Spartan One 018

Currently aboard the Mad Cap enroute to Reach to rearm, and run some tests for ONI, Orion was within his tiny private quarters reviewing his system page. 

Name: Orion Winters

Level 7 Sentinel 

5000 EXP to Next Level

Powers: Warp (IV), Shredder Ammo (IV), Tech Armor (II)

Free Points: (4) 

Missions: 

1) N/A

2) Slay 1,000 enemies: 500xp

3) Slay 250 enemies SMG/Assault Rifle/Sniper/Shotgun/Pistol, [25 enemies: Rocket]...100xp each.

Spending another four days on Troy clearing rubble, eliminating stray bugs, and capturing live specimens for ONI to study, duty had been relatively light, all things considered. 

Between the previous ‘main’ mission, and the various kill quests, Orion had jumped directly from level 5 to level 7. 

Now that he had four free points, he could progress an ability towards its first evolution. For example, among the Sentinel class abilities was Cryoblast, which allowed him to shoot out a super frigid cone of freezing energy. At the fourth tier, it could branch out into Deep Cryoblast, or Full Cryoblast. In other words, a focus on penetrating power versus AOE. Warp, likewise could follow this upgrade path. Therefore, he invested two points into Unstable Warp, greatly improving its radius. 

Before, Warp could engulf about three or four Warrior Bugs. Now, it could encompass an area-measured in car lot parking spaces-of about six to eight rectangles worth of space. 

Holding onto the remaining two points, Orion figured he would distribute them as needed, deciding to hold off on learning Cryoblast until he could fully upgrade it. 

Closing the system page, Orion leaned back in his bunk, closing his eyes. It had been nearly a month since his arrival into this bleak future. Along the way, he had made friends, and witnessed tragedy. And now that he had rescued Nova Terra-one of the protagonists of Star Craft-it was likely the Zerg were a thing too…which made him wonder, how would the Flood's Gravemind interact with the Zerg's hivemind? The future, bleak as it was, was going to be an all out slugfest between multiple factions. Rebels, corpos, warlords, zombies, killer robots, that was just from the side of humanity. Xenomorphs, Predators, Arachnids, Engineers, Covenant, Zerg, Flood, and who knew what else there was creeping between the stars? 

What he needed was more teammates, better tech, more ships, and to improve his psychic abilities. Which, on that last front, he actually had improved, somewhat. Once he leveled up, Orion noticed that there was a small change in his esp. It was difficult to explain, but it wasn't that he was ‘more powerful’ but that things appeared ‘clearer.’ The difference from before & after was like looking at an old fuzzy tv screen or monitor and then suddenly having a clear image. 

As a result, he had a better grasp of others emotions, and could just barely pick up surface thoughts. If he concentrated, he could sense a mind from miles away. However, this whole empath thing was limited in range, and overall, he couldn't do something amazing like see into the future, predict the weather, or chuck objects around with his mind. 

That said, Throw was an ability he could learn, and it certainly was interesting. But that wasn't really too important given his current enemies. Warp, Cryoblast & Shredder Bullets would be good enough for now. 

Whilst he was deep in thought, his dataslate resting on a nearby desk began to shimmer, and then a call was forcefully connected. A blue hologram of his not girlfriend, Dr. Halsey looked at him, crossing her arms. 

The attractive young woman with short raven hair, and piercing blue eyes looked exhausted. 

“Jesus, Halsey, you look like shit.” Orion said, holding nothing back. 

“Blunt as always, Orion.” Halsey replied with a dry tone. The young scientist didn't seem to so much glance his way as she typed away at a keyboard, looking at some other screen. 

Slowly inching his hand towards the power button, he spoke to her in a calm, measured tone. “I can see you're busy. I'll let you get back to it.” 

“ONI has recovered the Forerunner spaceship. Understandably, I am a little busy refining the genetic sequencing for the Spartan II program, designing that armor you so desperately desire, and decrypting the encryption on the Forerunner ship. Oh, did I mention I've developed a nascent AI and have survived three separate assassination attempts since last we spoke? So forgive me for looking like shit.” Halsey said in a level tone, yet the venom in her voice could not be hidden. 

Orion rolled his eyes. “Even looking like shit, you've still got a tongue sharp as the Devil's and a wit like Archimedes. As for those assassins, need any help?”

Halsey paused for a second to regard him, seemingly thinking about something, then shook her head. 

“Harper's network identified the instigators as Weyland-Yutani, and a new insurgent group, the Sons of Korhal. I'm sure you'll be going on some exciting missions in the near future.” She thinly smiled.

“...okay. I'll speak to Harper about it. When we return to Reach, I'll see if there's any Weyland-Yutani execs that ONI wants silenced.” Orion slowly stated, feeling strangely protective of this woman. 

Intellectually he understood her brain was the key to his survival, but a combo of past memories, and current super soldier libido made him want more than her brain. 

“Cute, Winters. Puppy love aside, I didn't call you to discuss my woes.” Halsey rebuked, regaining some of her authoritative sass, and spoke in her high sounding academic tone. 

“You've seen your proof, are you willing to believe my claims now?” Orion asked with a smirk, and crossed his arms in triumph. 

“Don't grow full of yourself, Winters. I still need to examine that head of yours. The sudden emergence of your psychic powers was much stronger, and later in life than almost any other case. Your ‘visions’ could be the result of exposure to the Brain Bug, making you fear things that won't be.” Halsey said in a speculative manner of speech. 

Orion never once lost his composure, and if anything, all this empty speculation only served to embolden him further. Grin stretching from ear to ear, he looked down upon this super scientist that he had a complicated relationship with, as if he were regarding a fool. 

“Insult me all you want, Halsey, but deep down you know I'm right, and that just grinds your gears. Go on. Ask me what you want to know.” 

Halsey most definitely did not grind her teeth, nor did she curl her toes off screen at the insufferable nature of this man. No! She looked him deadpan in the eyes, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of a reaction, and most certainly spoke in a level tone! 

“Very well, I shall dispense with the pleasantries, and get to the heart of the matter. The five year time frame for the Covenant invasion on Harvest, that was what you said. What else can you tell me? Just what do you know, Winters?” Halsey asked. At first, she seemed disinterested, but then the rate of her words increased, and the inflection in her voice warped. For a scientist & truth seeker like her-one who sought the pinnacle of all knowledge-this discovery was like a child opening a present for the first time. 

Orion envied her. Doom & destruction were bound to visit Humanity, and yet even still, she could express wonder. Manipulative, sociopathic-like bitch that she was, he had to admire this innocent pureness. 

“The Covenant are a religious order founded by a long necked alien species, the San'Shyuum. As the religious caste amongst a group of different alien species, we will later label them as the Prophets…” 

Orion then went on to discuss the culture, society, and tech level of the Covenant, stressing how OP shields were, and both the cunning & honor of the Elites. Finally, he brought up the Halo Rings, their purpose in eliminating the Flood, and how the Prophets were fools who were in reality, going on a ‘Great Journey’ to their deaths. 

“Fascinating…so what you're saying is that this intergalactic empire was founded with poorly reverse engineered Forerunner technology. It's almost inconceivable that a people so intelligent could be so lacking in wisdom.” Halsey sighed in pity. 

“Indeed. Their home base-a giant moon sized ship-is powered by a Forerunner ship, much like this one. For all their rhetoric, and weaknesses in leadership, the fires of faith & technological advances make up for these deficiencies. Only…the future has changed. Unless we can put them on the path of a religious schism, the future war is likely lost…” 

“Did you drop your balls after nuking that Space Bug?” Halsey said in a biting tone, crossing her arms. 

Orion looked up from the deck, and sharply inhaled. 

“Hmph. I thought not. Now get this through your thick skull Winters. I am the foremost mind amongst Humanity. This here Forerunner ship? According to you, it wasn't supposed to be discovered for another 30 years. Do you really think I'd stand by and do nothing? Do you really think I wouldn't help you in every way possible?” Halsey began to speak in a rapid fire tone, each word was like a bullet of adrenaline in Orion's heart, making him stare at the psycho genius woman with ever increasing fervor. 

“No.” 

“You're goddamned right, Winters. I own you. I own this program, and I own your ass. I'll see you in 24hrs, and if I so much as hear the words ‘you look like-” 

“Ahem, ahem. Message received. Aye aye, doctor. I'll be fresh from a workout so you can examine me at my peak. Discussing alien xenobiology over a call, how impersonal?! No, no, no, I haven't even mentioned the Protoss or the Zerg.” Orion said with a beautiful smirk. 

“Orion.” Halsey hissed. “What. Haven't. You. Told. Me?” 

“Patience, dear doctor, patience. We can discuss details during the examination~”

Halsey looked away from her monitor, and then looked him up & down, her eyes roving as if she were a butcher examining a slab of beef. 

“This transaction is suitable. Pleasure doing business with you, Lieutenant.” Halsey nodded along, speaking in a perfunctory tone. 

The call ended a second later, and Orion leaned back into his bunk letting out a long sigh. 

Haaaah, what a raging bitch. 

And he couldn't help but wear a goofy smirk on his face. Wouldn't she be in for a surprise when he hit her with some psychic shenanigans? Increased sensitivity, stronger emotions. Oh, he was going to destroy that smug, self satisfied genius. A woman with a brain was his kryptonite, but that didn't mean he was willing to lose out on this encounter! 

\\We've been rerouted to a colony called Hadley's Hope. Come see me.// -Harper. 

Orion’s eyebrow twitched as he realized he'd be facing some Xenomorphs in the near future.