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Chapter Two: Upon Awakening II
Gunnery sergeant Edward Buck's vision returned slowly, as his naked body sprawled out of the cryo tube, and onto the cold titanium of the hard floor. With a gag, he coughed out the chemicals in his throat, looking up to find others doing the same. Among them were Kojo Agu, Taylor Miles, and Micheal Crespo.
"Hell of a dream," Kojo said, wiping some liquid away from his mouth, letting out another cough.
Micheal got to his legs, stumbled a bit, falling on top of Taylor. "Damn it, Mickey!" yelled the burley ODST, as he shoved him off.
"Sorry, Dutch. It's kind of hard to walk after five years in that tube, y'know?" Mickey said humerously. Dutch grunted, ignoring the demolitions expert. He then took his first step, only to fall to the floor, a red blush spreading across his face. "See?"
Edward cleared his thoughts. Five years had gone by quickly, but, then again, cryo sleep always does. After the Human-Covenant war, things went hectic. The UNSC had lost a large number of troops, and were desperate to preserve as much as they could. So, Edward and his squad of Orbital Drop Shock Troopers all volunteered to enter cryo sleep for the next half a decade, as did a mass amount of other UNSC personell.
"Let's get suited up," said Edward, using the steel walls to guide himself towards the armory as his balance faltered a bit.
"Good idea, Gunny," Kojo said. "I didn't like the idea at staring at eachothers balls all day."
One by one, recovering their ability to walk, the ODSTs followed, subcumbing to the occasional trip or fall along the way.
John 117 paced nervously as the first stages of the Regeneration began. To be honest, he couldn't imagine fighting without Cortana there to provide support and information along the way. And, admittedly, he had gotten used to her sarcastic attitude.
Stopping to peer through the window and towards the large machine on the other side, John watched as it functioned, preparing Cortana's human body. Even if she did make it out of this fine, what would happen to her? She couldn't get inside his head anymore, she wouldn't be able to function as an AI. What would she do?
Technically, she would still be part of the UNSC. Perhaps they'd make her an Intellegience officer? That was the only logical decision John could think of. Checking the ornate clock which hung above the automatic doors leading into the observation room, the Spartan heaved a sigh. The process would still take four more hours, but he was determined to sit through it.
Buck led his team into the debriefing room, meeting the gaze of Fleet Admiral Watanabe. Snapping to attention, the squad of ODSTs inquired a sharp salute.
"At ease," Watanabe said, nodding for the ODST to relax.
"You called us, sir?" asked Buck.
"That I did, Sergeant. I have a task for you and your boys, I trust you've been debriefed over what has happened the past five years?"
Buck nodded. "Yes, sir. We're still at war with the Covenant?"
"I'm afraid so," the Admiral conceded, admiting a sigh. "Don't worry though, this war is nothing like the one we faced half a decade ago. We're at even sides now. They aren't as disciplined, organized, or as strong without their Prophets. Not to mention the Covenant that joined our side."
Buck nodded, somewhat relieved. "And the Insurrection?"
"Still going strong. The Inssurectionists have managed to set up in a community of astroid belts around the many systems, but they can't do any harm to Earth." The Admiral studied the ODSTs. "No doubt you boys are exhausted, but I have a crucial task for you. This one's straight from the top."
"Sir?" Buck asked.
Watanabe cleared his throat. "Are you familiar with Onyx?"
Buck searched his thoughts. "I can't say I am, sir."
"Of course you aren't. It's existence is classified. Let me explain," again, Watanabe cleared his throat. "Many years ago we - the UNSC - began a Spartan III project on that planet. It was highly classified, as we feared the Covenant would find and destroy it before the Spartans could be deployed.
"Eventually, they did, but something else happened, too. The entire planet turned out to be made of Forerunner technology, the entire planet. Reports from the corvette, Dusk, has sent us undeniable proof.
"The Covenant faught the Forerunner technology in orbit, being ripped to shreds. A few ships breached the planets atmoshpere, landing. The planet soon exploded from the inside, apparently its artifical core. How or why it happened is unknown to us. But, let me get to he point: A few weeks ago, we lost contact with one of our drones as it went into deep space, trying to sniff out any Insurrectionists hiding in astroid belts.
"Nearly a week later, contact with the drone was re-established. We caught glimpses of what appeard to by a Dyson sphere."
Buck's brows furrowed. "A Dyson sphere, sir?"
"It's essentually an alternate dimension, appearing small on the outside, but becoming very large on the inside. If we're right, then the explosion from the planet's core created it. And if we're right again, then the planet is still intact, but on the other side of the Sphere."
"Where do we come into this?" Dutch asked.
The Admiral turned to the large ODST. "I want you boys to cross over," he said. "I want you boys to see what's on the other side."
John's heartrate grew faster as the final steps of the regeneration were being completed.
"Ten, nine, eight . . ." came the voice of Doctor Lynus over an intercom, as he announced the final seconds. "Three, two, one . . ."
John placed his hand against the thick glass of the window, as the machine on the other side shuddered. Two large doors flew open, admitting a mass amount of light, a shadowed figure on the other side. The figure fell to the floor, naked and shaking. From the look, it was feminine, short, jet black hair, with two long fringes in the front. The figure looked up, and with a tembling hand, touched her face.
John was amazed by how much of a resembelence she shared with Dr. Halsey. This could have been her daughter, if he didn't know any better. The girls pinkish eyes widened as she sensed her own flesh, and felt her hair as her fingers made their way to her scalp. Then they grew even larger as she noticed the tall Spartan on the other side of the window.
"Chief?" the woman said, voice shaking.
John nodded, "Cortana," he said uncertainly.
A smile spread across her lips, then, looking down at her unclothed body, she added: "Stop staring."
[Edited on 10.29.2009 4:05 PM PDT]