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  • Subject: [Story] Rise of Harvest (Part.8 Is Up!)
Subject: [Story] Rise of Harvest (Part.8 Is Up!)
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No matter how many seals are killed by sharks a year, it never seems to be enough :D

Part.8

Al'Katal stood on the bridge of the Covenant fleet's flagship. His arms folded behind his back, pleased with the turn of the tables. An Unggoy Deacon walked into his sight, staring up at him. Al'Katal looked down at the pitiful creature in disgust, "Speak, Deacon."

The Unggoy shuffled nervously, "Ehm, your honor, the Huragoks have finished. The metamorphosis is about to begin."

Al'Katal turned towards the door, then looked at Zemala, his second in command, "Take command until my return."

"It would be an honor, Zealot."

Al'Katal knew that his old friend would not fail him. The Sangheili strode towards the laboratory. When he entered, the Huragoks had gathered around the human girl, who was now convulsing on the experimental table. He stepped closer, and stared into her frantic eyes.

The shaking stopped, and the girl turned pale in pain. It was so agonizing she couldn't even make a sound. Certain areas on her bare body began to split, and tendrils emerged. Her eyes spotted this deformation, "Wh-what are you doing! What's happening to me?" She cried out. The girl screamed as a large crack echoed through the room.

A dark organic blade emerged from her forearm. Then an identical one emerged from the other. Spikes began to force their way out of her. A rough brown layer of tissue spread out from her deformities. Soon, her once soft, shining skin was converted into the thick hide. The human's hair turned black and grew rapidly. Grease came along with it, clumping her hair together in strands.

"N-no! Please!" The tortured being cried. Tears flowed down her cheeks, which were broken apart by the rough, cracked texture of her face. The girl's teeth began to be pushed out, being replaced by black fangs. The human coughed, spitting her old set onto the floor. The Human shrieked as her muscles grew, then condensed over and over, becoming stronger each time.

Al'Katal couldn't help but cringe at the sight. He had seen many gruesome sights, but this was different. He watched as dark rings formed around the creatures eyes, and they sunk back into her head. Finally everything stopped. The metamorphosis was complete. Blood covered the experimental table, where the newly created monster lay, unconscious. Al'Katal's mandibles bent inward, forming a large grin, "Excellent."

********

He staggered through a vast field of wheat, watching the raging battle in space. Gunshots and explosions could be heard coming from the city. Usually he would have better sense than to approach the battlefield, but then again, where else was he meant to go? The man possessed no food or water, only two broken ribs and a fractured elbow. The fall had nearly killed him, which was his intention.

Harvest's moon slowly began to dominate the sky. The frequent explosion in space illuminated all of Utgaurd in a stunning gold light. The man fell to his knees, exhausted, hopeless, dying. I could just lay here, give up, die easy. no, it isn't going to end like this Victor. This isn't how you are going out. He forced himself to stand, and pushed on.

*********

Sergeant Reynolds watched as the Shade sprinted towards his position, swerving to dodge bolts of plasma and hot metal spikes. He could shoot him in the kneecap, right now, and say he missed. He would be a sitting duck, and get torn apart. No, Holomer wasn't a fool, an ODST doesn't miss, they kill. By the time his thought process ended, the ONI officer jumped over the car Reynolds was behind, and quickly pressed himself against it for cover. "Well look who it is Jumpers!" Reynolds shouted.

The ODSTs risked a quick glance, and were rewarded by the sight of the Shade. "Spooky!" A Hell Jumper cried out. The name had stuck.

Reynolds was surprised to see the Shade in its current condition, "Medic!" He shouted. As much as he wanted the Shade dead, the ONI officer was very handy. Once they got to the cannon, and disabled it, he would kill the freak.

Private Cooper, the squad's medic, huddled behind the car, examining the Shade, "Whoa-but...why aren't you dead?"

The Shade stared into the ODST's visor, "Classified."

"Of course..."

It took a good ten minutes to fix the ONI soldier up. By then, Covenant were all over their position. Brass shells littered the street. Sergeant Reynolds gritted his teeth, fighting the pain from the plasma burn on his leg, "We have to go! Now!" As if to prove his point, a huge ball of plasma soared through the sky, heading for their position. "Phantom! Shade, activate your camouflage and take out those turrets on the roof! We can't move unless you get those things off our asses!"


"Negative Sergeant, the heat in the drop pod during entry fried my camouflage circuits."

"Aw hell."

**********

"Captain, our weapon systems are down, and our hull armor is at fifteen percent!"

The words that came from Holomer's systems operator struck him like a punch to the gut. He took a long, deep breath.You know what to do Brad. "Send the ship's controls to my command panel."

"Yes sir...Done."

"Now, get off my bridge."

"Wha-" The systems operator's words were cut off when Captain Holomer slammed his fist onto the alarm. It instantly shot on through the entire ship. Then he activated the emergency COM channel, "This is your Captain speaking, please evacuate to the escape pods immediately." He then turned to everyone on the bridge, "That includes all of you." The Officers were confused, but then, one by one, got up and walked towards the door.

Before the first bridge Officer left, they all turned to face their captain, and gave him crisp salutes. He sent one back in their direction. There was no need to ask what he was doing.

The last to leave was Lieutenant Brooks. She stopped, and stared into the Captains eyes, "Thank you." Her words came out as a whisper. Holomer nodded, and she left.

Once the ship was empty, save him, he tapped coordinates into the control panel. They were right towards the covenant fleet. The Captain pushed the engines to one-hundred eighty percent, slid his hand over the self destruct button, and deactivated its safety. "Now, let's see who can make the biggest boom."



[Edited on 10.26.2009 1:59 PM PDT]

  • 10.23.2009 8:10 PM PDT

Posted by: Dropship dude
No, acnboy. Spartain Ken 15 is a lesser being. Much like the bacteria that lives in your shi­t.
Posted by: mike120593
My shi­t bacteria takes offense to that comparison.

Don't make me lel. You won't like me when I lel.

Ooohh, not dead eh? Though I think his injuries should be a little more substantial considering the fall he took almost killed him.

Other than that, nice part, looking forward to the next.

  • 10.24.2009 1:25 AM PDT
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No matter how many seals are killed by sharks a year, it never seems to be enough :D

Yea, i guess i should make his wounds worse, but it would make the rest of the story hard to right, considering the plans i have made. Im gald you like it :D

  • 10.26.2009 12:52 PM PDT

Just finished reading what you've wrote so far; it's pretty good, easily your best work yet. Nice job.

  • 10.26.2009 12:53 PM PDT
Subject: [Story] Rise of Harvest (Part.9 Is Available!)
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No matter how many seals are killed by sharks a year, it never seems to be enough :D

Part.9

Admiral Terran watched as Captain Holomer's ship detonated. Five covenant ships were instantly disintegrated. Debris knocked down the shields of those in close proximity. A hail of archer missiles took care of that. Terran saluted the wreckage.

Holomer was a good man, one of his closest friends, but war is war. This was neither the time nor the place for grieving. At the moment, much more important things were at hand. His fleet's numbers were thinning, plasma bolts were taking out their drop pods, and al-Cygni, the campaign's leader, had been sent to the infirmary after collapsing onto the metal floor. Everything was going wrong. The Covenant's stationary cannon was still running, which was the reason why they were losing. God damn it people hurry up! For our sake...for humanity's sake.

*********

Every UNSC released all of its ODSTs at once, forming a hail of metal. There were too many for the Covenant to destroy, but they picked off a decent amount. None the less, Utgard swarmed with ODSTs. The Covenant was putting up one hell of a fight, but the humans were biting back, just as hard.

"Zealot, I have come to deliver a message from Zemala. The Humans are pressing hard, and they have gotten dangerously close to our cannon."

Al'Katal looked at the creature on the lab table. Its breaths were erratic, as if it were constantly choking on something. He then looked at the Huragoks, who did the best they could to nod in approval. "Good." The Zealot said, breaking a long silence, "Now we shall see how potent our new weapon is."

*********

A green bolt of fire roared through the air, and crashed into the street. Two squads of ODSTs immediately surrounded it, poised to fire. Nothing happened. It was just some sort of crate. And ODST approached it, cautiously, "I think its sa-GHAA!" The soldier cried out in surprise and agony as a spike pierced the container, and speared him through his stomach. He was flung to the side, and slammed into a wall. The front of the crate blew off, slamming into two Hell Jumpers, instantly killing them. A creature bound out of the container, and tackled one of the ODSTs. The beast removed its target's head with ease, and charged another.

The squads fired, but it was too fast. By the time they pulled the trigger, the target was already behind them. The thing reached their Lieutenant. The creature used a sharp blade on its forearm to slice through his black plating, and send his innards onto the street. In seconds, twelve of the most elite soldiers in the UNSC lay dead on the ground.

A streak of white ricocheted off of the street. The sniper had fired milliseconds too late. The beast was gone. A blade reached out from behind him, and slit his throat. From the top of the building, Eve could see everything. Black armored Elites ran down the street below her. She prepared to pounce, but something stopped her, something in her brain. I serve the Covenant, to exterminate the humans, and lead my masters to salvation.

***********

The Shade used his one good arm to fire at a group of Grunts forming a desperate assault on his position. He had been separated from his squad after a hail of mortar fire. His helmet had his COM device in it. He was alone. Then he caught something out of the corner of his eye. The Shade quickly faced it, but nothing was there. Only a street littered with bodies. When arms began to wrap around his neck from behind, he looped under the tightening hold. The ONI Specialist was horrified at the sight of his enemy.

It had a human form, but didn't resemble a human at all other than that. The monster smiled at him menacingly. Black fangs filled its mouth. It swung at him with a fist, but he moved back. The Shade saw two razor sharp objects on the creature's arms swipe at him.

The Shade brought his battle rifle up, and intercepted the blow. Sparks flew into the air as he continued to parry the blows with his weapon. He couldn't fight it with one arm, the abomination was too fast. He turned and began to run, but it tackled him to the ground, sending his battle rifle flying through the air. A sharp pain shot through the Shade's back. Did it just bite him? His suspicion was confirmed when he heard a spit, and a chunk of his own flesh landed next to his face. It held his face down on the asphalt as a spike slowly slid out of the monster's arm.

The Shade gritted his teeth, waiting for death. Then he heard a shrill cry, and his attacker was gone. When the Specialist raised his head, Sergeant Reynolds held a magnum in his hands, pointed straight at the Shade's head. "Sergeant, what are you doing?"

"Oh, nothing." The ODST replied. He removed his helmet, so his enemy could see how much he would enjoy watching him die. A smile spread across the Hell Jumper's face. "Ya know, I could shoot you right-now, and nobody would ever know, just another KIA."

"What is your motivation for this?"

"Oh, maybe because you killed my best marksman. Yea, I don't think he can shoot to well without a head."

"I am s-"

"Don't even say it! You can't change my mind. Now, any last words?" The ODST growled as he withdrew his knife.

" Yes, duck."

"Wha-"

Sergeant Reynolds' blood sprayed into the air as three bolts of plasma slammed into him. He fell forward, landing on top of the Shade. The Hell Jumper's knife ran into the Shade's lung, deflating it instantly. He pulled the knife out, and winced in pain as the serrated edges pulled things that should stay inside out into the open.

The ONI spook lifted himself off of the ground with both arms. The bone on his previously shattered forearm had mended. It was another of the many secrets of the Shade. The rest of his wounds had healed too, except for the chunk taken out of his back, and the deflated lung. It would be best to stay low until those were better, which he estimated to take about twenty to twenty five minutes.

The Shade crawled into a totaled car, hiding in a small space that from the outside seemed inexistent due to the vehicles extreme damage. The threat of Reynolds may have been over, but there was still much much more. The specialist would have to get past that monster, and destroy the cannon before the fleet was destroyed. Not to mention getting out of Utgard alive. He was no pawn. If they were going to get Harvest back, they would need him.

Thoughts floated through the Shade's mind as his wounds rapidly healed. He could have been on a nice fluffy bed at home the way he was curled up and half dreaming. Slowly, half dreaming became three quarters, and then, he slipped away into the dark corner of his mind.

His swing rocked back and forth in the back yard. He laughed as his father snatched him up and playfully swung him around. "It's your sixth birthday buddy! Whatcha gonna wish for?"

"I can't tell you daddy! Then it won't come true."
His father laughed, and kissed his child on the forehead. The boy in his arms made a smile that warmed the man's heart.

Time fast forwarded into his teens. "Damn it Rodger I can't deal with this anymore!"

"Clara, Aaron's just going through a phase."

"Oh please! Last time I checked Phases don't last for six years! He comes home every day bruised,and drunk out of his mind. All he does is drink, do drugs, and fight!"

"Calm down, just ta-"

"No! Don't tell me what to do! He is out of control, and
there is nothing you or me can do for him."

"Then what do you think we should do?"

"I...I don't know." Aaron's mother took a deep breath, "Maybe he will be better off with a different family."

"You're joking right?"

"Look, I really-"

"Stop right there! Our son needs us right now."

"I want nothing to do with that...child!"

Aaron heard a sharp slap from his bedroom, then silence. Tears dripped onto a soft pillow beneath his head. It was like this almost every night, but tonight it was worse than ever. Now was the climax that would decide what the rest of his life would be like.

"I'm done, I give up. You and your son can do whatever you want, but I don't want any part of it."

"Clara he's your son too!"

"No! no he's not!"

"Do you even hear yourself right now?!"

Then came a cry of pain from his father and a large vibration as his body hit the floor. Aaron jumped out of his bed, and sprinted to his parent's room. His bare feet squeaked as he stopped himself short on the glazed wooden floor, staring in horror at the sight of his father, dead. Above his body stood Aaron's mother with a blood soaked letter opener gripped in a white fist. The look of despair, shock, guilt, and fear on his mothers face was branded into his eyes forever.

Aaron was leaning against a brick wall on the sidewalk. Snow fell from the sky and he could see his breath rising from his chattering teeth. An empty bottle of whiskey sat at his side. He was twenty five, in his prime, and lived on the streets, begging for money that he would use to buy alcohol.

People had noticed the man's emaciated form just getting thinner and thinner, but more and more wasted. It was clear that when he was begging for money to buy food, it wasn't food he wanted. A tall man in a white suit looked down upon him. He looked like an angel, the sun making his UNSC uniform shine like a heavenly light. The man reached down with his hand, and Aaron took it.


The Shade's eyes slowly opened, then shot awake. He looked at his mission watch. All of that had passed through his mind in ten minutes. An expression of relief washed across his face. The ONI Specialist kicked the crumpled door off of his hiding space, and stepped back out into the battleground.



[Edited on 10.27.2009 12:29 PM PDT]

  • 10.26.2009 8:36 PM PDT
Subject: [Story] Rise of Harvest (Part.8 Is Up!)

The Hybrid a FanFic by Tehface

"Look for the signs, the keepers of the flame. They will lead you to war, and perhaps, to victory."

Hmm. Interesting.
Nice Backstory!

  • 10.26.2009 8:52 PM PDT
Subject: [Story] Rise of Harvest (Part.3 Released!)
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This is very well done.

By the way, mind checkng out Halo: Aftermath? I'd appreciate it.

  • 10.28.2009 4:22 PM PDT
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No matter how many seals are killed by sharks a year, it never seems to be enough :D

Part.10

Victor limped forward through the wheat field. He noticed a streak of dirt cutting through the produce. The man followed it until he came to the end. There lay a contorted drop pod. Metal was scattered everywhere, and a dead ODST lay on the ground. This gave Victor a glimmer of hope. He stripped the ODST of his armor, and donned it. The suit was surprisingly light, and electronics immediately activated when he put on the helmet: team locations, rosters, and vital signs.

Victor searched the drop pod, and found a silenced SMG. Soon after, he stumbled upon a red emergency button. Out of curiosity, and lack of thought, he pressed it. There was a low hum at first, and then a surge of power.

Victor held on to the side of the drop pod as it dragged him towards Utgard. The pod was being propelled by a blue flame, and was moving extremely fast. Victor barely managed to get himself back on top of the thing. He wasn't far from the city, so when the pod stopped, it was only because the metal case slammed into the side of a building. Luckily, its passenger had bailed before the impact.

Vicctor lay on the street, huddled in a ball. The pain was intense, but he didn't have much time to rest. Soon after, a squad of ODSTs found him.

"Suck it up soldier! Get on your feet and let's kick some Covenant ass!"

Victor squinted through his blue visor, "Who are you?" He could barely force the words out of his pale lips.

"Colonel Lark. This here is Tasha." The ODST pointed to one of his men, "and here is Marie and Sussane."

"Quit it with the girl's names will ya?" Snapped the one he called Tasha.

The Colonel was still. He seemed to be preoccupied with something. "Ouch, you're pretty banged up soldier."

Victor managed to get up on one knee, bracing himself with his right arm, "Yeah, you got a medic?"

The ODSTs looked around at each other. Then one spoke, "We did...Anyway, im susa-Rick! Rick." He cleared his throat.
Colonel Lark shifted his weight uneasily, "Were out in the open and begging to be sniped. Let's move." He gave Victor a hand, and pulled him up, "Welcome to Alpha Squad."

Victor realized that he had just been mistaken for an ODST. Now he would be thrown into some sort of suicidal situation with a slim to nil chance of survival. Well, I probably have a better chance with them than on my own...I'll be seeing you soon Kayla.

*********

A trickle of sweat ran down Admiral Terran's forehead. This was it, the ODSTs took too long. "It's over." The defeated man whispered to himself, but then, something extraordinary happened. A beam from the stationary cannon slammed into a Covenant ship, and sent it hurling into three others. "What the hell?" The next shot did the same. From there on, the beams fired upon the Covenant fleet.

The radio Officer on Terran's bridge jumped in excitement, "They did it! They got the cannon! It's them."
The ODSTs had captured the Covenant weapon, and were now using it against them. How they knew how to operate it was a mystery. Then again, humans had a strange, almost supernatural knack for operating Covenant technology. Terran sighed, "Thank god."

Another Officer swiveled around in his chair, "Sir, the Covenant fleet is falling back!"

The Admiral was puzzled by this. The Covenant retreating? Something was off. "Do not pursue."

"Aye sir, relaying message to the fleet now. Whoa, they just jumped. They're at the edge of the system."

"I don't like this. I want the ODSTs to mop up the rest of the Covenant in Utgard, then I want all of the wounded back aboard the warships. Oh, and bring me the Shade.

********
Victor fired a three round burst into a Jackal's head. He and his newfound squad had encountered the remaining Covenant forces holed up in a single building.

Colonel Lark was yelling obscenities at the enemies as he picked them off with a sniper rifle. A carbine beam exited the top right window of the building, and struck Lark in his rib cage. He cried out in more of surprise than pain, "Son of a! Hey new guy! Time to earn your keep." He said as he held his side, "Take this baby and blow that snipers brains out will ya?"

Victor hesitated for a moment, wondering if he had made the right choice by impersonating a Hell Jumper. Then he complied, "Yes sir." The imposter picked up the rifle and crept towards the edge of the rubble he was using as cover. One of his squad mates popped out, and fired off a few rounds. This distracted the sniper long enough for Victor to put a bullet in its head.

"Nice job kid." Lark grunted. He needed immediate medical attention. The high pitched whine of Pelicans could be heard in the distance. "One of you numb skulls pick me up." Rick roughly pulled him over his shoulder. "Agh! Watch it! I'm hit you moron!" Rick ignored the comment as they approached the Covenant's last stand. Then, the building detonated into purple flames.

The soldiers ducked as chunks of concrete rocketed through the air. One of them landed directly on top of the ODST laying next to Victor. His legs mad a loud snapping noise, as if someone had just cracked a stick. He cried out in pain.
Rick rolled the Colonel onto his back, and ran towards his trapped comrade. "Isaac!" He removed the doomed soldier's helmet, and looked into his brother's fading eyes.

Isaac coughed, spraying blood onto Rick's visor. Rick removed his own helmet. He wanted nothing between him and his brother in the man's last moments. "Here, I'm gonna get you out of here."

The street behind them burst open, sending melted tar into the air. It rained down on the ODSTs, but none of them cared. They all just stared at the two siblings, saying their last goodbyes. Isaac made a sound that seemed to be a cough and a laugh in one, "I doubt that, unless you have a crane to get this thing off of me."

"I can pull you out!"

"Don't be stupid Ricky!" Rick fell silent. Ricky, a name only the one dearest to him could say.

Colonel Lark pulled a sidearm out of his holster, and fired at an approaching grunt. The creature dropped without a struggle. There was another explosion in the distance, "We have to leave! Utgard's gonna blow!"

Isaac patted Rick on his pale cheek. The dirt on his gloves stuck to the thin layer of sweat on his brother's face, "You'll be fine, kid. " His voice began to quiver as the life drained from his body, "Take care of Prim for me, please."

Rick winced, trying to hold back tears. Prim, Isaac's daughter, would be fatherless in only a few moments. "Yeah, I will."

"Give em hell little brother." Blood ran from the ODSTs nose as he exhaled. Then, he was gone.

"No! NO!" Multiple explosions sounded off. They were becoming more frequent by the second. Victor had to look away as Rick fell heavily onto his brother's body. Tears dripped onto the dead soldier's armor. This was an all too familiar sight. A building close by immolated, signaling that it was time to go.

Victor placed his hand on Rick's shoulder, "Come on. Let's go." There was a soothing tone in his voice that greatly affected the devastated sibling.

"Yeah." Rick closed his brother's eyes, and stepped back.
Lark turned to the one he referred to as Marie, "Pick me up. Rick, shoot anything that gets in our way."

"I'd be glad too." The ODST said between gritted teeth. He donned his helmet, and picked up his battle rifle.

"Okay men." The Colonel said, "We have to get the city's square. That's where the pelicans are." The ODSTs set out on the voyage. It was at least a mile, but they reached their location in time to catch the last flight out of Utgard. Rick moved all the way to the back as another squad piled in. Everyone talked and joked except Victor and his traumatized team mate.

Before taking off, the Pelican's pilot leaned around the cockpit corner, "Hey, any of you lads see the Shade?" Nobody responded. "Alright, then we're out." Right as the ship began to lift up, a figure was seen running around a distant block. Soon after, another appeared. It seemed to be in pursuit of the first one they had seen. Both of them were moving extremely fast. The one fleeing took constant glances behind him.

Colonel Lark zoomed in on the figures, "Hey pilot! I see the Shade! What the hell?" The rest of the ODSTs enhanced the image in their visors. They all mumbled to themselves. The two drew closer, and the Shade's enemy could be clearly seen. "Pilot...start going up." The pelican slowly floated into the air. "Now hit it!"

The aircraft rocketed up. The Shade had just enough time to jump into the air, and grasp the edge of the Pelican's landing ramp. The creature chasing him didn't have that chance. Instead, it gripped his leg as the ship flew through the air.

The Shade kicked and wriggled, but the creature wouldn't release its iron grip. Lark slid a magnum across the floor from where he lay. With amazing dexterity, the Shade grabbed it as it fell from the Pelican, swung the creature outwards, and let loose a single bullet that impacted its face. It released the ONI Specialist, and fell through the air. It screeched as it dropped, and waved its limbs wildly in a desperate attempt to purchase land that wasn't there. The Shade climbed into the Pelican, and lay down on the cold titanium deck plate.

One of the ODSTs started clapping. The others joined in soon after. Lark patted the Shade on its shoulder, "Good show kid."

A feminine voice emitted from one of the ODST's helmets, "What surprised me the most was after you shot it in the face, it still wasn't dead."

Lark nodded, "That was one helluva fall, it's definitely dead now."

"I hope." Marie replied. She was the only squad member that Lark called by the person's actual name. The Pelican docked in Hell's Fire. The wounded were taken to the medical bay, and the rest went to their bunkers to calm down.

  • 11.03.2009 1:55 PM PDT
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No matter how many seals are killed by sharks a year, it never seems to be enough :D

Part 11

The Shade reported to the bridge as ordered by Admiral Terran. They stood beside each other, staring into a large monitor showing the vast emptiness of space for quite some time, neither saying anything. Finally, the Admiral spoke, "You did a damn good job down there son."

"Thank you sir."

"I hear about some of the tricks you pulled down there. They sound very impressive."

"I was doing my duty, sir."

Terran laughed, "Yes you were, yes you were. I called you here to ask you a favor."

"Anything, sir."

"Well, Captain Holomer was our ground force commander. With him blown to smithereens, we are in need of a replacement."

"Are you suggesting that I-"

"Yes I am, Specialist."

"With all due respect, sir, I do not believe I have the capability to carry out such a task"

"I believe that you do."

"Yes, sir. I will do my best."

Admiral Terran stared into the space monitor, "Good to know, son. That is all." The Shade turned to leave, but the Admiral stopped him, "al-Cygni wishes to see you. She is in the medical bay, room eight."

The Shade nodded, and left. He took a short shower, dressed in a fresh combat uniform, then went to the elevator up towards the deck with the medical bay, and took the long walk that was required to get there. The Specialist knocked on al-Cygni's door.

"Come in." A soft voice replied from inside the room. The Shade entered, and sat in a chair next to her bed. Jillan was quiet for some time, as if she was trying to make a decision. "It's been so long since I've seen you."

The Shade didn't recall ever meeting this woman, "What?"

"Never mind. Could you take the mask off please?"

The Shade hesitated for a moment, then complied. For some reason, he felt self conscious in front of this girl. He was ashamed of his scarred, gray face. The Specialist noticed Jillan's eyes widen. "I'm sorry, would you like me to put it back on?"

"No, it's okay." An expression of guilt appeared on her face, but just as quickly disappeared. "Do you feel?"

The Shade became confused, "Excuse me?"

"Do you feel emotion?"

"A little, but barely. At least I think it's emotion."

Jillan began to cry. Soon it progressed into sobs, "I'm sorry Aaron, I'm so sorry."

The Shade slightly leaned forward, "Aaron. Aaron. That's my name."

Once Jillan heard this, she cried even harder. "It's my fault, I d-did this to you."

"What?"

"I turned you into a monster. "

The creation looked down at his gray, scarred, disturbing hands, "You, you made me into this?"

Al'Cygni nodded. Her cot's pillow was soaked when she pulled herself into a tight ball. "You don't remember it, but you were just like the rest of us once. You were human, but so different from anyone I had ever met."

"What are you talking about?" Something was coming back to the Shade, but he couldn't say what it was.

Jillan's crying was beginning to calm, but it wasn't nearly over. "I was assigned to a project as an ONI scientist for biological augmentation. I knew what I was going to do. I had to alter a human. I was prepared to do this, but, but then it was you."

The Shade squinted at Jillan, then his eyes opened completely in surprise. "Jill?"

Al-Cygni nodded.

Aaron was surrounded by guards as he was lowered below the earth in an elevator. They had put a mask over his head, so he had no idea where he was. He was lead into a laboratory when they finally removed the bag. A young woman was scribbling something down onto paper when she started to talk, "Okay, Aaron. I know you are wondering where you are, but before we answer any questions I'm going to have to run you through a few tests" She turned to see a handsome young man smiling at her.

Whether it was a nervous smile, or sincere, it was charming nonetheless. She smiled back. A strange feeling started in her stomach, and she immediately turned back to her papers.

Aaron had been in the facility for three months. His only companion had been al-Cygni. The two had become very close, perhaps closer than they should have been. They sat in Jillan's quarters every night, and talked about their lives before they had come here. They told each other everything.

One night, Jillan was showing Aaron pictures of her family. She was a single child with a mother and a father who obviously loved each other. After she finished showing Aaron, he spoke, "You're really lucky to have parents like that, and people who love you. I wish I had the same."

Jillan stared into Aaron's jaded eyes, "You have people who love you."

"No...I did, I think, but that's long gone."

"I love you." At first they were quiet, then Jillan leaned forward, but Aaron lightly placed his hands on her shoulders. This was what Aaron had always wanted, but knew he could never have.

"Jill, you know we can't-"

She pressed two fingers against his lips, and he fell silent.

Jillan's alarm clock sounded, and the lovers' eyes opened. They lay in Jill's bed, with Aaron's arms wrapped around her. "Today's the day, Aaron."

"I'm scared." He replied.

"You'll be fine." Jillan stroked his hair, reassuring him.

"Jill, no matter what happens today..."

"I will always love you." Jillan kissed him lightly, a show of everlasting affection.

A metal slab with diamond shaped gratings lay before victor. ONI scientists were busy moving about the room. Then, everything stopped. Aaron turned to al-Cygni, who gave him a nod.

Aaron stripped off his clothes, and lay down on the metal plate. Titanium bindings locked him in, and a low hum emitted from the liquid below him. The black fluid vibrated as Aaron was lowered towards it. When it touched his skin, he cried out in pain. "Jillian!"

"It's okay, Aaron."

Aaron gritted his teeth as he sank deeper. He noticed his skin start to turn gray. "What's happening to me! Jill, make it stop! Tell them to let me go!"

"You're fine." She replied. Her response was unconvincing due to the tears sliding down her dark cheeks.

"No! Jill please, you said, you said that you would always-

His last words turned into choked gargles as the black liquid poured down into his throat.

The Shade snapped back into reality, and by the face he wore, al-Cygni could tell that he remembered everything. "You lied to me, Jill."

"I'm sorry." The ONI officer replied, her voice rising to a higher pitch as the tears began to flow down her face again.

"How could I have been so foolish!? It was all a trick, wasn't it?"

"No Aaron! It was real, I promise."

"How can I take your word now!?" The Shade shouted. Anger filled his face. "Don't even answer that, because I don't care." He walked towards the door, then paused, "Just think about this, who's the real monster here?" The door closed behind him, and Aaron was gone.

  • 11.03.2009 5:37 PM PDT
Subject: [Story] Rise of Harvest (Part.11 Is Available!)
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No matter how many seals are killed by sharks a year, it never seems to be enough :D

Just so you don't get the wrong idea, this will not be turning into a overly dramatic love story.

Part.12

The Shade sat on his bed, alone. The surviving members of his squad were out collecting the fruit they had taken from the mess hall, and fermented into alcohol. There was a light knock on his door. "Come in." Jillan stepped into the dark room, closed the door, then sat beside him. "Why couldn't I remember? Did you take my memories from me too?"

The girl next to him stared down at her lap, "No."

"Then why?" Aaron persisted.

"You just, didn't want to remember. After your augmentation, you wouldn't talk to anyone, for weeks. You just stayed in your bed. People had to force you to eat. When you finally came out of it, you weren't Aaron anymore. You were something else. When I heard you had recovered I came to see you, but then you asked me who I was."

"What did you tell me?"

"Nothing. I couldn't bring myself to say a word. I...I" Tears dropped from Jillan's face.

The Shade looked at her, "It doesn't matter. You were doing your duty."

Jillan turned and looked the Shade in the eyes, "No, I'm not cold like that!"

"How could you not be!? You made me into, this..."

"I didn't know what it would do to you Aaron."

"You said you would always love me, and then you threw me in dangers way."

"I still do..." Jillan placed her hands on the Shade's shoulders, and pulled him towards her.

The Shade pushed her arms away, and got off of the bed, "No. You love Aaron, but you destroyed him."

"I" Jillan had nothing left to say. She stood, and left.

**********
Victor stood, leaning against the bunk that Colonel Lark and his men resided in. He still wore the bottom half of his ODST armor. On top, he wore a white shirt cut off at the shoulders. Everyone talked, joked, and laughed about the funny ways they had killed a Covenant soldier. Even Victor joined in.

Somehow, for the first time in what felt like forever, Victor was happy. "So, kid." Colonel Lark started, directing his words towards Victor. Then, he paused, narrowing his eyes. Lark walked towards the imposter, grabbed his arm, and pulled on it. The Colonel grinned, "Yeah, you seemed kinda sketchy from the start. Not a hell jumper, huh?"

Victor panicked, "Wh-what? That's ridiculous, of course I am."

Another soldier walked up, and peered at his shoulder, "Ha!"

Lark continued, "You don't have the tattoo. All of us have it." Lark pulled up his sleeve, revealing a strange mark.

Victor winced, "There's nowhere else for me to go. Please, I can fight. I-"

Colonel Lark threw an iron fist into Victor's cheek. He spun and dropped to the floor. "So, I suppose you took that from a dead Jumper? That's not okay." He picked the dazed man off of the floor, and punched him in the gut.

Victor let out a grunt as he fell to the ground again. Lark's eyes turned to an object on the floor. Something had fallen out of one of Victor's pouches on his waist. It was a picture of a woman, and a beautiful one at that. "This your girl, love bird?"


"Give that back." Victor growled.

"Oh, I don't think so. She's nice. Jason, check this out."

One of the ODST's men came to inspect the photograph, "Damn!" The rest of them gathered around, grinning and making approved whoops and "Oh yeah!"s

"Well," The Colonel grinned, "Can't have any distractions around here now can we?" Lark tore the picture in half, and let it drift to the ground. Victor's face turned pale. "What's the matter love bird? Did I hurt your feelings?"

Victor stood, and braced himself. "You just made a big mistake."

The ODSTs laughed. Lark approached his victim. Once in range, Victor threw a punch. The Colonel grabbed his arm, and snapped it. The man fell to the ground with a cry of pain.

More laughter emitted from the black armored soldiers, then, a cry of pain from the Colonel. Victor had pulled his combat knife out of its sheath on his leg, and jammed it into Lark's leg.

The ODST attempted to dig his into Victor's back, but the man rolled out of the way, stood, and slammed his elbow into Lark's head, knocking him out. The soldier fell forward, and his neck impacted the edge of a metal table, instantly breaking it.

Lark fell to the ground, limp. "Jesus Christ, you killed him!" A Hell Jumper cried out.

Victor whipped some blood off of his lip, leaving a long streak of it on his arm, "He didn't listen, and that's what he got for it."

"Who's second in command?"

A soldier began to raise his hand, but Victor shot him a vicious glance, causing him to lower it. "You," Victor pointed to a random ODST, "Get me a bandage, that's an order."

Commander Yakana sat at his desk with his arms crossed. Across the table sat Velise Lockheart. She was an elderly woman, and her health was failing. She had seen better days. "Ms. Lockheart, We have a problem."

"Yes? She said in a soothing tone, one that aggravated Yakana. He didn't like it when people were confident in his presence.

"Your Shade, he is quitetalented. But he isn't enough to take Harvest back."

"Please, Commander, get to the point. I have things I must do today and I have very little time."

Nobody talked to him like that, but he stifled the will to yell. Instead, he scowled, "We need another one."

Velise was silent, contemplating what she would say next, "Very well."

"Good, I expect it aboard Hell's Fire in...twenty four hours, shall we say?"

A grin appeared on Lockheart's face, "Of course, for twenty million. They are very valuable, Commander."

Yakana bared his teeth, and spoke through them, "We better win."



[Edited on 11.04.2009 6:40 PM PST]

  • 11.04.2009 6:40 PM PDT
Subject: [Story] Rise of Harvest (Part.13 Is Now Available!)
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No matter how many seals are killed by sharks a year, it never seems to be enough :D

Part.13

"ONI Specialist Shade, you are needed on the bridge." The Hell's Fire's COM blurted out. The Shade didn't have the chance to eat, but that didn't matter, he wouldn't have done so anyway. He reached the bridge to see Admiral Terran conversing with a figure in front of him, one that he could not quite make out.

The Shade's footsteps were so light and silent that he had to clear his throat to alert the two of his presence. When Terran turned, he moved out of the way instantly. The Shade clenched his jaw at what stood before him. He looked it over from up to down, examining the chiseled form. It was thin, agile, graceful, but could kill in the blink of an eye.

The two beings locked eyes, so unwilling to turn away.
Admiral Terran cleared his throat, knocking them out of their deep trance, but still, not a word was said. That's when he noticed this meeting was pointless, "Well, you two have been assigned bunk room one seventy eight. You got it all to yourselves, so that should give you a chance to get acquainted. You may go there, now."

"Yes sir." They answered in unison, which Admiral Terran found disturbing. The two turned, and left to their bunk.

When they entered the room, the stranger threw a bag onto an unoccupied bed. Silence filled the air as the beings sat on bunks across from each other. Each was speechless. Finally, Aaron spoke, "I thought I was alone."

"Are you real?" A soft female voice whispered.

Aaron blinked, "Yes."

The girl stood and walked over to Aaron. She sat beside him, and was still. Then she did something strange. The girl raised one smooth gray hand, and touched Aaron's shoulder, as if to confirm that he, in fact, existed. "Do they hate us here?"

"Most do." The male Shade replied.

The awkward conversation ended there. The girl stood, and returned to her own bed. After undressing, she slipped under her covers, and fell asleep.

Aaron did the same, but lay awake for some time before managing to doze off. It was hard to fall asleep when he could hear her breathing, the sound of proof that he wasn't alone in this world.

Weeks passed. The Covenant didn't budge from their position. There were small skirmishes in which Covenant ships would jump, fire, and run. These were relatively ineffective, so it wasn't a big problem. Numerous operations took place, each resulting in human victory.

Harvest was slowly but surely falling back into UNSC control. During this period, the two fellow Shades grew very close. They ate together, trained together, and fought in battle together. The most significant thing was that they slept in the same bed. There was no romantic element in this. It was more like two wolves huddled together for warmth. In their case, it gave them a sense of safety in a place full of people who wished they were dead. They were too different, too strange, too powerful. Nobody welcomed them on the Hell's Fire. That was why the slept together; they were lonely.

Victor had become acquainted with the ODSTs. Even though he wasn't a commissioned officer, the Hell Jumpers considered him a Colonel ever since he murdered Lark, an act that never left his mind. This wasn't an improvement in his life at all. In fact, during every waking moment that he breathed, he sank deeper and deeper into an abyss from which there would be no return. A dark blight was spreading over his heart, filling his mind, and running through his veins.

Al'Katal was getting little sleep. His weapon, where had it gone? It couldn't be dead, no, it was too strong. Did it go rampant? That was a possibility. It was most likely lurking in the high, overgrown stalks of corn, waiting for an unlucky traveler to stumble into the beast's razor sharp jaws. The Zealot would have to do everything in his power to find it, and wrangle it back into his control. There would be no glory, no honor, no victory without it.


[Edited on 11.05.2009 4:05 PM PST]

  • 11.05.2009 4:04 PM PDT
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No matter how many seals are killed by sharks a year, it never seems to be enough :D

Aaron awoke in the middle of the night. The female Shade, Lena, was curled up in a ball, her head resting on his chest. Their bare, gray skin pressed together, and Lena's warmth flowed into Aaron, then seeped back to her, like blood running through a single being. That was what they had become, one.

After failing to fall asleep again, Aaron left the bed, and tucked its covers around Lena's slender body. She had the qualities of a muse; beautiful, but deadly.

Aaron noticed a worn leather book on the bunk's table. When he examined it, he spotted the name Lena etched into the front cover.

Aaron quietly opened it, and looked at the small writing on the first page. His biologically enhanced eyes easily comprehended them.

January 6th 2522

It is my birthday today. I wish I was home with my parents, where they would celebrate with me. The people here don't seem to care at all. I'm not surprised, though. They never seem to care about anything but my fitness, my health, and their clip boards.

I tried to read what they were writing once, but it was some sort of shorthand that I don't understand. I stay up every night for hours, wondering what they want from me. I guess I won't know until they try to get it.

January 8th 2522
Everyone had been acting strange lately. They seem to be nervous. Nobody looks at me, and they avoid my gaze when I speak to them. I'm starting to get scared.

January 9th 2522
The people around here insisted that I get a lot of sleep last night, and I am to report to a room that I have never even heard of before until today. This is it, the moment of truth.

October 14th 2523
What have they done to me?

October 15th 2523
Why?

October 16th 2523
I feel nothing

October 17th 2523
I feel nothing

October 18th 2523
I feel nothing I feel nothing I feel nothing I feel nothing I feel nothing I feel nothing I feel nothing I feel nothing I feel nothing I feel nothing I feel nothing I feel nothing I feel nothing I feel nothing I feel n

June 2nd 2524
I am not alone.


Aaron gently closed the book, feeling tired. He saw Lena, teeth gritted, eyes squeezed shut, and a grip so firm on her pillow that her fist was white.

The male Shade walked towards the bed, and put his hand over hers. She relaxed instantly. Then he released her fist, and she began to writhe again.

Aaron touched her skin, and she was still. He noticed that he felt strange standing away from her as she shook. This feeling dissipated when he touched her arm.

Aaron looked at her with childish eyes. There was a certain innocence about the two. The way most things social confused them was a large part of that, and when they slept together, the thought of any intimate activity never crossed their minds. Aaron climbed back into bed, and pulled himself close to her.

****

Victor sat in the dark of the deactivated gym, thinking about what had happened to him. All he could sum up was that he was becoming increasingly numb to everything around him. His world was black and white.

All of the world's life and beauty had slipped through Victor's fingers. He took the picture of Kayla out of his pocket, and stared into her eyes. They were distorted, due to the tape that was required to hold it together after Colonel Lark had ripped it in half.

Colonel Lark, the man he had murdered. Was it justified? No, he tore a picture, that's it. This pushed Victor into killing another man.

What was happening to Victor? He had changed so much since Kayla's death. She was all that held him together, preserved his inner beauty that had shattered when his wife left the world.

Victor was left to put himself back together, but he didn't know how. The heartbroken man withdrew his knife from its sheath, and gripped its blade.

Blood trickled from his palm onto his pants. There was no hint of pain on his face. Victor was as empty as the space the Hell's Fire coasted through.
Small flickers of hope were extinguished before they could grow, holding him under the water, drowning him in misery.

*****

An Unggoy patrol walked through a field of tall grass. The Humans fancied the element of surprise, and the Covenant forces on Harvest weren't willing to give them that.

The stubby creatures made short barks and grunts, conversing as they combed the area. Their party of twenty started becoming more and more quiet. Many had stopped talking.

Over time, only five Unggoy were still chatting amongst themselves. That was when they became aware of what was happening.

The creatures looked around, and noticed that they were alone. Their original group had thinned immensely. The creatures shifted nervously.

A sharp, but short squeal came from the Unggoy on the far left. When they turned, he was gone. Another yelp marked the disappearance of another comrade.

The next two died before they could make a noise, leaving one left. He looked around, and charged his plasma pistol to the point where it was shaking violently in his hands. Then he felt something touch him from behind.

When the Unggoy turned, he fell to the ground in fear, causing his plasma pistol to discharge into the sky. In front of him stood a grotesque creature. Long, greasy black hair ran down its shoulders. It showed a menacing grin, allowing saliva to ooze through its black fangs.

Eve decided the Unggoy was the most delicious thing she had ever tasted.

****

Al'Katal and Zemala touched down, and exited the Phantom into the outpost that had emitted a distress call. A recording showed a slaughter.

Whatever was doing the killing was too fast to make out. Al'Katal was sure that it was his weapon. The two Sangheili were as quiet as they could be as they avoided stepping on the bodies of their fallen comrades.

Blood soaked the dirt beneath their feat. The turrets on the high walls of the encampment were unmanned, and the fresh air around them smelled of death.

The absence of a roof let the moonlight cast menacing shadows around Al'Katal. Zemala signaled for him to halt, "Zealot, it is here."

Al'Katal looked around, but saw nothing, "What makes you think this?"

Zemala motioned to the roof of the only building in the camp. On top of it stood a thin figure. Long claws began to extend from its fingers.

The moon floated behind the monster, obscuring the details of the creature. The Sangheili withdrew their energy swords, knowing that the creature preferred hand to hand combat. It crouched, and leaped into the air.

When it seemed as if it would spatter onto the tall wall it was heading for, it pressed its legs against it, and launched at Al'Katal.

The Zealot took on a defensive stance, waiting for the right time. Zemala was caught off guard when it switched targets. A powerful punch to his chest sent him flying into the purple metal behind him.

Zemala's shields were eliminated on impact, and he lost his grip on the energy blade. The creature took advantage of this, and caught the blade in mid air.

A quick slice at Al'Katal destroyed his shields, and cut him across the chest. The Sangheili flexed its mandibles in pain, but continued to fight.

The sharp cracks of the energy blades colliding echoed through the walled in area. Waves rippled across the blades every time they touched.

The Zealot's weapon was more than a match for him. The Sangheili found himself on the immediate defensive, slowly being backed into a corner.

The monster cried out in pain as a bolt of plasma impacted its back. Al'Katal took this opportunity to cut the sword holding hand off his beast. Green blood spattered his armor. An arm came around from behind its neck, and began to choke it.

The beast thrashed around, and sent a tendril out of its hand into the soft spot between Zemala's shoulder and chest plate. The Sangheili didn't flinch. His heritage poured out of the deep hole, and with it, precious honor.

This made Zemala furious. He tightened his grip on the monster, threatening to break its neck.

Al'Katal saw this, and quickly pulled Zemala off his valuable abomination. It took that moment to send a claw at Al'Katal's throat. He narrowly avoided it, slipping through death's fingers as he had done many times before.

Zemala brought an elbow down on the creature's head, dazing it. Al'Katal finished the mission with a direct punch to the temple, causing the monster to black out.

Sangheili bound it with energy cuffs, and pulled it towards the ship. Zemala spoke in a worried tone, "We are wounded, Zealot."

"Indeed." Al'Katal winced

"When we reach our ship, we will surely be disgraced." Zemala's voice was quivering.

"Not necessarily. We can cover ourselves with cloaks."

"But, that would be heresy, my friend."

"Is it more honorable to spill your blood line for the Covenant, or hold back like a coward, not wishing to make a sacrifice?"

Zemala's eyes widened, "Do not speak in this manner! We can not violate out people's ways. It would disgrace us all!"

"Silence!" the Zealot snapped, anger building in his voice, "I will not lose my rank, nor my honor."

His friend scowled, "This is not about honor, is it? No, you wish to keep your power. I was wrong to think you pure, Al'Katal."

"I am your superior, Martyr; do not speak to me that way."
"No, you are no longer one of us, you are as good as dead to the Sangheili. When we return to the flag ship, I will not conceal your disgrace."

Al'Katal stopped in his tracks. Zemala knew what was about to happen. The two Sangheili reached for their energy blades. Zemala was fast, but Al'Katal was faster. By the time the Martyr had activated his blade, Al'Katal had begun a swift lunge that ran Zemala through. He lurched forward as dark purple blood jumped from his mouth. "Heretic!" Spat the Martyr. Al'Katal's eyes were wide with surprise, horror, guilt, and disgrace. He withdrew his blade, and Zemala fell to the dirt, dead.

  • 11.08.2009 8:03 AM PDT
Subject: [Story] Rise of Harvest
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No matter how many seals are killed by sharks a year, it never seems to be enough :D

P.15

Victor's tank top was soaked with sweat as he bench pressed weights that he never thought he would be able to lift. It was more of a way to take his mind off of everything than a concern about physical condition.

The metal bar was stained red where the knife wound Victor had inflicted upon himself had re-opened. The man ignored it.

He was more absorbed by something he had not seen in a long time. The two Shades sat together, leaning against the gym wall, playing some sort of game that required only their hands. The female giggled as she beat the male for the fifth time.

Aaron sighed leaning his head back. A smile was on his face. The Shade no longer wore his mask, which was a habit of his since the moment Victor had first met the being. The two seemed happy, unlike anyone else aboard the Hell's Fire.

The female leaned back on the male's legs. He played with her long, paper white hair. The girl closed her eyes and smiled, but immediately jumped back up when he used the tips of her hair to tickle her neck.

The Shades almost looked like children, but all of that changed when they were in combat. He had seen them on the battle field, stone cold expressions, merciless.

Victor couldn't help but think about his wife, and how happy he was, but that was the past. There was no point of sobbing over it; Kayla's death was set in stone. Then there was Eve--Eve!

Victor had completely forgotten about her. How could he? The girl was the closest thing he had to a friend. Was she still at the generator building? Or did the Covenant get to her first?

Aaron and Lena lay in their bunk's bed. The female Shade was curled up next to him, "Aaron?" She whispered softly.

"Yes?" The male replied.

"What are we?"

"I...I'm not sure. Not human, though."

Lena looked into his eyes, "We don't belong anywhere, do we?"

"No, no we don't."

Aaron's conversation with al-Cygni had fallen from his mind, as if it never happened. What he said was true; he wasn't the man she loved. He was a Shade, and things like past suffering didn't belong in his mind.

Al'Katal picked up his creature's severed hand, and used its sharp claws to mutilate the area on Zemala where his sword had made its entry. This would surely fool his fellow Covenant.

The Zealot would say Zemala died in a fierce fight with the weapon. Once he had finished covering his tracks, he dragged Zemala's body, and his unconscious creation into the phantom. Al'Katal covered himself with a cloak to hide his wounds, and returned to his ship.

When the Zealot boarded the Hammer of Wrath, he immediately ordered Sangheili guards to imprison the creature, and took Zemala to the medical bay himself. Both of the Martyr's hearts had been destroyed. There was no reviving him.

Al'Katal returned to the bridge. His officers seemed overjoyed. One spoke up in a proud voice, "Your honor, we have finished the stealth boarding pods."

Al'Katal forced a grin, "The time to attack the humans is upon us."

al-Cygni pinned her hair back, and dressed. She had a long day ahead of her. The ONI officer had to help make attack plans. It would be her, Admiral Terran, and...Aaron.

al-Cygni felt a burning sensation in her chest, and quickly pushed the thought of her past love out of her mind. She knew Aaron was right about what he had said. He wasn't what he used to be. Then why did these feelings keep up?

al-Cygni quickly left the room. Her job would surely distract her from the deeper thoughts in her mind. She was the last to arrive in the strategizing station.

It was a small, dark, circular room. In the center, three chairs were positioned around a circular platform. "Finally decided to show up?" Admiral Terran remarked with irritation in his voice.

Jillan disregarded the comment, and got right down to business, "So, what do we have so far." Terran began to explain, but the ONI officer was too distracted by another element in the room.

"al-Cygni!" The Admiral snapped his fingers, "Please, pay attention." The man went on about the strategy that would soon be obsolete.

The Hell's Fire shook ferociously. "What the hell?!" The Admiral stood. The ships alarm blasted through the air. They were being boarded.

*************

The male Shade drew out his sidearm, as did Jillan and Admiral Terran. The three of them exited the dark room, and swept the hallway with their crosshairs. The Shade took point, and Terran brought up the rear. The ONI Specialist raised two gray fingers, signaling them to halt. He peered around the corner.

The Shade holstered his weapon, withdrew his serrated knife, and activated his camouflage. He crept up behind the first of three Elites. A quick slash with his knife slit a purple gap in the alien's throat. It made a ghastly choking noise as blood was caught in its windpipe.

The next two fired, but the Shade was already behind them. In one fluid motion, he threw his knife into one of the Covenant's neck, and wrapped the arm still in motion around the second's neck.

The Specialist snapped it with ease. He heard gunshots from where Terran and Jillan were. He rounded the corner just in time to see the last grunt fall to the ground. The three were on the move again. "Admiral, it would be wise to rendezvous with the ONI Shade Marksman."

"Can you lead us to her?" Terran asked.

"Affirmative."

"Then by all means." The sound of war echoed through the
halls of the Hell's Fire. Human bodies lay on the grade-A titanium deck, the metal tinted red.

The Shade deactivated his camouflage, and led them through the corridors. He paused when he found a fallen ODST with a shotgun gripped tightly in his cold hands.

Aaron had to pry it from his iron grasp. After taking some shells, and loading the weapon completely, they continued. Soon a large Covenant's platoon found them.

The soldiers were pinned down, and even with camouflage, the slightest stir would cause the enemy to light up the hallway. Even the Shade's plasma resistant skin wouldn't be able to handle that much fire power.

The ground rumbled as two blue armored behemoths cautiously advanced towards the corner the trio hid behind. Two sharp cracks and an explosion sounded through the air, causing everyone's ears to ring. The walls were painted with multiple colors.

The Shade took a quick look around the corner. Lena stood behind the Covenant bodies, a high powered rifle in her hands, and two grenade pins dangling from her fingers.

***************

Victor and his squad took cover behind a half closed air lock. The ODSTs were mowing down the Covenant troops that came their way. "Okay girls, I know you would love to stay and chat with our friends here, but we are running low on lead."

Admiral Terran's Communications Officer was crouched low, shaking in fear. There was a reason Terran had chosen this man; fear gripped him easily, but he fought on. No matter how scared he got, he didn't let it get to him.

The Com Officer swallowed his panic, and steadied himself, coming out of cover to plant a bullet in an unsuspecting Jackal's brain. He jumped when he saw figures come from behind, but then relaxed.

"Admiral!" Terran fired off a few shots as he moved towards the broken air lock. "Hey, Shaky." Shaky was the officer's name since the first battle he had fought in on the Hell's Fire. It was easily understood why he received it.

"We initiated the Cole Protocol, and I have set the self destruct to half an hour, as you requested."

"Good job, son."

Victor gritted his teeth as plasma nicked his shoulder, "Cut
the chit chat, we gotta go!"

The party continued to battle through the ship. After twenty minutes, they reached the escape pods. Victor was enjoying this. It seemed like the only time he felt alive was when he was taking the lives of others.

There was one escape pod left, and it was on the other side of the long room. The group ran towards it, occasionally turning around to fire off a few shots. Covenant began to pour in to the room from behind.

Victor noticed that the Shade was sacrificing himself. No, I won't let her lose you. Victor dashed towards the Shade, and crouched next to him. "Go! I can hold them!"
The gray creature continued to fight, "Run, I'll be there once you get aboard."

Victor could tell that the Shade wasn't going to budge, "Good luck, kid."

  • 11.11.2009 5:36 PM PDT

My God you're dedicated. Good stuff, I'll try and completely catchup soon.

  • 11.11.2009 5:45 PM PDT
Subject: [Story] Rise of Harvest (Part.16 Is Up!)
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No matter how many seals are killed by sharks a year, it never seems to be enough :D

Part.16

Victor turned, and ran towards the escape pod when he heard a massive explosion. He quickly spun around to see the Shade lying on the ground, blood pouring out of the places where his legs should have been.

A blur passed by him, and grabbed the fallen warrior. Victor fired his pistol as he retreated with the unknown hero. He had to swerve to avoid the hail of plasma. Another massive ball of green fire impacted the ground next to him.

One side of Victor's fatigues caught on fire, "Holy sh-" A blue ball impacted the black plating on his back. It melted through, but took most of the impact. The man dove into the escape pod, and the doors shut behind him with a hiss. He rolled a few times, and the fire was gone. A clank signaled that they had shot into space.

A quick look out of the cockpit's window showed the UNSC fleet being disabled, and torn apart from the inside. One by one, they began to detonate. Victor did his best to relax, but then he saw them.

Huddled in the corner was the female Shade, holding the male tightly in her arms. She had tied two tourniquets above the missing halves of his legs, and was gently rocking him back and forth as her nervous eyes darted around the escape pod. Victor looked away, unable to watch.

The remaining soldiers in his ODST squadron didn't seem to care. They were long gone. Victor was too, but he had an Achilles heel: love.

*******

al-Cygni watched as her past love fell into death's grip. She didn't notice that she was holding her breath until her lungs started burning. The ONI officer exhaled, and tear ran down her face as Aaron's breathing slowed, and finally came to a stop.

The female Shade cried out in agony. The girl tucked her head next to his, and was silent. One of the ODSTs unbuckled his chair, and walked over to the female. He lightly placed a hand on her shoulder, and knelt down to slip his arms under the fallen Shade's body.

The girl reluctantly released him, and let the ODST pick him up. He held the body with one arm as he pulled a black bag from the over head cupboard. He unzipped the coffin. Gently, the ODST laid the Shade into the bag, closed the body's eyes, and slowly ran the zipper above its face.

The female Shade was still huddled in the corner, quiet and motionless. Al-Cygni tried to get her to buckle in to a harness, but she refused. Everyone in the drop pod, even the ODSTs frowned at the sight.Maybe it was because of the separation of two friends, or maybe it was because of the separation of a single being. Whatever it was, it was hard to watch.

Jillan fiddled with her pistol as a distraction. It was working, until the escape pod began to violently shake. The ONI officer holstered her weapon, and gripped the straps of her seat tightly.

The drop pod operator looked around form the cockpit, "Alright, here we go!" The ground grew nearer and nearer. Finally, the vessel slammed into a tall corn field, and left a streak of dirt behind it.

al-Cygni sighed in relief. Everyone unbuckled, and moved towards the exit ramp. The female Shade had placed the male's body bag down on the dirt streak. Jillan tried the drop ship's radio, but nobody else was in range of their crash site. She gazed into the sky to see the UNSC fleet in pieces. It was over, they had lost.

They only had one goal now: to survive.

END OF SECTION ONE


[Edited on 11.12.2009 2:07 PM PST]

  • 11.12.2009 1:17 PM PDT
Subject: [Story] Rise of Harvest

My honest opinion is that you're writing too often. Give yourself a break, and make the fans want more. Because right now you're flooding them, which is probably why you're not getting too many comments.

  • 11.12.2009 1:20 PM PDT
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No matter how many seals are killed by sharks a year, it never seems to be enough :D

Yea, thats a good idea. I was just really exited and caught up in it. Thanks :D

  • 11.12.2009 1:39 PM PDT

"The Internet is a hostile and unforgiving place. Avoiding a flame war is like trying to walk unscathed through a minefield with a blindfold on. Likely it isn't going to happen."

I want to see Eve turn and kick some sangheili ass!
put really this is ALOT im going to take break and
check out some other fan fics

  • 11.13.2009 3:21 PM PDT

Posted by: Dropship dude
No, acnboy. Spartain Ken 15 is a lesser being. Much like the bacteria that lives in your shi­t.
Posted by: mike120593
My shi­t bacteria takes offense to that comparison.

Don't make me lel. You won't like me when I lel.

Damn I think I've missed 4 or so parts, gotta catch up.

  • 11.14.2009 4:07 AM PDT
Subject: [Story] Rise of Harvest (Part 17 Is Available!)
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No matter how many seals are killed by sharks a year, it never seems to be enough :D

SECTION TWO

Part. 17

Admiral Terran walked towards the female Shade. When he tried to pick her up, she pushed him away. He sighed, and looked at one of Victor's squad mates," Soldier." The Admiral nodded.

The ODST grabbed the girl's shoulders, and forcefully pulled her up. The Shade grabbed the black armored soldier's arms, and threw him into the air. He cried out in surprise as he traveled a good twenty feet before hitting the ground.

Terran sighed, "She isn't going anywhere." The girl was dead set on staying where she was. The Admiral thought he might as well try to take the dead Shade with him. Then he would be able to give him a proper burial, but when he tried, the female shot him a vicious glance. Terran stepped back, "Just leave her, it's a lost cause." Everyone turned, and walked away into the corn.

**********

Lena unzipped the top of the body bag, and stared at Aaron's cold face. She reached down, and stroked his cheek with the back of her hand. Tears refused to emerge from her eyes, but the pain was clear in her face.

Night fell, and Lena still hadn't moved. She just sat on her legs, staring at Aaron. She couldn't leave him, even now. Wind found its way through the corn field, and blew Lena's hair into her eyes. The Shade was broken, shattered into a million pieces.

**********

Victor walked through the corn field with his party. He was silent, but the rest were engaged in an interesting conversation.

One of his ODSTs seemed to be leading it, "Okay, fine, but how many of you had had intercourse with more than one person at once."

Every ODST raised his hand. Surprisingly, Admiral Terran did too.

"Yea, Terran whoo!" The ODSTs cheered, causing the Admiral to grin.

al-Cygni sighed, "How about we play guess your disease?"

One of Victor's men let out a loud, "She bites!"

Admiral Terran bit the side of his lower lip, "Can any of you soldiers tell me how we got from the Covenant to...sex?"
The leading ODST answered, "Oh well we...uhm."

"Rick started thinking about Elite." Another teased, tilting his head at the previous speaker. Everyone laughed.
Even Jillan joined in. When they realized they were all as good as dead, they became light hearted.

Victor couldn't help but smile. Well, at least we are going out in a good mood. The man realized he still had family: his men, Jillan, Terran, and even the Shadesthe Shade. What kind of family would leave them behind? "I think we should go back for the Shade." He spoke up.

The Admiral turned, and looked him dead in the eye, "I told you, it's a lost cause. You can go back if you want to die, but I'm not turning around." Victor scowled behind his visor, and took off towards the Shade.

The man's ODSTs looked at each other, and went to follow.
Admiral Terran grabbed one's shoulder, "No, you are to stay, that's an order."

*********

Victor was alone. He had to travel all day, and partially through the night until he came to the crashed Pelican. He looked around, but saw no one.

The man walked into the interior of the aircraft. There was the female Shade, holding the male, and trickling water into his mouth with a flask. He was swallowing, swallowing! Victor ran forward, and kneeled next to them, "My god, he's alive."

The female shade stared up at Victor, her red eyes seemed to pierce through him. The man knew that look. It meant Leave us be. "I came back for you; we can still catch up with the others if we leave soon. Just...get me when you're ready."

The female Shade obviously understood the need to move, so she stood, and reached out a hand to help the male up. He took it, and pulled himself to his feet. Victor's eyes widened. "But his legs, they were gone." The male Shade's skin from his knees down looked soft, and fresh. No scars were present. Where they fake? No, nobody produced gray prosthetic limbs, or braught them on to a pelican. Those were real.

When Victor realized that the two were trying to connect his eyes to where he was gazing, he quickly shifted his look to the female's face. "I take it you're ready to go?" She nodded, and they walked off into the night.

The trio had to set a brisk pace to make sure that they would catch up with the others. It was easy to track the group. All they had to do was follow the path of bent corn.

The moon was high in the air when they reached the camp. A circle was cut out of the field, its previous occupants uprooted and used as fuel for a fire in the middle. Everyone drew out their guns, but then settled when they saw it was only Victor. Then the two Shades walked into the circle. Everyone was quiet in awe.

Nothing had to be said. After about an hour, the camp's previous spirit had returned. There were jokes, laughter, and the occasional telling of a war story. Victor, however, wore a face of stone, "We shouldn't be so loud. They are obviously searching for survivors."

One of his ODSTs, Marie, stared at him with narrow eyes, "You're just jealous because we have stories and you don't."

Victor grimaced as he looked up from his slinged, broken arm, "Here's a good one, the Covenant murdered my wife. Pretty amusing, huh?" The man stood, and walked away to the edge of the camp.

********

The two Shades cleared their own area in the field, a small distance away from the main camp. They lay on top of a thermal blanket, staring at the stars in the sky. Lena had latched onto his arm, refusing to let go whenever the male Shade tried to move.

Aaron decided it was time to rest. The next day promised to be long, and dangerous. He placed his hand on one of Lena's, signaling for her to let go. She was hesitant at first, but then released his arm.

Aaron unzipped the thermal blanket, slipped into it, and made room for Lena. She had a strange look on her face when Aaron pulled the zipper up, closing them in to the thin shelter. The two were still for some time, until Lena shifted her weight onto Aaron's chest, and pressed in a sequence on the suit's pressure points, causing it to automatically loosen.

The male moved uneasily, "It's cold, we should sleep in our suits." Lena paused, and gazed into his eyes, telling him that what she was doing wasn't for a comfortable slumber.

Aaron understood, and let her remove his suit. Afterwards, he helped her with hers. Aaron ran his thumb across Lena's soft lips. In turn, she pulled herself close, and they became lost in passion.



[Edited on 11.16.2009 2:11 PM PST]

  • 11.16.2009 1:04 PM PDT
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No matter how many seals are killed by sharks a year, it never seems to be enough :D

Part. 18

Aaron awoke in the early morning. The sun was just rising above the tall corn stalks, making a show of orange and yellow colors in the sky. He thought of the previous night, and what he had felt in his heart. Aaron knew what love felt like, but that wasn't it. It was something different, something strange, something a normal human could never understand.

Then the Shade heard a strange noise. The Shade turned to see Lena leaning out of their small, secluded, clearing, and vomiting with violent lurches. In seconds Aaron had pulled his suit on, and was kneeling beside the girl with worried eyes, "Lena, are you okay?" His voice was much softer than usual.

"I don't feel well." Tears were streaming down her face.

"Why are you crying?"

"I-I don't know." She stuttered. When Aaron examined her, Lena's body looked like it had become heavier over night.

"Here, let's get you to a medic." Aaron helped Lena dress, and together, they walked back into the main camp, where everyone was still asleep.

Lena sat down in the dirt as the male Shade roused the only medic they had. Unfortunately, he was an ODST. Private Rick Owing awoke with a jump, and drew out a knife. Aaron grabbed his arm before the soldier could swing.Rick sighed, "Christ, don't scare me like that man."

"I'm sorry."

"Did you just talk?" Rick was puzzled, "Never mind. What's so damn important that you would wake me up?"

A nervous look appeared on Aaron's face, "I need you to...look at her." The Shade nodded towards Lena.

"Whatever." The ODST grunted as he stood, and walked over to the female. He kneeled down to her, and examined the troubled look on her face.

The male Shade stood beside him, "When I awoke, she was throwing upand crying, too."

"Well, there's a lot of reasons that a chick could be crying and vomiting." Then something caught Rick's eye, "Wait a minutewasn't she thinner like, five hours ago?" Aaron nodded. "It almost looks like she's knocked up." The medic laughed, but stopped when he saw that the Shades seemed to have come to a realization.

The ODST's eyes widened, "Wait, you two didn't" A look of guilt appeared on the two soldier's faces. "Oh, man. When did you-!?" Rick stopped mid sentence, making sure everyone was still asleep, then continued in a whisper, "When did you two, uhm, get it on?" The Shades looked at him, confused. The medic sighed, "Have sex."

Aaron's gray face became darker, "Last night."

Rick took a quick glance over to Lena, who was curled up in a ball, then back at the male. "How is that possible? I mean, it usually takes a while before the belly starts to show." He rubbed his temples, "Man, right when I thought you two couldn't get any weirder."

The ODST paused, took in a deep breath, and spoke, "Okay, Judging by what I've seen, your bodies' healing process runs much faster than a human's. It's like you are on fast forward. So it's possible that, wait, shouldn't you out of all people know how you work?"

Aaron shook his head, "I don't have access to that data."

"Jesus Christ. Well, anyway, it's possible that your reproductive process works at a similar speed."

"So, you're saying that-"

"You should be expecting a Shade junior, very soon."

  • 11.22.2009 7:47 PM PDT

Hehehe....Aaron, you naughty boy. Moral of the story-always rubber up!

Great new chapter.

  • 11.22.2009 9:48 PM PDT

nice man, good fanfic, hey maybe wolver could learn from you and write part 33 of insurrection haha jk wolver if you read this take your time its ok.

  • 11.23.2009 12:18 AM PDT
Subject: [Story] Rise of Harvest (Part 18 Is Available!)

|97% Of teens wont stand up for God, if you are one of that 3% put this in your sig.|

Awesome story. i loved it. very very good story my friend. when you going to be an Arther? lol

  • 11.24.2009 1:41 PM PDT
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No matter how many seals are killed by sharks a year, it never seems to be enough :D

Part. 19

The Shades were silent, looking more childish than ever. Rick felt sympathy for them. They didn't know what the consequences of their actions would be. They were just two kids, trapped in a bad dream. The ODST sat in the dirt next to them. "Look you two, it's not the end of the world. If we lose this planet, it may be, but not because you're having a kid."

Lena looked at the medic with sadness in her eyes. "What's going to happen to us?"

Rick frowned. "Hell, I don't know. You guys don't get paid for fighting, do you?" The male shook his head. "Then you're most likely government property."

Lena looked up at the ODST. "What does that mean?"

"It means you don't count as a human. The ONI knows you're too valuable to set you free to your own will, and much too valuable to dispose of. The worst thing that can happen is you two being separated, and your kid being thrown onto a lab table where short nerdy guys will do all sorts of experiments on it."

Lena whimpered. "I don't want that to happen."

"Well that's too bad, sweet heart," the ODST replied gruffly, "Because it will, and there is zero you can do about it." Aaron gave Rick a hateful look. The medic had lost his patience. "Don't get mad at me because I'm just telling you the truth. You wanna be pissed? Then be mad at yourselves, because this could have been very easily avoided. You two screwed around, and now you are paying the price."

The female Shade began to cry. Aaron was frozen with an emotion far out of his world...fear. The Shade knew only one thing; Lena and he were in this together.

Rick frowned, obviously affected by the female's tears. He was an ODST, and distancing himself from emotions was necessary. "Stop crying, soldier, Christ." Lena made one last sniffle, then looked up.

"Now, by the end of the day, I can give you an estimation of when the kid is going to be born. That day, you two will go on a fake reconnaissance mission." The ODST paused, and pointed at Aaron. "That's when you will deliver your girl's kid."

The male Shade shifted nervously. "I am not acquainted with such a procedure. It would be dangerous for me to attempt a task of that sort."

"Hey, don't pull the robot emotionless professional killer card on me. I know that's bull. Man up, and do it."

Aaron's head shot to one side, and his eyes narrowed. The Shade activated his camouflage, and crept into the corn field. Something had caught the attention of his supernatural senses. Rick and Lena followed suit.

Lena became attentive and crouched low. The three found themselves at an edge of a hill, looking down at a generator building. Its fence was knocked down, and excavation machines were everywhere.

The construct was heavily guarded with turrets, a ghost, and a pair of especially big hunters. Rick turned to Aaron, "What the hell are they doing?"

"This is one of their dig sites for forerunner technology. There's an artifact around here...somewhere. "

"We should alert the others."

Lena nodded in agreement, and the three made their way back to camp. They quickly shook everyone awake and gathered them together.

Rick took it upon himself to explain the situation. "Okay, we set camp in a bad neighborhood." His audience gave him a confused look, "We are really really close to a Covenant excavation sight."

"Do they know we are here?" Admiral Terran asked.

"I'm not sure, but we should get moving."

The group began to get their possessions, but were soon stalled by the Admiral. "Wait, how big is this place? Maybe we can attack."

"I wouldn't suggest it, at least not yet. It's pretty secure. We might want to plan something out first." Rick replied.

Terran ran his fingers through his hair, "Where is the site? I want to see it."

The male shade stepped forward, "I wouldn't suggest going back, Sir. The risk of being detected is not low. We should head for the woods."

**********

Victor was stricken with a sinking feeling in his chest. The woods would bring back some bad memories...they already had. There was no choice. He would have to put aside his personal comfort for survival.

As the group walked towards the trees in the distance, something caught Victor's eye. He turned his head to the female Shade, who quickly activated her stealth suit. Even then, something was still off.

Victor couldn't see her, but he could see the corn stalks parting in a strange way as the Shade walked through them. It seemed like there was something round pushing them apart. The ODST sensed something was wrong, but he knew that some things were best left alone, especially now.

He took his mind off of the subject, and switched it to something else, Kayla. What would things be like if she was still alive? Would he still be in this mess? Even if he would be, it wouldn't matter, because he would have her.

The man felt his feet grow heavy. Victor wanted to lie down, and stay put, but he dragged himself along. When they reached the edge of the woods, it was sundown.

The chirps from the last few awake birds flew through the air. Victor exhaled. For some reason, the creature's song relaxed him. He was envious of them. Birds were so free, so unrestrained. It seemed like wherever Victor went, he always ended up in the same cage, the one of misery.

**************

The Shades sat in the new camp, a clearing in an area of thick shrubbery and trees. Private Rick was sitting on a tree's root, his back resting on its trunk. "You are going to give birth tomorrow morning." The ODST said as he cut chunks out of a stick with his combat knife.

Aaron shifted nervously. "Should we leave the camp tonight?"

Rick exhaled. "Yes. I'll tell them you went on a reconnaissance mission. Nobody will care, not now."

Lena nodded and looked over at the camp fire around which the rest of their party was gathered. She felt horrible. She was a liar, and a liability to the team. The girl would have to take care of this creature as if it were a child, or would she?

Aaron stood and took Lena's hand. Together they walked into the seemingly endless fields of Harvest.

***********

Victor finished his MRE and left the fire to settle down for the night. Thoughts drifted through his mind as he lay under the moon.

Victor thought about Kayla, Colonel Lark, and Eve. Eve, what had become of her? Was she okay? It was possible, but unlikely. Victor had left food and medicine behind. Even so, the Covenant had probably searched the generator building, and Eve was far from hidden.

Victor heard footsteps on the grass near him. He pulled out his sidearm and aimed it at a black armored figure. "Hey! It's me, Marie."

Victor exhaled. "Oh."

The ODST sat beside Victor's bed of moss. "Listen, I'm sorry about last night."

"It's okay."

"I never meant to bring that memory up. I know how you feel, too." Victor looked into Marie's eyes. They were filled with sadness. "You see, Rick's brother, Isaac, and I were...intimate."

Victor nodded, and Marie continued, "When he died, I wanted to scream, I wanted to cry, but I couldn't. I'm an ODST, and that means I have to act like a killer...be a killer. My greatest regret is that I wasn't by his side, holding his hand in his final moments. But that's what it means to be an ODST. We feel emotions, like any other, happiness, depression, fear, love...but we strangle them, kill them before they become too strong."

Victor looked into Marie's eyes. "I could say I'm sorry for your loss, but those are empty words, but I can say you are far from alone. This war has taken so much from so many."

Marie pulled out a pack of cigarettes. "Smoke?"

Victor immediately sat up. "Yes, please." Marie took one for herself, gave one to Victor, and lit them both. Victor took a long satisfying drag, "Christ, I've been dying for one of these things." He paused and stared at the glowing embers on the front of his cigarette. "Thank you. I needed someone to say that to me."

Marie nodded, stood, and walked away. Victor reclined onto the moss. He stayed awake until his cigarette was nothing but ash, then fell into a deep sleep, one without nightmares for once.



  • 11.27.2009 8:34 PM PDT