[Naked Crook]

Skinner: Brandon...take a walk and cool your jets. Yates frowned. He looked at Skinner. Yates: Aye sir... Yates turned and walked off down a different corridor. Vernette: What was that about? Skinner: He doesn’t like you. Vernette: Ohh? So I am doing good? Skinner: He really doesn’t like you. He thinks you...LACK...behind some of our other potential candidates. Vernette: Other candidates? Skinner: We were originally going to get Korman Industries to develop our cutting edge technology. Yates wanted Korman Industries...I overruled him. Yates does not believe you have the...skill...to compete with Korman Industries. Skinner paused. Skinner: To be honest...we are in the process of forging a contract with Korman Industries... Vernette: Then why am I here? I thought... Skinner: Everything I said was true. We do want your expertise; we want everything that you have to offer. All the promises, all the rewards...it all stands. BUT...Section 0 wants to see what Korman Industries can dish out...AND they want to see what you can dish out. I believe you are better than Korman Industries...but Section 0 wants to see all possibilities. Vernette: Yes...one man verses the full resources of a fortune 500 planetary company. Vernette grinned. Vernette: I trust I will be given the resources, man power, talent, and funding necessary to do what I need to do against Korman Industries. Skinner: Of course...but I would not worry. Korman Industries has a legal department with a number of employees greater than the population of the Island of Grenada, back on Earth. 70% of their corporate income goes to the legal department. ONI’s biggest problem with Korman Industries is the amount of lawyers they have. It was exceedingly difficult to contract them. We are still in negotiations...but our front men hear from their lawyers EVERY day, with new demands! You are here to give us a good reason to nullify, or even stop that contract completely! Vernette: Right... Skinner: The most likely scenario I see is you trying to out-do Korman Industries. I doubt you will have anything fully ready in the next few months. Nobody expects you to...but the sooner the better...and sooner is ideally before we finalize with Korman Industries. If, by some chance, we finish with Korman Industries before you get something off the ground, it is not the end of the world...just ensure it is better than anything Korman Industries can develop. Vernette: That won’t be too hard. Have you ever seen Eugene Korman...Korman Industries CEO? Skinner: Yes... Vernette: That guy is on death’s doorstep! I doubt he has a single brain cell that DOESN’T have Alzheimer’s... Skinner laughed. As he laughed he led Vernette down a corridor. The ONI agents followed. Skinner: Let’s get your recruitment finalized...shall we? Skinner led Vernette into an office. Skinner sat down at a desk that was in the office. Vernette sat down at the other end of the table. One of the agents gave Skinner a briefcase. Skinner opened it and pulled out a data pad. Skinner: This is your contract. Read it. If you agree to it...sign it at the bottom. Vernette took the data pad and took about 10 minutes to read through it. Skinner waited patiently for Vernette to finish it. Vernette eventually nodded and placed his thumb print on the data pad sensor. The data pad beeped. Skinner grinned. He stood up and extended his hand to Vernette. Vernette stood and shook Skinner’s hand. Skinner: Commander Vernette...welcome to Section 0. Skinner saluted. Vernette saluted back. Skinner: Now...you have work to do Commander. You should get started...it will keep you busy while we have your car shipped here. Vernette nodded. Vernette: Understood sir! ============================================================================== Harvest - Capital City of Utgard - Residential District – 1 month later: ============================================================================== Vernette was in his office. He was sitting behind his desk working on a new weapon design for the M6G Magnum. He stopped working when he heard a knock at his door. He looked up and saw Diana. Diana: Still busy? Vernette: Always busy…but loving it! Diana: Why don’t you take the rest of the day off? You have been working non-stop…I barely see you these days. I am sure ONI can wait a day. Vernette: I guess…and yeah, now that you mention it…I need to get out more. I have been seriously cooped up for too long! Diana: Yeah…you don’t need to be glued to your work 24/7… Vernette stood up and stretched. He then walked over to his wife and looked at her. Vernette: Well…what’s the plan? Diana: I don’t know…we could do anything really. Vernette: How bout dinner? We could go out… Diana: Hmmm…Not in the mood… Vernette: A movie then? Diana: No… Vernette: Not much to do otherwise. We could go for a drive or something… Diana: We could stay in. Vernette: I guess we could… Diana: Have some alone time… Vernette: Ohhh…I know where this is going now. Diana: So you are not totally lost on the world. That is good to know. Vernette: Where was this excitement a few nights back? Diana: I don’t know...wasn’t there…now it is. You know how it comes and goes. Vernette: Yeah… Vernette shrugged. Vernette: I guess I can take the night off. No harm in that right? Diana: No harm what-so-ever. Diana turned and left the office, speaking as she walked. Diana: Don’t keep me waiting… Vernette raised an eyebrow. He laughed to himself. Vernette: I have it made…I don’t know anyone with a better deal than I… Vernette grinned. He walked out of his office, but stopped when he heard the doorbell ring. Vernette frowned as he looked at his watch. He saw the time was 11:25 pm. Vernette: Who the hell visits this close to midnight? Vernette walked to the front door and opened it. He saw two men standing at the door. Both men were dressed like ONI Agents. They were both in black uniforms, as well as wearing long trench coats over their uniforms. Both men were also wearing leather gloves. Trust Agent 1: Commander Preston Vernette? Vernette: Who are you people? Trust Agent 2: We are with ONI Section 0…please come with us. Vernette was very skeptical. He did not see any insignias on the uniforms of the two men. He was unable to identify them. Vernette: I want to see some credentials… Trust Agent 1: Very well… Both agents opened their trench coats and revealed that they were both armed with M7 SMGs. Trust Agent 1: Satisfied? Vernette inhaled a deep breath. He now knew that these men were defiantly not with ONI. However, he was unsure, as they seemed to know about ONI Section 0. Trust Agent 2: Commander…we will not ask again. Vernette saw that the two men had arrived in a large SUV. There three other agents by the SUV. Vernette surmised they were armed equally as well as the two in front of him. Trust Agent 1: Commander Vernette…be reasonable. You are a family man; two children and a wife. We know what you are thinking…and anything you do will result in a shootout right outside your house. Are you so stubborn that you would endanger your family? We have no problem with a firefight…and we are cleared to invoke civilian causalities if need be. Vernette was silent for a moment. Vernette: Very well…you win. Trust Agent 2: We knew you would come to your senses. The agents stepped aside as they led Vernette out of his house. One of the Agents closed the door to Vernette’s house, as the other walked him down to the waiting SUV. Trust Agent 3: Check him! The first Trust Agent grabbed Vernette by the back of his neck and pushed him into the car. He proceeded to pat Vernette down. The Agent found both of Vernette’s Magnums and took them away. He also took Vernette’s PDA. Trust Agent 3: Good…put him out! The fourth Trust Agent pulled out a small needle and stuck it into Vernette’s neck. He injected Vernette, and Vernette began to quickly lose consciousness. ============================================================================== UNSC Marathon Ulterior Motive – Currently in orbit of Harvest – 2 hours later: ============================================================================== Vernette began to hear voices as he was slowly regaining consciousness. Trust Agent 2: Sir…he is waking up. Spender: Leave him be…we do not want to damage the goods. Vernette groaned. He began to get his bearings. He was aware of the fact that he was sitting down, but he was not bound to the seat. He did notice however that his hands were cuffed together. Spender: Commander! Vernette opened his eyes as wide as he could. He saw a man standing before him. Spender: Ahhh…there you are. I was beginning to think you were never going to wake up! Vernette was silent. Spender: Clearly…you are in no mood for chit chat at the moment. The drugs will dissipate in a few moments. Just give it a moment Commander. Vernette looked up at Spender. Vernette forced the words out of his mouth. Vernette: Who the FUCK are you people? Spender: I am a potential employer. Spender grinned as he took a drag of his cigarette. Spender: I go by the alias “Cigarette Smoking Man”…sometimes…“Cancer Man”…call me what you will. Vernette: How ‘bout I call you “The Fucking bastard”… Spender: I don’t like that name…Cigarette Smoking Man will do. Vernette: Fuck you…. One of the Trust Agents stuck Vernette with a Humbler. Vernette groaned in pain. He was breathing heavily as he looked up at the Agent who struck him. Vernette: Fuck you asshole! Vernette looked at the Agent to the left of the Agent that struck him. Vernette: Fuck you… Vernette looked at the next Agent to the left. Vernette: Fuck you… Vernette looked to the Left again and saw a Spartan with his arms folded. Vernette: I don’t even know you…but if you were here to help, you would have done so by now…so fuck you too! Spender: Such a temper…such anger. I bring you here to converse as friends, and you berate my associates and you berate me. Spender paused. Spender: I will no longer bore you with details Commander. I will get to the point. Roughly one month ago…you joined The Office of Naval Intelligence Section 0 division. You agreed to provide them with your expertise in weapons hardware, technological design, and your general aptitude for innovation. Spender took a drag of his cigarette. Spender: With ONI…you are simply a man…a numbered officer who just so happens to be good at something. Work with us…and you will be more powerful than God…except you will actually have the added bonus of doing something. Vernette laughed. Vernette: Buddy… Vernette shook his head as he laughed. As he did this, he saw his guns and his PDAS sitting on a table. Vernette noted this and looked back at Spender, trying not to make it obvious that he saw his equipment. Vernette: You are seriously delusional. Vernette paused. Vernette: If you wish to put yourself on the level of God…you go ahead and do that. I do not dare to walk that path. Spender: Out of fear? Vernette: Out of wisdom. Neither one man, nor a million men can simply displace a being that they cannot even begin to understand the nature of, nor can man displace a God when his existence still baffles the greatest of our minds. Even I am humbled in this domain. Vernette paused. Vernette: Something tells me you enjoy meddling with power greater that either of us. Whether it be God…or something more…man made. Vernette paused again. Vernette: You lack boundaries. That is unwise…that is dangerous. Spender: So humble…it was be refreshing if it were not many times more pathetic. Spender frowned. Spender: I am giving you an opportunity to be more than a pawn! Vernette: No…you are giving me the opportunity to be your pawn. Please…you are an open book. Your God analogy said it all! All you want is power…and people to bolster it. You don’t give a damn about me, or anyone else in this room for that matter. Drop the pretense smokey…I am not stupid. Spender: You are free to believe what you wish about how I run my organization. I have made my offer…and it is up to you if you wish to accept it or deny it. Let it be known…that to deny my offer…is a requiem bell. Nobody says no…to me. Spender walked around Vernette. Spender: I will not be denied. Accept my offer…or you WILL pay the price for your narrow vision. Vernette thought for a moment. Vernette: Just looking at you…you are a repulsive man. I am not going to sell my soul to save it. You go ahead smokey…do your worst. You will get NOTHING from me! Spender: You want my worst? Very well little man. You shall have it. Spender looked at the Agents. Spender: Get this self-righteous fool out of my sight. Let him sit in the brig for the next week to think about his position. Two of the ONI Agents grabbed Vernette’s arms and dragged him out of the interrogation room. They dragged Vernette to the brig and tossed him into one of the holding cells. They closed the bar doors and activated the security field around the cell. They walked off as Vernette struggled to get to his feet. Vernette’s hands were still bound by the metal cuffs. Vernette: Was it something I said? Vernette looked around. He saw he was in a pretty dire situation. Vernette: Alright…so I think I am in trouble. Vernette managed to get to his feet. He walked up to the bars and security field and looked around the outside of the brig. Vernette: Hmmm… Vernette looked around the room. He looked above all of the cells and saw power conduits running into the wall next to each cell. His cell had the same conduits. Vernette followed the conduits across the roof and saw a small device mounted to the ceiling. Vernette recognized the device. Vernette: So…Smokey or one of his buddies at least, does a bit of on-again off-again shopping with Korman Industries. A CL900 security barrier…standard issue. Vernette grinned. Vernette: Lucky me. Of all the shitty places to be stuck…the only thing stopping me is a bit of titanium and a crappy security barrier. Vernette looked at his hands. He saw his hands were bound such that his right wrist was on the top part of his left wrist, position perpendicular to each other. He examined his binds. He grinned. Vernette: Hmmm…standard issue. You know…Had I NOT been a criminal bastard when I was a kid…I might have been fucked here…but alas… Vernette managed to pull one of the medals off his jacket. He managed to expose the pin of the medal. Vernette twisted his hands, and began to prod at the electronic lock on the underside of his cuffs. He managed to short the lock, releasing the cuffs. Vernette: Alright...how the hell do I get out of here? Vernette walked over to the security barrier and touched it. He pulled his hand back after getting a jolt. Vernette: Oww…fuck. Vernette turned and looked at his bed. He saw it was a metal bed. It did not look sturdy, nor did it look comfortable. Vernette: Hmmm… Vernette walked over and pulled the mattress off and tossed it aside. He saw about a dozen metal bars acting as supports for the bed. The bars were not thick. Vernette knocked on one and discovered that the bar was hollow. The bars had a 1 inch diameter. Vernette grabbed one of the supports and tried to pull it out, but to no avail. Vernette then raised his foot and tried to stomp the same support out. This worked a little better. He managed to bend the bar a bit. He stomped on it a few more times until he broke it free from the rest of the bed. The bar fell to the ground, with about a 20 degree bend in it. Vernette: Good enough… With the bar in hand, Vernette walked around the cell. He looked at the walls, and saw they were made from metal plates. Vernette: Oh my God… Vernette walked back to the security barrier and looked at the cells across from his, as a point of reference. He saw that there was a substantial amount of space between each cell. He estimated no more than 2 full meters that separated each unit. Vernette: The conduits are running behind the damn walls… Vernette walked back over to the wall. He used the metal bar to begin hitting one portion of the wall, denting it in. After a few minutes of this, Vernette had managed to dent one of the plates inwards, giving him the room needed to use the metal bar as a make-shift crow-bar. He began to ply the metal plate, next to the one he had damaged, right off the wall. Using the angle in the bar, Vernette pushed his entire weight into the bar, which eventually managed to snap the plate right off the wall. When the plate snapped off, Vernette stumbled forwards right into the wall. Vernette: Alright… Vernette looked at the wall he damaged and saw another wall behind the plate he had pried off the wall. There was a steel bulkhead behind the large plate. Vernette: Shit… Vernette looked at the bulkhead. Vernette: Alright…how the hell do I get by this? Think Preston…think! Vernette paced back and forth. Vernette: This is a solid wall… Vernette stopped when he heard the doors to the brig open. He could hear two guards talking. Trust Marine 1: Whatever that idiot is doing…make him stop! Trust Marine 2: Right…just give me a moment. Vernette realized there must have been a camera in the brig somewhere, and that his actions were seen. Suddenly…Vernette had an idea. One of the Trust marines approached Vernette’s cell a few moments later and saw Vernette on the ground, near the security barrier, with the metal bar even closer to the security barrier. Trust Marine 2: Shit…Mack! Lower the barrier on cell number 12…I think our Naval Commander might have inadvertently electrocuted himself. Looks like he was trying to short the security barrier…and it back fired! Get a medical team down here! The security barrier fell and the Marine opened the cell and walked in. He knelt next to Vernette and checked Vernette’s pulse. Trust Marine 2: What the hell…that is way too regular for someone who was just… Vernette opened his eyes and reached up and grabbed the Marines knife from his chest sheath. Vernette slashed the Marines throat, and then jammed the knife into the marines jaw. The marine fell back. Vernette got up and grabbed the marines MA5C Assault Rifle. Vernette walked out of the cell, readying the Assault Rifle. Vernette raised it and took aim at the other Marine and gunned him down from down the hall. Vernette: Bastards… Vernette ran to the entrance of the brig where the first Marine was. Vernette grabbed the Marines comm set from his ear, as well as the Marine’s PDA, and walked out of the Brig. Vernette: I get my PDA…I get my Magnums…and I get the hell out of here! I cannot leave my designs in the hands of these people. Vernette ran into the main corridor of the ship. He managed to get a schematic of the ship on the PDA. Vernette followed it back to the interrogation room, which was not far from the brig. Vernette began to approach the interrogation room. However, he was forced to stop and hide when several marines emerged from the interrogation room. They had Vernette’s PDA and his Magnums. Trust Marine 3: Take the Commander’s things to the lab. I am sure they can make better sense of this stuff. Three other marines nodded to the third. Trust Marine 4: Aye sir! The Marines went their separate ways. Vernette began to shadow the Marines who had his equipment. It was not long until Vernette found himself outside of the research lab. He watched the Marines walk in. Vernette took cover in a small service junction and waited a few minutes. He eventually saw the same Marines leave the lab. Vernette watched the marines walk down the hall. After the coast was clear, Vernette walked into the lab, with the Assault Rifle ready. Trust Engineer 1: Alright…lets crack this PDA open. Admiral Spender wants this unlocked ASAP! He wants the data that is on… The engineer stopped when he saw Vernette aiming the Assault Rifle at him. Vernette: Get your greasy fingers off my stuff! The other four engineers in the room turned to look at Vernette. One of the engineers reached for his side arm. Vernette turned and shot the engineer down. The other engineers then reached for their weapons and Vernette just swept right across the room and shot them all down. Vernette looked around the room and saw his Magnums and PDA on a table near the Engineer that was talking. Vernette walk over and reclaimed his equipment. Vernette: Admiral Spender…that guy said Admiral Spender… Vernette put his magnums in his holsters, and pocketed his PDA. Vernette: I wonder if they meant that smoking guy. Well…right now it does not matter. I need to get out of here! Vernette ran out of the lab. Meanwhile: Admiral Spender was on the bridge of his ship. He was typing on a data pad. One of the bridge officers turned and spoke to Admiral Spender. Trust Officer: Sir! We have reports of gunfire on deck 7. Spender: What? Spender paused. He looked at Lucien. Spender: Do you think…? Lucien: Vernette? Spender looked back at the office. Spender: Check the holding cell cams! Is Vernette still there? The officer turned back to his terminal. He issued several commands to the computer. After a moment, the officer turned back to Spender and shook his head. Trust Officer: No sir…the cell is empty…and there are two dead marines in the brig! Spender turned to face Lucien. Lucien: Don’t even say it…I’m on it! Lucien turned and walked off the bridge. Meanwhile: Vernette ran through the corridors. He stopped when he heard the alarm going off. Vernette sighed. He picked up the pace. As he ran, he could hear Spender talking over the comm. Spender: Commander Vernette…do you honestly believe you are going to escape this ship alive! Vernette stopped. He looked at the PDA that the Trust marine was using. Vernette saw he was coming up on the hanger bay. Spender: You are meddling with the wrong man…Commander. Do you honestly believe you are any threat? Do you believe that you actually have the ability to leave? Any ship you launch from the Hanger Bay will be shot down! Gracefully surrender…and your punishment will only be crippling! Vernette: Yeah…real fucking incentive… Vernette stopped. He knew he would be shot down if he tried to leave in a Pelican. Vernette: There is no way I can offline the weapons long enough to escape in a Pelican… Vernette began to think. Vernette: Longswords are not fast enough…they would still be in firing arc… Vernette then snapped his fingers. Vernette: A HEV pod…they deploy from underneath the ship. I can escape that way! Vernette looked for the ODST HEV bay on the Trust PDA. He saw that the HEV pods were located on deck 15. Vernette immediately ran for elevator that was at the end of the hallway, but saw that the lift was out decommissions due to the fact that he had escaped from his cell. Vernette turned to the stairwell door that was down the hall and saw that it had also been sealed. Vernette: Shit… Vernette sighed. Vernette: Wait a minute… Vernette looked at the Trust PDA and swiped it next to the locking mechanism that was located next to the stairwell door. Vernette: Of course…security teams need to be able to access the stairwells during an emergency… Vernette entered the stairwell and began to run downwards. He ran down towards the door leading to deck 15 and opened the door like he did the other. Vernette pocketed the PDA and had his Assault Rifle ready. He knew that the HEV bay would be crawling with ODST. Vernette approached the main HEV bay doors. He had his Assault Rifle ready. He opened the door and popped out from behind the other side of the door. He immediately saw two ODST standing over a holotable turn their heads to look at him. The two ODSTs drew their Automags, but Vernette had shot them both down before either of them could get off a shot. Vernette walked in. He took cover behind the holotable as another ODST came into the briefing area of the HEV bay. The ODST was armed with a shotgun. Vernette popped out the side of the holotable and fired off the last of his Assault Rifle, fully depleting the weapon, but killing the third ODST. Vernette: I cannot believe this…killing my own people…just to escape this house of horrors alive! Vernette drew both of his Magnums and made his way towards the HEV pods. As he approached the HEV pods, a fourth ODST emerged from behind the cover of one of the docked HEV pods and took aim with an SMG. He fired off a burst, forcing Vernette to jump behind a small supply crate. Trust ODST: You are going to pay big time for taking out my squad buddy… Vernette rolled out to the side of the supply crate. He was lying on his back, arms stretched back beyond his head, aiming at the ODST. Vernette emptied his clips into the ODST, killing him. Vernette: Yeah…you sure showed me. Vernette ejected the clips from his magnums as he stood up to his feet. He reloaded his magnums and began to walk towards an open HEV pod. Vernette holstered his magnums as he prepared to climb in. Suddenly, a pair of hands grabbed Vernette by the shoulders and pulled him back, tossing him onto the floor with such force that his magnums flew from his holsters. Vernette raised his head from the ground and saw a fifth ODST. He was cracking his knuckles. Trust ODST: You didn’t really think there were only four of us…right? The ODST laughed as Vernette stood up and backed away. Trust ODST: What’s the matter Commander? Not tough enough to face a man without your precious guns? Vernette took a deep breath and raised his hands. Trust ODST: Not very smart…are you? Do you have any idea how highly trained we are? I am going to break you! The ODST lunged forward, jabbing forward with a right hook. Vernette managed to block the attack, but the ODST followed up with a cheap shot to Vernette’s abdomen. The ODST followed up with a right hook to Vernette face, and a knee to the gut. Vernette stumbled back. Vernette raised his guard again and looked at the ODST. He took a few deep breaths. Trust ODST: What’s the matter? Getting tired? Is that all the fight you have? Vernette frowned. The ODST lunged forward again. This time the ODST moved forward with a shuffle sidekick. Vernette moved to the side and drove his fist right into the head of the ODST. Vernette pulled his hand back after impact, as he had punched the helmet of the ODST. Trust ODST: Is that the best you can do? The ODST kicked to the side and impacted Vernette right in the chest. Vernette was pushed back against the wall. Vernette coughed. Trust ODST: This is pathetic! Vernette frowned again. He was getting irritated with this ODST. Trust ODST: I am going to enjoy this. I am not going to kill you…just beat you to an inch of your life! The ODST lunged forward again, throwing a left hook at Vernette. Vernette blocked the attack. The ODST followed up with a right hook and Vernette blocked that as well. The ODST stepped back and attempted to kick Vernette with a roundhouse kick to the head, but Vernette recoiled and dodged. The ODST grunted as he pushed forward with a haymaker. Vernette ducked and drove his right fist into the ODST’s side. The ODST was staggered, but he attempted to drive his knee right into Vernette’s face. Vernette raised his hands and stopped the ODST’s knee and pushed it to the side, staggering the ODST once again. Vernette got back to his feet and quickly raised his hands. Trust ODST: Lucky hit… Vernette backed up towards the holotable. The ODST walked forward. He threw a left, and then a right hook. Vernette blocked both of the attacks. Trust ODST: Son of a bitch! The ODST threw a right hook again. This time, instead of blocking, Vernette redirected the ODST’s attack away by grabbing his wrist and forearm, and spinning the ODST around such that he slammed the ODST, chest first, into the holotable, such that he was bent over the table. Vernette had the ODST pinned down by his arm. Vernette then proceeded to snap the ODST’s arm. The ODST screamed in pain, as he shot upwards, standing straight up. Vernette crouched and drove his fist into the back of the ODST’s knee, breaking the patella ligament. The ODST screamed again. He fell to one k nee, but Vernette lifted him by the back of the neck back into a standing position and proceeded to smash his head down into the edge of the holotable, shattering the visor. The ODST screamed again. Vernette lifted the ODST up by the back of the neck again and proceeded to slam him down in the same fashion, with full force. The edge of the holotable smashed the bridge of the ODST’s nose, and causing fatal head injuries. The ODST fell to the ground, dead. Vernette looked down at him. Vernette: That’s what happens when you back a brilliant scientist into a corner. Vernette caught his breath. Vernette then heard voices outside the HEV bay. The voices were faint, but he heard them. Lucien: I want C4 on this door…blow it down! Vernette looked at the main door. Vernette: Fuck! Vernette ran back towards the HEV pods and recovered his Magnums. He put them back in his holster. Vernette approached a wall-mounted terminal to prepare a HEV pod for deployment. It was not long until Vernette found that the HEV pods had been locked from the bridge. Vernette looked back at the door. Lucien: How long until you have those charges set up? Trust Marine: This is a heavy duty door…we need to get the placement of the C4 just right…or we won’t break through. 60 seconds…tops! Vernette looked around the HEV bay. He knew that if he didn’t have that pod launched in less than 60 seconds, he would have another fight on his hands. Vernette walked towards the briefing area of the HEV bay and found a laptop belonging to one of the ODSTs. Vernette saw the laptop was still functioning, but lacked a mainframe connection. Vernette looked at the holotable and knelt down beside the service hatch. Vernette pulled the hatch off and looked for the DCE (Data Communications Equipment) connector to plug into the laptop. Vernette pulled the DCE connector out of the holotable and plugged it into the laptop, giving the laptop terminal access to the ships mainframe. Vernette began searching through the ship’s command profile. Meanwhile: Spender slammed his fist down on his arm rest. Spender: How the HELL did Vernette get super user access to our mainframe so quickly? Trust Officer: I don’t know…but this guy is burning through our firewalls like they are not even there! He is trying to reactivate the HEV pods…and he is succeeding! Spender tapped his earpiece and contacted Lucien over the comm. Spender: Lucien! Lucien answered the comm. Lucien: I know what you are going to say…we are almost there! Spender: He has almost escaped! Work faster! Lucien: Understood! Lucien could be heard talking to the marines through the comm. Spender listened. Lucien: This door comes down now! Detonate it now! Whatever does not come down, I will push it down! GO! Spender nodded in approval. The officer turned to look at Spender. Trust Officer: Commander Vernette has reactivated the HEV pods. Spender: Just shut them down again! Trust Officer: I can’t sir…he has disconnected the pods from the local network. I’ve lost access to them! Spender: Do it remotely! Trust Officer: We can’t…he just deleted the super user binary. We cannot administer, initialize, shutdown, or change any system without that system binary…he crippled our system. Before you say it…no…we won’t have the time to restore it from the protected archives. It’s down to Vernette and the Spartan now. Spender: I don’t care…begin a restore immediately. The sooner we bring it back up…the better. Meanwhile: Vernette walked away from the laptop, and moved away from the briefing area, but was knocked to the ground when the HEV bay door exploded. Vernette fell right on his chest. Vernette crawled back to his feet, his ears ringing. He looked at the door, it was barely intact. He could see Lucien breaking the door down. Vernette turned and began to run towards the active HEV pod. Lucien broke the door down and walked in. He grabbed his Magnum from his side and took aim at Vernette. Vernette ran for the HEV pod as Lucien lined up his shot and fired. The bullet was on a direct trajectory for the dead center of Vernette shoulder blades. The bullet, however, impacted Vernette’s right arm. The reason was because Vernette had turned to the left to jump into the pod. Vernette sat in the pod as he cradled his wound. He could hear Lucien walking towards him. Vernette looked at the HEV controls and hit the green button. The front door of the HEV pod closed as it began its release. Vernette could see Lucien through the front window of the HEV pod. Vernette looked at Lucien. Lucien stared back, but raised his Magnum and took aim at Vernette’s head. Lucien fired. However…the bullet bounced off the window because the window was not made of glass, but rather, a transparent metallic alloy intended for harsh atmospheric entries. Lucien began to speak. Vernette could barely hear Lucien through the window. Lucien: I will be seeing you again very soon…Commander. I guarantee it! The HEV pod launched from its bay, and shot down towards Harvest. Vernette felt the HEV pod shake. He could feel the thinness of the air in the pod. The pod was speeding down towards Harvest. Vernette watched the guidance terminal as his pod rapidly counted down the numbers until he reached ground. Vernette remembered back to his early navy classes on how the HEV pods worked. ============================================================================== Flashback – Harvest Naval Academy – 13 years ago: ============================================================================== Naval Instructor: Can ANYONE tell me WHAT this is!? The Naval Instructor pointed to a holoimage of a HEV pod being displayed at the front of the classroom. Naval Recruit: It is a HEV pod sir! Naval Instructor: No points for partial credit! I want the actual name of this device! The recruits were silent. Naval Instructor: If you people cannot name this thing…there is going to be serious hell! Vernette straightened up in his chair. He cleared his throat. Vernette: Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle. For the record…HEV is an unofficial naval abbreviation for Human Entry Vehicle...I have no idea why it was nicknamed a HUMAN Entry Vehicle…it is not like small animals are being put inside of it. The naval instructor looked at Vernette. Naval Instructor: Correct…and correct! For the record…I don’t care what you call this thing when you are commissioned officers…you can call it a shopping cart for all I care. However, for now, I expect you ALL to refer to this vehicle as a Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle! I want the full name every time! The Naval Instructor paused. Naval Instructor: Can anyone tell me how it works? Vernette: Well…the…Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle is dropped from the underside… The Naval Instructor interrupted Vernette. Naval Instructor: I have no idea what an underside is recruit! Put it in terminology that I can understand! Vernette sighed. Vernette: Ventral side…sir. Naval Instructor: Continue! Vernette: Once the Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle is deployed from the ventral side of a ship, the Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle has breech the atmosphere at approximately 3000 feet, the upper exterior panels will separate and deploy into a drag-type chute designed to slow the descent of the pod. At roughly 50 to 100 feet from ground level, depending entirely on the force of gravity acting on the pod, the computer-controlled braking rockets engage to slow the pod to a slower speed…the end result being a survivable, but non-graceful landing. Naval Instructor: Very good…I am impressed. The Naval Instructor paused. Naval Instructor: So…it sounds like these things work perfectly! Vernette: On the contrary. Fatalities can be semi-common for various reasons. It is possible that the re-entry will destroy the pod. If the ceramic skin that composes the pod is damaged or poorly maintained…death is a certainty. Additionally, it is very possible for the braking rockets to fail…resulting in a very horrible death. Naval Instructor: Bravo. I should point out…that the law of averages suggest that everyone in this room will take AT LEAST one trip in one of these pods in their career…for whatever reason! If you can walk away from that one drop…you are pretty much in the clear of never having to do it again! Vernette: I hope I never have to do this crap…way to dangerous for my tastes. ============================================================================== End Flashback: ============================================================================== Vernette: Son of a bitch….he was right. Vernette looked at the NAV computer and saw that he has already broken through the atmosphere. He watched as the numbers counted down to 3000. Like clockwork, the drag chute deployed as the distance fell below 3000 feet from the ground. Vernette: I think I SHOULD have done the simulations…I am regretting that now! The pod was shaking mildly as it quickly sped to the ground. Vernette could feel the air was thin inside the pod due to the heat. He felt like he was burning up. Vernette: I think I should be wearing some sort of protective gear or something… Vernette tried to slow his breathing. He watched as the counter fell below 1000. Vernette closed his eyes. He did his best to brace himself, to try to situate himself such that there would be as little movement as possible. Vernette then heard the braking rockets engage. A few seconds later, the pod came crashing down to the ground. Vernette shifted in the pod from the sudden stop, but he was unharmed. Vernette began to breathe heavily. Vernette: I am never going to ridicule an ODST for as long as I live. These joy rides take serious balls… Vernette hit the door eject button and the door hatch blasted off. Vernette felt light headed, and his legs were weak. He felt like vomiting. Vernette: Where the fuck am I? Vernette pulled out his PDA and looked at the GPS readings. Vernette saw that he was on the other side of the planet from where he started. Vernette: Great… Vernette took a second look and saw he had landed in a very remote region, at least 100 miles from any human life. Vernette: I guess the HEV pod wasn’t the best idea… Vernette looked back at his PDA. He then had an idea. Vernette: Hold on…these HEV pods have transponders on them. That means…the…people that captured me…they may be tracking me. Vernette then looked at his PDA again. Vernette: If those guys altered the transmission frequency of the transponder…the UNSC would technically be unable to detect it. If I could change it back…I might be able to use it as a homing beacon for the UNSC to find me! Vernette grinned. He looked inside the pod for the service panel. He managed to find it in the back of the seating area. He pulled the service panel off and saw the various pieces of equipment. Vernette looked at the design. He pocketed his PDA. Vernette: Alright…let’s see here… Vernette began to analyze the layout. Vernette: This is our communication system here…this feeds into the comm….so that isn’t it. Vernette continued to visually scan the layout. Vernette: Discrete Arithmetic Logic Unit…scalar chip… Vernette continued to analyze the layout. Vernette: There we go…this looks like the transponder here! Vernette pulled out the small module that was held down by two metal pins. Vernette pulled out his PDA again and looked at the bottom of the device. He pulled a small console cable out from under the device and attached it to the transponder. Vernette: All I need to do is upload a new transponder ROM…I can just copy the one on my PDA…and I should have myself a home-made UNSC homing device. Vernette copied his own transponder ROM from his PDA and flashed the ROM onto the HEV transponder. After doing this, Vernette took the HEV Transponder and put it back into the HEV pod. Vernette sighed as he sat down next to the pod and waited. Vernette: Now we wait. Hopefully the UNSC can scramble here in 20 minutes or so… Vernette sat by the pod and waited patiently. He watched the skies for any sign of the UNSC. Eventually he saw two UNSC Pelican circling the skies. He sat and watched them for a few minutes before they started to come down. One of the Pelican maintained an aerial position while the other landed. Several marines hopped out and looked at Vernette. Marine: Sir? What are you doing out here? Vernette: Long story! Are you guys with the UNSC? The Marine looked confused. Marine: Of course we are sir! Who else would we be with? We don’t look like Insurrectionists. Vernette: That’s good enough for me. You think you guys can get me back to Utgard? Marine: Utgard is on the other side of the planet! How did you get out here…if you don’t mind me asking? Vernette: Long story…very long story. Marine: Well…no matter. Come on sir…let’s get you back to Utgard! Vernette nodded. He stood up and walked to the Pelican. The Marines followed him in. Vernette sat in the Pelican and sighed. ============================================================================== UNSC Marathon Ulterior Motive – Currently in orbit of Harvest: ============================================================================== Admiral Spender walked into the medical bay of the Ulterior Motive. He looked around at the amount of corpses that had been covered. Spender shook his head and disgust. The doctor who was tending the medical bay saw Spender. The doctor approached Spender to give him a report on the situation. Spender: Doctor…what is our current situation? Doctor: Well sir…we have 12 dead. 5 engineers, 5 ODSTs, and 2 Marines are confirmed dead. We are still searching for others…but we think this is all the damage that he did. Spender: How the hell could one man cause so much trouble? Doctor: I think we may have under estimated Commander Vernette… Spender: I never underestimate ANYONE! Keep your flawed observations to yourself Doctor. At that moment, Lucien approached Spender from behind. Lucien: Admiral… Spender turned to face Lucien. Spender: Lucien… Spender sighed. Spender: Did you manage to find out where that HEV pod landed? Lucien: As a matter of fact, I did. Unfortunately…ONI Section 0 was able to dispatch a team of UNSC Marines to recover Vernette from the LZ. Vernette is back with ONI…no doubt telling them everything that happened here. Spender frowned. Lucien: Sir…I think it would be advisable at this time to fully escalate. Commander Vernette is not someone who is going to be reasoned with…nor will he be scared into working with us. Someone like this…needs to be actively controlled. Spender: I am guessing you have a suggestion? Lucien: As a matter of fact…I do. Preston Vernette has a family…a family which e cares deeply for no doubt. Men like Vernette are very courageous with their own lives…but become cowards when dealing with the lives of the people they love. Spender: Yes…this is very true. Lucien: I can form a team…brief them on what they need to do. We can force Vernette to work with us…even if it means locking his loved ones in 10x10 cells for the rest of their miserable lives. Spender: Very good Lucien! Make it happen! Lucien nodded. He left the medical bay. Spender grinned as he thought about the results. ============================================================================== Harvest - Capital City of Utgard – Military District - 1 hour later: ============================================================================== Vernette was sitting in the infirmary of Fort Loki, the same UNSC base where he officially signed his Section 0 contract. Vernette was sitting on a bed. He looked up at the door when he heard it open. He grinned. Vernette: David! Burke: Preston…what did you do to yourself!? You look like you went 10 rounds with a striped snow grizzly! Vernette: It’s classified. Burke laughed. Burke: Classified you say? What did Section 0 ask you to do? Vernette was taken aback by the question. He had no idea how Burke knew about his position in Section 0. Vernette: I’m sorry…who? Burke: Preston…you are a brilliant man…which means you suck at playing dumb. I knew since the moment it happened that Section 0 recruited you. Vernette: How do you know this? Burke: How else do you think I know? I was recruited by Admiral Skinner just as you were! I have been part of Section 0 for the past year now. Who do you think sees to the medical needs of the Class 0 Spartans? Vernette: You? Burke: Yep… Burke paused. Burke: So…what happened? Vernette: Well…these guys showed up at my door last night and they basically strong armed me into going with them…or they would take their frustrations out on my family… Burke: My God…what did they want? Vernette: They knew that I had joined Section 0. They wanted me to work for them…to give them what I was giving Section 0. Burke: So you declined? Vernette: Of course! My loyalty is to the military first and foremost. Besides…even the worst of turncoats could see that these guys were serious assholes! After I declined…they threw me into the brig. I managed to escape. Burke: Go on. Vernette: I forgot to mention that they took my PDA from me. I guess they wanted the information on it. Thank God for Cloakware! Anyway…after I escaped…I went to go and retrieve my PDA. It turns out they were having difficulty getting past the Cloakware on my PDA. Burke: Cloakware? I am an MD…not a…whatever it is you are. Vernette: The term is cyberneticist. I am skilled in the computer sciences and engineering. Hardware design, code, network infrastructure, security, encryption…you name it. I also had a passing interest in Astrophysics…but that shit was not interesting enough to make a doctorate out of. Burke: Right…but what the hell is Cloakware. I have heard of software, firmware, hardware… Vernette: Cloakware is the encryption that exists on the hardware…as opposed to the encryption that exists on software. For example…take your laptop. When you power it on…you provide a user name and password. That encryption key and token is stored in the software, or on software located on a remote domain. Software encryption can be broken. Cloakware, on the other hand, is semi-readable, non-writeable, non-volatile encryption, physically encoded on hardware at a nanoscopic scale. By comparison, 1 nm can store 4096 bytes of encryption. Cloakware expands far beyond 1 nm. Once encoded…it can never be broken. If the decrypted password is lost…the entire device is lost…forever. Burke: Wait…if Cloakware is so unbreakable…why doesn’t EVERYTHING use it? Vernette: Simple…I designed Cloakware exclusively for my own use. Burke: YOU…designed Cloakware? Vernette: Yep. Burke: So…these guys were never going to break your encryption…so why recover your PDA? Vernette: I did not want them learning about the existence of Cloakware. Cloakware allows me to hide everything I do from every eye in the universe. My ideas will forever be mine so long as I have Cloakware… Burke: Well…you told me...I now know about Cloakware… Vernette: I know. I told you because I know that everything I said just flew over your head. You lack the ability to comprehend the total complexity…so you will simply not remember. Burke: That’s true… Burke paused. Burke: We totally got sidetracked… Vernette: Long story short…I killed some guys…killed some engineers…killed some ODSTs…and I was nearly killed by a Spartan…a Spartan working for my captors. I think it was a Class 0. Burke was taken aback. Burke: No, that’s impossible! Vernette: Believe it. Burke: Why would a Class 0 Spartan be helping these guys? That does not make any sense! Vernette: I don’t know...but…He was wearing this…navy blue armor…black visor… Burke: Oh no… Vernette: What is it? Burke: We have a serious problem… Burke turned away. He tapped the communicator that was in his ear. He accessed the communications network and attempted to contact Cameron. Burke: Cameron…do you copy? This is Dr. Burke…respond! After a few seconds, Cameron answered over the comm. Cameron: What can I do for you Doctor? Burke: Where are you right now? Cameron: I am currently onboard the Lunar Eclipse…why? Burke: Find Admiral Skinner…find Admiral Yates. I need to see them immediately! Tell them it is absolutely vital that I speak with them! Tell them that I will not take no for an answer! This is an emergency! Tell them that I am going to be coming up to the Lunar Eclipse…and to meet with me on the Observation Deck! I will be there in 20 minutes! Cameron: Understood. Burke: One more thing Cameron. I want you to contact ONI Site Omicron and check to see if Lucien is still there! Cameron: I will see to it immediately. Cameron out! Burke turned and looked back at Vernette. Vernette: What is going on David? Burke: I have a feeling that the Spartan you are describing is a Spartan named Lucien. Vernette: Cameron told me about him! Cameron said something about how he…nearly aced the command officer exam…something which is not possible. Burke: I wish that was the worst of it. Vernette was going to ask what else was wrong with Lucien…but he stopped. Vernette: Wait…Correct me if I am wrong, but were you not brought here to make sure I was physically fit to return to duty? I was shot…in the arm. Are you not going to take a look at it…to make sure that the Medic that treated me did a good enough job? Burke looked at Vernette, from head to toe. Burke shrugged. Burke: You’re fine…let’s go! Burke turned and walked out of the medical room. Vernette hopped of the bed and grabbed his coat and put it on. He grabbed his holster and ran out after Burke, putting it on as he moved. Vernette: Ignoring the fact that I my medical care was just brushed aside…I need to know…what the hell is going on? What else is wrong with Lucien? Burke: Lucien is psychotic…no…wait. I am sorry…I say he is psychotic…ONI says he is “acceptably psychotic”. Vernette: I did not know someone could be acceptably psychotic! Shit…I better remember that one. I could go and commit a double rape-homicide and claim that I am acceptably psychotic. Burke: This is not a joke Preston! This is very serious! Vernette: Honestly…who jokes about a double rape-homicide? Burke: To the point…Lucien is very dangerous! The armor he has, the drugs that were used, combined with his ambitious nature, his deranged personality, his disregard for the safety of others, his irrational behavior, and proficiency with weapons…this is not someone you joke about. Vernette: Shit. So…how did this happen? Burke: It was the drug…the Class 0 drug. Vernette: What drug? I knew nothing of any drug! Burke: The Class 0 drug was a formula used to physically enhance the Class 0 candidates. Without going into more details, it bolstered the muscular and skeletal structure, increased perceptual awareness, cognitive senses, and hand eye coordination. When the drug was first synthesized, ONI had no idea that the main chemical compound in the drug, conflicted with several others. This conflict caused…malfunctions in the brain…malfunctions that varied in degree from Spartan to Spartan. Vernette: Wait a minute…if the Class 0’s used a drug…then would Class 1 use the same drug? Burke: No. Remember how I said that a main chemical compound was in direct conflict with several other compounds? Vernette: Yeah? Burke: That compound was removed, classified, and what was left of the drug was handed to Section III for use in the Class 1 project. Vernette: What exactly was this vital compound anyway? Burke: The vital compound that was removed was the very same compound that prevented metabolic failure. As a result…Class 1 Spartans do not suffer from any…mental side effects…but more than half of the Class 1 Spartans died before they were even finished. Vernette: That is…unbelievable. Burke: I know…it is a shit show… Vernette: You know…now that you mention it…Skinner mentioned something about a character flaw. Skinner was very vague when he talked about it. Now that I really think about it, Cameron said they were disturbed. He told me about Lucien and his…desires. He told me how Lucien took an unhealthy enjoyment out of killing people in the most gruesome ways. Cameron also said that most Class 0 Spartans are like this. Burke: I will say that every Class 0 Spartan exhibits a different level of “disturbed behavior” There are some that are perfect, with no behavior problems at all! There are some who can be a bit trying at times. There are some who need a very firm hand. Then there is Lucien. Lucien is the worst of the Class 0, in the sense that he has the most problems. Burke and Vernette walked out of Fort Loki. They walked towards a Pelican that was waiting for them at the landing pads. Vernette: Let’s just hope ONI does something about this… Burke: First and foremost…we need to make sure that Lucien was the Spartan you saw. Burke and Vernette stepped onto the Pelican. Burke: If it is him…we will be forced to do something about it. It would be too dangerous to let someone like Lucien operate rouge. The rear hatch of the Pelican closed and the Pelican lifted off. The Pelican made its way up to the Lunar Eclipse. Once the Pelican had docked in the hanger bay, Vernette and Burke made their way up to the observation deck. They stepped into the observation deck and it was empty. Burke looked at his watch and saw that they were a few minutes early. Vernette: I guess we need to wait. Burke: Yeah… Burke rolled his eyes. Burke: You would think when I tell them it is an emergency…they would be here before we would be. Vernette: I guess they do not take this sort of thing seriously. Vernette shrugged. He turned to face the door of the observation deck when he heard it open. He saw Nikolai, Yates, and Skinner enter the room. There were also two officers Vernette did not know. Skinner: Dr. Burke…Commander Vernette…what was SO IMPORTANT that you felt it necessary to drag me away from some VERY important work! Burke: It is about Lucien. Vernette: We have reason to believe that Lucien has gone rouge… Skinner: Oh…please! Not this again. Dr. Burke…we have been through this. We have been through this in the past. There is nothing wrong with Lucien! He has a few anger issues…but nothing more! Vernette: With all due respects sir…you are burying your head in the sand as far as this matter is concerned. Skinner: Commander Vernette…I believe I have already told you in the past NOT to play commentary on our affairs.