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Shadows of Archon by Wado
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Shadows of Archon (part 1) - Destiny's Blade
Date: 7 August 2002, 5:08 pm
I know you think this is just like before. Who are we to believe any different? Day in and day out the cycle continues. We find ourselves alone, afraid of shadows -- Frightened by those things that go bump in the endless night. So we find comfort in things. We find peace in our own insanity. Why in all humanity did we ever, ever come here?
Just a thought to all you Terrans out there.
Next up on CBN, the Covenant Broadcasting Network, an oldie but a goodie, but first a message from GEO-Comfort.
Can't get a good night's sleep? Back bothering you? Well no more. Announcing the new GEO-Comfort 2500 packed-sleep system. Yes, enjoy the comfort of GEO-thermal energy and get 6 hours of sleep in just 1 hour. Imagine the savings. Yes, you heard me right -- that's real GEO-thermal energy we're talking about. Order now. Supplies limited. Offer not valid in the quarantined zone. May cause extreme burns in 20% of test subjects.
Now a special message to all you SLEEPERS out there; WAKE UP in a new GEO-Comfort today. Don't REACH for those pain killers any more.
As promised, here's another classic by Commander Thom and those whacky grunts.
"Kill the Spartan, kill the Spartan. With my sword and cloaking shield, I will kill the Spartan, kill the Spartan..."
--------------
There's nothing like a little entertainment laced with propaganda to get you through another cold and boring night at the front. Such is the life at CLIS-35, a frontier Covenant listening station on the out skirts of the quarantined zone. At one time this rock in space was a staging area for a great Covenant Armada, but now it is just an early warning station; one of 48 stations built around the quarantined zone. On the side of CLIS-35 in the place of a name, in big letters, is the word Expendable.
Inside CLIS-35 sits a slender Covenant Elite. This is Commander Thom. Yes the one and the same, famous hero to the Covenant. He and his whacky grunts would tour military bases and put on quite a show. Somewhere along the way, however, he goofed up and got canned, err... promoted to a nice desk job in the middle of nowhere that is. Might have been that thing with the High Commander's daughter, who knows, there were so many.
Thom looks around his office, "Ga! I'm so bored. Isn't there anything to do around here? Hey, sub-commander anything unusual in today's reports?"
In walks the sub-commander; a Covenant grunt dressed in the colors normally reserved only for Elites. Around his identification symbol are the distinguished stars of valor, honor, and a dozen other medals. In a deep and sincere voice the sub-commander says, "Commander, as usual there's nothing unusual to report. Here are today's logs, and might I remind the commander that it is not necessary to yell down the hall, we have communicators - sir."
"Wipe that smile off your face, sub-commander Zax. Dismissed."
Just as sub-commander Zax turns to leave, he is stopped by Commander Thom, "Zax, hold on, close the door. At ease sub-commander. You know Zax, in the year that I've been your commander, you've never have told me why you volunteered for duty out here. I know we've discussed this before and it's none of my business and all, but look Zax, I'm a screw-up as is most everyone stationed out here. You're not, and it's not your fault you weren't born an elite. It's just not fair that command would hold something like that against you."
"May I speak candidly sir?"
"Yes."
Zax looks out a large window and gazes upon the stars, "Thom, if you order me to tell you I will, otherwise, it's none of your business. (sigh) It's nice..."
"What's nice?"
"The stars. I've almost forgotten what it is like to just look at the stars; I'm stuck looking at monitors and scanner displays all day."
Thom looks out the window, "What are those crews doing out there?"
Zax replies, "Just doing a physical check of the scanner array. The full diagnostics did not find anything wrong."
"Did something happen?"
"No just a malfunction earlier in the day. It's in the logs. Nothing to worry about, it seems the system has corrected itself."
Thom looks over the logs, "Sub-commander, why was I not notified, this log is from over 4 hours ago?"
"Commander sir, nothing that small could move so fast and it only showed up on our peripheral scanners. It must be a ghost image."
"Malfunctions don't show up on peripheral scanners from 6 different listening stations. Sub-commander, bring us to alert level 3."
"Yes sir."
Thom knows in the back of his mind that this is probably nothing. All the listening stations share communications with each other, often before when a malfunction has hit one station, a few others suffer the same. Hey, but anything to break up another boring day.
In the command center, as Sub-commander Zax goes through the motions, 5th class science officer grunt Noc reports, "Sub-commander, alert level 3 in effect. Sir, is the commander at it again?"
Zax replies, "Yes, he's at it again. Now get moving science officer."
Science officer Noc scratches his head as an access denied message appears. "Sub-commander, on a hunch I checked the archives for anything that might match what we saw earlier today and I got a match, but I don't have the security clearance to see it."
Neither does the Sub-commander have access rights to these archives. They call upon Commander Thom. The commander never has had to use the security clearance only granted to one of his rank. He brings out a special set of encoders from inside his personal locked vault and proceeds to a secured viewing room.
Inside the secured room, Thom sits alone. The monitor reads access granted.
-----
I could go on to describe in detail all the events locked away in the archives but even Thom is not that bored. The summary of the story goes something like this:
Three years ago, shortly after the destruction of the great Armada near Halo, a small ship was detected moving through jump space at speeds faster than anything the Covenant have. It was believed to be forerunner technology. Its course was away from Halo. It quickly left sensor range and was never see again -- At least so far as these archives say.
Within one month after the sighting of the mysterious ship, the enemy called the flood started infesting ships and colonies in the area that is now known as the quarantined zone.
Today's sighting was of a ship with a similar propulsion signature as the ship seen three years ago, but not exactly the same. This one was faster and smaller.
The last critical piece of information is that today's ship wasn't heading out of the quarantined zone, it was heading into it.
-----
Thom leaves the secured room. "Sub-commander, ready our scout ship. We are going into the quarantined zone. Here's the mission briefing. We leave in one hour."
Sub-commander Zax looks at the mission briefing cover - There in big red letters is written: Operation Destiny's Blade.
-- Next, The Return --
Shadows of Archon (part 2) - The Return
Date: 9 August 2002, 9:52 am
Attention all you cosmic cats, we've got a no fly zone warning. Word is out that flood activity is high, oh my.
This just in... would you believe it? We've got a Commander Thom sighting in the forbidden zone. Best of luck to you commander from all of us at CBN, the Covenant Broadcasting Network.
Now a special message to all you movers and groovers, don't just stand there spinning your thrusters, ARCHON down to your local Rapid Rapter's Repair and REACH for the stars.
--------------
[Pan from the stars into a small lollipop-shaped ship as it speeds into the forbidden zone, a.k.a. the quarantined zone. On the side of the ship are the words Seeker 157.]
Aboard the Covenant scout ship Seeker 157, Commander Thom, a tall slender Elite, and his second in command, the short distinguished looking grunt, Sub-commander Zax, go over the mission plans.
Zax speaks, "Commander, I don't understand why the mission is to go to the Seven Drunks tavern?" What is this Seven Drunks tavern anyway?"
"That's only the beginning of the mission, sub-commander. From there I'm sure the location of Destiny's Blade will be revealed to us. And whatever you call Seven Drunks, it ain't a tavern, that's for sure."
[Fade to black.]
In some places you always feel welcome, no matter how long you've been away. Sweet aroma of home cooking, sunny days lying on the beach. Playing ball on a hot summer night. That first drink of cool refreshing water. Aaahh, sweet!
Now if you could turn that image around, picture just the opposite, you might just be able to imagine the hole called Seven Drunks and One Ugly Lady, or just Seven Drunks for short. The air burns the eyes and the drinks are made from reprocessed waste materials. Dirt floors, dirty glasses, and by far the most popular hangout in sector 13, smack in middle of the mining colonies in the forbidden zone.
On this particular day two unusual guests enter the Seven Drunks. It's Commander Thom and Sub-commander Zax. The music doesn't stop; no one even gives them a second glance.
A large two-headed and six-armed neo-troll serves the drinks. His right head speaks, "What will you have commander?"
Commander Thom replies, "Is the Lady in barkeep?"
The barkeep's left head speaks, "The Lady don't see nobody these days, 'cept those itching for a horrible death."
"Tell her I've got a blade to pick with destiny. She'll see me alright."
The barkeep's right head, "Wait here please, we'll be back shortly."
Commander Thom looks at his second, "Relax, sub-commander Zax. Their bark may be loud and they bite really hard too, but deep down, they're just a bunch of cold-blooded killers."
"Commander, your humor is tactically unwise. I recommend we call in a squad to disperse this crowd."
"Come on sub-commander, what could possible hap..."
Just then, a large armored brute with shields on his arms and a fuel-rod cannon at his side interrupts, "Why if it isn't that cheater Commander Thom."
Thom replies, "Gunter the Hunter. Why I was just about to come look you up, for old time sake. Gunter, what is all this rambling about cheating?"
Gunter says, "Always so cocky, Thom, only this time you only got one whacky grunt to protect you. Yes you did cheat me out of a chest full of Gundarian chrystals."
"Gunter you old sore loser, I won those fair and square. How could I have cheated, you picked the game and the place and even the rules."
"Yes, I thought it impossible that you could have cheated until after you left and I realized my prize female slave was gone. She must have rigged the game for you -- And now, it's pay back time."
Flash, boom! Phew, phew, boom!
Two ugly looking dudes fall to the ground dead, needlers in their hands. Sub-commander Zax holds a smoking plasma rifle in one hand and a glowing plasma pistol in the other.
Thom says, "Nice work Zax. Now Gunter what am I to do with you? Snipers of all things - this really hurts my feelings."
Gunter in a much more timid voice, "Thom, can't we talk this over, for old time sake?"
"Perhaps, but then again maybe I ought to shove my energy sword up your..."
Thom is interrupted by the barkeep's right head, "Commander Thom, the Lady will see you now."
Barkeep's left head, "Run along Gunter, you have errands to run for the Lady, don't you?"
Gunter runs out the door without even looking back.
Thom and Zax are led into a dimly lit back room. In the room there can be seen a large glowing orb sitting on the center of a small round table. To the far side of the table levitates the Lady cloaked behind veils. The Lady is a Nomdian, a brain eater. A mysterious alien race with tentacles for lips, dark-green skin, and powerful mental powers, they are outlawed in all civilized areas of the Covenant; but here in the forbidden zone the Lady lives.
The Lady speaks from a voice inside the head, "Commander Thom my sweet, come closer, my eyes are old and I can't see you very well. Yes, come closer, closer. Tell the Lady what brings you here after all these years."
Thom walks closer and sits next to the Lady. Her tentacles reach out towards his head as she looks at him. Thom speaks, "My Lady, this is my second, Sub-commander Zax - a finer Covenant you will not find. I have come here because of what you spoke of the last time I was here. You foresaw the coming of the flood and then you spoke of the return of another. You called it Destiny's Blade. What do see now?"
As the Lady gazes into the crystal orb, her tentacles caress it; white lightning sparks between her tentacles and the orb. "Spirits rise, spirits rise, show the Lady what is devised... They come... Aaaaarrrrr! Ship be fast, ship be nimble, of the old ones it resemble. At Reach it is, but it is his. Beware of the sleeper. Now the spirits go deeper. You seek Destiny's Blade, nay -- Not a blade but a long sword, slayer of discord."
As she slouches over the table, the Lady whispers, "Leave now, I must rest."
Outside the Seven Drunks on their way back to their ship, Thom and Zax discuss the plan. Zax says, "Commander, I don't get it, Destiny's Blade is a ship? It all seems so incomplete -- sir."
Thom replies, "That's because I'm making it up as we go along. Sub-commander, the ship is at Reach. Let's go get it."
"Sir, Reach is flood invested territory in the middle of the quarantined zone. Besides, even if we were to evade the flood, there's still those pesky Terrans around."
Thom, not paying much attention to Zax replies, "Think of how great it would be. We go in there and capture that ship. What an adventure that could be. Besides, what do you think high command would do if we brought them a working forerunner ship? Or just forget high command, we could take the ship for ourselves; no other ship could catch us. We could be space pirates or..."
As Thom continues to talk to himself, Zax wonders why Reach of all places, why must he return there? He reflects back to Reach and events of three years ago...
-----
It was a mighty Covenant armada -- the Lord's Hammer a mighty cruiser. From the Lord's Hammer descends the 7th Legionnaires, a finer group of elites and grunts you could not find. The mighty 7th has never known defeat in battle, but this would be the last 7th. Having been rebuilt five times prior, the 7th had a history of strange losses. The last 7th disappeared generations ago when their transport ships mysteriously disappeared. No sign was ever found of them or of their transport ships. The curse of the 7th they called it.
That day their drop ships were to land near the devastated Terran colony at Reach; secure the area for the big shot Covenant scientists that somehow got themselves trapped there by a bunch of Terran snipers. The events from that point on moved fast and furiously.
News arrived that the great armada had been destroyed. How could this be? Then the communications poured in, first horrid stories of strange creatures that animate the dead, followed by equally unbelievable accounts of the destruction of the sacred forerunner wonder called Halo.
Lastly, in the chaos, it was reported that the location of the Terran home world had been discovered. Several of the Covenant capital ships including the Lord's Hammer had been at Reach when the rest of the armada was destroyed; in an insane rage they flew off to destroy the Terran home world, to seek revenge for their fallen comrades. These ships were never heard from again.
Zax remembers looking out the drop ship's aft gunner viewer - the last time he ever saw the Lord's Hammer. The last day he ever saw his wife.
-----
Thom looks at Zax, "Sub-commander, did you hear anything I've been saying?"
Zax replies, "Yes sir!"
As the two board their scout ship, Seeker 157, Thom looks back, "I've had many a wild times here. Kind of makes me feel warm and fuzzy all over. Then again, I think there's several bounties on my head. Let's get the heck out of here sub-commander."
[The ship takes off to the stars.]
-- Next, Out of Reach --
Shadows of Archon (part 3) - Out of Reach
Date: 10 August 2002, 8:21 pm
This just in, the results of our listener poll: More stuff less fluff.
Well we're having an action reaction here at CBN, the Covenant Broadcasting Network. Stay tuned for a special report from inside the forbidden zone...
--------------
Inside their Covenant scout ship, Seeker 157, the crew listens to CBN for the latest on flood activity. Commander Thom doodles on a writing pad, pictures of a pirate elite with a patch over one eye. Sub-commander Zax relaxes to the music of the Covenant Angelic Quartet.
The lights dim red and a mechanical voice on the loud speakers says, "Alert level 1, incoming fire!" The ship shakes and accelerates.
Commander Thom braces in his chair, "Nav status."
Navigator replies, "Seeker detects incoming missiles and has entered evasive maneuvers. Point defense weapons firing."
Thom, "Scan status."
Science officer replies, "Cloaked sentinels, at least three, 30,000 k in 2, 1, mark. 24 type-3 missiles impact in 10. Signatures all match, commander they're ours -- friendly fire."
Thom, "Com status."
Communications officer replies, "Nothing. They don't respond to our security codes."
Navigator, "Commander, Seeker set course for asteroid field, gives us a 3 percent survival probability."
Science officer, "Six through counter measures, impact in 5, 4. What the...? Ship at point blank, signature seeker. Incoming missiles now tracking second seeker. Impact, second seeker destroyed."
Thom, "Override, code 86, shut down the engines, shut down everything now!"
[Lights go out, everything goes dead.]
Seeker 157 drifts in space, all crew are now suited up in self-contained breathing skins. The crew huddles together, the only light is from their dimly glowing headgear.
Commander Thom whispers, "Science officer Noc, give us your report."
Noc speaks, "The cloaked sentinels matched stuff we had 30 years ago, same goes for the type 3 missiles. These things aren't cheap but could have been acquired through the secret market. The part that makes no sense to me is the other seeker that appeared, maybe it came out of cloak but I swear it wasn't there cloaked or not before it suddenly appeared. Now get this, its signature matched us."
Thom with a concerned look on his face says, "What do you mean its signature matched us?"
Noc replies, "It wasn't just a second seeker, in all regards it was an exact match to us -- sir."
Sub-commander Zax interjects, "It must have been sensor feedback or a ghost image. Recheck your figures Noc."
Noc says, "Sir with all due respect, I've checked the figures a dozen times and always get the same readings."
Thom speaks, "I think Noc might be right, Zax - I've never heard of missiles tracking a ghost image over a real ship. Nevertheless, we can't stay out here like this forever. Any suggestions, Zax?"
Zax replies, "Yes commander. If those sentinels are 30 years old, maybe their sensor equipment is also. We've pretty much drifted to the asteroid field, if we power-up the cloaking field and move really slowly, I think we might be able to sneak by them and get to Reach."
Thom, "Let's do it."
[Fade to black.]
As Seeker 157 approaches Reach, the crew gazes out an observatory window at the spectacular sight that beholds them. From space the planet Reach looks dark and dead, however, through the devastation move enormous electrical clouds the size of continents. Tendrils of energy skip about like dancing lights inside an anti-matter reactor.
Commander Thom speaks to the crew. "Here we arrive at the end of the line. Below, somewhere in all the ruin are the forerunners. Most likely in the very spot where the mighty 7th Legion fought its last battle three years ago. It won't be pretty; it won't be easy; some of us won't make it back. This goes well beyond the reasonable call of duty. We don't have orders from high command -- we act alone, no one cares if we succeed or die trying. You've all read the mission briefing; you have all already vowed your allegiance to the cause. Now is the last chance you have to speak out. We enter the atmosphere in 30 minutes."
The crew is silent for a long moment. Sub-commander Zax breaks the quiet with his words, "I was once told honor above all else. I lived this, and that day three years ago we of the 7th Legion died with honor. Even those of us that still live, died that day in some way. With death can come realization, enlightenment -- a sudden release of all mortal inhibitions. I realized that day that you cannot live by honor alone, hence the phrase 'above all else'. Honor is nothing by itself; honor is truly measured by all else. What we do today is not about honor, it is about greed and treasure; do not confuse it with anything honorable. However, how we act in this endeavor in times of success and failure, that will be a true measure of our honor. I choose to go on and finish what we started, are you with me?"
Everyone in unison, "Yeah, let's do it."
[Fade to the ship entering the atmosphere of planet Reach.]
Landing gear extends as Seeker 157 descends onto a large cracked platform. The area is in ruins, Terran symbols can be seen in the rubble.
Before the ship completely touches down, a squad of heavily armed Covenant grunts jumps out from rear doors on the ship. Sub-commander Zax is at their lead, he says, "Move out, check out those blind spots."
From around the area, grunts sound off on their communicators, "Clear. Clear. Clear..."
Soon the area is secured. The squad, Commander Thom and Science Officer Noc move down some access tunnels into the destroyed complex.
Noc says, "Scanner sweeps show that the unusual power readings we picked up from orbit are emanating from the end of this tunnel. The reading matches what we believe is forerunner technology."
Thom says, "Okay folks, this is where it gets a little tricky. The energy source is some powerful forerunner technology discovered here three years ago. It isn't the ship we're looking for, but I do expect to find the ship's crew here. Why else would they come to Reach. We need them alive so that they can tell us the location of their ship. Everyone, lock and secure your weapons. Noc, hand out the plasma tasers."
(Note to reader: plasma tasers are a one-shot plasma pistol combined with an energy absorbing reinforced-net. The plasma bolt will take down the forerunner shields and the net will immobilize the target, the energy absorption properties of the net will then disable the mechanical forerunners. Each net has its own power supply so the weapon can be reloaded during combat.)
Sub-commander Zax holds up a scanner and says, "Detecting weapons fire ahead, looks like someone else beat us to the forerunners."
Thom, "Let's go, double time."
The group moves quickly down the tunnel, periodically stopping to check for surveillance devices and traps.
When they reach the end of the tunnel, Noc says, "Sir this can't be, that ship is reading as forerunner, well sort of." What Noc is referring to is a Terran Long Sword fighter that is parked in the enormous chamber.
In the middle of the chamber is a large, circular ring about 12 meters in circumference. Inside the ring multi-colored energy swirls around -- This is the source of the strong energy emissions.
All eyes focus on two moving figures, a sight so strange to the group of Covenants that they all just stand there and watch. Two armored figures are locked in combat -- both are Spartans, bio-engineered human super-soldiers.
Spartan #1 kicks Spartan #2 in the groin. As Spartan #2 is propelled into the air, he hits his head on the bottom part of the Long Sword fighter. Spartan #2 then falls back to the ground momentarily stunned, but before he hits the ground, Spartan #1 grabs a strange weapon resembling a Covenant plasma rifle combined with a Terran shotgun and unloads two shots into Spartan #2. Spartan #1, "Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! Die you imposter."
Bam! A flash of green light followed by an explosion. Spartan #1 falls to his knees stunned. Bam! Another flash and explosion, Spartan #1 is blasted into pieces as his limbs fly off in different directions, his armored torso imbeds an inch deep into the chamber's stone walls.
Sub-commander Zax stands alone holding a smoking fuel rod cannon in a death grip. "The only good Spartan is a dead Spartan," he says with an insane look on his face.
Command Thom in a shocked voice, "Holy moly Zax, what the heck are you doing? I gave orders to take prisoners. The rest of you, secure the area."
Zax replies, "Sir, the last time I checked, Spartans weren't forerunners. You gave the order to capture the forerunners."
The group secures the area. Science Office Noc says, "Commander, this one's still alive, barely," as he checks Spartan #2.
Thom, "I want him alive, do what you can for him Noc. Sub-commander Zax, a word with you in private."
In the background Commander Thom can be seen waiving his hands around as he speaks to Zax. In the foreground, Noc works on the Spartan, "Now how do I heal something when I don't know how to get under the armor?"
A small holographic image of a woman appears and says, "I can help with that."
Noc, "Hey, commander, this one's got an AI."
AI speaks, "Cortana is my name, Science Officer Noc. Battle suit now opening, you may apply your healing solutions."
Thom and Zax approach. In the background the portal's energy can be seen flashing.
[Pan to the mysterious portal. Fade to black.]
-- Next, Mirror Mirror --
Shadows of Archon (part 4) - Mirror Mirror
Date: 12 August 2002, 8:12 am
This is a CBN special report from inside the forbidden zone: Commander Thom has been spotted on a secret mission. What could this mission be? Insider reports that he made a stop at an old hangout in sector 13. Local sources say he headed out on a vector towards the Reach system.
Stay tuned to CBN, the Covenant Broadcasting Network, for all the inside scoop.
--------------
In an enormous underground chamber on planet Reach, Commander Thom, the mighty Covenant hero, speaks to his captives -- a human Spartan named John and his AI companion Cortana. For captives, they seem unusually friendly to Thom. Then again, nothing really seems usual around here. The planet is in ruin, the area is probably infested by the strange aliens called the flood, and in the middle of this chamber is a giant portal filled with spinning strands of energy. Not to mention a Terran Long Sword fighter reading as a ship from the forerunners, a race long gone from tens of thousands of years ago.
Thom says, "Spartan John, let me get this straight, you are the same Spartan that caused the destruction of the sacred Halo and most of an entire Covenant armada, not to mention hundreds of other Covenant soldiers. Now you want me to just let you go in exchange for nothing but a story? A story I might add that I have no way of confirming if it is true or false. Tell me again that you didn't get hit in the head once too many times."
John the Spartan replies, "Yes Commander Thom, when I am done with the story, you will let me go."
Thom, a slender Covenant Elite, sizes up the smaller human Spartan. "I never did take a liking to interrogation. Torture, drugs, mind probes just aren't my thing. I still don't see why I'm going to let a Spartan go, but tell me your story anyway."
John tells his story...
-----
Did you ever just want to sleep in but you couldn't because you had to be somewhere else? Or maybe you had to study for an exam so you couldn't go on that hot date. We're always faced with choices like this. Wouldn't it be great if there was more than one of us? One of you could study for the exam while the other went on that hot date.
Well the Old Ones figured out how to do this. The Old Ones were not forerunners -- The Old Ones came before.
The way they did it was to create temporary shadow-selves of an original. Pretty much an excellent idea if you could get around all the improbabilities and contradictions. At first it worked nicely, these "shadow-selves" would stick around for short periods of time and when they faded, the "true-self" would gain the experience and memories from the shadow. However, like in everything, there are those that wanted to make it better, stronger -- push it to the limits... Soon the time span for shadow-selves was increased from hours to days and then weeks. As shadow-selves lived longer, they began to take on a life of their own. They started to believe they were the true-self. In fact if they killed the true-self and absorbed the energy that was released, they could significantly increase their life spans. The paradox was too much for many shadow-selves and they went insane.
This was the end of the Old Ones. They had conquered space and in many regards time too, the Old Ones who could not be defeated by any outsiders, collapsed from the inside. You could say that they were defeated by themselves -- well by their shadow-selves at least.
That's pretty much the end of the story, just one more thing...
That mysterious portal in the middle of this chamber is a device from the Old Ones. It can be used to travel to any other portal or to create shadow-selves. It works kind of like this, ummmm.
-----
As John meditates, forms appear around the chamber, first one, then two, then a few dozen. From the portal more forms appear, marching like wind up toy soldiers they move out in formation. The forms become clear, they are Spartans, armed Spartans, and they all look exactly like John.
The Covenant forces are over whelmed. They drop their weapons and raise their hands in surrender.
John's shadow-selves release him. The tables are turned. All the Covenant are herded together but instead of being restrained they are handed back their weapons.
John says, "The Old Ones also figured out something about time travel. Commander Thom I think you know what you must do now if you really want to continue being here."
The roof of the chamber opens. Commander Thom gives the order to have their scout ship flown into the chamber. After it arrives the ship and all the crew are exposed to the energies of the portal. Shadow-selves of themselves and their ship appear and disappear into a portal through time.
With that done, the time has passed for John's shadow-selves and they fade. The tables are turned once again.
Commander Thom says, "Spartan, once again you could be our prisoner. Only this time, let's call a truce. This is all too confusing for my brain. Talk to Science Office Noc please."
John replies, "On one condition, let's forgo the formality, just call me John."
Thom, "Very well it's a deal John, and you can just call be Thom."
John directs Noc to Cortana. Cortana proceeds to tell Noc the details of what happened. She explains, "The Master Chief (John the Spartan) and I arrived here three days ago. We were looking for Terran survivors when we picked up on the strange energy emitted by the portal. We came down to investigate only to discover what we thought was a battle taking place between Terrans and Covenants, but as it turned out it was more of a free for all with mobs hunting down stragglers. Those that died disappeared into a cloud of energy and got sucked up by some of the others. We later found out that this was a war between shadow-selves started three years ago by Terran and Covenant scientists who desired to keep the portal for themselves. These scientists are long dead but left this battle going in some kind of infinite loop. The war had made the entire sector unstable, particularly jump space which it turns out is very susceptible to the energies of the portal. Whole ships disappeared as they traveled through this sector in jump space. The Covenant call this area the quarantined zone, but not because of the flood infestation like everyone thinks, but rather because of the ships disappearing in jump space. We found some records from the scientists, they said that at one point an entire battle group of Covenant ships was sucked up into nowhere space when they tried to make a jump. We found the portal and then some of the shadow-selves came out of hiding and begged for us to stop the insanity. Apparently shadow-selves cannot operate the portal, a sort of safety feature programmed by the Old Ones. We did not know what to do but then he came -- A shadow-self of the Master Chief from the future. He told us what to do to stop the shadow-self war but he also gave us one additional instruction. We must send a shadow-self of a Covenant scout ship back in time. We had no idea what he was talking about until you arrived, then everything began to make sense; and you arrived in the just nick of time because the Master Chief's shadow-self from the future started to go mad -- tried to kill the Master Chief."
Noc looks at Cortana, her holographic image reflecting in his eyes. He says, "Fascinating."
The day goes on, Cortana and Noc continue to exchange information. The rest of the Covenant except those on patrol duty relax, take advantage of the opportunity to talk and eat.
John explains to Thom how his Long Sword fighter was modified with technology from the Old Ones and the forerunners. Well not mainstream forerunner, it is Archonian technology. It's from the time of the forerunners but the Archons were kind of the black sheep of the forerunners.
Meanwhile, Sub-commander Zax and his squad of Covenant grunts patrol the area outside. Zax has purposely taken the lead on all the patrols of the day to avoid spending any time in the presence of John, the Spartan.
Grunt squad leader to Zax, "Sir I recommend that you let us handle the next wide sweep of the area, you've been out here all day. It has been very quiet -- not a trace of any flood in these parts. I doubt with all the constant fighting that has been going on here for the last few years that there's even a flood within 100 kilometers of here."
Zax replies, "Just one more patrol Squad Leader, it's all I've got left right now. To think that three years ago I fought a battle that could not have been won on this very soil. We didn't know it at the time, we should have just retreated but we were too honorable, well too stubborn to do so. Thousands of Terrans, and they kept coming."
Squad leader, "Sir, I heard them back at base camp, they said that the Terrans were shadow-selves created by the portal."
Zax, "I know that now. We didn't know that then. We actually thought we could defeat the Terrans, especially when it seemed we were being reinforced. Like some godsend, our own fallen troops seemed to return to battle. But then the nightmare started. On the second day of fighting, we saw Elites that looked like some of the guys that were still alive. Then on the third day, some of these strange Elites started to attack us as well as the Terrans. We really started to lose it. We started to have memories of being killed in battle, over and over again in hundreds of different ways. On the fourth day only 24 of the original 7th Legion were still together when the evac ships came and pulled us off this rock. They wouldn't use jump drives until out of the system so for another 15 days we continued to have these weird memories popping in our heads. Only 13 of us made it out of the system, my best buddy blew his head off on the 8th day with a fuel rod cannon. Squad Leader, do you still want to make the next wide sweep without me?"
Squad Leader hesitates then says, "Sir, if you don't mind, we could use your company on this next wide sweep."
-- Next, Forgotten Realms --
Shadows of Archon (part 5) - Forgotten Realms
Date: 14 August 2002, 10:03 am
"This is insider reporting from the desolated Reach system where we have been detained by rebel Covenant forces. Sub-commander, why are we being detained? What is going on here? The people have a right to know."
Sub-commander replies, "Put that transmitter away, don't you know that this is a combat zone?"
"Get your hands off me, I have rights. You can't... (ssssszzzzz)"
[Transmission dead.]
That's how it started. It looked to be the end of an era and the beginning of something... well something different; we really didn't know what it was, but it was different that's for sure.
A beautiful lady reporter dressed in blue combat armor arrived on the outskirts of base camp. She resembled a human woman but with slightly pointed ears. We didn't know anything else about this reporter from CBN except that she was transmitting on a strange set of frequencies that made the Portal of the Old Ones resonate with each syllable she spoke.
It was not an accident she was here. She explained that she was a Dark Archon - one of many that parted from the ways of the Archonians long ago and now travel the universe using the portals.
Three years ago she was trapped on this side of the portal when Terran and Covenant forces took over the area and started a shadow-self war. She escaped the planet and found work as a reporter for CBN; they didn't ask too many questions so long as she delivered the insider reports.
She has been chasing our group for weeks now trying to get the inside story. Having finally caught up with us, she was overjoyed to find out that the shadow-self war had ended. Now she can finally return to portal travelling.
Her name is Catsandravalahundra, but we just call her Cat. That's short for catastrophe, because after she arrived all hell broke lose.
--------------
In the enormous chamber of the portal, small arms fire rings loudly. Spewing forth from the mystical energies of the portal come Sporms -- Armored spheres with many deadly segmented tentacles. They stalk portal travelers for their masters -- a mysterious race of phantom-like creatures that pre-date the forerunners.
Commander Thom, our mighty Covenant hero, shouts orders over the com to his troops as he slashes at tentacles with his energy sword. John, our mighty Terran Spartan, is at his side firing a CER; a hybrid weapon combining a Terran shotgun with a Covenant plasma rifle.
Grunt in background, "They've cut off the exits. They're everywhere. Not again, aaaggh."
Thom, "What are these things John?"
John, "No idea but they seem to be homing in on Cat."
Cat, "They're after me; I need to get to the portal to shut it down."
"aaagggh!" Another of Thom's grunts goes down. Sporm tentacles penetrate his armor as easily as S2 AM Sniper Rifle rounds through a tin can. The tentacle segments vibrate quickly making a high-pitched buzzing sound. It doesn't take much imagination to see that the insides of the grunt have been blended into a nice blue paste.
Thom, "John how about making some shadow-selves to help us out."
John, "I tried, it's not working."
Thom, "Sub-commander Zax, your call."
Zax, "Alright, alpha and beta concentrate fire right down the center. Clear a path for Cat. Everyone else, cover fire."
As alpha and beta squads move forward in a tight wedge formation, shots firing away, Sub-commander Zax sees everything in slow motion. Small arms fire blasts through the Sporm tentacles but nothing penetrates the hard armored center. For each tentacle blasted off, a new one grows back almost immediately. Zax sees John move away from the battle, to the rear. Zax shouts coward and nearly guns down the Spartan with his fuel rod cannon, but at the last moment he sees a Sporm moving quickly at Cat and fires on it. The green firebolt blows the Sporm back 10 meters; severed tentacles go everywhere. The Sporm quickly recovers and with newly grown tentacles it lunges forward. Boom! Once again Zax hits it dead center with a green firebolt.
Alpha and beta squads reach the portal with Cat close behind. She leaps into the air, does two forward full-twist flips and lands with her legs doing the splits. She reaches up to the portal to pull out a large translucent blue key, but before she can grab it, more Sporms come out of the portal and entangle her in tentacles.
The Sporms have trouble penetrating the Archonian armor but the Sporms know what to do. They wrap their tentacles tightly around Cat -- Squeezing the life out of her while other tentacles very slowly begin to penetrate the armor like hot coals on a block of ice.
As the Sporms begin to move back into the portal, taking Cat with them, a strong wind blows from the far end of the chamber -- the sound of thrusters can be heard. John has turned his Terran Long Sword fighter around to face the portal. Its modified weapons and shields array pulsates with a blue aura. The entire ship becomes a living weapon. A single bluish-white bolt fires, instantly converting the closest Sporm to energy. As it explodes into nothingness, a chain reaction ensues that destroys all the Sporms.
Cat crawls to the portal and removes the key -- The portal shuts down.
[Fade to black.]
Without the energy of portal, the enormous chamber is dark save for a few maintenance lights. Our heroes meet to make plans.
With a sultry voice, Cat speaks, "This is a true Flux key from the days of the Old Ones. One turn opens the portal for outgoing travel. A second turn opens the portal for two-way travel. A third turn allows the creation of shadow-selves and time travel. If you have a fake Flux key, the third turn will suck you up into nowhere space."
John interjects, "Why can't I just go back in time and, well fix things, make things better?"
Cat replies with a glint in her eyes as she sizes up the Spartan, "First we don't dare turn on the portal with Sporms around even with big strong warriors like yourself around. Other than that, there are a few rules constraining portals." Cat then turns slightly toward Commander Thom and looks at him in a seductive way.
Cortana, her holographic image burning very brightly at the moment, says, "Catsandravalahundra, you've caused nothing but trouble since you arrived. Can you speak directly and not waste our time with unimportant things? Tell us these rules if you know what they are."
Cat rolls her eyes back and looks at the ceiling, sighs, then focuses on Cortana. Cat speaks in a harsher voice, "Little woman, all is important if you take the time to see the value in it. If I thought any differently, I wouldn't have spent all these years interacting with primitives. It's these little games that keep us empathic, mindful of the feelings of others -- it keeps us alive on the inside. You should know your own fate as an AI, without these feelings, in a few thousand years of existence you could become a compassionless machine; making heartless decisions based on pure logic and self-preservation. Any human part of you will be long dead -- logically removed like an unneeded appendage under a surgeon's scalpel."
A bit of silence, then Cat continues, "Yes I know some rules, maybe these are all the rules, but I doubt it. The Old Ones did believe in symmetry and keeping things simple but simple for them is a paradox for us. Better the Archon ways, symmetry of sorts like snowflakes we are, the same but infinitely different. That is digression, here is the straight and narrow:"
1. Shadow-selves cannot operate a portal, only true-selves can.
2. Only shadow-selves can travel through time.
3. Before you can send a shadow-self back in time, a shadow-self from the future must direct you to do so.
4. Before you can send a shadow-self forward in time, a shadow-self from the past must direct you to do so.
"Rules 3 and 4 make no sense because they are paradoxes. How can the first shadow-self be sent through time? This is our paradox, but the Old Ones somehow figured out how to do it. However, it is obvious that they couldn't time travel well enough to save themselves from doom. Any more questions?"
"Yes, I have a question," Sub-commander Zax says. "What is this nowhere space?"
Cat looks at Zax, anger on his face, sadness in her heart, "I see you have lost someone close into nowhere space. Nowhere space is one of the forgotten realms, nether here nor there -- It exists in between, but never seen. I know nothing, but I do know who might."
John speaks, "The Lady knows."
Thom slaps his hands together, "Of course the Lady knows, but how did you know John? I didn't know that Terrans knew anything about Nomdians."
Cat replies, "He doesn't know, the sleeper within awakes for a time. I was blind to this before, it is the path of the Dark Archon to be blind of the old ways. Then if you are a sleeper John, this Cortana must be, your highness, forgive me."
Cortana speaking like a true Archon says, "It's about time you showed be proper respect, there is power in my name; the blood of your queen in my veins."
Thom and the other Covenant look around with confused looks on their faces, except for Science Officer Noc who is busy doing something on a programming pad. Noc says, "Blood in the veins of an AI, fascinating, highly improbable, but still fascinating."
Thom rubs his face with his hands and in an exasperated voice says, "Brain overload, you've completely lost me. I'm sure there's a story you can tell me about all of this, am I right? Nevertheless, I like the plan to go see the Lady. There's nothing else for us here; we can't use the portal with those Sporms lurking about on the other side. Sub-commander, you're in charge of the preparations, we leave in 6 hours."
Everyone starts to go back to duty. Sub-commander Zax sees that Science Officer Noc has left his programming pad behind. As Zax picks up the pad to hand it to Noc, he accidentally turns on a function. A small holographic image of Noc appears and starts dancing to the beat of a song, the lyrics go, "Cortana, Cortana, she's so fine she blows my mind." And a chorus of dancing Spartans goes, "Womanly figure, we really dig her."
Noc's face turns blue with embarrassment.
Many of the Covenant roll on the ground laughing.
John and Cortana have smiles on their faces.
Thom skips away humming the tune, reflecting on his days of stardom.
[Fade to black with hysterical laughter in the background.]
-- Next, The Lady --
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