Chapter 9: TBD

"Well. I'd imagine you were here a couple times. From what I gathered you're good friends with the captain."

I take off my helmet and set it on the table.

(Dormii)
=i shrug again=
Maybe. But all I have is other people's words on that. Also, this looks like a UNSC-ish vessel, but it's not, mostly evident by the food not being garbage, so I'm lead to believe this ship is either a new type of UNSC ship, a renegade's ship, a pirate vessel, a rebel vessel, or some other unknown craft. Only one of those is really of any comfort to me.

=i let the implications hang in the air=

Well, shit.

"So, you think you're still in the UNSC?"

(Dormii)
I am in the UNSC, I am a Spartan. I was made to protect Earth and all Her colonies.

=i give him a careful, neutral stare=

"Last I checked nobody on this ship is UNSC anymore. Including you. Everybody was discharged due to something."

I return the stare with a small smile. I don't know, I thought he looked funny.

(Dormii)
=i looked at him carefully=
Why don't I believe you.

"Because you still believe you're in the UNSC. Hell, you could very well could be. But if that were true, wouldn't the UNSC have you now, instead of us?"

(Dormii)
Not if they didn't know where I was, or were being prevented from taking me back.

"Yeah. That much makes sense. But why would we want you? I mean. A guy as dangerous such as yourself would pose a great threat."

Eventually I did the same as he did. Staring blankly at him.

(Dormii)
Torture, information gathering, sick joy, technological slash biological experimentation. All possibilities. A memory wipe at the end of it all, claim to have rescued me from a jail, and I would be none the wiser, possibly even grateful and fight with you.

"Oh, right. I forgot most Spartans expect the worst. Well, you're wrong I can say safely."

I scratch the back of my head.

"We rescued you because the UNSC asked us to, since they couldn't find you. So now we're on our way back to them."

(Dormii)
=i nod slowly=
I will have to take your word on that, until I know more. You should at least be aware of that fact.

"I thought you should know whether you believed it or not."

I relax my face back into it's usual state.

(Dormii)
=i relax as well=
So who are you? I'm not sure I was ever told.

"I'm Spartan 067. Alphonse. When we first met, I was on a recovery mission. Trying to get you back into the UNSC. I failed horribly."

My mind races back to the scene. But I force myself out of it for the sake of the conversation.

(Dormii)
You say that like I left.

"If the UNSC sent me on a recovery mission to get you, I'd say you left."

(Dormii)
Or I could've just been MIA, don't forget. So, what's your specialty. What's your little niche?

"Uh..."

Kind of random topic switch.

"I'm a hacker usually. But I've been told I'm good at most weaponry. Kind of like a jack of trades."

(Dormii)
=i grin=
Jack of all trades, master of none.

"Pretty much the idea, yeah."

I smirk for a split second and go back to neutral.

"How about you? What do you do?"

...other then using a fucking knife on a chain...

(Dormii)
Well, I told you before, CQC and hacking. That's my specialty. I get in close, rip aliens apart, and then hack their stuff and find out where more of them are. I was trained to be a killing machine.

"Aren't all of us Spartans trained into killing machines? That's why we're called Spartans right."

(Dormii)
=i chuckle=
Well, yeah, but I guess I was made to never show mercy. In fact, my current orders are the epitome of that statement. Never showing mercy.

=A Srevaeran man awoke in a yellowish tube of semi-opaque slime. He looked around frantically, not knowing where he was or what was going on. He looked down at himself to see that he was naked inside the pod, and there was a big black mark on his chest. He didnt remember that being there when he fell asleep. He began to panic. Quickly and violently, he began to thrash around in the pod, trying to break free=

Hello!? Is anyone out there!? Help me!

=Soon, the goo in the pod warmed, and he felt weak. Slowly, he fell asleep. When he awoke again, he was in a new room filled with pods just like his, and in each was another person. Until he spied one that looked familliar somehow. It was... Him? No, that couldn't be right. Suddenly, there was a loud noise in the pod like a blender with ice and fruit inside. The pod swelled with blood. Screaming. Pain. ...Silence=

"Since when have we shown mercy? I mean. We haven't for the Covenant, at least."

=Feyd sighed as he looked out into space from beside his Pelican in the Trophaeum's main hanger bay=

F- Time to break the news, I suppose.

=One of the ODSTs from his squad, Mark Braidman, came up to the dropship and stood beside Feyd=

M- You gonna tell him?

F- Soon.

M- Good luck.

F- Yeah... I'll need it.

=The two shared a brief, uneasy laugh before the Lieutenant headed out of the Hanger in search of Dormii=

(Dormii)
Leaving their ships alive, leaving their allies alive. Anything but total annihilation has some elements of mercy.

"I can't argue with that, honestly. We'd just end up going in circles."
I laugh briefly.
"You mentioned something about your orders? To show no mercy or something like that, right?"

=Eventually, Feyd made his way down to the Mess Hall. Standing outside the door, his heart was pounding, knowing the stakes. He let out a long exhale and stepped inside. The light did not reflect off his armor, which bore the obvious markings of UNSC service, only off his helmet's visor as he looked around for Dormii=

(Dormii)
=i nod=
Yup. Show no mercy under any circumstance. Still gotta follow it.

"I was just curious, considering you were practically screaming 'sorry' when you got back."

(Dormii)
=my face dropped, the fresh memories flashing into focus=
Well, let's say that the people I serve won't be happy with me.

=A few moments later, he spotted his target. He walked towards Dormii, who seemed to be in the middle of a conversation with someone. As he approached, he called out=

Dormii Fortuni!

"Forgive me if I intrude here. But people you-"
Someone shouted Dormii something. Probably his given last name. Whoever it was he or she had my attention.

(Dormii)
=i heard the call out and instinct took hold. I stood up to attention and saluted=
Sir!

=Dormii's action took Feyd completely off guard. He thought for a few seconds before saying the only thing he could reason to=

Erm... At ease.

=Feyd came up to the table where Dormii was standing and introduced himself=

Greetings Lieutenant-Colonel, I am Lieutenant Feyd-1220 of the UNSC Guild Navigator. Have you been told of my business here?

(Dormii)
=i relaxed, and then relaxed even more once he said his rank, realizing I kinda outranked him. I looked Feyd up and down, and shook my head=
No, I have not. What is your business?

=i was a little afraid, thinking that he was here to take me in for execution or something for what I had done. The fear was evident in my voice=

=Feyd let out a deep sigh=

This isn't easy for me to say, so forgive my bluntness. You've been convicted for Crimes against Humanity.

=He let that sink in for a minute=

I've come here with orders to inform you in person that the UNSC may be willing to make a deal with you, however.

(Dormii)
=all color drained from my face, and I blinked. Suddenly unsure of what to do. The little panel on my arm froze in place, mid ripple. I struggled to speak=
Uh-uhm, y...yes? What is the, uh, the deal?

I guess this guy must be the Spartan with the ODST team the UNSC sent us. Huh.
I'm still seated and quiet. Knowing this conversation isn't mine.

=He rested his hand on the table=

Our superiors recognize you for what you are: an unstoppable machine of destruction, death, and suffering. Humanity is under siege from all sides. The Covenant is more relentless than ever before, the Flood remain a threat to the outer colonies, insurrectionists have made a return, and we suspect that the XNNOs may be planning a major offensive in the near future. The UNSC believes you may be able to turn the tides in our favor. They are willing to offer you a full pardon if you will fight for us once more.

=He took another deep breath. His voice was shaky=

If you refuse, I am ordered to take you into custody.

(Dormii)
Sir, I never wanted to leave the UNSC's service. I left the ship in fear of retalliation, and me possibly hurting someone else. I will gladly fight alongside the UNSC's forces until I die. I only ask for one thing in return. Any and all Covenant tech that we have be hidden away and I to not be told of it's location, no matter what I may say or ask or plead.

=i salute again=
Dormii Fortuni ready for service.

=Feyd felt like a thousand pounds of weight had dropped off his shoulders. He nodded to Dormii and saluted him=

Very good. I'll inform Captain Haskell and get back to you by tomorrow.

(Dormii)
Thank you, sir. Also, could you give me any news about a ship called the Blizzard's Fury? If you know anything, of course.

I'm afraid I don't know anything about it. Sorry. Anyway, I have to go contact Captain Haskell and begin filing my report.

=Feyd saluted Dormii and turned towards the door, heading out of the Messhall and back down to the Hanger=

(Dormii)
=i nod=
Understood, sir.

=i waited for him to leave, and then slowly sat down at the table again, the beginning of tears forming in my eyes=

=chuckles to himself over the matter and has a crewmen take darnok to his ship=

"Well, shit. Can I get that too?"
I laugh until I notice him. Er, I shouldn't say crying. But at there's tears. So I try to think of what to say.

(Dormii)
=i laugh=
This is...incredible. Knowing what I just did, and this...this is just awe inspiring. I'm given a chance to show that I'm okay!

=i turn to Felix=
I'm going to be able to show that I'm okay!