Halo -chapter 2
#2 of Halo
I was bored, therefore chapter 2.
2550
Reach
Seth was sitting next to his husky Jeff; they roughly played with each other for hours. The happy dog suddenly got up and ran off into the distance; Seth looked out and saw his parents. He rose to his feet and started to run towards them, each step making him incredibly tired. He could barely make out his parent's features when his world exploded in pain.
Lightning surged through the stun baton and into Seth; he screamed and fell out of his cot to the floor. "Get up trainee! You've got a big day" Seth warily looked around to find he was still inside the spaceship along with other children who were also being electrocuted awake. He counted 40 kids about his age rubbing sore areas and straining to stand. The instructor who had jolted him glanced back at the children, "Hurry up and get your sorry asses out here!"
Seth shook off the shock and collected himself with the others and they walked out of their ship and into the sunlight. There were more instructors waiting for them outside on the vivid grass, the area dotted with a few massive trees and occasional buildings. This place reminded Seth of his summer camp he thought as the guards made 4 rows of 10 out of the frightened assortment. They all stood to attention as the lady he had seen before; Dr. Catherine Halsey walked up onto a stage and adjusted her microphone.
She took a glance at the notes she held and cleared her voice for the waiting crowd: "As per Naval Code 45812 you are hereby conscripted into the UNSC special project codenamed 'HIRCINE' and you will be fit to serve the Earth, it's colonies and the people" Seth had no idea what that meant, and he was about to get up and leave when another kid beat him to it, he received a shock from a nearby stun baton. Discouraged he sat firmly and tried best to understand what was happening. Halsey gave a few more lines of code, laws and project details then a small nod which engaged the instructors to round up the children and forward them into a barracks.
As the last child was shoved into the room and the door locked, the tired bunch turned and saw 20 bunk beds; and some other rooms aft. They instinctively ran for the beds and scrambled up to get top. Seth swiftly clambered onto a vacant top bunk and watched as the other kids grumbled at their misfortune to get bottom. He wrapped himself in blankets and lay his head on the flat pillow with a grin, he had always been proud of his skill in running and climbing.
The skill payed off the next day as the children were again woken with electricity and herded outside wearing jumpsuits. Before them stood the largest tree of the camp surrounded by complex scaffolding and other assorted platforms. A surly man stepped forward and gestured to the tree as he announced: "Welcome to day 1 of boot-camp trainees! I am Chief Mendez, this is your first challenge; at the highest point in the tree are tickets, those tickets will secure you a spot in the barracks. There are only 39 tickets, last kid up there gets to camp outside tonight, GO"
None of the 40 hesitated to run up to the tree and assess a route up. Seth grabbed onto a cargo net and hauled himself up it onto a platform, beyond that were more platforms, each requiring a jump to reach. He exchanged a glance with the kid beside him, who then made a leap for the next landing. He smacked onto the platform and fumbled his grip, causing him to fall. Seth gasped and looked down to find the child fall into a pool of water, he climbed out and started to climb again.
Seth looked ahead, got a run up and jumped the gap. He sailed onto it and did an ugly roll which nearly caused him to topple off the other side of the platform. He stood and jumped to the next platform, then again and again. He reached a point where there were no more platforms or anything to climb. Then he looked at the gargantuan tree beside him and realised the knotted bark and finger-holes in the trunk. "I have to climb this? Aw come on..." Seth looked around the tree to find no-one was as high as him, which also made him realise he was incredibly high up. He cautiously grabbed onto the tree and began his ascent. He struggled and strained his hands to eventually reach a large platform which he was surprised to find Mendez waiting for him.
Seth walked up to him and the Chief presented him a ticket. "Well done trainee you're the first one up, we'll make a good soldier out of you" A struggle of pain behind him caused to spin around and see the same boy that fell earlier, struggling onto the final platform. He grabbed the child and pulled him the rest of the way. Seth gave him some room as he wheezed and rubbed his hands, he eventually offered him a hand and he shook Seth's in gratitude. "I'm Marcus, thanks for the help, uh..." "Seth" He finished for him. They gave each other a smile before spotting a girl climb onto the platform. They watched her take a ticket from Mendez before walking over to them. "Hi I'm Lucy" She said in a pixie-like voice. They all exchanged awkward hugs with each other then looked down the platform at the other trainees struggling to climb.
Marcus spoke up, "Hey, we can be friends, I mean- If you want. I don't know anyone here" Lucy responded with: "I would love to be friends! How about it Seth?" He put an arm over each of their shoulders, "Sure, friends" Together they clipped on harnesses and enjoyed a flying-fox down to the base of the tree. With the free time they had, Seth, Marcus and Lucy explored the camp only stopping at a mess hall from which they received food. The sky turned dark as the threesome returned to the barracks to see a weird lock on the door with a group of puzzled trainees looking at it.
Seth examined the lock then remembered the ticket from today. He drew it from his pocket and fed it into a slot. Everyone jumped as a buzzer cut through the night. Seth grabbed the door handle and went inside only to have it lock again. He took a few steps from the door before turning to watch the other children give their tickets and enter the barracks. They slowly filed in and went to bed; it had been a rough day so Seth joined them. His head hit the flat pillow once more and rested for a while before he remembered what the Chief said, there were only 39 tickets. He secretly climbed out of bed careful not to disturb his dozing trainees and peered out the window at a jumpsuit slumped on the ground. He opened the barracks door quietly from the inside and lodged a nearby book into the frame so it wouldn't lock. He walked outside to find it freezing cold and the trainee on the floor was shivering madly.
Seth knelt by the body and nudged it whispering, "Hey, are you alright?" The boy rolled on his side to look at Seth, his face in a horrible grimace to try hiding his teeth chattering. Seth Help the freezing kid up onto his feet and supported him to the door, "It's alright, come on let's go inside" The trembling boy did his best to look towards him as he said: "T-thank-you... I'm Patrick" Seth helped him onto his bed and whispered to him, "No problem Patrick, I've got your back ok?" Patrick nodded as Seth quietly made his way up to his bed, unaware of the camera watching his every move. On the other side of the camera, Mendez smiled.