, "all attempts to report our finding to Albion have failed, there is a signal jammer blocking our calls."
"Breach the gates and capture the heroes, Lord Tirich wants them brought in alive," the captain ordered glaring at the front gates.
"We're sitting ducks here!" Kyler yelled peeking out looking at the ship then looked to Tercero and smirked.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Tercero asked with a raised brow.
"If I throw you over the wall think you can use that new grappling and get on that ship to take out them cannons?" Kyler asked watching Tercero take a quick peek, ducking back when gunfire hit the wall.
"Si, I can do it," Tercero nodded holding out his hand.
"Then go get 'em!" Kyler yelled grabbing Tercero's arm and with a powerful throw he tossed the assassin in the air who curled up into a ball and spun over the Patrol who barricaded the ticket booth area and spread midair over them using his Phantom Blade to launch his grappling hook onto one of their ship masts and swung around tackling a Patrol who gotten onto their ship and plunged his Hidden Blade into their throat.
Looking back Jaya saw soldiers had snuck around and was heading towards the factory entrance, "NO!"
Running over Jaya came to a halt when a green-armored masked warrior disarmed the two soldiers chopping one in the throat then pulling out his pistol to headshot one before throwing another to the group and stabbing his sword down.
Looking up the soldier slowly removed his sword from the enemy's body before walking towards the group putting away his pistol and Energy Sword he removed his assault rifle from his back and laid it on his shoulder.
"I'll clear the way," Neo spoke walking past Jaya who looked back to see him approaching the others who were shocked to see the new figure stand at the gate.
"Sir look!" a Patrol Solider pointed when they saw Neo approach.
"Who the hell is that?" the captain spoke not aware high above was Tercero on their sails who dropped down using his hidden blades to kill both the captain and the soldier he was speaking to.
Running out with such fast speed Neo skidded across the ground firing multiple rounds of his rifle at every Patrol Solider, hopping over a barricade to kick another before shooting some more.
"Bloody hell!" Kyler remarked watching the new hero take out the patrol with such ease, "Who is this guy?!"
Switching weapons Neo used his sword to slice and attack the enemies in close hand-to-hand combat almost like he was on the front lines of a battlefield, flying around Merlin would get in the faces of Patrol this distraction allowing Neo to swiftly take out the enemy.
"He is good! That must be 'the soldier' Gabriel mentioned!" Connor spoke not wanting this new guy to show them up and ran out locking swords with another enemy.
"ATTACK!" Kyler yelled running out with the others who began to fight alongside Neo.
Smashing his hammer down on a Patrol skull Kyler grabbed another by the face slamming them on the ground. Roscoe then jumped from Kyler's back tackling a patrol member into a ticket booth where the soldier's cries could be heard and blood began to splatter across the white wall.
Locking blades Seth slammed his knee into a patrol using his free hand to pull out his pistol to take several shots at others who approached watching Tercero run onto the roof of a ticket booth and jump down to plunge his hidden blade into another enemy.
Slammed into a wall Jaya dodged a sword swing spinning her staff and stabbing it down on the patrol foot making him cry out before smashing him in the face with a potion bottle making him stumble back before trusting her staff through his neck.
With their backs to one another Connor and Neo used their firearms to take out more soldiers, stopping for a moment when the attack ended.
With weapons still drawn, Connor looked around to see Roscoe hop out of the ticket booth licking blood from around his mouth and sniffing, "It's over."
"That could have ended badly," Seth spoke approaching the others who looked at Neo, "thank you."
Remaining silent Neo looked up to Merlin who flew over, "Sir, we should return to the Professor so we can get a better understanding of what happening."
"Let's move," Neo spoke heading through the gates with Connor's group all looking confused.
"Did that Wisp just talk?" Kyler asked looking back to the others.
"You guys go on ahead, I am going to search the ship for that maldición bug," Tercero spoke splitting from the group.
Inside Faraday lab, the group was surprised to see Gabriel waiting for them, "ah I see you've met the Solider."
"Who are you?" Neo asked looking over when the others followed.
"Gabriel? Good, you can explain to us what is up with this guy's armor? He dressed like he was from space or something," Seth spoke seeing Gabriel smile.
"Because he is, welcome to Albion, Neo," Gabriel spoke seeing the soldier cross his arms.
"So, are you the one who summoned us to this world?" Merlin asked.
"No, I had no power in how you both arrived here; however, your arrival does not surprise me, considering what is happening," Gabriel explained.
"What's the situation?" Neo asked seeing Farday bring up all the events in Albion.
"A fight for this world, a threat from a realm called the Void has come to our world, it threatens to spread its Corruption across our world and consume the light of every living thing," Gabriel explained using his magic to create a mirage of the Vexator.
"Oh, my stars, I have no data on these creatures, their biology makes no sense, how can it have wooden boards and strings coming from its body?" Merlin asked.
"What planet are you two from? There is no logic to magic," Kyler spoke crossing his arms
"Well Chief Petty Officer Neo 083 is originally from the Planet Eridanus II, he now serves the UNSC to protect humanity and ensure the survival of the human species during the war," Merlin spoke seeing the confused look on the group's faces.
"Wait a damn bloody minute! Are you telling me this guy is from space?!" Seth asked looking at Gabriel.
"Who from space?" Tercero asked entering the room and tossing the tracking device on the table.
"Do you all recall what I told you? That during the age of the Old Kingdom, a rift to our world was open, from it two warriors emerged, one in Albion the other in LeDorada?" Gabriel asked.
"Yeah, one was an assassin who created the brotherhood," Connor spoke seeing Gabriel nod to Faraday who brought up ancient paintings and murals of a hero who was dressed in armor similar to the one Neo wore.
"The other, was a soldier from the stars, he was called Hal, and using mysterious weapons he protected the people of Albion, he too like many heroes before him died with the passage of time," Gabriel spoke.
"That armor, that's Mjolnir Powered Assault Armor!" Merlin spoke examining the image on the hologram, "How old is this?"
"Experts date this image to be roughly a thousand or so years," Faraday spoke watching Neo approach the image.
"He never returned home?" Neo asked studying the murals.
"No, their technology like ours today isn't as advanced as the amazing technology you're familiar with," Gabriel explained.
"So, wait, this guy really is a soldier from space?!" Kyler asked looking at Neo, "bloody badass mate!"
"So, these creatures from this void," Neo spoke placing his rifle on his shoulder and looked to Gabriel, "they as dangerous as you claim?"
"Very," Gabriel spoke watching Neo attach his rifle to his back before flicking two switches on his helmet, and with a hiss, he slowly removed it from his head.
Setting his helmet on the table Neo revealed himself to be a dark red hair man with a military cut hairstyle, and tan skin, he also had scars on his right cheek, across the bridge of his nose, near the end of his left eyebrow, and one on his right side of his head where the hair line starts.
Blinking purple eyes and having a light five o'clock shadow, he looked to the group of heroes, "You're the last line of defense for this world?"
"The last and best mate!" Kyler smirked with confidence.
"Lord Tirich is our enemy, Connor here is the rightful heir to our kingdom's seat of power, we fight so we can knock that corrupted bastard off the throne and bring peace again to our home," Seth explained.
"You're the prince?" Neo asked seeing Connor scratch the back of his head.
"Yeah, I am, I keep forgetting that," Connor spoke seeing Neo put his helmet on before saluting.
"Chief Petty Officer Neo-083 at your service sir," Neo spoke like a true soldier.
"Uh at ease soldier?" Connor spoke looking to Farday who nodded to Huxley who approached the tracking device and then smashed it.
"Huxley please locate a tablet, I'd like to give Neo here some research material he can use to catch up to this world," Faraday spoke.
"Of course, Professor," Huxley spoke fetching a tablet.
A.N. Another game makes its crossover, OG Fable 2 Fans will remember you could get Halo armor. This hero was created by this idea that a Spartan Solider could be pulled from his universe among the stars to the world of magic in Fable.
You can find Neo's full design on my Newground account along with his AI Merlin,