Chapter 1:
Boot
Spartan N-025 (Gabriel “Noble” Wing)
Camp Currahee, Onyx
2532 – 25 Years Earlier
Gabriel squirmed in his seat slightly. The little boy kept his eyes glued to his small legs. They barely reached the edge of the seat. The large harness practically swallowed his lithe frame whole. He didn’t like it. It felt like he was in a cage suspended several miles in the air. The way the big ship pitched and yawed made him feel sick to his stomach. He almost gave into the urge to throw up right then and there. He might have been used to flying, but not like this. The ride was too shaky and he jostled around a bit whenever the ship hit turbulence. He remembered when the old man ushered him and the other kids into the craft, which he learned was called a “Pelican.” He was shouting at them to get on board as the children timidly shuffled inside. Gabriel was one of the last. He was shoved forcefully by a child behind him. He was then quickly put into his seat and strapped into this giant harness.
Gabriel turned his head and looked to the child seated next to him, the one that pushed him inside. The boy had shaggy blonde hair as opposed to Gabriel’s own short, black cut. The boy looked just as nervous as he was. He probably regretted ever pushing Gabriel into the Pelican. Considering that he said nothing after the fact was most likely the case. He didn’t blame him. This whole thing seemed very scary.
Gabriel remembered when the strange men took him from the orphanage back. They found him on the playground. They wore these black suits and had on sunglasses that hid their eyes. They asked him all these questions, ones that made him feel uncomfortable. They wanted to know if he ever remembered the day his home was destroyed by the strange aliens called “the Covenant.” He begrudgingly nodded, giving a meek “Yes,” as his response. The next thing he knew, he was being shuttled with all of these other kids to who-knows-where. Gabriel tried to ask the grownups in suits where they were going, but they just told him to be quiet. Again, he gave them a meek nod and remained silent for almost the entire trip.
The shuttle rocked back and forth, causing a twinging pain in Gabriel’s stomach. His cheeks tuned a sickly green as he felt like he was going to throw up. He glanced over to the boy, his expression blank and emotionless despite his clearly ashen white face. The kid was like a machine, a stone faced expression and statuesque weight on his little shoulders. In fact, were it not for the fact that he was breathing, you’d almost forgive the others for thinking he was a statue.
An older man walked from the cockpit of the shuttle, looking deadly serious as the Pelican slowed to a crawl. “Listen up,” he shouted over the roaring engines to get their attention. “Your first exercise will be a tactical insertion from high altitude! If you want to take this seriously, I suggest you do as I say! Those who do not perform the exercise will not participate in the following assignments! Now, strap yourselves into those chutes! Unless you want to be left behind!” His voice boomed in the cramped space that the Pelican offered. The attention of the kids varied from each other: some were at attention, some were attempting to prevent themselves from doubling over and puking and others were still confused as they strapped themselves into their chutes.
Gabriel and the other boy were among the ones to attach the chutes without any question. Gabriel let out a quiet gulp as they were shuttled with the other kids to the back of the shuttle. The loading hatch opened up, revealing the nighttime expanse of the forest below that seemed to split the sky. There was a small clearing a ways ahead, encircled by large conifers and towering evergreens. It stood illuminated in the dark blues and greens of the dark forest, its rim glowing a bright pink color that seemed to call out to them in contrast to the darkness surrounding it. It was almost like some kind of haven.
One by one, the children formed a line. Gabriel and the boy were in the middle, poking their heads out to see children either take the plunge into the darkness or to give into their fears and collapse into a ball of sobs and wails. Some had to be...pushed, that was for sure, but surprisingly enough a girl actually was the first to jump out without hesitation. This spurred the kids behind her to jump, including one who seemed hesitant at first and being taunted by another.
Eventually, the time came for Gabriel to make the jump into the dark and harrowing forest. He looked down and gulped, his face turning white in fear. He felt his legs tremble as he slowly inched his way to the edge. He took a deep breath and shut his eyes... and then jumped.
Gabriel opened his mouth as he descended into the forest below. The rushing wind muted his scream as he raced further and further down. He shot his head up and saw the boy behind him race up beside him. They exchanged a quick glance to each other and nodded, counting down in their heads before they yanked on their respective cords. Their chutes flung open in unison, pulling the two boys upward as their descent slowed down. The gusts of wind whipped and lashed them around, their chutes going along with it.
Gabriel felt his stomach lurch and shoot back down as they approached the glowing circle. He let out a sharp grunt as he slid onto the grass, tumbling to a stop in front of a pair of green boots. He looked up, panting heavily to see what looked like some kind of robot, clad in green armor plating and a reflective green visor. “Congratulations,” the robot said, its voice surprisingly human. “You have what it takes.”
Gabriel had no idea what he meant by that. Before he could even process as to what, fatigue had set in for him, causing his body to collapse in a heap of wheezing and panting.