I Have Returned Chapter 11:
The Element
The pelicans landing gear popped out with a hiss as Jane landed the ship in the hangar of the INFINITY.
“Do you honestly want to put them in a prison cell Jane?” Crimson asked.
“Well we certainly don’t want them running around this place. This ship is 3 miles long, we don’t want to lose them.” Jane stated back, stern as ever.
“But a cell, really? I know they are our prisoners, but they’ve done nothing to deserve that.”
Jane clenched her fist together, and gritted her teeth. “FINE THEN!” She shouted making Crimson flinch. After a second her muscles relaxed, and she put her hand over her head in frustration. “We’ll put them in an empty barracks for now.”
She unbuckled herself, stood up, and stormed out of the cockpit.
“There is something seriously wrong with her Roland.” Crimson said as Roland’s projection appeared on the dashboard.
“There is no doubt about that.” The A.I. responded.
“She says that she’s doing this for humanity, and while I believe that that’s a part of it, I don’t think that’s her only reason. There is something she isn’t telling us Roland.”
“Got any other useful information sherlock?” Roland said sarcastically with a chuckle.
Crimson decided to ignore that comment. It was just Rolands nature to be like that, even in the worst of times.
“Roland, when was the last time Jane had a psyche evaluation?”
“Checking… Done. It’s been awhile, but the last one she had showed that she was for the most part ok.”
Crimson sighed “Then either we are wrong, or she’s really good at hiding it. Either way this doesn’t bode well for us or her old species. I’m worried about her. I know that there is good in her, there is no doubt about that, but her ending up back on her home planet has opened one hell of a can of worms.”
“Well, what should we do then?”
“You just try to keep her as calm as possible for now, and I’ll be there for her when I can.”
“Aye Aye.”
Crimson removed Roland from the pelican, and made his way towards the back of the ship where Jane telling her old ‘friends’ what was going on. All the while, each of them stared angrily at her.
“Ok listen up. All of you from this point in time are prisoners of the United Nations Space Command. Once this is all over, you can return to your pathetic lives.”
“Well then we’ll break out of here!” Rarity shouted.
“Ha, fat chance.” Jane cuckled moving right up to Rarity. She kneeled down making putting her on the same eye level as the pony. “You see, you are on a spaceship now. In space there is no air, and I highly doubt you have enough power to teleport back to Equestria, or have the skills necessary to pilot this ship back. So good luck.”
“You….. You…..” Rarity started, but couldn’t force herself to say what she was going to say.
“Go ahead Rarity, say it, I know you want to.” Jane aggravated.
Anger took over Rarity’s mind, clouding her judgment. “You monster!”
“I knew you would say that!” Jane said throwing her fist at the unicorn. It collided with her face sending a few teeth flying, and knocking Rarity out. Receiving a collective gasp from everyone in the room.
Crimson stood there in horror. He quickly shook himself out of it though to speak out in protest. “Jane, what the hell?”
Jane looked back to Crimson. Her eyes filled with rage, but at the same time he could see some sadness to him. She spoke to him in a calm emotionless tone. “I’m taking the element to get scanned, so we can see just how much power it has. You take the ponies, and lock them up.” Before grabbing her element lowering the hangar door, and leaving.
And just like that everything went quiet.
Crimson just stood there, as the ponies stared at the floor. “I’m so sorry.” He said.
After hearing that the ponies all looked up at him in curiosity. “I met her when she first came here. She was really kind.” Crimson continued. “I guess all the death and killing got to her.”
Sadness swelled up in Crimson’s heart as he realized what kind of position Jane was in. She came from a world where there was no war, and then decided to fight in one. He had no idea what kind of effect that must of had on her, and yet Jane was able to hide it all from everyone letting all the sadness and pain bottle up in her. Seeing her homeworld once again must of been the final thing that make her break, and go insane.
A tear formed in his eye. “Dammit Jane, I warned you all those years ago.”
He looked back at the ponies who were surprised to see him in this state. “Look I don’t know you five, but I’m going to have to lock you up for awhile. And believe me when I say that I don’t want any part in this, and I am sorry for what happened to Jane or whatever you called her back in the day.”
Dammit Brennan, you knew she wasn’t fit for a soldiers life the moment you met her. Why didn’t you stop her while you could?
____________________________________________________________
Commander Arimondo’s Personal Quarters.
“AAAAAAARG!!!!” Jane yelled as she threw her fist at her mirror shattering it. “I am not a monster!”
Jane sat down on her bed in a fit of rage attempting to calm herself down, but to no avail.
“You animals wouldn’t understand the sacrifices that I had to make! All you do is wallow in your own peace which you have done nothing to deserve! While we have to risk our lives day after day for a peace that will never come!” She yelled again throwing her fist towards her bedside table knocking it over.
Rolands holographic image came up on his pedestal. “Jane please calm down. You won’t be able to think straight in this state.”
She instantly shot a glare at him. “They don’t deserve the peace that they have. They have done nothing to earn it, while we do everything and don’t have it. Does that sound fair to you Roland!?”
“I understand what you are saying, but you can’t act like this. You are no good as a soldier in this state.”
Jane finally managed to catch her breath. She thought about the A.I.’s words for a second, and unclenched her fist. “Ah dammit you are right.” She said gaining a smile from Roland. “You know that big head of yours is going to save my ass one of these days Roland.”
Roland had an inner sigh of relief. He was able to calm her down like Crimson asked.
“I hope so.” He said trying to go along with her to keep Jane calm.
She held her element up to her face, the light from the ceiling shining through it giving off a surplus of purple colour around Jane’s face.
“It’s very pretty.” Roland stated.
“It sure is.” Jane replied a devilish grin forming on her face. “And oh so powerful.”
Jane stood up and went to the door taking the element with her. “And now it’s time to find out just how much power this baby has.”
The spartan casually opened the door revealing dozens of crew members waiting outside throwing questions at her left and right such as.
“What the hell were those horse things?”
“What’s that you are carrying?”
“Why did you leave the ship?”
The crowd almost overwhelmed her, until out from it came Corp. Terresia, who was one of the spartans on Jane’s fire team. Terresia was one of the smallest spartans on the ship. She was only a 5 foot 5 tall red head with her hair curled up in a bun. The soldier ran up to her commander and saluted as Jane tried to get through the crowd.
“At ease Spartan.”
Terresia lowered her arm, then folded both her hands behind her back before addressing Jane.
“It’s good to see you back here ma'am, but I think everyone here would like to know where you went.” Terresia spoke softly in a light cute voice as per usual of her. The only times Jane ever saw her raise her voice was in battle when she needed to speak over all the gunfire. In a way Terresia was sort of like Fluttershy in the way she spoke, but Terresia herself was more of an airhead, and also had a sense of humor.
Jane wasn’t ready for this, she wanted to get the element examined first and then tell anyone who asked about what happened below, excluding a few details here and there if necessary.
“I’m a little busy right now Terresia, Plus it would take a hell of a long time to explain.” Jane said now moving to the science labs with the crowd behind her.
“Can you at least tell me what’s that in your hand?” Terresia said pointing to the element.
Jane paused for a second in thought, she could probably tell her what is was. She just needed to leave out a few things, she thought as she continued walking. “It’s an artifact of great power. I’m heading to the science labs to see how much power it has.”
“To be completely honest sir, it looks like a childrens toy is you ask me.”
“I know, but I have reason to believe that it’s Forerunner in origin.”
“Oooo that’s neat.” Terresia said reaching her hand towards the element. She touched it causing Jane to pull it away from her.
“Don’t touch it!” Jane snapped causing the other spartan to flinch, and back away raising her hands in defence.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know that you didn’t want anyone else to touch it.”
Jane exhaled, she had to keep herself in check, at least until she had a clear course of action “It’s fine, I’ve just been a little on edge lately.”
The two stepped into a elevator, Jane pressing the button for the science deck. “I guess that thing in the war games must of really tired you out, no wonder you’re in a cranky mood.” Terresia laughed.
Jane decided to play along as it was an acceptable excuse for now. “Yeah, you don’t often see the war games glitching out. Good thing we have a new version on its way designed for our new armour.”
The elevator stopped, and the doors opened. Jane quickly made her way to Dr. Glassman’s lab with Terresia following shortly behind her. A few scientists eyeballed the element as she walked past, but none of them spoke up.
Finally she was confronted with the door to the examination room. She didn’t even bother to knock, and decided to just open it. Inside was both Dr. Glassman himself, and Crimson who had removed his armour. Glassman was staring a few monitors showing security cam footage of the Mane 5.
Jane cleared her throat alerting the two to her presence. With Terresia just smiling and waving her hand oblivious to what was going on.
“This is really fascinating. It’s not everyday we discover a new species, let alone a civilized one.” Doctor Glassman excitedly said. “And that one of them managed to sneak into our species!”
Jane automatically looked towards Crimson as panic quickly spread throughout her. “You told him!?”
“I took a photo of that painting of you with my helmet. I figured it would of been enough proof for someone like Glassman.”
Jane gritted her teeth. She didn’t like the fact that Crimson told Glassman. At the same time though she couldn’t get too mad, Glassman would probably have to know what was going on in the first place to be willing to scan the element.
Terresia could only stand there confused. “Wait, what? I’m not sure I follow.”
“It’s a long story.” Crimson said.
“Don’t tell her!” Jane instinctively responded.
“People are going to find out eventually Jane. You can’t hide it forever.”
“I know, but if I’ve hid it for six years I can hide it for a bit longer.”
“Hide what?” Terresia intervened.
Crimson sighed and decided to tell her whether Jane liked it or not. “She’s an alien.”
“Crimson!” Jane yelled in anger.
“Umm are you sure?” Terresia said. “Because she doesn’t look like alien.”
Jane facepalmed. Terresia really was an airhead. “That’s because I’m disguised as a human.” Jane was not enjoying this. Her one secret, now just being carelessly thrown around.
Doctor Glassman spoke up “Actually that’s true.” He said while pulling up some scans on a nearby monitor. “Once Crimson told me about you I pulled out a DNA sample of you. At first it seemed like normal human DNA, but upon further inspection it’s only disguised as human DNA, in reality it is something else entirely. Jane you must allow me to do more scans of you.”
Jane held out the element. “The only thing i’ll ‘allow’ you to do is scan this. It’s an artifact from the planet below that holds a lot of power. I just need to know how much power.”
“Ok, an energy scan, that shouldn’t take very long at all. Maybe ten minutes.” He guessed carefully taking the element from Jane. “Just wait outside while I do my work.”
Jane nodded in acknowledgement, and left the room alongside the two other spartans, only to be face to face with the crowd again which had now gathered outside Glassman's lab.
“I think they still want to know where you went sir.” Terresia said, stating the obvious.
“Yes, we’d all like to know that miss Arimondo.”
Jane could hear the voice from inside the crowd, but couldn’t pinpoint where it was coming from. She saw several spartans moving to the side and...aw crap, she remembered who’s voice that was.
Commander Palmer stood at the front of the crowd, looking Jane down with a vicious stare. If looks could kill this one would kill Jane, go through the wall, and kill anyone else who stood in it’s path for another 15 feet or so.
“C-commander Palmer, ma’am, it’s good to see-”
“Cut the crap.” She said bluntly. She walked up to Jane and put a finger on her chest. “While you were gone on your little escapade the ship was attacked by prometheans and almost killed half of this crew.”
Jane was shocked. “There were prometheans on the ship? How did they get here without us detecting them?”
Palmer let out a dark chuckle. “Oh I think you’d know that better than any of us Arimondo.”
“Commander?”
“You, one of our most loyal soldiers, sneaks off the bridge and leaves for god knows where. Coincidentally, shortly after you leave the prometheans show up and we had to fight for our lives from a sneak attack that we should have seen coming. Now they’re dead and you’re back.” She put her hands on Jane's shoulders and leaned in, reducing her voice to a whisper. “Do you see what I’m getting at?”
“Commander Palmer I know what I did may be grounds for suspicion but I can assure you-”
“You’re a rat!” She yelled. “You betrayed all of us commander.”
“And what exactly would I defect to?” Jane retaliated as stern as ever.
“The storm Covenant obviously. Halsey did, and so can you.”
“Why? Because last time I checked, I am nothing like Doctor Halsey.”
“I’ll find the why out in court after I arrest you.” Palmer said while pulling out handcuffs.
Jane pushed Palmer away herself in retaliation. “That’s not going to happen. Besides, you have the same rank as me.”
“I don’t care. We can do this the easy way or the hard way Commander Arimondo.” Palmer threatened.
“You don’t want to do that Commander, this will only end badly for you. You are not going to arrest me Palmer, and that is final. Now please...back off” Jane stated.
“Very well then.” Palmer lunged at Jane throwing her fist at her. It collided with Jane’s face knocking her backwards and sending a little bit of blood out.
Palmer threw another punch with her other fist. This time though, Jane raised her arm and grabbed the fist, then proceeded to punch Palmer in the stomach receiving a grunt of pain from the brunette Spartan. That didn’t discourage Palmer though, who with her left leg swept under Jane, sending Jane to the floor.
Palmer stood over her, bent down, and grabbed her shirt. “You criminal scum.” She shouted as she started throwing punch after punch on Jane’s face, until Jane finally managed to kick her off.
Jane spat blood as she stood up. “I had my reasons for leaving, and I assure you they were in favour of humanity.”
“Bullshit!” Palmer yelled.
Crimson had had it with this. He ran right between the two Commanders, who were acting like basic arrogant soldiers. “Stop it you two!” He yelled. “I was with Jane, and trust me when I say that she had no ill intentions to ‘humanity’ at least.” He said putting emphasis on humanity while looking at Jane.
“I find that hard to believe. I don’t see any way in which a soldier can abandon their ship with good intentions.” Palmer said condescendingly.
Just then Doctor Glassman came out of his lab looking thrilled. “Jane, you wouldn’t believe what I just found out.”
Jane took this as good news and smiled. As she re-entered the lab with the other spartans right behind her.
“Hey! Don’t walk away from me.” Palmer said. Her words not even phasing Jane.
Glassman looked like he could barely contain his excitement as he began to tell the Spartans about his findings. “This is amazing. From what my scans say, this thing could power the entire earth for decades. The amount of pure energy contained in this artifact of yours is way off the charts.”
A large grin of satisfaction formed on Jane's face. “This is fantastic. There are five more these artifacts Doctor, how much damage could they cause if we syphoned their energy into a weapon?”
Glassman thought of it for a second then said. “I can’t even begin to imagine how much destructive force they would have. It would make nukes look like something a caveman would use in comparison.”
Jane’s grin could only grow wider, looking almost evil. “Perfect. I’ll report this to Captain Lasky, I’m sure he will be pleased.”
“I don’t think that will be possible.” Palmer said.
This struck confusion with Crimson, and Jane. “And why is that?” Crimson asked.
“I’m sorry to tell you, but he’s dead.”
To Jane everything just seemed to stop then and there. Lasky’s was dead?