By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.
Author's Foreword: It has been a long time since I posted something in The Gallery, well over a year, I think. Anyways, I'd like to share this story with the community here.
Starts out with a bit of a fast-paced intro, then we'll spend some time getting to know the protagonist and see where we go from there. Whilst I suggest you read Cryptum before reading this to understand the complex terminology, you can always look at the Glossary. Enjoy.
Terminology Glossary
"Greetings Reclaimer, I know what you have come here for, but I am afraid that you will find few answers here, only more questions. I can, however, provide you with my story and how all of this came to be, it has been a long time since one has asked me such complex questions, and, without the Domain, I fear much of my memory may be... disjointed. You have come here under strange circumstances to say at the least, this place holds no salvation for you nor the Meddlers that guided you here. It's almost ironic, in a way... but time runs short, and I fear that I shall not live to tell the full tale. Are you listening closely, Reclaimer? This is the story of my life, and how our Ecumene came crashing down in flames..."
PROLOGUE
A baby Forerunner lay in a small cradle, his light azure coloured eyes stared curiously around the room. The walls were lined with images of the past, glyphs and ancient text of the long history of the Forerunners. Like every other Forerunner child, the child's skin was a light pink colour; he gazed up from his cradle at the large model ships connected together by meagre strands of hard-light as they slowly drifted around the room.
A hushed lullaby played softly as the child gradually drifted to sleep. Music was an integral part of Forerunner culture and was often played in rituals and festivals, the Grand Star Season usually saw an orchestra of thousands coming together for the celebration of all castes. Music for children differed greatly from what the Grand Star orchestra would play, however. The lullaby was composed of sustained notes held in irregular patterns with occasional pauses; the pauses were considered the most important part, something that had a strange effect on the listener, providing them with halcyon moments of content, complete unity with the universe.
The child was rudely awoken by the sudden sound of footsteps, placing a broad hand on one of the bars of his cradle, he scanned the room. Everything seemed to be still, but the young Forerunner was perceptive, he noticed the effects of a Dazzler almost immediately. The lullaby was nothing more than an elaborate auditory disguise to camouflage the presence of someone in the room.
"I should have known that wouldn't work," a light, kind-hearted female voice muttered. "But there is no doubt in my mind that I have made the right choice, you will be more than suitable for what I ask of you, I think."
Light began to shift, the child's attempt to look through the warp to the other side of the room created a distorting effect which stung his eyes. He raised his hands to rub them and clear the disorientation; when he lowered them, he saw, from out of the Dazzler field, another Forerunner standing a few feet away from his cradle. Her armour was sleek and curved, but helmetless. She had eyes very similar to the child, piercing blue, yet they were older and slightly wearied; they offered warmth and comfort as she approached, and she placed her smooth hands on the child's temples. The young Forerunner felt something surge through his fragile body, it didn't hurt, but it made the tiny hairs on his back raise almost as if they'd been affected by an electrical charge.
"You will not remember this moment until it is time," the female Forerunner drew closer to the child's ear until he could feel her warm breath on his cheek. "This is who you are now, but who you will become is something far greater than what your family have planned for you. Soon everything is going to change. Ancient powers are stirring; you must be ready for the path set out for you, you alone must find the spark to ignite your true purpose in our Living Time and beyond. Find him... save him."
At that moment, the door to the room burst open, the woman drew back, leaving the child almost frozen in a state of awe and contemplation.
A tall male Forerunner burst in, evidently a Builder from his refined and sturdy appearance, with half a dozen guards dressed in charcoal coloured combat skins, their weapons poised. He held up his hand, ordering the guards not to fire, and then looked from the female Forerunner to the child, then back again in horror.
"You!" He barked in outrage, raising an accusing armoured finger. "What have you done?"
"It's over, Banes," she replied sternly, almost a tone of victory in her voice. "The deed is done, you knew this was inevitable, the Librarian cannot be outwitted. You must accept this child for what he is now, you can have no interference in his path."
"He's a freak!" Banes spat, "you have defiled our family!"
"You are not his family. This child is destined for greatness; the Mantle commands it be so, his family--"
"Open fire!"
But it was too late, the Librarian was old but she was still too quick for the antagonised Builder. She clapped her hands high above her head and a wall of energy was discharged from her armour, sending Banes and his guards tumbling backwards into the wall - stray bursts of energy beams scarred the ceiling with their immense heat and Banes screamed that them to ceasefire. The Librarian had tapped into the teleportation network on the planet and she dissipated in a blaze of golden light, turning for a brief moment to wink at the child observing curiously from his cradle.
One small victory...
[Edited on 09.01.2011 5:31 AM PDT]