Hello Fellow Readers, I hope yall enjoyed the past few chapters that I've posted.
Second, I got great news, I'll be adding a brand new faction into the story.
If you got any questions, then please comment right away.
Read down below to find out one new factions.
• Gears Of War (mainly at the start of the event after JD, Kait, del and Oscar returned after their little raid in settlement two.
Two River Village
Seventy Six Miles From South Of Everolden
P.O.V.
Five
The chamber was vast, its stone walls etched with runes that glowed faintly in the green light spilling from the portal. It was an ancient room, rarely used, its purpose preserved only in the whispered tales passed down by the elders. Tonight, it had come alive again, a lifeline for a desperate cause.
Soren stood alone at the edge of the chamber, his back turned to the group behind him. He had assumed this was the right decision-no, the only decision. Yet, as the swirling energy of the portal grew stronger, doubt clawed at him like a feral beast. His arms remained crossed tightly against his chest, his posture as rigid as the stoic mask he forced himself to wear. If his people from the UEG unsc space saw weakness, they would lose faith. And faith was all they had left, something he himself holds dearly for nearly all of the times since he left the insurrectionist and his spartan brothers and sisters.
"Soren," came the soft voice of Laera, her footsteps light as she approached him. "You've been quiet since we arrived. What's really on your mind?"
He didn't answer immediately. The swirling green light before him seemed to demand his full attention, even as his thoughts pulled him in another direction. Finally, his voice broke the silence. "I don't know, Laera," he muttered. "Bringing him here... It feels like opening a door I've spent years trying to keep shut. He's the best chance we have, but he might also, probably say otherwise."

Name: Soren
Last Name: Unknown
Eyes: Black
Skin Color: Dark Brown
Hair: None
Height: 6 ft 9 Out of armor (Assuming his an ex spartan 2)
Weight: 248 Ib
___
Laera didn't move away. Instead, she placed a hand on his shoulder, the touch grounding him in a way only she could. "You're right to question this, but remember: we didn't choose this situation. It chose us. You and Koa were brothers once. If anyone can appeal to him, it's you."
Soren turned his head slightly toward her but avoided meeting her gaze. "That bond broke years ago, Laera. He hasn't seen me since Meridian, and when he does, I wouldn't be surprised if he..." His voice trailed off, unable to finish the thought. He forced a bitter chuckle instead. "He'll probably kill me."
Laera's lips curled into a small smile, though her concern lingered in her eyes. "Then I'll stand beside you, gun ready. You know I wouldn't let him hurt you without a fight."
Soren glanced at her now, his expression softening for the briefest moment. "And what would that fight accomplish? Knowing Koa, he'd barely acknowledge you as a threat. You don't know him the way I do."
Before she could respond, the sound of heavy breathing filled the room. Maddy, the young mage, leaned heavily against the table in the center, her wand trembling as she struggled to catch her breath. Her robes were damp with sweat, and her normally bright eyes were dulled with exhaustion. "It's done," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "The portal is stable."
All eyes turned to the glowing vortex at the center of the chamber. It pulsed with energy, its green light casting eerie shadows that danced across the walls. The air grew colder, as though the room itself recoiled from the power emanating from the portal. Soren straightened his posture, drawing in a deep breath to steel himself for what was to come.
The light within the portal began to shift, twisting and folding until a humanoid figure emerged from its depths. The shadows of the room seemed to stretch toward the figure as it solidified, forming the towering shape of a man encased in gleaming armor. The sound of his boots striking the stone floor reverberated through the chamber, filling the silence with a sense of foreboding.
Koa-known now as Five-stood motionless in the center of the room. His presence was overwhelming, his armor glinting ominously in the flickering torchlight. The helmeted figure seemed to survey the room, his movements deliberate and calculating. Around him, the group watched with bated breath, their unease palpable in the air.
Soren stepped forward, his heart pounding. "Koa," he said, his voice steady despite the storm raging within him. "It's good to see you again. Or should I say, Five?"
For a moment, Koa didn't respond. His helmeted gaze swept across the faces of the others, taking in their expressions of fear and apprehension. Finally, his attention settled on Soren, and he froze. Recognition hit him like a lightning bolt, the memories of their shared past flooding back in an instant.
"I thought you died at Meridian," Koa said finally, his voice deep and tinged with disbelief. "How did you survive?"
Soren allowed a small, wry smile to form on his lips, though the years of pain behind it were undeniable. "Funny. I could ask you the same, you damned fool," he replied, the old camaraderie cutting through the tension. "I Barely did. I Hijacked a UNSC Pelican with a few others. Meridian Special Forces. Camp Jackal survivors. We were lucky."
Koa's helmeted head tilted slightly, as though processing the information. "Camp Jackal? I thought they all died in the ambush."
"They survived," Soren said, his tone somber. "Because of you."
The words hung heavy in the chamber, the tension between the two men thick enough to cut with a blade. For the first time in years, the past seemed as close as the present, with no escape from its shadow.
Behind them, Laera watched the exchange with a mix of curiosity and concern. She had heard the stories of Koa-his strength, his reputation as both a hero and a barbarian back in the unsc and UEG space-but seeing him here, again, was of something entirely different. His presence was magnetic, yet it carried a weight that made her uneasy.
Maddy shifted nervously, her eyes darting between Soren and Koa. The young mage couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the armored figure before her. She had heard tales of Spartans from many of the travelers she's met, but standing in the presence of one was almost surreal.
Finally, Koa spoke again, his voice colder this time. "You've summoned me here for a reason, Soren. What do you want?" five said getting straight to the point.
Soren took another step forward, his resolve hardening. "Everolden is in danger. The Two Rivers are under siege, and the enemy is too powerful for us to fend off alone. We need your help, Koa. Your strength, your experience. You're the only one who can turn the tide."
Koa regarded him silently for a long moment, the weight of his gaze bearing down on Soren. Finally, he said, "Why couldn't you just ask the unsc for aid. They have already set a base, a settlement, here on this planet. They have marines and spartan fours and threes. Hell, even some of our brothers and sister are there as well. Surely they are more beneficial to whatever it is you want me here for."
Soren-066 remained motionless, uncertain about whether to inform Koa regarding the troubling issue he encountered with the UNSC, particularly concerning a specific government agency. "Let's just say I don't have a good relations with the unsc and UEG, as well as that of oni."
Five adjusted his position, his head facing forward as he looked down at Soren with a hint of confusion. "Could you clarify what you mean by that? I had assumed that with your presence on Vahrian, the UNSC, particularly ONI, would have allowed you to leave with just a pat on the shoulder?"
"It's more complicated then that five." Laera said interrupting her husband before he could even utter a word.
Interest in what soren's wife has had to say, five glance over at Laera, acknowledging her presence. "Explain then laera?"
Laera looked at soren, seeing the expression he had on his face, then afterwards she turned her attention back on the Spartan. "Soren is still wanted by the unsc and that of oni, as the reason why, well, he killed some people of importance, people that was very important to one of the council members in the United earth government. If words of his presence is spread on over this world, the unsc, oni, they will try their best to capture soren, and take him back to travellyan for court Marshall. Or worse-
"Execution," Koa muttered, the gravity of the situation falling into place. The room seemed to contract around them, the air thick with unspoken implications.
He straightened, his eyes narrowing with cold calculation. "What's troubling me is how you even managed to get here, Soren. With the tech and A.I. ONI has at their disposal, they should've picked up on your trail miles away."
Soren's lips twisted into a faint smirk, tinged with both gratitude and irony. "I had help. From a certain teacher."
The answer landed heavily between them, and Koa's expression darkened with a recognition he couldn't suppress. One name surfaced, unbidden but inevitable. "Mendez," he said. Then, almost reluctantly, "Does Halsey have a hand in this as well?"
"Yes," Soren admitted, a hint of hesitation creeping into his voice, "along with the Vice Admiral... and your family."
Koa froze, the mention of his family rooting him in place. "Family?" The single word carried layers of confusion and guarded suspicion, but his inquiry was cut short by the sudden arrival of another figure.
"Is this the one everyone's been speaking of?" The voice was rich and commanding, its owner striding into the room with an air of authority that silenced the discussion.
The woman came to a stop six feet from Koa, her gaze fixed on him with an unsettling intensity. Her presence was a force unto itself, and even Koa-a Spartan trained to withstand the storm-felt the sharp edges of her scrutiny.
"Koa," Soren began, his voice steady despite the tension building around him, "meet Lady Aexen of the Two Rivers. Lady Aexen, this is the Spartan I told you about."
Kaedra Lavest stepped forward, introducing the two with careful precision. "Lady Aexen is a seer. She has the power to glimpse fragments of the future, and it's because of her that we've summoned you. Without your help, our village doesn't stand a chance."
Lady Aexen held up a hand, silencing Kaedra with a single gesture. Her gaze never wavered from Koa as she began to circle him, a predator assessing prey. "You seem well-armed, Spartan. But are you sure your weapons are of any real use here?"
Koa met her eyes without flinching, his voice even and laced with challenge. "I didn't ask to be here, ma'am. You brought me of your own will. So I'll ask you again: why?"
Soren then spoke up breaking the standoff. "Because we need you, Koa. To defend this village, we've heard of your work from one of the survivors, from the villages that you helped save from the Raiders... Nevertheless, it is not the Raiders who are approaching to assault the two rivers; rather, it is an army of unidentified entities, monsters, accompanied by something unfathomably mysterious."
Five stilled in his current place simply turned as he ushered for Soren to continue. "I'm Guessing you all have a problem with two unknown attacks?"
"Yes." Replied aexen in a mere sense of dauntless. "I've received a vision from the world of dreams, that an army of trolloc's is said to attack this village by tonight."
"Have you warned your people of this then?" Five inquired of her, realizing that she likely did not do so of what he told her.
"I'm afraid not." Aexen says lowering her head in defeat, saddened that she has had to show this side of hers to those in the room. "I've only arrange this meeting in secrets for a good reason. You see, being a seer is both complicated and very dangerous, as those of my kind are at great risk of being captured and being turned into slaves. For it is my abilities that makes it so."
"The individuals present in this room are the sole ones who can be relied upon to uphold their commitments after becoming aware of Lady Aexen's capacity to foresee a portion of future possibilities." Kaedra stated seeing the understanding in the Spartan.
"However, Koa. There's another issue." Laera saud hoping that the Spartan wouldn't think she was seen as crazy.
"What is it?" Question five in an inquire.
Before Laera had the opportunity to speak, she and Soren exchanged glances before redirecting their attention back to him. "Kessler, bring it here."
The back entrance loomed before them, a gateway into uncertainty. As Five adjusted his stance, his eyes sharpened, sweeping over the trio that emerged from the descending veil of twilight.
The first of the three struck an imposing figure-a young man whose physique rivaled the sculpted perfection of a seasoned Marine. His muscles rippled with every calculated movement, as though his body had been honed for both aesthetic and lethal purposes. There was an air of command about him, a silent assurance that he could bend the world to his will if he so desired.
Beside him walked another presence-a stark contrast, yet equally captivating. This young man had hair that seemed to dance with fire, a dark auburn shade that blended effortlessly into his neatly trimmed facial hair. His intense eyes hinted at an untamed spirit. Five's gaze drifted to the hammer resting at the man's side, its weight and position suggesting it was far more than a mere tool. There was purpose in the way he carried it-a promise, perhaps, of chaos or salvation.
The third figure brought a sense of unsteady balance to the group. Slighter in build yet not without strength, he bore a resemblance to someone Five vaguely recognized, though this version appeared worn down by the trials of the day. His short curls framed a face marked with fatigue, each step forward a test of endurance. What drew Five's attention most, however, was the restrained being he struggled to manage-its movements erratic, as though freedom was just out of reach and desperation had taken hold. The silent clash between captor and captive was a story in itself.
Five clenched his jaw, the weight of the moment pressing down like a vice. Who were these strangers? Allies or threats? The air was thick, charged with the kind of stillness that signaled impending chaos. Shadows warped and stretched across the ground, their dance ominous under the flickering light of a dying sun. The world held its breath for what was to come.
Then came the sharp voice of a young man, cutting through the tense silence. "Dad, here it is! This bastard is lucky I was there-or I'd have put a bullet in its head!" Kessler spoke with a soldier's edge, but the confidence in his words faltered abruptly as his gaze locked onto Five. His expression, fierce moments before, gave way to astonishment, his mouth hanging slightly agape.
Soren's voice carried warmth and a father's pride as he approached Five with a smile that bridged years of separation. "Koa, you remember Kessler. He's my son." There was a joy in his tone that felt almost out of place amidst the grim backdrop.
Five's eyes narrowed as the words sunk in. He attempted to recall the identity of the boy, but despite his efforts to delve into his memories, it eluded him, as if he had never encountered the young man before. While it is wonderful for him to meet Soren's son, Five recognized that there were more important matters at hand than wasting time on introductions at this point.
"Wait, this is Uncle Koa?!" Kessler exclaimed, pointing at Five with incredulous energy, as if trying to reconcile his childhood hero with the armored figure before him.
"That he is, son." Soren gave a faint chuckle, his delight shining through the layers of tension. But his attention quickly shifted to the writhing figure restrained beneath their grasp. Soren knelt, his eyes narrowing as he examined the creature.
"What is this thing?" Five asked, his voice calm but laced with curiosity as his gaze bore down on the entity struggling in their grip.
The being was a study in contradictions-its unnaturally large form bristled with raw power, yet its desperation was palpable. Its grey-white skin shimmered faintly under the light, offset by patches of black scales scattered across its body. Most prominent were the red scales that encased parts of its torso, forming a natural armor that seemed to pulse faintly as though alive. Every movement it made was a battle, its strength barely contained by the three who held it down.
It growled low-a sound guttural and alien, vibrating through the ground beneath their feet. And for a moment, the world seemed to contract around it, as though the very air recoiled from the presence of something so utterly foreign.
Soren winced, his breath hitching as he gingerly lifted the edge of his tattered shirt. The wound beneath glistened, crimson seeping into the makeshift bandage wrapped haphazardly around his torso.
"Honestly, I don't know," Soren muttered, his voice gravelly. "The bastard got the drop on me first." His sharp gaze met Five's as he straightened, his movements deliberate despite the pain. "Overwhelmed in the middle of a battle against six of those brutes. Managed to take down four-two slithered back through the shadows. That one over there"-he gestured toward the restrained figure-"I let it live. Needed answers. What it is. Why they came through the gate."
Five paused mid-stride, the weight of the word "gate" anchoring his steps. His dark eyes flickered with unease. "Gate," he repeated slowly, as if tasting the word for the first time. "There's another one?"
"Indeed," Soren confirmed, his voice laced with grim certainty. He leaned against the counter, tapping his fingers rhythmically on the polished metal. "That's their way in. Their portal to this world. But for now, the other side seems content to watch from their end."
Five's brow furrowed as he opened his mouth to respond, but the moment was shattered by a collective gasp. The prisoner, restrained moments before, surged forward with a feral roar. The creature's sinewy frame rippled as it threw its captors aside like ragdolls.
Soren's instincts kicked in. His hand shot toward the holster at his waist, fingers brushing the handle of his M6H pistol, but he wasn't fast enough. The beast barreled past him, the blunt impact throwing him off balance. Stumbling, Soren turned just in time to see the monster's monstrous bulk closing in on Koa.
Five stood firm, unflinching. With a sharp twist, the Spartan sidestepped the creature's wild lunge, its claws swiping harmlessly through the air. Five, ever the tactician, sprang into action. In one fluid motion, he drove his knee into the back of the creature's leg, a resounding crack echoing through the room. A guttural growl tore from the being's throat as it staggered.
"Can it even speak?" Five asked, his tone clinical, almost detached. He held the creature's arm in a vice-like grip, forcing its joints to bend against their natural design.
Soren shook his head. "No. Tried questioning it. Just growls, like it's rabid. Wants us dead."
"Then it's useless to us." Five's words were cold, final. Without hesitation, he unsheathed his combat knife and drove it into the beast's neck with calculated precision. The room fell silent as its lifeless form crumpled to the floor.
Wiping the blade clean, Five turned back to Soren, his expression unreadable. "This gate," he began, "has anyone from the other side tried to reach out? Any communication in the last few hours?"
Soren nodded slowly. "Yes. In fact, one of them is here now."
Five's eyes narrowed. "Take me to them."
Soren gestured toward the door, a grim smile playing on his lips. "Follow me. You'll want to see this."
__________
The scent of burning wood and roasted meat hung thick in the air as dusk fell upon the village of Two Rivers. The preparations were nearly complete-lanterns strung across the wooden beams of every structure, faintly swaying with the evening breeze. Villagers moved with purpose, some donning ceremonial robes while others carved thick slabs of venison, their knives flashing under the dimming light.
For those who called this place home, the night ahead was meant for celebration. But as Five stepped forward, his eyes locked on the figures at the edge of the gathering, the weight of something far less festive pressed down on him.
The strangers did not belong here.
Five didn't need to analyze them long to confirm his instincts. Their movements were controlled, disciplined-each shift in stance, every flicker of their gazes suggested military training. Their armor was unlike anything the villagers had ever seen, heavy and reinforced with an unnatural bulk, the material unfamiliar yet undeniably designed for war.
Then there were the weapons.
Sleek. Foreign. Lethal.
Five could tell they weren't forged by the villagers' hands, nor did they resemble anything crafted through conventional means here on Vahrian. The glow of blue lights pulsed from their armor in rhythmic intervals, adding to the imposing air that surrounded them. They carried themselves like soldiers. And soldiers, more often than not, meant trouble.
Soren stepped forward before anyone else could speak, slicing through the tension with a voice edged in familiarity. "Koa, meet Reyna Diaz," he said, gesturing toward the woman standing at the center of the group.
She did not react immediately.
Her posture was unwavering, arms crossed tight, expression locked in contemplation. Even without words, Five could see her assessing the situation, weighing possibilities, considering threats. Her gaze flickered toward him briefly-sharp, calculating.
"This is camp Fort Umson's leader," Soren continued, though his tone was lighter now, almost amused. "Don't mind her. We didn't exactly get along when we first met."
Still, Reyna remained silent.
Five wasn't surprised. He had seen her type before-survivors hardened by circumstance, molded by war and necessity. She carried herself with an air of command that did not require verbal confirmation. *She is weighing us,* Five thought, *measuring our worth.*
But she wasn't the only one.
Kait Diaz stood slightly behind her mother Reyna, her sharp eyes scanning the gathering with reserved curiosity. Unlike her mother, Kait carried an openness in her expression, though it was tempered with caution. She studied the villagers, assessing their weapons, their readiness-seeking proof that they were more than simple farmers and craftsmen.

JD Fenix, standing rigid beside Mal, watched Five with particular scrutiny. His training with the COG meant he was wired to read people, and Five was no exception. *Tactical curiosity,* Five recognized immediately. *He sees me as a potential asset... or a threat.*
Mal, however, was the first to speak after the long silence stretched.
"This how you always welcome new faces?" His voice was calm, yet marked with subtle challenge.
Five met his gaze without faltering. "Depends on the face."
Del chuckled, but it was a careful sort of amusement, measured rather than careless. "Fair enough."
Then there was Oscar Diaz, the one who carried himself with the least amount of restraint. The broad-shouldered man surveyed the village and let out a low whistle. "Well, this is... rustic," he commented, his smirk curling as he crossed his arms. "What, do you guys fight off intruders with pitchforks and stern glares?"

Name: Oscar
Last Name: Diaz
Eyes: Dark Brown
Skin Color: Brown
Hair: Greyish Black
Height: 6 ft
Weight: 268 Ib
___
The villagers stiffened, but Five only narrowed his gaze. "And you fight with beer breath and bad jokes?" Five countered back at the man earning a chuckles of slight laughs from jd, kait and del.
Oscar raised his eyebrows. "Oof. Alright, big guy. I see how it is."
The tension crackled, unspoken challenges filling the air. But Reyna wasn't interested in banter.
"Enough," she finally said, cutting through the exchange with unwavering authority. The single word was enough to silence Oscar's smirk and straighten Kait's posture.
Reyna's gaze swept across the village again, her expression impassive. "I came here seeking assistance," she admitted. "But now that I'm looking at what you have..." She exhaled sharply, the hint of skepticism unmistakable. "I'm questioning whether I wasted my time."

Name: Reyna (Torres)
Last Name: Diaz
Eyes: Brown
Skin Color: Brown
Hair: Auburn Red Black
Height: 5 ft11
Weight: 165 lb
___
Five studied her carefully.
She wasn't wrong to be doubtful-he understood how some outsiders would've viewed this village. To them, it was nothing more than a collection of primitive homes with outdated weapons. No war machines, no advanced defenses. But what Reyna and the others didn't see, what they hadn't experienced, was the sometimes people with her perception of thinking can be proven wrong, however, he felt like that she was quite correct in her statement. This village, as many people there is in it, they didn't have the defense it needed from being ambushed by any attack. Hell, he felt like a group of highly special operative could infiltrate the village fairly easily.
Soren knew outsiders rarely saw past the surface. To them, this village was a relic of a bygone era-primitive homes, outdated weapons, no war machines, no fortified walls. A place barely holding itself together, vulnerable to attack at any moment. And while some might believe that perception was wrong, this time, it wasn't.
He'd seen tactical vulnerabilities before-hell, he had been trained to exploit them. And everything about this place told him that a well-coordinated strike could tear through it like a blade through soft earth.
"She's right, Soren."
Five's voice was as steady as ever, void of hesitation, his presence a stark contrast to the murmuring villagers who lingered, uneasy at his blunt assessment. He didn't flinch under their judgmental stares, didn't care for their silent protest. He was stating facts, not coddling feelings.
But then, his gaze flicked toward Reyna Diaz.
"However, Ms. Reyna-I wouldn't judge these people so quickly if I were you," Five continued, tone carrying an edge of knowing. "Though, from the way you and your own group carry yourselves... looks like you can handle your own, with your guns."
A beat of silence.
Reyna's eyes narrowed, dark with suspicion and something deeper-calculation. She was accustomed to battles, to fighting tooth and nail for survival. She had seen enough bloodshed to know who underestimated their enemies and who simply knew when something wasn't enough.
Her fingers flexed slightly against the grip of her weapon, but she didn't raise it. She wouldn't waste ammunition on words, but **she sure as hell wasn't going to let some armored outsider think he had her figured out.**
"You don't know a thing about my people," she said finally, voice cool, controlled-but undeniably dangerous. "And just because you're standing here with a fancy suit of armor doesn't mean you get to assume what we can and can't do."
Her stance remained firm, a commander refusing to yield-not to a Spartan, not to anyone.
Five tilted his head slightly, seemingly unaffected. "Fair enough," he replied, calm, unreadable. "But neither do you." He told her, acknowledging her people's suffering, especially with how she seemed ready to curse him out.
For a moment, they simply stood there, weighing each other-not as allies, not as enemies, but as two warriors who understood what it meant to survive.
Soren watched the exchange, recognizing the tension not as hostility but as the inevitable collision of strong-willed fighters from vastly different worlds.
The real question was whether those worlds could ever truly coexist.
Soren stood at the center of it all, his arms crossed, eyes scanning the faces of the newcomers. Their expressions ranged from wary to intrigued, but there was no mistaking the tension that lingered in the space between them.
"I believe we can help one another, Reyna," Soren finally spoke, his voice steady, though there was an underlying weight to his words. "But in return, we may need some of your people willing to help defend this village."
His statement earned the attention of the outsiders-especially Kait Diaz, who pushed off the crates she had been leaning on. Her posture was one of quiet authority, tempered by the exhaustion of long travel.
"That's kinda what we came here for, actually," Kait admitted, eyes shifting toward the ragtag group of locals. "Though, we also came here in hopes that you'd have a better explanation for whatever that gate is-the one that appeared on our doorstep out of nowhere."
Five, standing beside Soren, let out a quiet breath. He wished he had that answer. Wished he knew why the gate had begun pulling people from different places, different worlds. But the truth sat heavy in his chest: **he didn't**.
"I'm afraid we don't have that answer," Five said, his tone calm but firm.
Soren nodded grimly, turning to face Kait. "Big guy's right. This gate-it doesn't follow any kind of logic we know. But if you and your people ended up here, I'm guessing you're experiencing the same thing as everyone else who's crossed it."
Kait exchanged glances with her squad, clearly weighing her next words. Before she could respond, Five shifted beside Soren, murmuring his name in a way that drew immediate attention. Soren turned to him, catching sight of Five's subtle gesture-motioning for him to follow.
Curious but wary, Soren did as asked, following Five a short distance away from prying ears. A hushed tension settled between them, broken only when Five spoke.
"You need to tell Halsey about this gate."
At the name, Soren stiffened slightly, his expression darkening. Five didn't miss it.
"I know you don't like her," Five continued, unshaken, "but you and I both know she's the best chance we've got at understanding why this gate is bringing people here. Across different times."
Soren clenched his jaw, his gaze drifting to his wife and son in the distance. They weren't looking at him, weren't even aware of the debate raging in his mind. Then, his eyes landed on the villagers-people who had welcomed him, people who saw this place as home. **His home.**
Bringing Halsey into this meant putting it all at risk. The UNSC, the UEG, and ONI-they were all hunting him. He had left that life behind. If he called her in, his past wouldn't stay buried.
But... if he didn't, he might be putting these very people in danger.
He exhaled slowly.
"Fine," Soren relented, his voice low, edged with reluctant resolve. "I'll go with your idea." His gaze sharpened as he locked eyes with Five. "But if things go south, don't blame me when I decide to defend myself."
Five accepted his answer with a nod, appreciating the weight of the decision. Whatever else could be said about Soren, there was no doubt in Five's mind-the man's first priority was the safety of this village.
______________
The conversation wasn't private for long.
Reyna soon approached, her expression expectant. "So, what have you two decided regarding our situation?"
Five glanced at Soren before answering. "We've come to an agreement. One of your people will help defend this village, and in return, our doctor will assist you in understanding the gate."
A scoff sounded from Oscar Diaz, Reyna's brother-in-law. The burly man crossed his arms, his demeanor skeptical. "What good is some doctor in figuring out a damn portal? Ain't that kind of thing meant for-what do you call 'em-scientists?"
Soren, despite himself, let out a quiet chuckle. He hadn't exactly been looking forward to working with Halsey, but he knew Oscar's doubt wouldn't last long.
"You'd be surprised how much that lady has helped people like us," Soren said, shaking his head slightly. Then, with a smirk, he added, "Doubt her all you want. But don't come whining when she proves you wrong."
Five, sensing this was his cue, turned to Soren. "I'll contact her. And the others back at the UNSC Settlement Base."
Soren nodded. "I'll handle explaining everything once she's here."
With that, Five strode off, distancing himself enough to speak privately. The fate of the village-and perhaps something far greater-now hung on the conversation that was about to take place.
___
Once he was a good distance away, Five lifted his hand to activate his comms, signaling SatCom to connect with any nearby UNSC ships. Static crackled faintly in his ears, but the line remained dead.
*"This is Sierra Zero Zero Five to any UNSC ships. Can anyone hear me?"* His voice was steady, but anticipation simmered beneath it. He paused for three seconds, scanning the barren terrain around him as if that would make a difference.
Nothing.
*"I repeat, this is Sierra Zero Zero Five to any UNSC ships, can anyone hear me?"*
Five waited patiently. He knew there was no reason for the signal to go unheard-Vahrian had a satellite in orbit, meaning UNSC forces should be able to intercept his call. There had to be someone listening.
He opened his mouth to repeat the request once more, *"This is Sierra Zero Zero Fi-"*
Then, suddenly-static flared, followed by a voice that sent an unexpected jolt through him.
*"I'm sorry, but... can you repeat that?"*
He recognized it instantly.
*"This is Spartan Koa, Sierra Zero Zero Five of the UNSC. To whom am I speaking?"* His words were firm, but his pulse had quickened, though not out of surprise-out of anticipation.
Then came the shout, loud enough to make him momentarily pull the comms device away from his ear.
*"Koa!"*
The sheer disbelief in her voice was undeniable, and in the background, he caught faint voices reprimanding her for the lack of discipline.
*"Damn it, Spartan, you have no idea how much I have to say to you."* Carol Rawley's tone carried the sharp edge of frustration mixed with something far softer-something bitter and unspoken.
*"I'm sure you do,"* Five replied nonchalantly, as if their last exchange had been yesterday rather than fifteen years ago. *"But try not to freak out. I need to establish contact with Catherine Halsey. Is she with you?"*
Carol scoffed, irritation creeping into her words. *"Oh sure-just reappear after over a decade, and instead of checking in on your best pilot, you ask for Halsey first. Real touching, Spartan."*
*"Forgive me, but I need to speak with her."*
Carol sighed audibly, her voice losing its bite as resignation settled in. *"She's not available right now. She entered one of the gates with a UNSC force to deal with the Imperials and their allies. Word is that time in there dates back to the late twenty-first century, but..."* She hesitated, then exhaled. *"Lucky for you, she's set to return tomorrow."*
*"Good to hear. Inform her that I've discovered a gate that may pique her interest."*
A pause.
Then-an unfamiliar voice, firm yet aged, cutting through the transmission.
*"Carol, who is that?"*
Five frowned slightly. *"Who is that, Carol?"*
Silence hung in the air, and when Carol finally spoke again, her tone was different-careful. *"Koa... you won't believe this."* A slow inhale, then a cautious exhale. *"It's... It's your mother."*
The words barely registered.
Five didn't respond.
*"I can let you speak with her if you want?"* Carol's voice lacked its usual teasing bravado.
Then-another voice, softer, more fragile.
*"Koa... It's me. Your mother."*
Sandra's voice was steady, yet it carried a quiet tremor-a weight of emotion that had been held back for too many years.
*"I-"* She faltered before pressing on. *"I know you don't really know me. But please, son, I want to speak with you. I'm sorry... for everything."*
Five did not react. At least, not visibly. His expression remained impassive, trained into neutrality from years of conditioning. No sharp intake of breath. No shift in stance.
Nothing.
Yet-something splintered.
The sensation was subtle, creeping under his skin like an old wound reopening without warning. He had been raised to suppress unnecessary emotions, to strip himself of sentimentality. He had learned to disconnect-to detach.
And yet...
*"I see,"* he finally said, his voice devoid of inflection. He had nothing else to offer. What was there to say to a woman he had no memory of-no history with?
*"Please, Koa... can we talk?"* Sandra's voice wavered. She was trying her best to stay composed, but the pain in her words was unmistakable. *"I don't expect you to forgive me. I don't expect you to feel anything. I just-"*
She hesitated.
*"I just want you to know that I never stopped thinking about you. That I never stopped hoping you'd come back."*
Five remained quiet, staring at the ground as he listened. His fingers hovered over his comms device, as if debating whether to shut it off entirely.
Carol spoke next, her tone softer, more measured than before. *"Koa, I know this isn't easy for you, but maybe just... hear her out. You don't have to say much. Just let her talk."*
Sandra's breathing was uneven, barely audible over the transmission.
*"I was told you were gone."* Her words came slowly. *"They said you wouldn't make it back. And yet, somehow, here you are."*
Five swallowed, though his expression remained unreadable. *"And here I am,"* he echoed flatly.
*"Do you-"*
Her voice broke, and she had to pause to collect herself. *"Do you remember anything about me? About home?"*
He could feel the weight of expectation settling over her question, pressing against the edges of his carefully maintained indifference.
*"No,"* he answered.
Silence.
Carol exhaled through the comms, as if bracing for the fallout.
Sandra didn't speak right away, but when she finally did, her voice carried something different-something weary yet determined.
*"Don't take it the wrong way ma'am. I Dont hate you for what happened years ago. For the past was only memories in whatever occurred between the reasons you did what you did."*
*"Understand, but if I ever get the chance to meet you in person. Please at least allow me to talk with you"* Responded Sandra, as she sounded slightly hurt with how nonchalant Koa was with the way he spoken, as if he didn't know her.
*"Look, you don't need to be sorry of what hap-
Before five could complete his sentences, an individual rushed from behind him, calling out to him in haste.
"Spartan, you need to help them!" Kessler says in a rush as he halted mid pace from having to run.
"Whats the matter. What's going on!?" Questioned five as he turned to face the son of Soren.
"It's the outsiders, they've gotten words that their camp is being attacked. Reyna and her crew had just ran back to aid their camp from the attacks set upon their home. My father, sent me to get you after he had rushed off to help the outsiders!"
"Copy that." Exclaimed 'five' before swiftly running ahead, leaving a stunned Kessler behind. "Look Ma'am. I Gotta leave, as much as I want to continue in this talk with you, I'm afraid this is where we have to end our talk, five out!"
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