Chapter 8 NAME "Shit Happens"

hmm... i think i understand...

(Dormii)
=i climb out of the pool and start drying myself off, careful of my scars=
But it's also dangerous. It can turn on you, if you are not careful.

... yeah

(Dormii)
=i get my shirt on=
Hey, want to go see if we can make anything in the workshop? Like a blade or something for backup?

sure, why not?

(might go to bed)

(Dormii)
C'mon. This way.

=i lead Tar-tun to the workshop. i look for a foam cut-out for a mold=
What style of blade do you want?

hmm... a scimitar?

(i'm goin' off for the night)

(Dormii)
=i start cutting at the foam, adding in tiny, winding blood channels=
Here you go.

=i put it in the mold maker and set to auto fill=
We'll work on the handle once this is done. For now, go sleep. It'll be a while.

=he walks off to...somewhere. i go to the messhall for some more soup=

=The ships all gathered over the landing platforms, and the Forerunner ships, as well as the Trophaeum, lowered their grav lifts. The Dead and Back began using pelicans to send people to the surface=

(Jason)
Silver, can you help organize the civilians? Get them somewhere where they can rest, while we finish getting the rest of them off?

(Silver Light)
Certainly. I will have sentinels begin escorting the humans to a temporary rest zone.

(Jason)
Good, and make sure you're gentle. I don't want these people getting the wrong idea.

(Silver Light)
Very well.

(Dylon)
=i comm Jason=
From one man to another, what in the holy hell is this place?

(Jason)
=I commed Dylon back=

This, is Haven. The new home for these people. More specifically, it's a Forerunner shield world.

(Dylon)
A what?

(Jason)
A shield world. This planet, is artificial, with a sun at it's core. The inside, is a garden world.

(Dylon)
Ok, then...

=Sentinels began flying towards the drop zones for the civilians. Many of the people were initially afraid, until a voice spoke through the machines=

(Silver Light)
Do not be afraid, I mean you no harm. I have sent these units, to help guide you somewhere to rest, and wait while we finish unloading the rest of your companions. Please, follow me.

=The sentinels began flying slowly, towards a clearing, and the civilians followed=

(Dormii)
=i sipped my soup in silence, contemplating things=
I don't know what to do...

(Jason)
=I commed both the Dead and Back, and the Trophaeum=

Hey listen guys, when you finish dropping the civilians off, feel free to leave. I'll handle things here.

(Dylon)
Understood.

=to the comms=
Hurry and get them off my ship. This place gives me a bad feeling...

=It took the better part of an hour, before all the civilians had been unloaded. They had all massed in the rest zone that Silver and his sentinels had set up. The people, while not exactly happy, or relaxed, were no longer afraid. Some, had renewed hope=

(Jason)
Alright, we're done. Thanks a lot guys. I'll contact you soon, when I'm done. The ways are open, for you to leave.

(Dylon)
=i comm the others=
I'm heading back to Olympus. I'll see you there.

=we head out of the planet and enter slipspace, heading to Olympus=

(Jason)
Argo, keep the Serenity flying. Miranda, stay here.

(Miranda)
Where are you going?

(Jason)
=I got up=
To greet our new guests. Silver, transport both you, and me, down to those people.

(Silver Light)
Very well, Inheritor.
=I accessed Haven's transportation grid, and sent the Inheritor, and myself, down to the surface=

=Many of the people had gathered into something of a group, believing there was safety in numbers. They were surprised, when a golden light shined at the edge of the camp, and two figures appeared. One, was a floating sphere, with silver metal, and an eye that glowed white. The other, was humanoid, and clad in a silver armor, though they could not see it's face=

(Jason)
=I stared at them all for a moment, an they stared back. 5 million eyes, watched me, looks of awe, fear, and suspicion on their faces=

Hello, my name is Jason Shepard.

(Dormii)
I could...show her the areas on the ship? I...would it...I don't know...

=The people watched, as the figure, Jason, stepped forward=

(Jason)
Welcome, to Haven. Your new home.

=I paused for a moment. I didn't truly know what to say. After all, how does one man speak, to millions he is responsible for? I suddenly had a new found respect for most political leaders. Key word, most. As I spoke, I had my voice sent out through all the sentinels spread out around the group=

I brought you all here, to give you something that was taken from you all: a home.


=No one spoke, but many felt their hearts flutter, at the mention of home=

(Jason)
I brokered for your freedom, and in doing so, gained......custody, over all of you. However, while I am willing to serve as your protector, and landowner, I do not claim ownership, over any of you.

(Dormii)
=the plates twitch uncertainly=
Could...take her to Chi Cheti? That planet we took vacation at? I...how...

(Jason)
You are all truly free. Free to live, and start a new life here. Haven, is a Forerunner world. They were a great people, and they built this place. While it's true purpose, can never be fulfilled, I offer it to you. All of you, as your home. There are cities here, which can house all of you, and more. Five cities exist, and they are yours to live in. However, living here, has some conditions. There are rules, laws that must be upheld.

*Random Civilian*

I knew this was too good to be true!

(Dormii)
=i start to feel tired=
I...how...Jay...how...come back...

=i put my head down on the table=
Please...come back...Jay...
Jay...

=i fall asleep=

(Jason)
=I ignored the comment=

The laws are simple: there are sections of this world, you are not allowed to enter: the shipyards, the armory, and the combat skin hall. These rules, are to ensure your safety, and to prevent any potential abuse, of the power of these sections. More areas will be added to the list in time, but for now, they are the top three. Other laws are fairly standard: no murder, rape, theft, illegal drugs, etc.

=I gave it a moment for that to sink in=

Also, I will not be the one making decision here. At least, not the only one. I would like you all, to take some time, and choose five people, to represent you from each of the cities. These five, will be part of a council, that will help make the bulk of the decisions here. My advice though: pick someone, with integrity.

(Dormii)
=i started to dream, the plates on my arm twitching, slightly. I'm back on the planet where I found Jay again, after all those months I spent searching. I could see from a third person perspective the carvings I had done, the tears, her name, everything=

*Random Civilian*

Why? Why should we listen to you? We may have chosen to stay here, but we never agreed to follow your rules.

(Jason)
Really? Then I suppose you want to live under anarchy then?

*Same Civilian*

Uh, well.......no.
=he quickly shut up=

=At this point, many of the people had begun voting for leaders. It wasn't long though, until 5 people had been chosen; two were elected, and three, the ones closest to Jason, chose to step forward. The other twp had to be transported, and they promptly threw up=

(Jason)
Sorry about that. The teleporter takes some time to get used to.
=I looked at the five people that would be the leaders=

Okay, now, we simply need to decide on which cities you will be staying at. I don't want to split up families, so I suggest that for those of you with families, you all stick together. Now, I'll call the transports back in a moment, or I can send you guys to each of your respective cities via the teleporter. Granted, we still need to figure out.....

=I gestured at the five=
Which cities you'll be in charge of. Actually, if you five would follow me, this may be able to move along much faster.


=The five began to follow Jason as he walked away=

Tar:

uh Dormii? ........

=i sit on the floor and wait for him to wake up=

(Dormii)
=I jerk awake=
Huh? What.

you fell asleep...

(Dormii)
I did. Think the blade is ready?

let me see...

= i stand up=

(Dormii)
You go check. I'll wait here.

how do i know if it's done or not?

(Dormii)
There is no steam coming out of the mold.

... I'm kind of useless, is there a certain way to remove the blade or something?

(Dormii)
Undo the latches and pull it apart. If it's ready, it'll shine and be cool to the touch.

that's it?

(Dormii)
Yup, thats it.

ok then

=i head off to check the blade=

(Dormii)
=i put my head down again, relaxing. I start to sleep again=

(Jason)
=I found a quiet spot, not far from the rest of the people. The five people that were elected to be the leaders, formed a half circle=

Okay, let's begin introductions. You already know my name of course.

*Unnamed civilian*
But not your face. You have not yet removed your helmet.

(Jason)
Ah, well, there's a reason for that. See, I'm not exactly.....normal. I'm a hybrid, of Human, and Forerunner DNA.
=I could tell from the looks on their faces, they were shocked=

Look, it's a long story, and not really important. However, I will remove my helmet. Just, please try not to stare.
=I took of my helmet, and I could here a faint gasp from one of them=

=He wakes up once more in a cold sweat=
=His hands trembling=
=Looking around the room, still seeing the dark figures that had invaded his dreams=
=He squeezes his eyes shut and reopens them. Light forcing through=
=He catches his breath amd sits up in the bed=

Give me one good night's sleep.
I implore you.

=He reaches for his bottle of pills and takes one=
=He stands, gets dressed, and heads off to the messhall=

=The Five civilians were shocked. Before them, was something with silver eyes, and hair to match, though streaked with brown. Its skin was a normal flesh tone, but had lines of deep, grayish silver, almost like tattoos=

*Unnamed man*
What are you?

(Jason)
Like I said, a hybrid.


*Unnamed woman*
Do you intend to make us like you?

(Jason)
No. I can't, and even if I could, I wouldn't. Now, mind if you could tell me your names?

(Dormii)
=i stir, still asleep=

=The five of them each stepped forward, and presented themselves=

(David Anderson)

My name is David Anderson.

(Carolyn Seymour)

I'm Carolyn.

(Alvin Davenport)

Name's Alvin.

(Kei Nagasse)

Kei Nagasae

(Hans Grimm)

Names Grimm.

=he takes the blade from the mold and stares at it=

... woah