Ch 2: Light In the Dark Part 1

ONI Facility On Planet Yield: Central Operation Chamber
"Do you comprehend that weapon you wield, or are you like the rest of those barbarians reaching out for pretty things and turning them into cudgel to be used barbarically." Celestia whispered as she circled Prophet.The Spartan just slowly followed her movements the glowing weapon still humming softly.

"Your silence tells me your listening as normally your kind will only talk and talk. Talk of peace and monger war, talk of calm and stoke the fire. The ones before you always tried to manipulate my view point never pausing for a true discussion. All they do is ramble on about their advancements and achievements." She stopped in front of him and lifted her muzzled looking down at his crimson visor. "The ones called ONI they are a curious bunch do you not agree?"

Prophet just looked back at her not moving a muscle only looking back at the Royal Sister. Celestia's eyes narrowed and she tilted her head. "Why are you here human I know it's not to listen to my grievances."

"That's classified ma'am." The super soldier rumbled plainly causing a small upward twitch in her lips.

"Hmm a secret? I quiet enjoy secrets they can harm so many yet they seem to save very few. You humans throw that word 'classified' around as much as you do those little explosives." She paused and spun her hoof in thought. "Grenades, yes I believe that's what the're called. Yes you fling your secrets like grenades ready to kill the masses to save the few. Just as ONI flung you to cover their secrets and destroy curiosity." This last sentence caused Prophets muscles to tighten, a small movement that Celestia's keen senses picked up instantly. "So you do have a weak spot." She whispered with a small smile.

"Not to be disrespectful ma'am but who the hell are you, and what do you know about me?" Prophet asked calmly.

Celestia just smiled and Prophet immediatly knew what she was going to say. "That's classified. However I will show you rather than tell you, but to do that I will have to guide you."

Her body glowed and suddenly Prophet felt a warmth enter his body. His HUD blurred and refocused as red letters scrolled across his vision. "Suit interlink complete welcome ONI Equestrian unit designation Princess Celestia." A female voice hummed in the suit com.

"Your suit is quite old the other technology' I've interfaced with has seen much less stress. Yet your systems seem clean you take good care of it don't you."

"Why are you in my head, and how are you In my head?" Prophet asked softly gripping the still humming weapon with firm hands.

"It is quite simple you see in this world I am similar to what you know as an AI only far more intelligent than your average one if I do say so myself. Being the leader of an entire world tends to shape one into an intelligent figure of sovereignty. Do not worry I know what not to look at and take heart I at least explained this part myself. Now you might want to tell your companions to fall back to this position or they may face some problems. No I will not tell you that's a surprise."

Prophet shook his head he hated it when a superior officer attempted to guess what he was asking, but the thing that disturbed him the most is that this Celestia had called it right. He clicked the squad channel with with his chin and chatter filled his helmet. "Ma'am the cieling is retractable, if we get it open we can let our birds land and drop off supplies." Straws yelled.

"Hmm a good idea you will be needing those reinforcements. Tell the leaders of the group to come to this room it will allow them access to the facilities functions. No you can't do it yourself... Because we're going to the trophy room." A golden nav point appeared pointing towards a nearby hallway.

Prophet hated the fact that Celestia could tell what he was about to ask before his lips even moved. It didn't matter he couldn't explain it but it felt good to be understood by this creature. He had once had a conversation with a Sangheili who understood what it meant to be a tool of a higher ranking being. That Elite later became one of Half Jaws elite guard Field Marshal Shadow was his name of Prophet remembered correctly. "We're almost their tell your troops to proceed."

"Fall, Strike I'm sendings you a nav point use it." Prophet shut off the coms and continued walking not waiting for a reply. The hallways all looked the same stainless steel walls with no features ONI buildings always made him feel like he was in a prison. The walls pressing down on him behind every locked door some horrid experiment could be twitching underneath a veil of secrets. That's how they treated the Spartans anyway Prophet felt the memory's of his brothers and sisters, and the treatment they had gone through. He knew they had suffered they had all suffered, but he also knew it could have been worse for them. He was living proof that it could have been worse.

"Through this door.... I must apologize I never asked your name most humans tell me theirs Out of foolish pride." Celestia said bitterly.

"Prophet." Was the Spartans only reply as he activated the doors opening mechanism. The holopad clicked and beeped and the doors slid open revealing a dark room filled with low standing pedestals.

"Well Prophet this is the place I call the Trophy room. The men who worked here before called it a 'Technological research lab' but these things seem like trophies to me. Well what are you waiting for go on and turn on the main console." Celestia put another nav point above a large console. Prophet Sat down in the chair luckly reinforced enough to hold up his power armor. His HUD flashed golden and a miniature Celestia appeared on the holo-keypad and smiled up at him.

"Are you prepared." She asked returning to the original commanding tone she held when she first appeared. The screen Came to life and the picture of an Elite's helmet appeared on the display. It was dented and had dry blood all over the inside. Text began flowing across the screen.

"That looks familiar, Celestia what am I looking at?"

"We are about to view the recording of the last moments of this helmets owner. I doubt you will remember him it was quite a traumatic experience." Celestia's horn glowed and Prophets visor was flooded with the image of the helmet. Voices began growling and his vision blurred and warped to form the point of view of an Elite Zealot.

The area around the Zealot was that of a brown dusty ruin. Three other Elites of similar armor make up stalked through a dusty building nearby. "I know this place... It's Harvest." Prophet whispered.

"Indeed it is you are quite observant now sit back and enjoy the show." Celestia replied.

The Zealot rushed towards his companions and they formed a circle. "What have you found Kralmek?" He asked a orange armored Elite. Kralmek gestured towards a group of distant buildings still intact even after the plasma bombardment.

"A small human vessel has landed behind those structures there are several human marksman cowering in their as well."

"Hahaha we shall purge them and hang their innards out for the glory of the hierarchic!" A silver clad Elite roared pulling out an energy sword and charged through the ruins into the structure.

"Blast you Reun we don't know if any traps await us!" The final blue armored Elite growled.

"Gilmar come we will have to speed up this operation." The Zealot grumbled.

Prophet's visor went black and then the Zealots HUD appeared and a dead marine filled his the screen. The Elites had moved inside the structure and were standing in a dimmly lit room. "She was already dead Marl I pledge by my honor I did not draw their blood." Reun grumbled towards the crimson armored observer. He bent down and lifted up the marines body. Her neck was twisted and her armor was stained red from several bullet holes along her throat.

"This was done by another human Kralmek report back to the hierarchic.. Kralmek?" He turned behind him and looked down at a puddle of purple blood that linked to a trail leading into the ruins outside. "Gilmar what is your position?" Marl hissed as he grabbed the hilt of his blade and crept along the rooms wall.

"I am on the roof leader nothing to report wait. I see movement it is the human flyer sir it is approaching It is wash at the humans call a Pelican."

"Kralmek is missing I believe him to be dead keep your blade by your side and watch that pelican. If it brings troops silence them Reun and I will continue searching to find out what happened here."

"Leader there is movement ahead-arg!" Reun let out bellow as several bullets hit against his shields flaring them. "Leader three humans they are fleeing!"

Three marines leapt over a ruined wall and out into a glass field towards the approaching pelican. Marl lifted up his beam rifle and scoped in following their movements. "Gilmar prepare to eliminate these heretics, but wait until their reinforcments are withing sight."

The pelican flew over the group and flipped around revealing a strange black container attached to its cargo bay. The container slammed into the ground just in front of the retreating marines nearly killing them. Five navy blue armored ODST's zip lined from the pelican and began making gestures to the marines who just looked at each other confused.

"What are they doing leader?" Gilmar hissed softly.

"Does it matter take the shots and remove them!" Reun growled. Marl spun and smacked him across his right mandibles.

"You will fire when I say you can! Now watch the rear for what ever attacked Kralmek." Marl snapped his mandibles to emphasize his dominance.

Reun nodded and walked back into the room with the dead marines. Marl let out a sigh and aimed down his sights again. "Gilmar can you patch into their communications so we may hear their words?"

"This is a restricted area ONI requires that all civilians be evacuated!" The lead ODST barked.

"We aren't civies we're the squad that sent off the distress beacon when the glossing stopped." One of the marines said shaking his head in confusion.

Another marine threw his arms in the air and pointed to the ruins that the Elites were observing from. "None of this fucking matters there's a fucking monster in there took out Steph and to make matters worse we just got flushed by some fucking split jaws. Now I want out right fucking no-" He never finished the ODST captain shot him in the head with his battle rifle. Immediately the other shock troopers opened fire cutting down the marines in a matter of seconds.

"That is unusual the humans usually don't execute each other that quickly." Gilmark said softly.

"Indeed something is amist here." A scream sounded behind him and the sound of a sword drawing rang out. Marl spun around to see Reuns body being tossed above him cut in two by a ebony armored figure. A blood red D-22 painted on its chest plate and it's crimson visor reflecting the energy sword it had used to end Reuns life. Prophet let out an animalistic bellow and charged marl lifting the sword up twin tips aiming for the Zealots throat.

"And so it begins" Celstia whispered.