Chapter 1
Nothing but silence in the vast void of nothing. No. There was something in the void. A Spark of life so faint that it went unnoticed. Then, the void shook as the spark grew with new vigor, a conscience that was left to wander aimlessly in the nothing. That is, until it found itself drawn to this void and slowly awakened after a long period of time of being nothing but star dust among the cosmos. Now, this spark of life is aware of its surroundings.
"What…what's going on?"
The spark found that it had no body, no way of knowing where they were, and no clue why.
They huffed in annoyance, "Wasn't there supposed to be eternal peace or something? I just wanna sleep, dammit!" They yelled out to the void, but nothing happened or responded.
Once again annoyed, they yelled out louder, "Alright! I'm gonna beat up whoever put here! Where the hell am I?!"
This time, something did respond without words. Only images of alien civilizations, peace, and progress were shown, but war and death were shown next. Another set of images and visions showed an experiment—one that explained why they were here. It showed the aliens reaching not across galaxies but across dimensions to another universe. Then, the images revealed what the spark recognized instantly.
"That's…that's my street, my home."
The images continued, showing the inside of the spark's home. There were a good dozen people inside. Everyone was wearing black, some in formal wear and others in more stylish attire. Then, it showed what the spark feared—a picture of themselves and a closed casket of fine brown polished wood.
"This is a wake…of me."
Images go on to change to a space-like environment. There was a small glow of something wisping about, small yet bright. Then, the wisp was suddenly pulled by an invisible force. It didn't panic, only going along with the ride.
"Yeah, that was probably me. Acting like an idiot, go figure."
The wisp was brought to the aliens' laboratory and put into a type of machine that acted as a container attached to a more giant machine. The aliens were similar to humans but also different all the same. They flicked their fingers about, making calculations and doing various other things scientists do. It then showed the wisp being absorbed into some kind of machine that then showed the wisp's information, biology, mapping of the brain, nerves, and other things related to the wisp's being.
Somehow, the spark knew and understood that they had their conscience snatched and converted to digital form.
"Yup. That's some wild shit right there. Mmhm."
Then, it showed images of the war against disgusting beings that absorb all living organics, one after the other. Humans are also being wiped out by these aliens. It showed the rest of the history in a short summary of what happened when all else failed to work against the disgusting monsters 'devouring' everything. The final gamble of the aliens was shown, and immediately, the spark understood somewhat of where and what was going on.
"You've got to be kidding me."
They released a sigh, "So I died, was pulled into the Halo universe. Forerunners turned me into a digital being, and now I'm just stuck in whatever this is." They kept silent for a time, then "HOW DOES THAT MAKE ANY FUCKING SENSE?!"
They ranted on about various things that were going nowhere. After a while, they finally calmed down. "If I'm an A.I. or digital lifeform, guess that's the right term. Then I should be able to…" They reached out, trying to command whatever they were in. Then, feeling something, they interacted with what felt like a network, at least to the spark they just knew.
There was a burst of information data pathways leading out of this purgatory. They went out and found themselves in the same lab shown in the images. They could feel the room alive with energy, and the equipment was the same as visions.
"Guess they wanted to survive the fire of halos somehow. I guess it didn't work out if I'm still here. Must mean they didn't have enough time to finish their project."
Looking through all the data, they found an artificial body.
"Wait, is this some kind of Terminator android? It has some crazy specs if I'm understanding this correctly."
From what they could tell, it was made of the same technology as all other forerunner tech. Only this was a walking one-man army. Remembering all they knew from their life before of halo lore. This thing is just as strong, maybe even stronger than Master Chief with his suit. It can morph into any shape equal in mass, meaning changing appearances is a breeze. Built-in weapons, melee, ranged weaponry, and a built-in energy barrier. The body had other features, but overall, the Spark was excited.
"A prototype, huh? I wonder if I can use this as a body?"
Scanning the information they acquired, instantly knowing they could, and overall rather have a body than not.
The body itself had a unique design, like any other forerunner technology. The frame is tall and lean, with the glow of white running between the metal etches. The eyes are sharp, giving the intensity of a supernova, even when the eyes are dead for now. Overall, the body gives off the aura of a being embodied in might and grace, quoting what the Spark would say, 'Badassery at its finest.'
"Time to take you for a test drive."
After what they could only describe as 'weird' when entering the body, they slowly raised both hands and wiggled their fingers. Then they rolled their shoulders. Then they raised a knee and swung again with the other. They did other physical exercises to see that motor function and control worked fine. It didn't feel all that different from having their old body, but it did feel better, stronger even. The artificial body had the senses an organic body would have. Only more fine-tuned.
"Now let's see about those weapons." the Spark said aloud as they raised an arm.
With a simple thought, the arm had a blade of metal lined with energy at its edge that looked deadly.
Looking at it with their blank face, which started to form into a human one, they expressed awe: "Now that's badass." As they admired the weapon, their artificial body slowly changed. The forerunner metal and tech patterns have now changed to normal-looking light brown skin. Eyes that glowed blue turned to a shade of amber that held intensity within. Short black hair that waved a bit. The body had morphed to resemble the Spark's past form. The form blended with armor, making it look like it was equipped with flexible armor.
They noticed the change when they saw their metal skin change down to the elbow before the bladed weapon. Looking at the rest of their physic, they laughed, "Cool. Looks like that chameleon function isn't just for looks." Touching a table with their hand, "It feels like I have actual skin! This is incredible!"
Before, the metal skin felt cold and hard, but now the texture changed to mimic how a human sense would be. Clenching a hand to a fist while thinking, a thought came to mind. "I wonder if I can punch a Promethean in one shot. Well, only one way to find out."
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Exploring the facility was exciting and heart-thumping if the Spark still had an actual heart.
"Man, I knew I should've read more Halo lore. Here I am, in an alien facility from my favorite video game. Wandering like an idiot…again. I really need to stop doing that. Pretty sure that's what got me killed." Thinking this, they formed a gun in one arm, and the energy shield was activated by instinctive thought. Moving further into the facility, ready to tackle whatever may come their way.
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Elsewhere in the facility, a forerunner AI is tasking sentinels with various errands, such as maintenance and patrolling. Suddenly, they jerk their round form when they detect something off. "What is that?"
Floating to where the anomaly was detected, the AI signals for sentinels to investigate and assess the possible threat. "Let's see what you are." Their single eye glows in anticipation.
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"Oooh, an armory." They looked wonderfully at the rack of weapons and gear in the room, which they had found randomly. Minutes before, a door opened automatically nearby when walking down a corridor, and the Spark pointed its weapon, ready to shoot. Only to lower it just a bit when nothing happened, they walked into the room and instantly began to scan it, then each weapon and piece of gear inside.
After what felt like 10 minutes, "No heavy weapons? Guess it only has the standard gear here." They started to access a terminal in the room, looking for more information. "Okay, that's the armory. There's the laboratory I was at and some kind of control room not too far away. Now, where's the way out here? I could use a change of scenery." Looking through more information, the Spark hadn't noticed the sentinels coming to the doorway and observed their actions.
"Curious, the deactivated prototype from lab 3 is walking about and accessing a terminal? Curious indeed." The Monitor thought.
After getting what the Spark needed, they willed a command for a couple of weapons and gear, such as grenades, armor modules, ammo, and one of each weapon, from assault rifle to pistol equivalent to fly from their weapon racks to being holstered on the Spark's android body, like magnets.
"Never hurts to have more firepower."
Taking another look around, they decide they have what they need and walk out of the room and down the corridor. The sentinels observing nearby go unnoticed, following discreetly.
Walking down the corridor, they eventually find themselves at a fork. Without considering which way to go, they went left.
After a couple of turns, the Spark found a large door. Interacting with the nearby terminal, the large door opened. What was found made the Spark's face smile.
It was the control room.
Looking in awe at how complex the systems were, the Spark had their mouth gaping, and then it turned into a gleeful smile. Walking up to the panel, they lifted a hand to the controls, and their android body stood completely still. Meanwhile, their body was standing still like a statue. The Spark dived into the forerunner systems, surfing through all the data they could to get a clue as to where and when they were in the universe specifically.
"Huh. So, if this data is accurate, I'm in an isolated facility on a planet hidden in a nebula. It's basically one of the best hideaways you could have if you don't want to be disturbed." The Spark thought aloud.
They were correct. The facility was an isolated research station for experiments on various tasks before the halo rings were fired. No information about the facility exists anywhere else, so people infected by the flood wouldn't leak information about it.
"So the forerunners here got wiped out as they worked on securing everything here. Man, that sucks. Wait. It's a list of forerunner tasks. Hmm, maintenance of the facility and security to be upheld by…monitor...uh oh." The Spark quickly scanned their surroundings and picked up what they feared. It was a couple of sentinels following from afar, with a floating metal soccer ball not far behind them.
"Oh great. Well, let's hope they won't pull a 343 on me. That would suck."
They returned to the android after they finished scooping up any data left to copy. They turned around to where their secret observers were. "Okay, I know you're over there spying on me. Come on out, and let's talk."
There was silence for a few long moments. Then, two sentinels came side by through the large doorway to set themselves on each side of the opening. The metal soccer ball came next, with more sentinels trailing behind that station nearby at the walls on the other side of the doorway. The monitor had come and floated a few feet from the android body.
The monitor spoke in a gentle, feminine voice, "Hello. I am Lumina, the caretaker of this facility. If you do not mind, may I ask who you are? I do not remember another AI station at this facility or any on standby."
The digital being took a moment to contemplate and answered, "Well, I'm not exactly AI per se."
Lumina tilted slightly to their side, "Oh? Please explain."
Nodding, "I'm a-well, I used to be a human that got their soul or energy snatched from one universe to this one. I think I was somehow digitized, and now, after sleeping for who knows how long, I woke up."
Lumina bobbed, "Hmm, yes. There is a room that experimented on ways to digitize oneself before the rings were sadly fired. I believe it was noted that another experiment adjacent to the digitized experiment was to see how beings from other planes of existence would react to being converted. The project wasn't very successful until you." she finished explaining.
"Wait, then why wasn't I fully conscious back then if the experiment was a success?"
Lumina swayed a bit, "Well, it was a side effect of being digitized. The notes on the experiment suggested that the conversion had put you in a hibernation state. Simply put, you were comatose till the process of your conscious could settle itself on the new state of being."
"Huh. Is that why no other forerunner tried the process on themselves, because of the fear of not waking up from being digitized?"
Lumina bobbed again, "Yes. Though it may have been better to digitize themselves, they were resolute in humanity taking up their legacy. And since you are also of humanity, even in your state, you are welcome to prove you are ready to take up their legacy. Though I forgot to ask, what is your name, if you remember, don't you?"
That took the Spark by surprise, but now that they think about it, they say, "Weird, I know it, but it feels far away." Taking a couple of moments to concentrate on their name, they physically closed their android eyes and dug deep into their being.
They could clearly tell what they could do, how every bit of themselves worked somewhat, and why they could exist. But their original name escapes them by a thread. A thread that they follow deeper into themselves. Eventually, finding that they were in a memory from a long time ago.
There was a playground in front of them, kids playing, birds chirping, and the wind blowing lightly. "Hey monkey, whatcha drawing?" A woman's voice asked.
Spark immediately recognized this voice and cheerfully said, "Hey, mom. I'm working on my drawing skills. Ms. Goji said I could be famous if I'm great at drawing."
This brought a smile to their mother's face, "Oh, that's awesome. So, what drawing are you practicing with?"
"A robot in space, flying and blasting bad guys. I'm almost done."
Looking at the drawing, it was half decent while some of it was still stick figure-like. The mother pets their child's head, "It looks amazing. Keep on working on your skills, and you can become anything you want." Then, as the Spark set aside their drawing to get up from the bench, they were whisked up by their mother and started laughing, and it tickled.
"My boy's name plastered across the world, the best artist of the world, L…" Then the memory faded as the mother said the Spark's name, barely catching the first part of it but not the last name.
"Do you remember your name?" Lumina asked.
The Spark nodded, "Yeah. Took a minute, but I remember."
"Great! So, who are you?" Lumina seemed excited from the way they moved about.
They looked at their hands and remembered the warmth they felt, clenching and then unclenching them. They smiled at Lumina and replied, "My name is Lucas. And this is my second chance."
[A/N: Sup, for those that are reading this around 6/23/2024, you may have noticed the number of stories has increased from 1 on my profile to about 4, maybe 5 if I decide to make a Terminator story inspired by joshuajacobson95 on Fanfiction. Anyway, it's because those stories were already worked on, and I finished up a few of them and then said, 'Imma post these.'
I might not be able to update them every month, but I will try with the ones I like writing. This would consist of: It's Saiyan Time!, A Dream Come True, and this story you've just finished reading.
This has been great. I hope you like the stories. If not, go and find ones you can enjoy. This is me just having fun writing random ass ideas I have. Jaeger out, suckas!