Chapter 7 War, War never changes part 8

(Dormii)
=i chuckle and smile again=
Beep beep boop beep. Can you guess why I am here?

zeru wrote:

zeru ishtar the captain

=They look at him silently for a moment before speaking.=

Zeru Ishtar.

=Romanov looks at Dostoyevsky=

Isn't that……?

Yup.

=both look back to Zeru=

you have an interesting name.

(Miranda)
=I leaned back against the counter, and took a sip of water. Jason's face flashed through my thoughts=

Jason.

=I looked Dormii in the eye. A tear may have gone running down my cheek, but I didn't care=

I know he's dead.

(Dormii)
=i see the tear and fight the urge to go over and put a hand on her shoulder or a hug or something. instead, I nod=
I'm sorry, but yes. I'm guessing Argo told you?

(Miranda)
=Instead of an answer, I walked over to the table, and opened Jason's message, and I let it play itself out=

zeru wrote:

i'm aware

Romanov, "So you're aware that you name is also the same name as the chief or high priest of the Chaldeans, also called the Magian hierophant?"

(Dormii)
=i listened in silence to his goodbye message. It felt wrong, in a way. I was listening to his goodbye to his love. It wasn't something someone other than the recipient should hear=

=They both shrug=

=remaining silent=

=looking at the various ships in the Hanger=

(Miranda)
=I saw how uncomfortable he looked, and I decided to stop the message=

So yeah, I know he's dead.

=I looked at the ceiling, a strange look forming on my face: it was a maniacal grin; something torn between sorrow, and sick humor. As I spoke, I could hear my voice break. I didn't care=

You know, it's strange. I imagined that, from here on out, every day, I would wake up, next to him. I was going to spend, the rest of my life with him, as his wife.

=At that point, I decided to show hold my hand up, the diamond on the ring pointed at Dormii=

(Dormii)
=i look at the ring=
He would've been very lucky. It's not easy to find love in these times.

(Miranda)
=I remembered the second bottle of water. I slid it across the table to him=

Thanks.

=I took in another breath, calming myself=

(Dormii)
=i grab the bottle and try to open it with my right arm, only to remember that's gone. i grab the top in my teeth and twist it open. i take a sip=
You're welcome. I know you probably don't, but do you want to know what happened?

(Miranda)
=I didn't really want to know. I mean, who wants to know about how the person they loved died? But, knowing, was the first step to acceptance. If I walked away, I would lead myself into denial, and that was not a pretty picture. I sat down=

Okay. Tell me what happened.

(Dormii)
=i took a deep breath=
Well, we went in through pods. Once we landed on the surface we found the complex. We made our way inside and took a look at the map and split up. Zeru and I went to the information room, he went a few levels lower. I'm afriad I don't know the exact details of what happened on his end, but Zeru and I managed to get ourselves into a large firefight. I mean this in the nicest way possible, but I don't think you would've survived, Miranda, had you gone along

Got picked up in a pelican, we crash landed on the planet.

(Miranda)
Maybe, maybe not.

(Argo)
=At that point, I decided to speak=

There is more you two do not know. I was going to tell you Miranda, but I had hoped to wait until you had accepted Jason's death. I was with him, until the end.

(Dormii)
I mean no disrespect, but I doubt you could've. Zeru and I barely made it out, and not in one piece, as you can see.

=to Argo=
Well now you've already hinted at it, might as well spill.

(Argo)
Very well. I suggest you both sit for this.

=I waited until they both sat down. Then, I revealed the truth=

When Jason confronted Harper, he discovered that he was the product of something called Project: Dragon's Teeth. He discovered that he was in fact, a genetically engineered clone, created from a combination of DNA samples obtained from existing Spartans, mainly the best. Finally, Harper showed Jason one last thing: a crashed Forerunner ship. The ship contained the DNA of the Forerunners, and it was used to create Jason, the Spartan DNA meant to fill in the gaps of the Forerunner DNA.

(Dormii)
=i sigh=
Always with the secret projects...

(Miranda)
=Granted, I was shocked beyond belief. But there was one thing Argo had left out=

Okay, all that aside right now, how did he die? He should have been able to escape.

(Argo)
Well, the base had a massive laser defense weapon, powered by five fusion generators. He had me set the reactors to overload, and explode. At the same time, he ordered me to clear a path for Dormii and Zeru. While all that was going on, he walked into the wreck of the Forerunner ship, after having me jump into Dormii's armor. He said, that because he had done so many terrible things, that that place, his real home, was to be his tomb.

(Dormii)
=i get a bit angry at Argo=
Yeah thanks for th-...sorry.

(Argo)
It was not my intent for you to lose your arm. For that, I am truly sorry. As for Jason's death......I set the reactors to overload. That means, that I'm responsible for Jason's death.
=I let that hang in the air for a moment=

Well, I guess that means I've broken the laws of robotics.

(Miranda)
=I lost it right there. I threw my bottle at Argo's image, screaming=

JOKES?!?!?! YOU KILLED HIM! AND ALL YOU CAN SAY, IS A JOKE?

(Dormii)
=i look at her and say, warningly=
Miranda. Please, this isn't a time to be angry.

(Miranda)
=I stared daggers at Dormii=

Not the time to be angry? Not only, do I find out that Jason committed suicide, I find out that my oldest friend and partner, helped him to do it! So don't you tell me not to be angry.

(Argo)
Miranda, please. I did not want to do it. I knew how much he meant to you, but I didn't want you to suffer.

(Miranda)
Suffer?

(Argo)
Imagine if he had lived, and come back to you, You both would have been happy for two months, then, he would have died, slowly, and horribly. And you Miranda, would have endured all of it, by his side, watching him wither and die.

(Dormii)
He has a point. Would you rather him die quick and painless, or slowly?

(Miranda)
=As quickly as it had come, my anger, my rage.....it faded=
No. He wouldn't want that. Not on me, or anyone.

=I turned to face Argo=

I'm sorry Argo, for taking out my anger on you.

(Argo)
No need to apologize Miranda. I understand.

(Dormii)
=i nod and get up from the table=
It was nice to talk to you again, Miranda. I just wish it could've been a better topic of discussion.

(Miranda)
Well, at least Vigil is gone. Jason didn't die in vain. I just hope, he finally found the redemption he was looking for.

(Dormii)
We all do. Trust me, we all do.

=i turn and go over to the elevator=
You need anything, don't be afraid to ask, okay?

(Miranda)
Sure. I'll be here if you need me.

(Senox)

=I had been doing nothing for... Ages. It was time to practice flying.=

(Artyom)

=He heads back to the Hanger.=

(Dormii)
=i nod and head off the ship, back to the Pelican i normally sleep in. i walk in and power it up. i take it up to orbit and fall asleep in the zero-g=

(Miranda)
=when he left the ship, I walked back into my room, and went to sleep. For the first time all week, I was able to dream of......nothing. It was peace=

=He had been in the training room=
=Just now finishing a long workout=

=He exits the room, heading to his own=
=Once there he goes to the bathroom=
=Heading into the shower=

=As the water pours onto him he thinks=

Nolan - Keep going!

=The rebels shoot another tire off=

Nolan - Christopher, Shoot them!

Christopher - Yes Sir.

Nolan - Lance, send another falcon for evac

Lance - Sending it. I sent Rosco too.

=Christopher shoots the driver of one, making it crash into another and causing an explosion=

Nolan - Joseph, How is the landing going?

Joseph - Not good, Not at all.... So many guards. There is a rooftop that we landed on but I don't think----

=A few people walk out of the ship, One rebel throws a guy on the floor, they throw another against a wall=

Joseph - I found them....

=A few needles shoot some rebels=

Joseph - What the fuck...?

Nolan - What is it?

Joseph - I don't know..

=Needles shoot at Joseph, the two marines, the gunners and the pilot=

Joseph - Get in cover! Nolan! The covenant!

Nolan - Fuck... They followed us... Command, we are being attacked by covenant. Need support.

Command - I'll send some men.

(Dormii)
=i wake up and pilot the Pelican back down to the Trophaeum. I land and walk out to the messhall=

(Rain)

=I woke up in the messhall=
=I look around=

(Dormii)
=i walked into the messhall. i take my helmet off and hook it on my hip. I go over to the counter and grab a small tray of food. i walk to a table and sit down=

(Laura)

=She wakes up in the Messhall, again.=

Wow...

(Rain)

=I put my head back down after seeing Dormii=
=I sigh=

=Some bacon still left on my plate=
=I grab a piece and eat it=

(Dormii)
=i look over at Laura=
Sleeping here often?

(Lynn and Grace)

=They had been practically living on the ship=
=Sending out a beacon for help=

Lynn-Hopefully...someone can find us with that...

Grace-Knowing our luck.

Lynn-Be positive..please...

Grace-Okay...

=They had gone to the hanger bay=
=Looking out=

Lynn-I miss...people....

Grace-Yeah...and Draco

=She looks at her=

Lynn(laughs)-Shut up.

Urmm... Maybe...

=She shakes her head.=

(Dylon)
=i was stuck in the medbay for another few days, to let my arm heal. It is infuriating, but smart. A Captain can't lead if his arm is nearly torn off=

(Dormii)
You mean you don't know?

Urmm... Next topic?

=She shakes her head, and smiles.=

(Dormii)
=i chuckle=
So, other than sleepy, how are you?