Chapter 8 NAME "Shit Happens" Part 5

(Dormii)
=i had whispered to her as we went, before we had gone too far=
Si mihi nocebit. Brachio meo iure possum non sentire.

Quote :

Let me know if I hurt you. I can't feel my right arm.

=i had resumed kissing her, my hands exploring everywhere they can find. It continued like this, for a few hours more, both of us being together, showing the joy of finding each other again. We continued, not saying anything, just using our bodies to communicate. My fingers explored, followed by my tongue and other parts of my body. All that I could find, all that wasn't machine, I kissed. All of my thoughts melted away, leaving nothing but her and my love for her. I lost myself in her, in the joy of having found her again. At the end, when we were both tired and just being next to each other in the bed, I spoke, for the first time since I found out, in English. I wasn't aware I spoke at all, I thought I was just enjoying being with her again=

I love you, Jay. I don't want be without you again.

=as quickly as it came, it left. I didn't remember anything about speaking in English, or even that I still could. The tear in my mind was still there, I could still feel it, and it hadn't changed. It was just a wondrous time=

(Jason)
=I took a teleporter from Alpha Base back to the Serenity. It was kinda odd. See, it was nighttime by the time I had left Alpha Base, on the surface. But when I got inside Haven, it was just perpetual sunlight, all around. Maybe it was a matter of opinion, but I just found it odd. Anyway, I boarded the Serenity from the loading docks. I stopped in the armory to drop off Delta's sword. I just placed it on the weapons rack, and that was it. No doubt that I'd have to find a better place for it, but right now, I just wanted to get some rest=

(Miranda)
=I would have been training Molly again, but what with Delta and his ships......well, I decided to cancel today's lesson. Molly and I were in the mess area of the crew deck, just sitting around, when the lift doors opened, and Jason walked in. I got to my feet=
Jason, how did it go?

(Jason)
Badly.

=The gear clanks against the titanium walls, the guns point outward while everyone looks up=

=All falls silent as we await the imminent attack=

(Miranda)
Ah. Care to share?

(Jason)
Not sure I should. Officially, it's still Council business.

(Miranda)
And when did you ever let official matters stop you?

(Jason)
Got me there.
Alright, if you really want to know: Delta and his allies basically refused to make peace with us, or any form of alliance with us, after one of the Councilmen basically insulted Delta. Delta did leave me his sword though, saying, "May it serve you well."

=The Azure Comet dropped out of Slipspace at Earth. Delta was surprised to find so few ships to stand against him. He immediately opened fire, decimating most of them with shots from the large cannons=

=I see the UNSC ships splitting above and I hear a soldier to my left=

Aww.. no..

(Miranda)
Why would he leave you his sword?

(Jason)
No idea. Right now though, I'm just worried about what Delta and his people might do, if they're antagonized further.
=I sighed=

Well, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. For now, we need to simply prepare, and make ourselves ready to cross that bridge.

=Delta went down to the Hanger. He stood on the Balcony with Xazhi, overlooking all of the SS soldiers who had gathered in the bay=

De- These people. These Monsters, attacked an destroyed our home. Our race is finished. But that does not mean that we still cannot make them feel the might of the XNNOs one last time. We will do to them what they did to us. When you get down there, you have orders directly from me to leave no man, woman, or child alive. I want them ALL dead. Shoot on sight, no prisoners. They have nothing left to defend themselves from up here, and no means of Getting here. Commander Narok will be leading the charge on the ground. On my signal, unleash hell.

=They all raised their arms in salute, and simultaneously called out in a great battle cry=

De- I'll see you on the ground, my brothers.

=Delta turned back and went to the bridge and Xazhi to the Armory. He gave orders to go into Full Lockdown the instant the last pod was away. He then went down to the Armory as well, and grabbed one of the new Blaster rifles with an under-mounted flamethrower. He and Xazhi walked to one of the many pod bays, and got into their respective pods=

=I hear the Officer yell from an elevated position=

GET READY!

=I watch the pods fall=

HERE THEY COME!

=I chamber a round and hunker up with everyone else=

(Dormii)
=i rub Jay's back with my fingertips, using my left hand as my right hand wouldn't have the same feeling. My arm panels are open, relaxed, flowing smoothly and slowly as I continue to rub Jay's back. I watch them out of the corner of my eye, moving my hand in rhythm with them. I give Jay a soft kiss, right as my stomach rumbles. I ignore it for now, preferring to stay with Jay=

=It had been a long night. A long night filled with interesting goings on=
=They are wide awake now. Just holding onto each other=

Lynn: Mmmmm. I love you, Draco...

=He looks to her and kisses her=

Draco: I love you too.

=They get out of bed, retrieving their clothes that had scattered about=
=Once their articles had been placed back on they leave for the messhall=

=The SS began hitting the ground, swarming out into the City. Civilians scrambled to get away, and were immediately cut down with hails of Blaster fire. Delta emerged from his pod, which had landed in an office building. He met up with two SS who had landed on the roof, and they began making their way down=

(Miranda)
Okay. Well, I'll stand with you.
=I took his hand in kine=

As always.

(Jason)
Thanks. Look, hopefully, nothing will happen. Maybe Delta was just venting some steam.
And maybe I'll be able to turn air into gold.

=I jump when I hear the order 'FIRE'=

=The whole line opens up with single shot and burst shots at the approaching army=

=Bullets ping hopelessly of the new SS armor. Sigma had wanted to see it tested in real combat, but never got the chance. He would definitely be proud though. As the SS opened fire, the blaster bots shredded through sandbags, turning the sand itself into tiny pieces of glass in some spots, and even going through the concrete walls and barricades. Delta and his squad moved down the stairs, and saw a UNSC sniper sitting at the Window. All three of them shot the soldier three times each, and carried on downwards=

=I see the people fall down around me and I hunker down behind the wall, reloading my weapon=

=I could see some people falling back and I followed them=

(Molly)
=I stayed quiet while they talked, it seemed like it was personal stuff. I just sat there, and read the little book Miranda gave me=

(Miranda)
I think we both know that's unlikely. After all, we're living with the survivors of Delta's wrath.
=I reached up to his chin with my free hand, and turned his head to face mine=

I know, that you want the best scenario. But frankly, I just don't see how that's possible anymore, at least as far as Delta's concerned.

=The SS marched forward, gunning down any human that dared show any sign of life. Delta and his squad just reached the bottom of the tower and stepped out the door, when he heard someone yell=

SS- TANK!

=He had only a split second to analyze what had been said before an explosion went off somewhere beside him, and sent him flying into a sandbag pile shredded by Blaster rife fire. As he stood, his vision was hazed and slow, and his ears were ringing. It took a few seconds to go away. Once it was gone, he looked to where the shot had come from, and saw the Scorpion, as well as ten or more SS rushing at it, climbing the sides=

=The concussion knocks me to the ground, I turn back to see the tank being stormed=

=I get up from the ground while firing=

Retreat! Retreat!

=I hop backwards and run=

(Jason)
Maybe. But I know he's a good man, that just wants what's best for his people. Yes, his methods are extreme, but he's protecting his home.

(Miranda)
Haven't you ever looked at history? Hitler tried to rebuild and protect his home, and look where that got him and his people.

(Jason)
Yeah, you're right.

=The SS on top of the Tank begin firing downwards, their Blaster rifles making short work of it. Delta was astounded by the sheer power of the weapons they possessed. He wondered if they weren't too powerful. As the enemy soldiers retreated, the SS lined up, dropped to one knee, and opened fire in a volley=

=I feel a surging burn in my foot and I drop to the ground=

SCHEISSE!

=I feel my arm getting pulled and I watch as the enemy soldiers shoot at us=

Help us!

(Dormii)
=i kissed Jay's head, softly and whispered=
Vis tibi ad congue manducare?

Quote :

Do you want to do get something to eat?

=i continued to rub her back with my fingertips, keeping my hand in time with my arm panels=

=As the SS swarmed through the city, searching every crevice for signs of Humans, A thought struck Delta. He shook his head and put it off. He looked behind him. A solder was dragging a woman out of a pile of rubble by her hair, and she was screaming violently. Delta was no expert in Humans, but she looked pregnant. Eventually, the Soldier gave up on trying. He dropped his rifle, drew his combat knife, and began repeatedly stabbing her in the stomach. Delta winced and quickly looked away. In another part of the city, SS were storming a school. They busted down a door to find twenty or more children hiding together in a corner. Three of the solders lined up, and opened fire. Just up the street, two soldiers were taking turns punching an old man back and forth between them, his face broken and bloodied from their beatings. He dropped to his knees and looked up at one of the soldiers, pleading for him to stop. The soldier proceeded to draw his sidearm, and shoot the man in the head. They too moved on. Those who were on the same street as Delta were still firing at the UNSC soldiers. One got hit in the foot, Delta could see that. The five or six SS took turns firing single shots from the hip trying to hit the poor wounded Human, and the man who was dragging him away. Delta did not watch. He simply stared at the rubble=

=I could see that the man who was dragging me was dead before he hit the ground=

Nein! Shit!

=I look at the line of soldiers, I crawl away, over the body. I look at the decimation=

=I look back at the soldiers who were getting closer=

=The soldiers stood, and began moving forward, slowly. They got closer and closer to the downed Human, when another Marine jumped out of cover, holding nothing but a pistol. He fired, and it pinged off the SS's armor. They looked at eachother briefly, and they all fired on the Marine. He was shredded into a bloody mess. They pressed on towards the wounded one=

=I flip over on my back and shove myself away with my good foot=

St..stay back..please!

=I watch them, with no body language, like robots=

=One of the SS walks over him, and picks him up by his collar. He knees the wounded marine in the stomach, and stands on his bloody foot. Delta walks over to them, watching in Silence=

=I hear my foot crunch and I scream in pain=

HALTE! BITTE! STOP!

=I clench my teeth=

=Delta walks over to the SS=

De- Stop! He cant fight back. Let the poor shit go.

=The SS soldier looks at the marine through his helmet. He again takes him by the collar, and throws him forward=

De- Go home, Soldier.

=I can't breath for a second=

=I look up at the soldier=

Wh..What?

De- I said, go home. You cant fight with a Blaster wound in your foot. Stay out here and you'll get yourself killed.

SS1- Sir?

De- What is it?

SS1- With all due respect, sir, arent we here to eradicate these filthy creatures.

De- Are you questioning my orders, Soldier?

SS1- No sir..

De- Thats what i thought. Pack up. We're moving North.

=Delta and the ten or twelve present SS move passed the downed Marine, heading up the street=

(Molly)
Uh, question: If we're so sure that Delta really will attack Earth, then shouldn't we, I don't know, stop him? I mean, we have the resources to do it.

(Jason)
Yeah, but we'd be starting an act of war. For the most part, we have all but declared ourselves neutral, and I will not destroy that unless it's absolutely necessary.

(Molly)
I know that, but if he's serious about attacking Earth, all for the sake of protecting his people.......we just can't abandon them so we can hide here.

(Miranda)
Your goddaughter's got a point there Jason. We can't sit back and let him kill them all.

(Jason)
=It took me a minute, to consider the implications of what I was thinking. But dammit, they had a point. If Delta really did believe that the only way to keep his people safe was to destroy the UNSC, and therefore Earth, then I had a responsibility to stop him=
Everyone, get yourselves prepped. We're leaving soon.

(Molly)
Where are we going?

(Jason)
You're heading back to the Silver Hawk, with the rest of your team. I'm sending an alert, that the fleet be prepped over Haven to leave.

(Miranda)
Okay, but what about you?

(Jason)
I'm going to follow Delta. This is a stealth ship after all.

(Molly)
=I was about to protest, then I thought better of it, saluted, and left for my room to get my flight gear=

(Miranda)
Are you sure this is a good idea Jason? I mean, you're talking about flying this one, tiny ship, into a lions den of 13 massive warships.

(Jason)
I know, but I have to be sure. Maybe I can talk with Delta, convince him to reconsider the whole peace agreement. Or hell, just to not attack the rest of humanity.

(Molly)
=I was packed, and I walked out of my room=
Okay, are you sure I should go Jason? I mean, I can still fly this bird.

(Jason)
I'll be fine. I flew her for a long time before you.

(Molly)
I know. Like I said, I can still fly her.

=I start to breath with my teeth clenched and fright on my breath as I lay on the ground=

=I wait for the soldiers to leave=

(Jason)
Are you making fun of my flying skills?

(Molly)
Uh, no?

(Jason)
Just get to your fighter Molly. I need everyone ready, at the very least, at their stations.

(Molly)
Sure thing boss man.
=I snapped off a salute, and left for the lift=

(Jason)
=I just stared after her, my jaw hanging open in disbelief=

(Miranda)
Huh, I guess being your goddaughter is more than a legal thing.

(Jason)
What's that supposed to mean?

(Miranda)
Maybe that she looks up to you so much, she tries to be more like you?

(Jason)
Oh there's a disturbing thought.

=By now, the SS had completely overtaken the city. They were now only searching for any remaining Humans. They brought who they rounded up back to Delta. It was an assortment comprised almost entirely of those who could not get away in time: children, elderly, sick, etc. Very few others than that. The group was about a hundred strong. They were all gathered together into a dense crowd, and the SS lined up. They dropped down to one knee, and opened fire, shredding through them all. Delta again looked away. This time, having a flashback=


=He stopped and looked around the rubble, at all the bodies, at the blood. He slowly removed his helmet and put his face in his hand=

De- Oh, god... What have i done...?

(Jason)
Okay, barring all that.....Miri, i want you to stay here, on Haven.

(Miranda)
Hell. No. I'm coming with you.

(Jason)
We could both die.

(Miranda)
Maybe, but at least we go together.
=I stood there, hands on my hips=

I'm going with you, whether you like it or not.

(Jason)
Uy.....fine.
=I turned, and headed for the bridge=

Besides, if Gabby and Kenny are coming along, might as well bring you too.

=Delta ordered the twenty or so SS to accompany him. He was heading to a nearby Radio tower, so that he could broadcast a message to the entire city=

(Jason)
=Nearly ten minutes later, I had informed the Council (well, most of them anyway) of my intentions, and I was given a green light. The Serenity took off, and we exited Haven, entering slip-space a few minutes after breaking atmo. We followed the slip-space wake of Delta's ships, which combined with the new calculation software that Silver Light was polite enough to give us, resulted in a trip that would last 15 minutes. I had no idea what to expect when we exited though. Doubted we'd be able to get the stealth systems online fast enough, and I wasn't really sure how Delta would react to seeing me following him=

=Delta and the SS reached the Tower. They went up to the top, and began activating the equipment. Delta himself went into the booth, and stood in front of the Mic with his helmet on the console. They began broadcasting=

De- I.... I dont quite know what to say... I am X No Delta... A name that will forever live in infamy, i suppose.... To all SS soldiers in the city, rally to this tower... We're leaving...

=All the SS in the city dropped what they were doing, and looked towards the tower=

De- I... I realize now the consequences on my actions... I dont want to be this monster i have become.. I dont want to destroy and entire race, regardless of what they've done.. I would like to help everyone, if possible. But when i look around here today, i see that i have lost my way... I have become the very thing i swore to destroy all those years ago.. We have created some of the most advanced technology of our galaxy, and we have used it to destroy. We impede progress, both our own and that of others, by our endless war.. We want to live free and in happiness. Can the same not be said for them? Forget not that it was a Human who brought me and my brothers into being, and then you. We must end this war on our own terms! For if we do not, we will never see its end, not even I! Soldiers, you once fought for peace and liberty! Now you fight for Slavery and Death! What has caused us to fall into such a state? Anger! Hatred! Poisons of the mind and soul! This is not what we set out for, but what we set out to end! This is not who your are, nor who I am! This is madness! Soldiers, i ask you now to rally to this tower, and be taken back to our ship. I will keep twelve of you down here with me, and we will do what we can to fix what we have done. I beg you, my brothers, let us end this here...

=The SS began swarming to the Tower. Transports from the Azure Comet took them back up, little by little. Eventually, only a dozen remained. Delta went down to meet them=

(Miranda)
So, just to be clear, what's your plan with Delta?

(Jason)
Erm, it's a work in progress.

(Miranda)
Oh, that's good to know. Argo, how soon after we exit slip-space can we get the stealth systems online?

(Argo)
Hmm, by my current simulations, I estimate it would take us no less than two minutes to get primary stealth systems online, and three minutes for secondary systems.

(Jason)
So, we'd have a total of five minutes after exiting slip-space for Delta and his ships to see us?

(Argo)
Yes.

(Jason)
Oh, good, I was afraid this was going to be easy.

=Alpha sends a comm to the other four ships=

Al- Im detecting an incoming slipspace jump. Bring all weapons online, and prepare to fire as soon as they exit. We arent letting those bastards get away this time...

Si- Agreed.

Gi- All systems online.

Be- Armed and ready.

Th- Lets give em hell...

(Jason)
Argo, just to be safe....prepare a signal. If Delta and his ships are there, i want them to know we are.
And hopefully care about that.

(Argo)
Understood Jason.
=I began making a message, embedded in a signal to be played upon our exit. It simply read:=

Code:

Do not fire. This is Jason Shepard, from Haven. Will explain more upon arrival.

(Miranda)
Exiting slip-space in 3..2..1.


=The Serenity exited slip-space, the blue/white portal opening and closing behind her. They emerged into a debris field=

(Jason)
Holy shit, what happened here.

(Argo)
Detecting several ship hulls in the debris field. Profiles match those of UNSC ships.

(Jason)
Oh no.

=Alpha received the signal from Jason, and withheld fire. She hailed back=

Al- Inheritor! What are you doing here!?

(Jason)
Scratching an itch that won't leave me alone. I was worried, after Delta left the meeting, and I wanted to see if I could hold my own peace talks, with no Council.
=I took another look at the debris field=

What the hell happened here Alpha? I'm reading UNSC ships hulls out here, so I can guess. But please, tell me it's not as bad as it looks.

Al- Its not as bad as it looks. Its much, much worse. The entire Obsidian Wolf was destroyed while we were at Haven.

=She fights back the tears again=

Al- No survivors...

(Jason)
Jesus Christ, this is bad. This is very, very bad. If I know Delta, then he's going to attack Earth, isn't he?

=I hear some yelling of people who remained alive=

=I hear a man running around, looting=

=He hovered over me, realizing I was still alive, he pulled out a knife=

=I pull out my pistol and shoot him twice=

Al- You know he is, Jason. He would not let a sin such as this go unpunished...



=Meanwhile, on Earth, Delta and his 12 SS had taken a transport to the capital. They hailed the main base there, and stated their business. The landing pad was quickly filled with Marines and ODSTs. As the transport door opened, they all raised their guns at eachother. Delta ordered the SS to stand down, and stepped forward, demanding to speak with the leaders. After a long pause, and the exchange of looks filled with great fear, the Marines lead him into the base. He entered a chamber, in which sat a handful of UNSC leaders=

L1- Who are you?

De- I, am X No Delta.

=They exchanged looks and whispers for a while, then turned back to him=

L2- Why have you come!? To destroy us once and for all?

De- No. That is why i came here, but not why i stand before you now.

L3- Then speak!

De- We have both lost a great deal in this war. You have lost many worlds, and countless lives. So have I. With the recent destruction of the Obsidian Wolf, and my current invasion, i believe it may be time to end this.

=They again converse in whispers. They again turn to Delta=

L2- Why should we trust you? Why should we make peace with you?

De- Because if you dont, i will fire the Hellfire cannon. I will not see this War continued, and the manor in which i end it i leave to your decision.

=They continue talking for a while. Going back and forth about their previous attacks on eachother. Finally, a decision was made=