//------------------------------// // Lies consume us // Story: Hope in the burning skies // by Kalimdor //------------------------------// Planet: Halo Year: 2493 Wind heated from sharp rocks near coast dispelled long black hair. Megan dressed in grey Halo Militia operative outfit with handful of badges was about to end conversation with her new unwanted but necessary friend. Upper lid of compact in her left hand was launching static view of her conversation partner’s voice sound wave. “I have read up your suggestion about codenames for us” little giggle peaked last wave “It is quite hilarious because both of us don’t even know their real names… Shield” “It will just increase disinformation in our opponent spies, handy don’t you think Sword” she added more accent in last word causing another giggle. “Yes, yes, yes” words slowly leaked trough small speaker “If I may, I will continue my fencing exercises. Fitting thing to do for your Sword, don’t you think?” After disconnection lid closed itself silently and she set her sight on coastal view of her planet. Communicator tinkled on bottom of the arm sachet and she admired sight of unauthorized construction. Coast was a place for the tall strapped white lighthouse with connected wooden house near edge of green coniferous forest. Time in this place stopped or gave the impression of that. She slowly approached front of the house attentively looking around building for uninvited guests, her motion and heat sensor also remained silent. After confirming that only one registered signature is in the nearby area she turned it off. Now she was standing in front barn like door. Whole building was made from wood except tall lighthouse. Wood was perfectly cared and reinforced with smelly lacquer. From border of the roof on long strings hung drying mushrooms but Megan didn’t see them in her life. She curiously touched tangled fungus when solid wooden doors slowly opened revealing shady insides. “Please don’t touch them, they are essential for my diet and don’t quite ready. Please, come in.” weary voice asked politely somewhere from inside building. Vestibule connected lighthouse entrance now closed with strong metallic doors with yellow twenty seven number, it was strangely similar to Dominion hatch painting. “You don’t need to take off your boots” same voice from behind shook her out from thinking “If you were thinking about something like that.” She turned around and awkwardly smiling faced old man. He smiled back and with short hand sign showed her poor chair near fireplace. Light from it illuminated single chamber. It was full of all necessary things for leaving. Essential ones, many made probably by resident. Surprisingly chair was very comfortable and she could lay eyes on her host. After three years she last time saw him he didn’t changed. Little bald grandpa with crippled leg placed another poor chair just before her. In certain moments time let go and allow to stay the same for certain amount of time. “I need to hear and see you properly” like he was reading in her mind “Age is not favorable for me you see.” Moment later they were looking in each other eyes, light blue eyes observed her with great interest and single tear escaped to the wrinkled skin disappearing immediately on dry skin. Place was filling with weird, but refreshing aroma coming from copper cattle it was hanging just above lively fire. He waved his fingers and smiled slightly “I believe you have a lot of questions young one” “You bet Kal.” Megan thought if she would be easy going with new friend she could get more information, but outcome was completely different. “If you may, I don’t want to hear my name from you anymore if you want to talk with me long.” He said reservedly and put hand on his chest “Corpses don’t talk too much.” She realized suddenly that he is seeing ghost of the past. Obvious things are sometimes too obvious. “Resemblance…?” “A lot” slight blush came on wrinkled pale skin “I miss her but we will met again very soon” “Not too soon! I have so many questions, you don’t even…” His loud laughter shook Megan insides. Dwarfish man had big and healthy lungs and throat. He looked on the watch which hung just above bed in the right room corner. “I have another meeting with unwelcomed guests and soon so ask what you want to know.” “Guests?” “Yes, I will have to change my… residence to somewhere near Sol system. I need to meet somepony on the Moon.” Megan involuntarily opened her mouth in silent awe. She could not bring her thoughts together and brain started hardly grind information. “You don’t believe me? That does not matter I will do it anyways. Don’t mistake me. I am your ally and friend. Old man can take care of himself, youngling.” She still couldn’t believe what she heard. Even if she had her top questions carved in her mind she could not focus on them right now. Curiosity won once more “You need to meet some-Pony?” “A messenger. I have debt to repay, it is the last piece I need to do.” “Debt?” “It is becoming quite strange conversation about me…” he raised his head in acted distaste. “You see my dear, my last recording would be last thing I have done in my life.” He stood up from chair and approached nearby shelf. After couple of seconds of search Magan held old creased picture. When she examined the picture Kal escaped to his pleasant memories. Picture was showing large group of smiling people. More than hundred of them gathered near seven multicolored equine animals. She spotted them right away. Sapphire was lying in Kal’s strong hands smiling widely. Megan was holding his shoulder and waved to the camera. Frail man from helicopter was very near them, kneeling. His face was on the same level as green pony with horn, big pinkish eyes shined brightly. All of them, even ponies, were wearing camouflaged uniforms. Some of them in energy suits with grand rifles ready to battle. On the second plan five tall towers shined even more with their own light, like crystal mountains in full glory. She recognized these buildings right away, father told her about them many times. Tiara towers on Earth’s moon. Then proud monuments, proof that humanity can make great things together despite where they live or what they do. Now glassed and radiated wasteland, an example what Dominion will do with ones who will think to oppose it. Earth’s tourist attraction. “Fine chaps I have to say.” He said suddenly. “So many…“ Megan pointed with fingers known people and showed him picture ”I recognize pilot, you and her.” “We were surrounded by Dominion forces from every direction. Copter has been shot short after we climbed to the sky, I broke the camera that day. That is why I didn’t record something else. Worth hyping you up to your task.” Another loud laugh pierced the silence and Megan nearly dropped picture to the fire. She returned it immediately to the rightful owner. “Megan and Sapphire were taken to the remains of Dominion fleet above planet. I searched for them but…” “I understand. So a mysterious pony stroke from the skies and saved you?” She swiftly changed topic. “Yes! Something like that. I don’t remember her name but she was quite tenacious. After the evil ride and escape with Sergei, the pilot, we came to agreement about her name: Lightning. He didn’t agree to add pink, I really don’t know why. Pink roses are so…” “How many?” he looked at her awkwardly “Exactly, how many of them are out there?” “You will know soon, very soon and I hope you will share all you know with me. I will help Order if you didn’t hear it earlier.” His light and lenient answer touched her open nerve “Mysterious magic horses, order, Grathius and… Dominion” Silently burning fire, smell of unknown herbs and suspiciously comfortable wooden chair were enough foreign to make her more emotional than she would like to be. “That is why I am here, old man. This is crazy! Madness! I cannot do it, I barely manage to run corporation inherited from old fool just like you!” More and more thoughts attacked her mind but man looked at her with the same lenient style, even stretched out a bit angering her even more “Look around! This house is your friggin’ order! Rotted and decayed. You are Order, one man army and submarine. Take it for free and all this bullshit with it!” Megan couldn’t take it anymore. This little smile, way of speaking, eyes, everything about that little crippled grandpa angered her. She suddenly stood up and started to walk around man and furnance. “What ‘we’ can confront against Dominion power, huh?” She pointed him with long finger. Red nail flashed just before his face, but he didn’t even flinch. Torrent of thoughts now just simply flowed through her lips. “Cute little ponies? What you want to do, hug them to death, drown them in rainbows? You want to fight with everyone. Dominion IS humanity you know. Planets, fleets, knowledge, armies and people!” After every single word, her mind glimpsed vivid and saturate picture of witnessed somewhere things. Planets with monstrous factories. Huge cities with even smallest buildings that touch the skies next to horizon long agricultural zones populated with hundreds of workers. Fleets stationing above planets and nearby space platforms, every single one big enough to cover the sky. Highly trained soldiers on each with finest Grathius weapons. Armies of scientist and metallic soulless machines. Galaxy full of enemies and innocent civilians. Her knees started to tremble and vision blurred. Kal was sitting in the same place but look on his face changed to concern one. Megan didn’t saw that. “If it is not enough they have slaves, anarchy reigns and council!” Last thing in her mind was the meeting room, big round chamber with many richly inlayed chairs. Dominion parliament in the Nations Spire building, jewel in the New Manhattan’s crown. Capital Earth and all subjected colonies need to be free of totalitarian regimes. This is what she needs to protect. What she can use to save Dominion and its citizens from madness. She turned to small hanging mirror and saw proud woman, daring. Dare to oppose. “High commissar Emily Hargreave, Dominion defense and integrity enforcer, important part of something you want to destroy. Dominion is ruled by people, it is just and right. Secure and joy place for everyone.” Old men stood up, straighten and relied on back of the chair, tacit. “I am your enemy American.” Wide insane smile reappeared on her face showing beautiful white and straight teeth “You are race traitor. Unworthy to be called a human. I will kill you, here and now.” Skirts of her uniform folded and she nimbly pulled out two silver pistols, loud snap signed energy fillers ready and two heated tri-bullets swirling leaved barrel. Kal took chair and deflected first packet of energy throwing it through the window with furniture. Chair immediately stood up in flames burning nearby dry yellow grass. Second one smashed into hundreds of sparks on the stone wall. Megan underestimated him and not continued to shot another times. With cats agility he caught up to her and with two swings disarmed her completely. She again was looking deep inside his eyes, motionless. “I've had enough of this child’s play!” His words hung in the space for the moment. Now his voice was as strong as his previous laughs. Drilling in ears, crushing hart and making goosebumps all over body. “What is your name?” Something pointy was touching her skin just above breast and she noticed broken wooden chair leg ready to pierce her chest. “W-w-w-what?” Piece of old wood approached even more. Weird sensation embraced her whole body. “Emily Hargreave” “It is a lie.” He threw the shard aside and put his hand on her forehead. Suddenly all her strength disappeared, she could barely stand on her legs. Eyelids closed up without notice. “You cannot lie to me sugar cube.” Usual black gave place to foreign orange light. It filled her whole field of view where pleasant warm flowed through the body. “Honesty is one of the most important things you have to learn once more. We as people need to remember simplest things and think for ourselves once more.” These words, so pure, impressed her deeply. They were coming from the light itself instead of heard sound. “It is easier said than done and we cannot do it alone.” “Whole galaxy is in chain of the eternal lie. We can break it. We need to break it and we will break it.” With these words whole fatigue and doubt vanished, burned off from orange light. False pictures of Dominion galaxy vanished too. She didn’t remember when she was that happy. “No more lies.” “What is your name?” “Megan Scott.” “Well Megan here and now history is being created, my next visitors have arrived.” He pointed at broken window, Megan immediately looked out of it. Three figures were approaching from coast, each one wearing shimmering cloaks, with drafted sabers. “My God. They are… assassins, real assassins on MY planet. You will die today either way…” She couldn’t believe her own eyes. In front of her was standing the Kal from video tape. Tall and bold, muscles hardened trough work and war, eye catchy. Everything changed but eyes, still the same. “H-h-h-h-ow it is even possible!? I am dreaming? Please say I am dreaming!” “You were sleeping all your life. Time to wake up, Megan Scott.” “What kind of game are you playing? Who are you? What are you?” “A promise. I sorry for this costume party, I will explain youngling. Pegasister.” He once again put his hand against her forehead “We will meet again, take care of Grathius and Sword, I count on you. See you later!” With flash of violet light she fell to black well of her consciousness. ‘Sleep, death or something far worse?’ She asked herself.