This story is the combined take I have had with HL2RP thus far, it was taken from a variety of different servers so the details will be sketchy and not accurate to CGs server, however it still abides by cannon. (note I am only 16 so this story may be pretty shoddy.)
This is a short story series I have written and finished in my internet down time. Some feedback would be nice. The art is by LouisGFX.
CCA-C8.AURA.RCT.2475
24/10/17
Entry one.
The cold air was crisp and moist through my mask's filters; each breath felt shallow and artificial. The officers lined us up in the Citadel Courtyard and told us to wait for the Commander to arrive. There were twelve of us, RCTs, most were fresh off the train, suited up and then brought here for Basic Training, I had lived in City 8 for a few years, since the Seven Hour War. We waited for a good five minutes of silence before the Commander entered; he was a Unit of astounding rank, his presence demanded attention, the Officers and Division Leaders stood-to as the Commander strode between the lines of RCTs and High Command.
The Commander was dressed in heavy Commando gear; dark shaded Overwatch insignias lined his shoulders, his mask was similarly modelled after the Division Leader with large strips of darkness running into the filters. The Commander, or CmD as referred to for short, spoke in a deep monotone voice that tinged with annoyance at the sight of me and the other Recruits.
'Recruits!' He shouted deeply, echoing in the empty courtyard. 'I am CCA-C8.CmD.1012,'
He gestured the three division leaders behind him to step forward, the one on the far left was introduced; he was a large unit of roughly 6'8 feet tall, on his back was an AR2 Pulse Rifle. 'This is the DvL of HELIX Division, #4565.'
The second DvL stepped up.
'This is AURA Divisions DvL, #7778.'
The final DvL stepped up, he wore a darker uniform and had a rather unique looking Datapad that glowed green on his wrist. The CmD then said.
'Last but not least this is NOVA Divisions DvL #4585 .'
After the introduction the CmD turned back to my line and began to pace along it, slowly inspecting each of us with dark, lidless eyes. 'You are all here because you believe in the future. You are here because the future is The Union.' Those words sank coldly through my mind and made my skin crawl slightly.
'You are here because the future is bright.' He finished, the DvLs nodded in agreement. 'Each of you have earned your right to be here,' He stopped and breathed heavily through his mask. 'however whether or not you are to remain with us is entirely down to you. Over the next week you will be tested to your physical and mental limit, your mind and muscle will grow to become a vessel for the Union and it's ideals, each of our DvLs will have different training tasks for you to undergo.'
I dared not make eye contact with the CmD or the DvLs but as I surveyed the courtyard I noticed a unit; he was an Officer by the looks of things, he wore the AURA insignia on his right shoulder, on his left there was a large CQC Combat Knife sheathed in dark leather, he held a loaded shotgun by his waist, I had only realised it now, this OfC had been staring at me this whole time and although it was impossible to tell what he was thinking behind the mask I could imagined it was something along the lines of a particularly brutal training exercise.
In all this thought I had completely tuned out of the CmD who was now onto the subject of the training timetable. The next few days would be AURA training (Social stability and Justice) then afterwards HELIX (Medical and Surgical) and finally NOVA training (Tech and apparatus) I still had not made up my mind as to which of these were for me, I guessed it didn't matter at the time. Only time would tell I told myself.
STATUS: ACTIVE
LOCATION: CITY 8
MISSION STATUS: COMMENCING
CCA-C8.AURA.06.2475
31/10/17
Entry two.
'Oh-Sixes!' The AURA DvL roared. 'Form up now!'
I moved into line beside my fellow Oh-Sixes, once again we were in the courtyard but this time it was not the CmD that had come to lecture us but the Sector Commander himself; the man was much less imposing than the CmD but he carried with him an air of swift judgement and resolve, two days ago he had shot an RCT for questioning him while he was talking, he had killed him without any emotion almost without thinking. The image of the RCT's shattered mask lying in broken splinters upon the street had stayed with me as a reminder of the SeC's ruthless power.
The SeC had come down from a meeting with Dr Eolas our City Administrator to make our promotions from RCT to Oh-Six official. The SeC sauntered over clutching his 44. Magnum (His obvious weapon of choice) he stopped in front of us and spoke in the same monotone voice that was calm and assuring but cold and un-feeling.
'You have completed your training and are ready to become a real part of the Universal Union.' He turned to the HELIX DvL; the unit straightened at once as the SeC asked him. 'They have chosen their Divisions?'
'Yes sir.' He said in dutiful monotone.
'Good,' The SeC turned to the rest of the DvLs. 'I trust each of you now to command your newest member with iron efficiency, lead them through your understanding of the Union and your devotion to our Benefactors.
The DvLs nodded along without hesitation. He then went over to the Nexus door where the CmD stood; his gaze followed us as the SeC walked inside then he turned in and the door slammed shut.
'All AURA units follow me.' Said a low monotoned voice, I turned back to the High Ranking units and saw one of the two AURA OfCs gesturing us to follow; the OfC was not the one from my first entry but was instead the Officer of Social stability. 'The rest of you to your operation bases.'
We stopped at the Nexus Mainframe platform; a large suspended glass floor that hung over the Detainment complex, it housed one of the main databases in City 8. The OfC looked over the many screens on the Mainframe then turned to us.
'Congratulations on your promotions Oh-Sixes I am AURA OfC #1323 I am head of Stability section in AURA, you are now able to patrol City 8 with other CCA units however before you leave, Justice OfC #9266 and I must split you into either Judgement section of AURA or Socialstability section.
At this point the elevator to the City Administrator's office opened and there stood the OfC from earlier, he strode out and joined the #1323 by his side.
'Are they ready?' He asked, his voice laden with a dark monotony.'
'They are,' The #1323 replied in a similar manner. 'you first.'
9266 nodded and began to inspect the five new candidates of AURA Division, myself included. 9266 stopped at me and pointed. 'This one.' My heart leapt and I shuddered slightly, I had always liked 1323 better, he seemed more approachable than 9266. 'What is your number?'
'2475, sir.' I replied slowly.
'Stand with me 24.' I complied with the OfC.
In the end two had gone to stability and three to judgement. (myself included) The OfCs talked quietly by the mainframe for a minute or so before turning back to us, 1323 spoke up.
'You are to find a partner and 10-50 D1 and D2, any problems and you radio us.' We nodded to our superior, then 9266 stepped forward.
'Dismissed!'
STATUS: ACTIVE (ENLISTED)
LOCATION: CITY 8
MISSION STATUS: AS PLANNED
CCA-C8.AURA.05.2475
11/11/17
Entry three.
In my twelve cycles as Oh-Six in AURA, I have seen only suffering and the worst kind of human neglect, these are... machines that lead us... all of them, cold and cruel, they think too much and feel too little. They care nothing for the Citizens, I do not understand how they could become so unjust, so...
-Evil-
Today I was promoted again but not by the SeC, CmD or DvL but by 9266. We were interrogating a suspect for owning a small amount of contraband, 9266 beat him heavily then asked him where he got it, when the citizen said he didn't know the OfC drew his Shotgun (he always referred to it as "Justice", which seemed a cruel and slightly ironic name) When the prisoner saw "Justice" he begged for 9266 not to kill him, the OfC then backed off, went to the door and ordered me and another Oh-Six to break his arms and legs. I whispered I was sorry, but I doubt he noticed as he cried in despair -then agony- The OfC walked in again and asked him again where he got it, he said something about a dumpster in the slums.
That day we searched every dumpster in the slums; nothing was there. When I returned, 9266 had dragged the prisoner out to the cell yard; he was bleeding and unable to move without screaming. The OfC walked past us then turned back and handed me a loaded 9mm pistol; the handle had an etched kill count on the barrel which totalled 17.
'Oh-Six.' He said in deep monotone. 'Amputate this bastard.'
I killed him with a quick headshot; the bullet smashed his skull but remained embedded in his destroyed brain, an Oh-One approached 9266; his stature was perfect, his long dark trench coat lined with various ammunitions, his mask was a darker shade than mine although similar in model.
'Shame.' sighed the OfC 'A waste of good ammo.'
'Should I send his body up to HELIX for dummy practise sir?'
'Yes Oh-One.'
The Oh-One dragged the messy body away, I was quite traumatised; my breathing was deep and my hands shook vigorously, I held the gun still, I looked at it for what seemed a long time as a sudden emptiness swamped me. That was that. I had killed a man, I had done as ordered... that man who knew nothing was now practise for surgery. All because of me.
'You can keep it.' 9266 said; he had noticed my idle stance and had walked up to me although I was still shocked. 'Consider it a gift... Oh-Five.' He left quickly and the last I heard of him was a radio request that my rank be raised. Like I had earned it.
STATUS: ACTIVE (ENLISTED)
LOCATION: CITY 8
MISSION STATUS: IN PROGRESS
CCA-C8.AURA.04.2475
27/12/17
Entry Four.
My schedule as Oh-Five has been active and rigorous; at first light I, and the one other AURA Oh-Five, are awoken from the barracks and brought to the Hand-to-Hand Drill room, once there 9266 proceeds to train us in the "Art" of unarmed combat. The OfC routinely lectures us on the stance, force and focus required for superiority in a fight and how useful it will be in the field to us. The drills are regularly bloody; the OfC demonstrated his advanced skill by completely pinning an Oh-One in a couple of hits, of course it may just be down to his augments but his finesse demands respect.
After Hand-to-Hand, the OfC dismisses us and we 10-50 Districts One to Nine, the time now is usually around midday we meet in the AURA Intelligence room for a brief on our progress report and what needs to be improved. The meetings are short but brutal, the DvL never beats around the bush, if you have not performed he WILL make an example of you. Today's meeting was a pre-mission plan for a large scale breach of an apartment complex in District Four, I was assigned to SPEAR team; our job was to sweep the building one at a time while CLAMP Team secured and locked the area. To back us up and act as fast acting recon was SPECTRE Team; they were made up of members who I had never heard of nor seen but I did not question it at the time.
The complex was two blocks facing inwards over an overgrown courtyard, a series of concrete walkways ran between the buildings. Each building was five stories high and every one of them contained those labelled Anti-Citizens, everyone there was due to be arrested. I and three others of SPEAR were tasked with clearing floor five of the south building. From what NOVA's scanners could pick up; the walls on our floor had been knocked through creating a long line of open apartments.
We armed up and moved out in APC transport. Once there CLAMP Team were well underway locking down the block and SPECTRE Team were defiantly inside, although the only way of telling was the sight of a distant dropship waving off from the complex. The broadcast system spoke from every speaker in the apartment complex.
"Citizen notice: Anti-social infections in this block. Compliance with your Civil Protection teams is mandatory."
SPEAR moved with an almost systematic grace towards their objectives, once at the first apartment door we waited for the signal...
"Commence plan code: Breach Stabilise Prosecute" The radio hummed. I kicked in the door, the other units barked their commands at the room full of people; citizens in blue jumpsuits all went to the ground, they were terrified. I swept the room for others that might hide, there were none. I gestured one unit to commence the search and arrests and the remaining units through the hole in the wall to the next room. The next room was much the same although the Unit I assigned to the room had to bash an unruly citizen in the gut with his baton for malcompliance.
The next the next couple of rooms contained no people; they were filled with suitcases of clothes, there were several pictures of children in each room, by each one a candle was lit. I scanned each shrine, my pistol drawn, with unease; the eerie testaments were arranged of broken toys and small ornaments, I felt slightly strange looking at these scenes; it was as if I was almost detached from them, like it was for the best that things were the way they were and that these children would have lessened the Union's standing if they were alive today.
'Contact!' Shouted one of the pointmen in final room. 'Armed, 9mm!' I moved swiftly to the breach in the wall and saw a woman standing with a pistol drawn; she was trembling but also firm in her stance, she knew what she had sentenced herself for by drawing a weapon. I ordered her to drop the gun, she only held fast to my slow advance. I stopped, the door behind her opened and two more armed citizens stepped out; one male, one female, they to also held 9mm pistols however these were in poor condition. Suddenly my radio buzzed.
'SPECTRE inbound, standby 24.' Said a deeply monotoned voice.
The window next to the man shattered as a unit rappelled through the glass; he landed on the man and fired a round of his revolver through his head, he then straightened his aim and fired the to the backup female, hitting her in the neck, blood sprayed over the front shooter who spun to kill the SPECTRE member. I acted fast and fired twice in each of her legs, she crumbled to the floor in a bloody mess.
'Amputate.' Murmured the dark shaded unit as he fired his revolver into her neck and watched her bleed for a long minute and a half before she gave into death.
After the raid I was called to the Intelligence room where the Unit from before was the only one present, who I later found to be OfC of GHOST Division, he handed me an armband with a rank insignia and the numbers "0.4" on it.
'Unit. You are now Oh-Four, congratulations, you are now a true Unit of the CCA, a gear in our grand machine.' I thanked the OfC and left quickly, back to the barracks. I am unsure if I will meet him again, if I do I hope it is in better circumstances.
STATUS: ACTIVE (ENLISTED)
LOCATION: CITY 8
MISSION STATUS: DEVOLPING
CCA-C8.GHOST.04.2475
25/04/18
Entry Five.
After that raid many months ago I was taken from the barracks in the night and strapped into a processing unit. For the next two weeks I was been prepared, for what I did not know, until today. I was screened multiple times, images of torture flashed before my eyes relentlessly; long had I held back the urge to vomit or break down so disturbing were the clips and pictures. I suffered in near total isolation for a long time. After the final screening I blacked out and awoke from stasis in the HELIX Med-Bay; the HELIX DvL was there along with my DvL, they seemed like oily shadows in my cryogenic weakness but the sound of their monotoned voices remained clear.
'He is resilient.' Said the HELIX DvL. 'If he could stomach the Oh-Two level Screening then he seems perfect.'
'Did he?' Asked my DvL.
'He did indeed.' The HELIX responded.
'Prep him.' Finished the AURA , at this point I slipped back into stasis.
I was awoken by a sharp quick injection of a harsh stimulant, I sat bolt upright and gasped with shock. I was dressed in simple Medical bandages that wrapped around my chest, torso and legs. The room I was in was a strange surgery; it featured several automated devices which hung from the ceiling on steel struts, the walls were made of a toned stone colour, the only other feature was a large console next to a mechanical door. The door slid open and in walked a unit of extraordinary appearance; he was dressed entirely in black, like the GHOST OfC his mask was similar to that of a DvL except he actually was the GHOST DvL if the insignia was to be true, his shoulders were lime in colour and an AR2 was slung firmly on his back. The Unit clasped his hands together and said in unyielding monotone.
'You have been in processing for a total of three months, twenty-nine days, ten hours and twenty two minutes.'
I was at a loss. Why had they done this? I had seen so many things; they torture and haunt me now even as I write this. Was I to just move on? This DvL expected me to, with or without my consent. 'Your uniform is in the storage locker to your right, meet us at the training facility in three minutes sharp.' He left me to change into my uniform.
Every step I took towards the training room was one of shakes and wobbles. My radio squawked. 'The training facility is currently off-limits to any units who have not been instructed to approach by a member of High Command.' I arrived with ten seconds to spare of my three allocated minutes, the room was empty of personal except the GHOST DvL and surprisingly the SeC, who stood as always with an air of resolution about him.
'Unit.' Started the SeC. 'Move to the firing table.' He gestured to the firing range weapon table, I moved quickly with an as disciplined step as I could conjure from my numbed strength.
The two went to the opposite end of the table and brought out a short but through question paper, they then proceeded to grill me with the quiz; the questions were morally ambiguous and unnerving, the presence of the SeC only added to the tension in the room. Once the test was over I was ordered to wait outside the training complex until ordered back in.
As I left up the flight of grate iron stairs to the exit, I heard the SeC say in a low voice as he turned to the DvL.
'Very good.'
Two minutes later was called back in. I saluted the SeC and DvL, once eased they congratulated me and handed me a lime armband with my Oh-Four rank on it.
'Welcome to GHOST, 24.' the DvL said slowly, I thanked them both. The SeC then left me and the DvL for GHOST Briefing. Because of the highly classified nature of GHOST I am not permitted to write anything about it. However the test brought up a thought that had not occurred to me for months...
What can I remember from the time before the Union?
I can remember the sound of battle, the bullets and fire, the screams of children and the deep synthetic roars of Synths. That is my earliest memory, when fire rained from the sky.
Later I can remember the day when the sky above City 8 was ripped open; the creases of the universe were torn apart, the monumental dark metal canine descended from the tear in dimensions and settled on the ground kicking up a huge dust cloud. I remember when it boomed for hours as the systems established to fit Earth's environment, I remember the lines of youths being mass slaughtered, I remember those first units that moved out of the C8 Citadel and just how terrified everyone was.
I remember nothing of the my feelings at the time, nor do I remember anything before the war, only the fire remains. The endless flame...
STATUS: RECOVERED (COMATOSE PERIOD OVER)
LOCATION: CITY 8
MISSION STATUS: RESTARTING
CCA-C8.GHOST.04.2475
13/05/18
Entry Six.
What do I remember!? The fire, the citadel, the children, what else! There must be some etch of memory left in me, there has to be.
Do I remember my parents? No. They are but oily shadows in my subconscious, forever lost to my active thoughts, their voices are a blurs that speak of nothing.
Do I remember my name? No. My name is now CCA-C8.GHOST.04.2475, there is no other choice.
Do I remember any more of the war? Only one more thing has cropped up; the flaring portal storms that shook the Earth for hours, other than that there is nothing else to remember...
have taken to writing this entry and my future entries on paper, I fear the command can monitor our datapad logs, if I was to be caught then... I would not last long.
I heard a group of citizens talking while I was on a GHOST Operation; they said something was in our food that made us this way... Is it true? Do they really brainwash us? I look at 9266 and see that, yes, it is true! I have to get out. I have to leave, I am not turning into one of them. Soulless, monstrous. I have now stopped eating the provided supplements. They smell of chemicals, my peers happily eat them, how little they know. I wonder if I should warn them, try to get them to stop but they would report me. Treason in the CCA is quickly and severely dealt with. I would have to be quick if I fled, where I would is another deal entirely.
Tomorrow, a mass sweep is to be conducted on City Eight's ninth district, I and the rest of GHOST will be going in undercover dressed as citizens, that is when I will make my escape, when I blend with the masses. I will not be a part of this any longer.
STATUS: ACTIVE (ENLISTED)
LOCATION: CITY 8
MISSION STATUS: AT RISK
Ghost.2475
14/05/18
Entry Seven.
It is done, I have made my escape, I am free. I chose to flee just as the sweep started; I was alone at the time, all I had to do was move in the slum's shadow towards the sewer grate that lead to the canals, evading scanners all the way. It wasn't until I was into the sewer; my radio by that point was full of tactical code to do with the sweep but one Unit, the Oh-One from my third entry, spoke up.
'Where is Two-Four?' At that point I disconnected my radio, they might use it to track me, I ran faster through the sewers then after a good hour or so I stopped and heard the Broadcast system echo through the damp pipes.
"Individual: You are charged with capital treason against the union. Unit status: Revoked. Deserter status: Approved." I then heard the Unit notice.
"Unit notice: Failure to administer will result in permanent off-world relocation. Code: Deploy Sweep Amputate."
This was quickly followed by the roars of at least ten gunships swooping over the sewer system. They were no doubt searching for me. A unit with info on GHOST is a valuable asset, not one the CCA would want to lose especially if the unit had left, not died, such a thing can undermine the secrecy of GHOST.
I am writing this entry, again on paper, I am sitting in an abandoned bunker of sorts; it lies deep in the sewers, not far from the canals. My only belongings I took; my pen, some paper, a small combat knife, my 9mm pistol and a newly issued MP7 submachine gun that I was given after my promotion to Oh-Four. The weapons have three spare rounds and one loaded in each. I tried to think of a name today but I cannot find one appropriate enough. I have changed it to "Ghost.2475" it lacks the Union's labels, it will do for now. The lack of a suit means no biosignal for the Combine to track me, I will be able to escape to the Outlands then plan from there.
I have not been to the "Outlands" since before the war, I think I used to like it there, I have some memory of it but it is blurred and unthinkable. Regardless, I must head for the Outlands and try to figure out a plan to get as far away City 8 as possible. I fear that the search will broaden in scope as I move from the Canals. I hear the Outlands are Overwatch territory; that they sweep it relentlessly, not with lines of Recruits, but with teams of coordinated heavily armed soldiers, with Hunters, Striders and every kind of synth they can put in the field. It won't be easy, that much I know, it could be a couple of days before my next entry. I have only glimpsed the OTA; they were called into things like Necrotic outbreaks or Exogen attacks, all these threats were put down quickly when Overwatch arrived. Tomorrow I will get moving before dawn, hopefully the search would have lulled by then and I can cover some ground before they send more units out.
STATUS: MIA (DESSERTER)
LOCATION: UNKNOWN
MISSION STATUS: IN JEPORDY
Ghost.2475
17/05/18
Entry Eight.
The sun beat down on the sweeping valley; the torrents of heat, that had been coming down relentlessly for the past few days, had burnt the grassland a to a dull yellow. I checked the sky cloudless sky for gunships, it seemed clear although the low growl of a nearby Overwatch base moved on the northerly wind. I rose from the grass and began to move quickly across the clearing of woodland. The search has not ceased for a moment in the past few days, Overwatch just kept coming, I have had several close calls involving Hunters; they hunt in packs of at least three and move quickly over all terrain, evading them is nearly impossible but I have just barely been able to escape.
I spotted a house through the foliage; it was a large woodland lodge red in colour on a high ridge, the windows and door were bordered up, part of the roof was missing and the elevated wooden platform that ran around the building was in disrepair. I decided I would search the building for anything useful like ammo or supplies. Once at the door I braced my stance and ripped off several planks of flimsy wood before kicking the door open with ease. I un-slung my MP7 and surveyed the first room, it was too dark to see so I turned on my flashlight; the room was a complete mess, boxes of scrap metal were strewn haphazardly across the dry floor that creaked with every step. The thinly tiled roof let through tiny corridors of sunlight that guided me to the only other door at the back of the lodge. The door was locked and I wasn't going to hunt in the dark for a key. I breached the door; firing a round of my pistol straight into the lock, the door then became ajar and I pushed it open.
The room smaller than the first and roofless, the intense light was startling at first but as I regained my wits, I saw at the cause of lack of a roof was caused by a Combine parasite canister that had crashed into the house; the pod stood embedded in the floorboards, it hissed quietly as I approached it, suddenly I heard the long shrill hiss of a Toxic Parasite to my right and before I could take aim it had seized me. The creature and I grappled as poison dripped from its four torque fangs, I threw the alien sideways against the wall where it spat and shrieked fiercely before lining up for another attack, at this point I had levelled my firearm and was ready to strike when another Parasite leapt from behind me. The effect was instant and incredibly painful. The creature had missed my head and had landed on my back where it unloaded a salvo of toxins into my spine; I fell to the floor and was paralysed at once. I could not move, defend myself or even cry out for some nonexistent help. I was helpless.
Then from the front of the house I heard noises; a strange foreign tongues in a rasping tones that did not recognise followed by a sharp electrical crackle. I saw one of the parasites fly back against the side of the pod before falling limp, the thing was dead. I heard a second crackle followed by a small explosion; I heard the faint death cry of another parasite then the steps of two people coming to my aid. One of my rescuers reached my side and turned me over, I saw them for the first time; my saviours were not human, they were Biotics, more commonly known as Vortigaunts. The Union were age-old enemies of Vortigaunts so the Union protocol for finding a free biotic is usually to kill it on sight; sometimes they are captured and enslaved as "Conscripts". I had barely seen vortigaunts before, their appearance shocked me; tall, long armed creatures, a hunched head with four eyes, an additional arm protruded uselessly from their chests. I could not thank them, my whole body was limp and unresponsive but the Biotic to my left sensed my life signs, the creature turned to his friend who was standing by the pod; searching it for any remaining Parasites (a common delicacy among Biotics)
'Zun.' The biotic said in an ancient dry voice. 'This one still breathes. Pariah requests that we aid him, his condition worsens at the hands of the toxins that course through him.' "Zun" came to my right side and surveyed my wounds before sighing to "Pariah", the other biotic, and said.
'Zun will help, let us move him to a more secure location where we will attempt to revive him.'
'We must hurry.' Pariah said. 'His situation is precarious.'
At that moment I lost consciousness, the poison had kicked in now and I was left to the mercy of the Vortigaunts haste.
When I came to I was lying on a dirty sheet spread ruggedly on the ground; the sheet must have once been white but was now a dark crimson with blood from my wounds. The Vortigaunts knelt over me; they looked at each other with weary relief then Zun rose and left my sight. The other stared at me for a long time, in that time I could barely blink let alone move.
'What is your name human?' Pariah said at last. I struggled to open my mouth, I then realised I didn't have a name; instead I winced and tried to move.
'The poison from the headcrab is one of a most debilitating notoriety, you are fortunate we found you in time, a moment of delay and you would cease to be here.' I managed to speak a few words to Pariah.
'Thanks...' I winced again then sat up slowly and with caution, I rubbed my neck, which was stiff with pain. 'How long have I been like this?' I asked, I was eager to know if Overwatch might have moved me down on the priorities.
'Just over two weeks.' Replied the Biotic with a hint of shame. I thought this was a good thing; it meant that perhaps Overwatch might very well have moved on or at least be off-guard.
Hours later I was up and walking again, the Vortigaunts spoke of their destination to me; a safe bastion in City Eight, I told them that I was wanted by the CCA in City Eight (though I did not tell them why) and that I will not accompany them, despite them insisting. Once I am able, they will move on and I will continue to roam the Outlands in search of a solution. Despite the OTA hunting me, I am enjoying my newfound freedoms, I take comfort in the fact that I will never have to sit through another horrendous training drill or listen to 9266's lectures. I am free. I now hope for it to stay that way.
STATUS: UNKNOWN (ATTEMPTING TO LOCATE)
LOCATION: OUTLANDS
MISSION STATUS: OBSTRUCTED
Ghost.2475
07/06/18
Entry Nine.
My feet beat upon the ground like drums of battle, my heart raced, beating faster and faster, pumping blood to my frantic limbs. They were coming after me, fast; in the darkness of midnight all I saw were the glowing lenses bobbing rhythmically in their sprint. My pursuers were Hunters, dozens of them. They had been tracking me for miles through the forest; I had to lose them quickly before they corner me completely. These last few days have led me in circles around the countryside; the confusing terrain mixed with regular Overwatch sweeps. The Vortigaunts gave me a map of this part of the Outlands; they were right, the City was the only settlement for at least 150 kilometres. I leapt over a fallen log and continued running, all I heard was the synthetic growls drawing closer and the uniform sound of the pack running had quickened.
I reached a low rock overhang; it overlooked a large pasture of open grass bathed in bright moonlight, there was no way to cross it with Hunters after me, it would give them a clear shot at me, there would be no way I could survive. I clambered down into the dark shelter of the overhang and waited for the rumble of synthetics to cease. The silence was numbing; the sound had grown to an unbearable level then had stopped instantly. There was not a breeze in the air or a bird in the trees or even the faintest chirp of a cricket. All was silent. I knew one of the Hunters was close, really, really close. I then heard a beep; it came from above me on the overhang, then another, followed by a barely audible transmission in an automated tone.
'New directives.' The voice spoke in a reminiscent monotone. 'Sweep grid: 7-32. CODE: ASSSEMBLE PLAN COGAGULATE.' The Hunter above me clicked and whirred, processing the order, it bleeped again, the Hunters turned and headed away. They had gone I was safe. I rose and started across the open pasture towards the other side. The sky was awash with bright clear stars that guided the moon's raise to the pasture, the blades trembled as the roar of a gale swept the forest, the roar grew louder and louder until I realised it was not the wind but rotors...
I dived to the grass and lay still as a blinding spotlight hit the grass; the caster, an OTA Synth Gunship, twirled about the sky; searching the forest for threats. Fortunately it failed to notice me as I lay terrified among the undergrowth, instead the Gunship waved off and from the far end of the pasture I saw a tall shape emerge. It seemed to stretch into the canopy of alpine, despite this it ploughed through the branches with ease, it was only when it knocked a tree down onto the pasture, bathing it in moonlight, that I saw the thing, or rather things. Striders were steadily moving across the plain; they're elevated heads wobbled with each step and the front mounted guns rotated in a patrol of left to right. I acted quickly and crawled away from their sight into the forest. I will rest in the darkness for the night. The Biotics were right; I will not survive out here, I must go back.
I will go back to where this began.
I will return to City Eight.
I will return to District Nine.
STATUS: UNKNOWN
LOCATION: OUTLANDS
MISSION STATUS: FAILURE (REQUESTING DIRECT INTEVENTION)
Ghost.2475
10/06/18
Entry Ten.
I have journeyed from the heart of the wild Outlands; across the vast forests swept by Combine and the treacherous caverns and mines of Exogen and Parasites. I have traversed the canals; the waterways were filled with refugees, the residue spilling from District Nine has far exceeded its perimeter walls. Perhaps it will give reason for a tenth district to be built? The overcrowding has somehow worsened since my last visit, a good thing for me. I am yet to be seen by a scanner however I am confident that my new appearance; grown hair both head and facial, will slip by the databases, not to mention my multiple scars that line my face from the Parasite attack. The important thing now is that I have succeeded. I am no longer part of the Union's system, the torture, the murder, the misguided sense of superiority, the-
STATUS: CAPTURED
LOCATION: CITY 8, D9
MISSION STATUS: DIRECT INTERVENTION COMPLETE
CCA UNIT DATAPAD LOGS
///Use at your discretion///
///LOG#496///
///UNIT: AURA OFC 9266///
///11.06.2018///
///LOG BEGINS///
<:: Today we brought in an old friend; a Unit who abandoned the Union and went gallivanting off in the Outlands. He must have thought he was being clever, dropping off the radar and trying to change his looks before showing his cowardly face in this city again. The nerve he shows, coming back and expecting us not to be watching but we are always watching. ::>
<:: He was taken to the Torture room at 0600 hours. I arrived and broke his legs promptly, as he wept silently I said he was a disgrace and that I, personally, was disappointed with him. There was a time, many months ago, where I saw promise in him. He once followed orders and respected his superiors. No longer. The SeC arrived shortly after I broke the prisoner's legs, the Commander granted me the liberty of cutting the parasite's fingers off before strapping him to the treatment chair. The SeC gave us a chilling speech on the morals of the Union and the price of singularity; I was enthralled in his mastery of Union ideals and how they are applied to us everyday. The parasite, he went on to say, had broken every vow he took as a Unit when he deserted us for the savage wild, like an animal. I then utilised the Verdict Level One detainment kit; I cut off his hands and feet as well as his sterile reproductive organs. ::>
<:: After the routine torture I was ordered by HELIX DvL #4565 to bring the Prisoner to the Medbay where trans-human stalkerisation would take place. Once I dragged the bloody parasite to the operating table, the DvL injected a chemical solution distilled from Parasite Toxins; it paralysed the victim but stabilised full consciousness, he will be awake for the entire process. Then the DvL got started by removing the subject's lower legs and forearms, he used the Union Eye-breaching device (a personal favourite of mine) to destroy the Prisoner's eyes. Of course the subject, being feeble and weak, wailed in agony throughout. The last I saw of the parasite was its body being strapped into the stalker-welding machine and the doors sealing shut. ::>
<:: In summary. ::>
<:: 4 Citizens arrested, Level Three Verdict. 7 Detainment cycles administered. ::>
<:: 2 Anti-Citizens arrested, Level Two Verdict, isolation followed by minor torture. ::>
<:: 1 Pathetic Deserter captured, Level One Verdict, Stalkerized::>
<:: Tomorrow's Events ::>
Interrogation
RCT Welcome Brief
Hand-to-Hand Drill for Oh-Fives, tell the Oh-Ones to bring their "A-Game"
///LOG ENDS///
STATUS: TERMINATED
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