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In Light of Destiny Part I, Chapter II: Truth
Posted By: Jinkaiden-XI<Nolimits4csk@aol.com>
Date: 6 August 2003, 12:45 AM


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Was it all a dream?

As Sieg feels the gentle dirt he lay on, he knows all is real. There is no denying the reality, even as he tries.

With a grunt of pain, Sieg slowly rises to his knees, agony in each weakened movement. His vest is torn and wind battered. His hair is now messy and hangs down over his face, drenched and dripping with rainwater. His clothes are like that of his vest; worn, ripped, and wet. Before him, out away from the colony, is the bitter cold. However, there is great warmth behind him.

He turns, curiosity pressing him to know what lies in wait. His eyes rest on the answer.

An enormous fire rages over the colony now. The once glistening skyscrapers now burn in ruin. There are no screams of pain; there is no life. Sieg stares in utter disbelief at what he surveys.

He speaks, not at his own will, but at the mercy of another being. "The Fates have been merciless once more."

Sieg is silent now. He can only watch as the fires devour the lifeless colony.

From nowhere, all thoughts leave him and musical voices chime in:

I will believe in the Fates,
The ones I can't deny.
I won't rely on my strength.
I will believe in the Fates,
The ones I can't deny.
And now I shall close the Gates.

Sieg's eyes are wide open now. No longer are his thoughts clouded with question. These voices…he has never heard them before, nor does he know where they come from. But then again, are they the voices of those who have been telling him everything that has haunted him so far?

It is of little importance now. Sieg begins to feel lightheaded, dizzy, and fairly faint. His vision blurs as his eyes roll back and he falls unconscious. His limp body collapses to the barren ground in a heap.


There is light.

The blinding light engulfs Sieg entirely, soaking his body in white, gentle warmth. He comes to at that very moment, awakened by the activity being born around him. For once there is life, there are voices. They speak, but their words are distant and hardly understandable.

"He's breathing. Take him and report one survivor."

Another, this one closer, replies, "Right. Do it quickly. We must get him out of here immediately."

One survivor. Sieg deliriously ponders the words. Is that what I am? A survivor? But...what is it I have survived? Sieg questions. Maybe he merely questions himself, for nobody has the answers. No voices this time. All is quiet.

[Fade to black.]

Sieg awakens once more, this time far from the desolate landscape he was previously familiar with. However, it is all he remembers. There is an empty space in his memory now, a void of blind darkness.

"You're awake."

Sieg turns to greet a newcomer to his world, another person. A life form he doubted he would ever see again.

"Where am I?" A typical question.

The figure steps closer to Sieg's bed, revealing his appearance. He seems to be around the age of thirty and in condition to be a soldier. He wears a simple Marine uniform and carries a pistol on his belt.

"You are currently a patient aboard the renegade patrol cruiser Vaskana. We found you..."

Sieg interjects, "A renegade patrol cruiser?"

"I'll explain that later."

Sieg doesn't continue. Instead he waits for the figure to say more, if it is among his intentions. There seems to be a strange connection between him and Sieg, for Sieg himself can feel it. Who is this person who denies the truth and hides the reality? Keeper of the realms, behold thy grace.

The figure continues, "You are our latest discovery. We rescued you before they destroyed you as well."

Sieg glances up at the figure. "Before...they destroyed me as well?"

"The Covenant. Had we not showed up, you'd be history."

Sieg shakes his head. "But I do not remember anything..."

The figure turns away and heads for the door. Just prior to exiting, the figure looks back over his shoulder and adds, "Don't dwell on it. You will know in due time."

The figure turns, then adds, "By the way, I'm John-117. You can just call me John; I prefer it that way."

And then he leaves, delivering Sieg to the silence once more.


The chamber is lonely now. Sieg has spent too much time in his quarters, slowly recovering. His space is limited and his soul is being held captive.

He knows he cannot leave, but deep below the surface there is the urge to release his spirit and move freely about the ship, the worlds, the universe itself.

But he hides this side to his spirit, containing his purest energy to unleash it when necessary.

"Now is not that time..."

The figure has spoken the most inevitable truth: That he will know in due time all he questions.

Now is the time for rest. Sieg lies down on his cot and quickly falls asleep.


Sieg's eyes open as the figure steps into the chamber. He seems worried about something, but is reluctant to express it. "We've had a small change in plans," he says. "We are headed to Harvest Moon. Something out there isn't right."

The figure remains as Sieg ponders the statement. Something is right...now he can understand what it is that he has been through; he will discover the reality of all this. The first question is about to be answered...





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