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Halo: Rapture
Chapter One: Welcome to Rapture

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Lights are flickering on an off. It’s freezing; my suit’s heater must be malfunctioning. Though, from all my suit has been through, I’d be surprised if any of my suits functions work at all.

I think my armor is locked up again, I am vaguely aware that I am lying on my back. I must also be in an elevator, if the downwards motion of the floor is anything to go by. It is the floor isn’t it? My head is foggy and I can’t think straight. Almost like I’ve been drugged but I know that’s not true.

I force my eyes to open as the hum of the elevator makes its way into me ears. Oh, my armor isn’t locked; my limbs are just very stiff. Wasn’t I in a Cryo Tube? Yes, Cortana put me in a Cryo Tube so I wouldn’t suffocate to death in deep space.

Wait. Cortana? I don’t think she’s here. If she was here, she probably would have spoken to me by now. Wait a second…I remember…..a crash….and water…sea water…….fire….a structure on an island…grabbing Cortana’s chip before swimming towards the structure…..and a pod like vehicle, like a small submarine.

Yes, I remember now. Cortana woke me from the Cryo Tube just as, what was left of the ship, crashed into the ocean of an unknown planet. The structure that housed the pod vehicle that I’m currently in was more like an old fashion light house then anything else. I think it was emitting an UNSC distress beacon though. I think.

Blinking and forcing myself to sit up, I take stock of my situation. I’m in an unknown pod vehicle traveling to, who knows where. That’s not good. My limbs are stiff to the point of being unable to move. That’s really not good. I have no real wounds, as far as I can tell. That’s good. None of my suit’s systems are functioning. This includes vitals, lights, motion tracker, shields, and air supply. That is definitely not good, but something I can make do without. The armor itself is dinged up but in a workable condition, it should protect me from most things without its shield.

As for my weapon situation, I have the Arbiter’s energy sword that he had dropped as we crashed into the hanger before the Arc blew up. It has a decent enough charge in it. That’s good. I also have a M6G Pistol, but it’s empty. That’s…okay, I can find more later, or just throw it away for a better weapon.

The pod is coming to a stop. Standing up as quickly as I could, I grab the energy sword and switch it on. I notice the pod’s interior for the first time, it’s rather…Spartan. Hard wood floors and two plush couches with red trimmings. Actually it looks like something from a Jules Vern novel. The pod comes to a complete stop and the door opens.

My eyes immediately search for any actual threats. None. All’s quiet. I reluctantly put the energy sword away. After identifying no threats, I take in my actual surroundings.

I’m in a sort of port. There were at least twenty different pods lined evenly across from one another. A sign proclaimed: Oceanus’s Dock. Ah yes, Oceanus, the Greek titan of the never ending stream. Fitting.

Stepping out onto the red and gold carpet I saw signs above each and every pod, or as a sign called them, Bathyspheres. Taking in the rest of the surroundings I decide that it looks as if it was made in Earth’s early twentieth century except the technology is too modern for that.

The fact that the published date on the newspapers on the newsstand tells me the paper stopped being written when I was about twenty-five. None of the dates I see go passed then. Something bad happened in this place.

Suddenly a loud, metallic noise distracts me from my musings. Spinning around to where the noise came from I see giant shutters uncovering equally giant windows. Water. I’m underwater. Somehow I expected that. What I didn’t expect was the view of the city that I received.

The design was definitely from the early twentieth century. There were building like sky scrapers and neon signs. I caught sight of a whale like creature gliding effortlessly between the buildings. All and all it was like Atlantis made in the 1940’s. Very impressive. But who would make a city like this? Better yet, where did they go? A city like this must have had a lot of people. This thought disturbs me.


Turning away from the impressive sight I look at all the places the Bathyspheres lead. I need…there! Medical Pavilion. Stepping into the Bathysphere that is an identical to the one I came down in, I pull the lever and feel it move under my feet.


First order of business, get my health in order, make certain that I have no injuries. If I do, they need to be dealt with. Either by me or a trained medical professional. Somehow I doubt I’m going to run into a doctor.


I also need to find a way to repair my suit. Not to mention find a way to repair Cortana. Of course, my situation could be hostile. If that’s the case I need to find weapons, or at least ammo. But my ultimate goal is to get out of here and contact the UNSC somehow.


With this in mind I pull out the energy sword, but don’t activate just as the Bathysphere pulls to a stop.


I’m in a lobby. As far as I can tell. My eyes survey my surroundings cautiously as I slowly step out of the pod. I’m just about to put the sword back on my leg holster when I’m slammed in the back of the head.


I hit the ground hard and the Arbiter’s sword is sent flying across the tiled floor. Sensing another blow I roll out of the way and jump to my feet. Combat instincts kick in, however I’m slower then I’d like to be. That rude awakening from the Cryo sleep did quite a number on me.


My attacker screams and lunges at me once again. I grab my attacker’s wrench before it can connect with my head again. My fist connects with its chin and it topples over with a shriek. Is that bunny mask? No time for that. I dodge as it tries to kick me.


That’s when, to my surprise, it spits fire at me. Like a mythical dragon. My surprise hinders my reaction time. I duck but the fire stream manages to catch my left arm. It chares and blackens my armor and I can hear the gel layer sizzle but it remains in place.


I roll away just as more fire streams towards me. I need the sword. Jumping away from more fire I run towards the sword. I can feel heat just miss my right leg. I dive towards the sword and grab its handle just as another fire spray hits where I was moments ago. Not for the first time I’m thankful for my speed.


Turning the sword on, I lunge at the attacker as it screams in more rage. Impaling the creature, it falls like a rag doll to the ground.


I get my first good look at my assailant. Its face was covered in a bunny mask but it had fallen off in our battle. I can see why it was wearing it, though. The things looked grotesque and dirty. It was obviously insane as well. How did it spit fire?


Shaking my head I check my burned arm. It was charred but not overly damaged. I need to avoid getting hit with this arm from now on. My flesh however feels a bit pained but I don’t think any real damage was taken.


Moving back towards the hallways I’m extra cautious. I know I’m going to run into more of those things. The lights are flickering on and off, papers are strewn everywhere, once nice furniture is broken and scattered, and blood on the walls and floor. Isn’t this lovely?


I frown. I’ve become sarcastic. I was never like this before…well, before Earth was invaded by the Covenant. Since then, I’ve become short tempered, insubordinate to superior officers, sarcastic, and losing focus. I’m losing touch, and have become disinterested. Disenchanted.


Moving on I come to, what appears to be a waiting room. I hear footsteps skittering away. Great. Keeping my ears open I move towards the secretary’s desk. Secretaries always have useful information.


I’m digging through the drawers when I hear it. At first I spin around so quickly my head spun and my energy sword is in my hand just as quickly.

“My daddy is smarter then Einstein, stronger then Hercules, and can light a fire with a snap of his fingers. Are you as good as my daddy, mister? Not if you don’t visit the Gatherer’s Garden you aren’t. Smart daddies get spliced at the garden.”


It’s a metallic little girl’s voice coming from a red vending machine with a representation of two children. On it is written: Gatherer’s Garden. Above that is a sign saying: Plasmids.


Putting my energy sword down but not away I move cautiously towards the strange vending machine. I see a hypodermic needle filled with a red substance in it. My better judgment is screaming at me to put the needle down and leave but for some reason my instincts say other wise.


I grab the needle and move it over one of the areas that are built into the suit in case a Spartan needs medical attention. Its easier then taking the entire suit off. I inject the needle.


Gasping, I stumble backwards. My vision is going blurry. I feel intense static electricity jumping through my veins. I’m having trouble breathing as I see spots in my eyes. I drop to my knees and tumble onto the ground heavily. This hurts just as bad as the augmentation process did back when I was still in training.


Just before my vision goes black I see another one of those things come up to me. This one has a butterfly mask on and it has a sharp looking pole. Uh oh. I let out a scream as another wave of pain hits me just as the pole is stabbed through my abdomen. I fall unconscious.

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“Who’s this? Another one of Ryan’s creations?” I can just barely make out what he is saying. I can’t even open my eyes.

“I don’t think so. Hmmm, maybe he still has some ADAM on ‘em.” Suddenly an ominous roar sounds near by.

“Come on, let’s get out of here.” His voice has an edge of panic to it.

“Coward!”

“I don’t care. We don’t have enough ammo to take care of a Big Daddy.” The man’s friend grumbles to himself but agrees when another roar sounds, closer this time. I hear their feet running off just as I black out again.

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I hear the roar again, this time it sounds from right next to me accompanied by a foul stench, makes me wish my helmet’s filters were working. I blurrily open my eyes to see a creature wearing an old fashion diving suit with a drill. Again, it looks like something Jules Vern dreamt up.


The thing roars again as a little girl, maybe six, in a dirty pink party dress and glowing eyes walks up to stand beside it. She’s holding a large needle with the same red substance from earlier. Her pallor is of a greenish color.

“Look Mr. Bubbles, it’s an angel. I can see light coming from his belly. Wait a minute…he’s still breathing. That’s okay; I know he’ll be an angel soon. Come on Mr. Bubbles.” Her voice doesn’t sound normal.


I pass out once again as I hear Mr. Bubble’s metal footsteps and the little girl’s tuneless song moving away from me.

-END OF CHAPTER ONE-