Post by Llau on Oct 24, 2016 8:21:23 GMT -6
Originally, I was going to write this...much shorter, for the annual Halloween Contest, but I can't for the life of me, write anything short when I get into it - especially when the ideas start flowing.
Anyway, I decided to post it in its own thread, so I can work on it whenever. I will update it with new chapters as soon as I can. On another note, this Halo horror story has been in the works for a while, and it's nice to finally be able to work on it again, and then share it with you guys. Before anyone asks, yes, this is DOOM-inspired. I've actually wanted to write a Doom/Halo fan fic since Doom 3 back in 2005. Yeah, it's been a long time, but then again, I didn't have an actual character I could use for it back then, like I do now with Mike Moretti. Happy reading, and feel free to comment!
Outer Colonies
Perennial VII
On Board Prowler #729 || XO Private Quarters
The Italian sat at his desk, taking a sip of his hot tea so he could wake up eventually, after being woken up by the ship's AI about his new mission. He sat there quietly for a few minutes before messing around with the flat screen monitor in front of him. Bringing up the video recording program as he touched the screen, he hit the record button, and started speaking into the built-in microphone within the monitor.
“This is the video log report of Commander Michelangelo Nicoli Moretti. Tactical Field Officer for the Office of Naval Intelligence, Section Three. Service Number 36593-06164-MM. The date is October 13, 2558. I am traveling with Section Zero Agent Marissa Rajskub to the planet of Perennial VII for a joint-operation between Section Zero and Section Three. Our operation consists of the investigation into one of ONI's research centers, as well as locating and escorting Section Three civilian attache, Doctor Anya Peterson MD., off-planet safely by any means necessary. I am also to make arrests of certain ONI personnel who are in charge of the facility.”
He continued after drinking a little more of his tea.
“Doctor Anya Peterson explained in her video that she has proof that she will be able to give to me as soon as I find her. She explained in her video that there are unsanctioned testings, personnel going missing and other strange, yet disturbing occurrences are going on within the research facility.”
Moretti bowed his head down a little, looking up at the screen from beneath his eyebrows. “The worst thing out of this situation, is how ONI is just now hearing about it. Better late than never, I suppose, but it's a wonder how this slipped underneath our radar. I'm honestly surprised it did.”
He smiled somewhat, but it faded. “No matter.”
“If it wasn't for Doctor Peterson being sent there last year, then we probably would still be in the dark. She was able to send a voice message through our encrypted channels with her report, while requesting to be escorted off planet before it can get any worse.”
“She also sent in a video recording from her late, yet extremely troubled co-worker and friend, and backed up his claims...claims that I'm still trying to grasp...to understand...”
Sighing, he quietly added, “To believe.”
His eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he gazed into the camera in silence for several seconds, and then blinked. He leaned back in his chair.
“I will continue sending updates of my operation, either via video or audio logs during my time there...unless I end up being too busy having to permanently deal with our own people.”
Outer Colonies
Perennial VII
Aboard Black Cat, in flight to ONI's Advanced Research Facility
October 30, 2558
Commander Moretti peered down at his TAC-PAD strapped over his sleeve of his forearm, reading the mission overview and going over the mission objectives silently. He placed an ear bud in his right ear to listen to the video recording of the medical doctor who sent it to the Section Three head, which was now paused on the DATA-PAD's screen that he had in the empty seat beside him. Moretti was sitting comfortably in his seat in the transport ship, being flown in to find and escort a scientist who worked with the medical doctor safely out of the research facility. Sitting near by, was a young, petite, brown-haired woman with eyeglasses, who had her nose practically in her DATA-PAD she was looking at constantly.
Her name was Marissa Rajskub. She used to be a forensics specialist from one of Mars' larger cities, but ONI decided to hire her due to her investigative and forensics skills. Before he boarded the Black Cat, he took a few moments to read her file, and learned that she was fresh out of field training. That could be a problem, but it wouldn't be the first time he dealt with someone new to field operations. She was rather intelligent, and didn't seem to need any hand-holding. Rajskub was an agent for Section Zero, and was here to assist him in this operation of investigating and retrieving the scientist. Rather, Moretti was here to assist her, but she had quietly asked him upon traveling to the planet to take over - to his surprise. After asking if she was sure she wanted to switch their assignment roles around, he accepted. Thankfully, she was the silent type, and didn't bother him during their flight here from the Prowler that was situated above the planet.
In fact, she was a really shy person, and he distinctively only remembered her introducing herself, then asking if he could take over their assignment, and that was about it. He then blinked, suddenly remembering what he wanted to ask her, even though it was too late to turn back now.
“Agent Rajskub?” He called out to her mildly, but repeated more sternly, “Agent Rajskub?”
She quickly looked up at him, wide-eyed. “Yes, sir?”
“You didn't forget anything did you?”
“Sir...?”
“I was meaning, do you have everything with you for the operation? Your field armor? Gear? Your sidearm?” A pause. “I know I should have asked you before we left the Prowler, but I was too busy prepping. You're also like a bloody mouse...I didn't even hear or see you board the Black Cat sometime after I did.”
He smiled a little. “Maybe you're in the wrong Section, Agent Rajskub.”
Is he...flirting with me? She wondered, her eyes widening in shock as she blushed a little.
Moretti stared at her curiously, and asked, "Something the matter with you?"
She blurted out, “No, Commander. I was carrying the big, heavy ass bag beside me for no reason at all. Do you know it's full of weights and bricks? It helps me keep in shape since I'm mostly sitting at a desk all day.” Her eyes widen when she then suddenly realized she spoke out of line. “Sorry. Sir.”
Moretti suddenly burst out laughing for a short time, surprising her. He never expected that. “Oh dear,” he replied in amusement, “And here I thought you were shy and serious. You are going to fit right in out here.”
“Oh...then...I'm not in trouble?”
He scoffed. “No.” He waved a hand at her. “I honestly don't care if someone is being a smart ass to me. So, don't worry about it, ma'am.” After she relaxed, he repeated his question to her. “Do you have everything with you for the operation?”
The agent thought for a moment. “Y-yes, sir,” she answered sheepishly, “I didn't forget...this time.”
“This time?” He grinned somewhat.
“I, uh...” She looked back down at her DATA-PAD. “It's really embarrassing. Let's just say I was warned.”
“Hmm. I see,” Moretti raised both eyebrows. “By the way, if you did forget even one thing on any other mission, I would have reprimanded you, and make you stay inside the Black Cat until I was finished.”
She peered over at him. “What would you have done for this mission then?” She curiously asked.
He shrugged, replying, “I would have told you to borrow an extra set of combat armor at the security station at the entrance into the facility.”
“Fair enough.” She looked at him for another moment or two before returning her attention down to her pad as she reviewed dossiers of each scientist she would see.
He exhaled slowly, reading the message from his Operations Commander before he grabbed for his DATA-PAD to continue watching the video. After reading the message from Major Wagner, he picked up and rested the DATA-PAD in his lap, and pressed the playback button. Now focusing on the video, he watched as a thirty-year-old man pointed the video camera at himself; looking like he was suffering from a bad case of insomnia, and sweating profusely from running through what looked to be an underground tunnel. He sat down against a wall for the next three minutes, looking around the dark tunnel uneasily, with the video is still recording. Moretti impatiently fast-forward through until the man started speaking. The man swallowed hard, glancing down, and wiped sweat off of his forehead with the back of his lab coat's dirty sleeve. He then stared back at the camera. Taking a deep breath, he started to speak in an urgent-sounding, frightened whisper into the camera's microphone.
“I'm Doctor Xavier Black, MD. I'm a medical doctor attache for Section Three, who works at the medical labs here inside this facility,” Moretti activated ONI's facial recognition software to scan the man's face, as well as his right eye, and it informed the Commander that Doctor Black, was in fact, the person who he said he was.
“This message has been encoded pursuant to Naval Intelligence statutes. This is for ONI Section Three Eyes Only, with Alpha-Delta Clearance.” He continued, while data about the facility and its location were quickly typed on the screen outside of the video frame itself; informing Moretti that it was considered a “black site”. Other information, including the number of ONI personnel, civilian workers, and security detail were also being shown.
“I was asked by the Division Head of the ONI Advanced Research Facility on Perennial VII, Doctor Aiden Harper to take part on these projects of his that he wanted to do while we were out here,” he explained, “I'm a medical doctor, not some scientist, but...”
He laughed nervously, shaking his head. “...money talks.” The man chuckled again, and then let out a shaky sigh.
“That was five years ago,” he went on, “Doctor Harper made us all swear to him to not mention to anyone about these unsanctioned experiments of his and what we found, but now...if I knew what he was planning and why...I wouldn't have agreed to this, and I would have...”
He cringed, “I would have reported him earlier.”
“Something!”
He ran his hand over his face and through his matted hair after he took his eyeglasses off and dropped them carelessly onto the ground. Meanwhile, the ONI scan picked up on the name 'Doctor Aiden Harper' and searched for him. A profile of the scientist popped up seconds after, revealing who he was and what he looked like, as well as a short biography. Moretti read through Doctor Harper's profile before resizing it to a smaller box with his fingers, and sliding it off to the side so he could continue watching the video. Doctor Black sounded as if he was starting to cry, in which he did. The tactical field officer fast-forward through this part, where the man sobbed quietly for the next couple of minutes, until he calmed down and peered up at the screen again.
“It...it was good for a while, I admit, but...weird things started happening all around me,” he explained, “Things that I couldn't explain, nor wanted to ask if the others who worked here were experiencing the same thing.” A slight cringe. “I know, I know...a man of science...a medical doctor shouldn't be freaking out, but the more it happened, the more it started happening to some of the others. You can...tell...they were dealing with the same issues as I was, and eventually, we started whispering about it, letting the others know that they weren't alone in dealing with these...unexplained...things, and not going insane.”
He cringed again, rubbing at his tired eyes. He continued while he set the camera on top of something that was next to him, and then he started to rub his hands together anxiously.
“Eventually, word got around to the administration offices and then to Doctor Harper, who had the in-house psychologist tell us that it was just stress of working in such a remote planet, and we were just having nightmares.”
He suddenly and angrily kicked at something off camera, which clattered across the floor before hitting the wall on the other side of him.
“Bullshit! All of us were awake...all of us were hearing strange sounds...whispering...crying...strange things...and...other things happened in the workplace...people started disappearing, and some frightening, unexplained deaths and someone who ended up brutally murdering another person, and then telling us that the devil made him do it.”
A long pause as he stared wide-eyed at the screen in front of him. “I wish I didn't...I wish I didn't learn what the researchers were doing in the Delta Sector..I wish I...didn't learn how Doctor Harper was using civilians and captured human and alien prisoners in heinous experiments that made me...ME...a medical professional...puke and have horrible nightmares because of it.”
Another pause, while he decided on what to say next. “What's worse...no one knows exactly what the Delta Sector personnel were doing, even to this day, but whatever they are doing in there, it was when all the strange noises and whispering, and accidents started happening throughout the entire complex.”
The man trailed off, lowering his head into his hands, and became rather silent for a while.
Moretti watched the video on his PAD quietly with an ear bud in one ear, so he could listen without interrupting anyone. After all, he kept repeating the video over and over, searching for clues. The more the man talked, the more the Commander was beginning to feel uncomfortable; a feeling of dread, too. Were the doctor's claims true, or were these claims nothing more than stories from a deranged man? He won't know until he finds out. He shifted in his seat a little, and continued paying close attention to the video. He watched as the man slowly leaned closer to the camera, and stared right into it.
“I have files and proof that Doctor Harper is gaining illegal funding for his side projects,” Black explained, “I also have proof of him ordering all work-related and unexplained deaths here to be hidden. I have a close friend here, a scientist...she can help you when you get here. You can trust her.”
He then begged, “Please...please find out what's going on and stop that man before something bad happens...and something bad will happen...”
He grimaced, looking around again. He leaned back against the wall and stared down at his hands. He glanced up at the screen once again.
“Forgive me, Anya...” Doctor Black whispered indifferently.
Moretti looked on, gazing into the man's eyes, and noticing just how empty they were, and how lost the man was. Even after he realized the first time watching this video recording, and realized what the man was going to do, he still cringed when the doctor brought up a gun and pressed it underneath his chin, and pulled the trigger. The officer didn't blink but grimaced as the blood poured out profusely through the fatal gunshot entry and exit wound of the poor doctor's head.
“Fuck me...” whispered the Commander, “I hate that...” He stopped the video and leaned his head back against the headrest.
Rajskub glanced up from her DATA-PAD, and glanced over at him for a few seconds before slowly returning her attention to the pad to continue reading silently. She didn't have to ask why the man said what he said, as she figured he was still going over that video, and searching for things that may have been missed in the initial viewing of it during their first meeting. The Section Zero agent could only watch it once, as the suicide freaked her out, and all that blood nearly made her lose her lunch. Shifting her eyes, she glanced over, and watched him out the corner of her eye. Moretti had his head leaned back up against the head rest of his seat, with his eyes focusing on the ceiling.
“Um...” Rajskub started, and then finally asked after pausing for a moment, “Are you...okay?”
The Commander was going to answer, but pressed on his ear-piece instead when he had an incoming message from the pilot, who was telling him that the facility wasn't responding to their hails. Frowning, he said, “That's concerning. Keep me updated until we get there.”
Rajskub heard it as well over her ear-piece. Can I get even more worried? She thought.
Moretti sighed, his eyelids closing for a few moments. “I'm fine,” he finally replied, “I'm wondering about what was scaring this man so bad for him to commit suicide.”
She shrugged. “I honestly don't know, Commander,” the woman replied, “Hopefully we can learn what the hell is going on while we're there. Maybe that scientist can tell us more when we find her.”
“Yeah,” The tactical field officer inhaled a sigh. “I just hope this investigation and escorting that scientist back to the Prowler doesn't give us more questions instead of answers.”
Rajskub looked back at him curiously. “I...I don't know,” she admitted, “It's all very strange.”
“Well, it's certainly the strangest assignment I've ever been on,” He tilted his head a little, and said, “ONI thinks they are hiding something, and so do I. Also, the fact that they have yet to answer our hails makes me more suspicious.”
He glanced down at his DATA-PAD, and brought up a dossier of the female scientist, and then showed the screen to the Section Zero agent.
“Doctor Anya Peterson knows the truth, and the more she stays where she's at, the more her life is in danger. I need to get her out of there. In the mean time, I'll help you on your investigation along the way.”
Agent Rajskub nodded, thankful for his assistance. After a few minutes of silence, she turned to him again. “Permission to ask you a question, Commander?”
Moretti looked over at her. “You really don't need to go all formal on me, agent. Shoot.”
She nodded, and then carefully asked, “Do we really need our weapons and armor?” She was nervous asking him that, seemingly afraid of his answer. “It's not like we're dealing with the Covenant or Insurrectionists.” She sighed. “Sorry, I'm just not comfortable with the possibility of shooting at other ONI personnel. It doesn't feel right to me.”
She then asked him, “Does it bother you?”
He gazed intently at her. He knew she was unaware of the scaled-morality training he and other Section Three field operators go through to deal with UNSC personnel when needed, like the UNSC Astronavigation Personnel, but at least she was honest on how she felt. Now, was the best time as any to explain operational procedures like this.
“It's precautionary measures and an intimidation tactic to let them know we aren't here to make friends if they really are doing something unauthorized by ONI.” He explained more, “If they truly are doing things out here they shouldn't be doing, and we find out, and they refuse to cooperate with our investigation, then expect them to become hostile to try to cover their asses.”
While adding, “Maybe they will even try to use Doctor Black and Peterson as scapegoats.”
Outer Colonies
Perennial VII
ONI's Advanced Research Facility || Port Entry
October 30, 2558
The pilot lowered the small transport ship into the port entry, and eventually landed on the landing pad. A minute after finally landing on the ground, both the Section Three and the Section Zero agents were cleared to leave their seats, and gather up their equipment, and exit out of the ship. She took her sidearm and holster out, and began checking it, which he was now doing the same thing before the two eventually strapped their weapon to their thigh holster. The young woman glanced back at him again, while he was securing his M6H2 burst-fire magnum with a mounted suppressor attachment in his thigh holster after doing an ammo and condition check of his sidearm. She parted her lips to say something to him, but hesitated when the seasoned tactical field officer turned around to face her.
Moretti caught her staring at him, and he smiled a little at the younger agent when she quickly looked away as soon as he noticed that she had been staring at him a little too long.
“You okay?” he asked, “Cat caught your tongue or something?”
“What?” She blinked. “Oh! No. I, uh...” She stammered nervously.
Chuckling lightly, he then assured her by responding mildly, “I don't bite, you know,” A smile. “Is this about your decision of letting me be in charge while you assist me instead of the other way around?” He asked. "Because...I'm fine assisting you on this. I'm only here to find Doctor Peterson and make arrests. So, if you feel more confident in taking over, I'm good.”
Rajskub tensed a little when she heard him chuckling at her, but soon relaxed when she realized he wasn't really laughing at her, and managed to smile back a little at him as he spoke to her with his strong English accent of his, which made him sound even more polite. She was expecting him to be rude and obnoxious since he has a reputation of being a major dick with a huge ego.
“No,” she replied nervously, “It's...not that. You're more experienced than me dealing with these things out in the field, and I'm more comfortable in assisting you instead during our joint-investigation.”
“Then what is it?” He asked, and smiled again, as he raised his eyebrows. “Speak your mind, Agent Rajskub. I'm all ears.”
“It's just...” She trailed off, nervously gazing toward the opened door where they would be making their exit out into the space port very soon.
Moretti studied her expression and body language, and then slowly nodded in understanding. “Worried?” He questioned. She nodded, and he pressed on, “Of what we'll find out here?” Another nod, but she still seemed rather nervous, and possibly scared.
He could tell, as she was easy to read, and had a good idea on what it entailed. “You're afraid of the possibility of them not complying and cooperating with us?”
Rajskub nodded, looking back at him. “That, and...” The Section Zero agent sighed, and went on, “What happened with Doctor Black to drive him insane, and then kill himself? And what if Doctor Peterson can't be located? What if someone silenced her, and is going to lie about her whereabouts?”
He quietly nodded at that, gazing at her for a few more seconds, before nodding again. “We'll figure it out, ma'am,” he said, “Whether or not they comply with us.” He added, “Just follow my lead and do your thing, while I do mine, and you'll be okay. All right?”
She slowly smiled shyly at him, and nodded. “All right.”
Moretti let her walk out into the aisle first, and then followed close behind as the two exited the transport ship, and started walking across the landing pad and headed along the cat-walks of the space port toward the security check-point.
“Don't look down...” He muttered, glancing down at his feet as he looked through the steel grate of the cat-walk platform they were walking on.
Rajskub glanced down, noticing the deep, dark crevice they were walking over. “Oh...” She lightly gasped, looking up and hurried along.
He grinned a little. “Well, I told you not to look,” he then wondered, “I wonder how deep the ravine goes?”
“I don't want to find out,” she replied. She then glared back at him. “That was mean.”
“Hey, you're the one who looked down after being told not to,” he retorted with a small shrug. “You'd think after all of these years, people wouldn't do something when they are told not to. In any case, you need to relax.”
“There is no way in hell that I'm going to relax, knowing that the landing pad is extended over a damn cliff they built to gain access into the research facility,” She complained, “Why couldn't they place the hanger somewhere safer, like inside?”
He shook his head as they drew closer to the security station, as he really couldn't care less about the landing pad. He had more important things to worry about and deal with, and she should too. He stopped at the Security Station, and noticed it was empty. Soon, his eyes rested on a large screen behind the desk. On it, there was a 'Security Alert'.
WARNING – For the safety of ONI Personnel, a mandatory lock-down is in effect. For further information, contact security personnel with yellow or higher clearance.
“Where are the guards?” She wondered, sounding slightly worried, as she read the screen.
“Not a good sign, but a good question,” replied Moretti as he headed inside the room. “At least one guard should be stationed here at all times. They aren't supposed to leave their stations unless someone else is here to relieve the other.”
He was about to unlock the door himself as he went into the security room, but she stopped him when she urgently waved at him to return to where she was standing outside. On an AI Pedestal, an AI of a man in a suit appeared, and welcomed them. Moretti returned to her side, and the two agents listened to what the AI had to say.
“Welcome to ONI's Advanced Research Facility, I am Mason,” the AI explained, “Due to the research facility's site-wide lock-down, I'm going to have to ask you two to submit to a formal screening and wait before you are given permission to allow you inside.”
“Why is the whole facility under a lock-down?” Moretti questioned. “And why hasn't anyone answered our hails before we arrived?”
“I am not in liberty to say.” It was right then when a lot of red flags went up in Moretti's mind. He needed to know why and who ordered a lock-down in place throughout the facility.
“Under whose orders?” The Commander demanded.
“Doctor Harper's, sir.”
“This is Agent Marissa Rajskub with Section Zero, and I am Commander Michelangelo Moretti with Section Three,” Moretti responded bluntly, “We refuse the formal screening and do not need to wait for permission, as we both have executive autonomy. Allow us through. We are operating within our rights for access.”
Rajskub slowly looked up at him, a little surprised. Damn, he means business, she thought.
“I can not,” the AI responded.
“This is our request, as you are impeding our operation. You will comply.” Moretti repeated. “You are in violation of Article 84.6. I certainly hope an AI knows what that is. Don't waste my time any more than you already have.”
Mason was silent for a few moments.
“Pass the airlock, and proceed through,” Mason said to Moretti and Rajskub. “You will be taken care of shortly.”
Moretti nodded, glaring at the AI in annoyance. “There, now was that so bloody hard?” He asked sarcastically, walking away to head through the airlock after it opened with a hiss a few moments ago, with Rajskub walking closely behind him.
(Next chapter will be posted soon!)
Anyway, I decided to post it in its own thread, so I can work on it whenever. I will update it with new chapters as soon as I can. On another note, this Halo horror story has been in the works for a while, and it's nice to finally be able to work on it again, and then share it with you guys. Before anyone asks, yes, this is DOOM-inspired. I've actually wanted to write a Doom/Halo fan fic since Doom 3 back in 2005. Yeah, it's been a long time, but then again, I didn't have an actual character I could use for it back then, like I do now with Mike Moretti. Happy reading, and feel free to comment!
Halo - OBSCURUM
written by: Llau
Interval 00
Prologue
Prologue
Outer Colonies
Perennial VII
On Board Prowler #729 || XO Private Quarters
The Italian sat at his desk, taking a sip of his hot tea so he could wake up eventually, after being woken up by the ship's AI about his new mission. He sat there quietly for a few minutes before messing around with the flat screen monitor in front of him. Bringing up the video recording program as he touched the screen, he hit the record button, and started speaking into the built-in microphone within the monitor.
<<Video Recording>>
“This is the video log report of Commander Michelangelo Nicoli Moretti. Tactical Field Officer for the Office of Naval Intelligence, Section Three. Service Number 36593-06164-MM. The date is October 13, 2558. I am traveling with Section Zero Agent Marissa Rajskub to the planet of Perennial VII for a joint-operation between Section Zero and Section Three. Our operation consists of the investigation into one of ONI's research centers, as well as locating and escorting Section Three civilian attache, Doctor Anya Peterson MD., off-planet safely by any means necessary. I am also to make arrests of certain ONI personnel who are in charge of the facility.”
He continued after drinking a little more of his tea.
“Doctor Anya Peterson explained in her video that she has proof that she will be able to give to me as soon as I find her. She explained in her video that there are unsanctioned testings, personnel going missing and other strange, yet disturbing occurrences are going on within the research facility.”
Moretti bowed his head down a little, looking up at the screen from beneath his eyebrows. “The worst thing out of this situation, is how ONI is just now hearing about it. Better late than never, I suppose, but it's a wonder how this slipped underneath our radar. I'm honestly surprised it did.”
He smiled somewhat, but it faded. “No matter.”
“If it wasn't for Doctor Peterson being sent there last year, then we probably would still be in the dark. She was able to send a voice message through our encrypted channels with her report, while requesting to be escorted off planet before it can get any worse.”
“She also sent in a video recording from her late, yet extremely troubled co-worker and friend, and backed up his claims...claims that I'm still trying to grasp...to understand...”
Sighing, he quietly added, “To believe.”
His eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he gazed into the camera in silence for several seconds, and then blinked. He leaned back in his chair.
“I will continue sending updates of my operation, either via video or audio logs during my time there...unless I end up being too busy having to permanently deal with our own people.”
<< End Video Recording >>
Interval 01
-Why Do I Get the Feeling That Scientists Screwed Up Here?-
-Why Do I Get the Feeling That Scientists Screwed Up Here?-
Outer Colonies
Perennial VII
Aboard Black Cat, in flight to ONI's Advanced Research Facility
October 30, 2558
Commander Moretti peered down at his TAC-PAD strapped over his sleeve of his forearm, reading the mission overview and going over the mission objectives silently. He placed an ear bud in his right ear to listen to the video recording of the medical doctor who sent it to the Section Three head, which was now paused on the DATA-PAD's screen that he had in the empty seat beside him. Moretti was sitting comfortably in his seat in the transport ship, being flown in to find and escort a scientist who worked with the medical doctor safely out of the research facility. Sitting near by, was a young, petite, brown-haired woman with eyeglasses, who had her nose practically in her DATA-PAD she was looking at constantly.
Her name was Marissa Rajskub. She used to be a forensics specialist from one of Mars' larger cities, but ONI decided to hire her due to her investigative and forensics skills. Before he boarded the Black Cat, he took a few moments to read her file, and learned that she was fresh out of field training. That could be a problem, but it wouldn't be the first time he dealt with someone new to field operations. She was rather intelligent, and didn't seem to need any hand-holding. Rajskub was an agent for Section Zero, and was here to assist him in this operation of investigating and retrieving the scientist. Rather, Moretti was here to assist her, but she had quietly asked him upon traveling to the planet to take over - to his surprise. After asking if she was sure she wanted to switch their assignment roles around, he accepted. Thankfully, she was the silent type, and didn't bother him during their flight here from the Prowler that was situated above the planet.
In fact, she was a really shy person, and he distinctively only remembered her introducing herself, then asking if he could take over their assignment, and that was about it. He then blinked, suddenly remembering what he wanted to ask her, even though it was too late to turn back now.
“Agent Rajskub?” He called out to her mildly, but repeated more sternly, “Agent Rajskub?”
She quickly looked up at him, wide-eyed. “Yes, sir?”
“You didn't forget anything did you?”
“Sir...?”
“I was meaning, do you have everything with you for the operation? Your field armor? Gear? Your sidearm?” A pause. “I know I should have asked you before we left the Prowler, but I was too busy prepping. You're also like a bloody mouse...I didn't even hear or see you board the Black Cat sometime after I did.”
He smiled a little. “Maybe you're in the wrong Section, Agent Rajskub.”
Is he...flirting with me? She wondered, her eyes widening in shock as she blushed a little.
Moretti stared at her curiously, and asked, "Something the matter with you?"
She blurted out, “No, Commander. I was carrying the big, heavy ass bag beside me for no reason at all. Do you know it's full of weights and bricks? It helps me keep in shape since I'm mostly sitting at a desk all day.” Her eyes widen when she then suddenly realized she spoke out of line. “Sorry. Sir.”
Moretti suddenly burst out laughing for a short time, surprising her. He never expected that. “Oh dear,” he replied in amusement, “And here I thought you were shy and serious. You are going to fit right in out here.”
“Oh...then...I'm not in trouble?”
He scoffed. “No.” He waved a hand at her. “I honestly don't care if someone is being a smart ass to me. So, don't worry about it, ma'am.” After she relaxed, he repeated his question to her. “Do you have everything with you for the operation?”
The agent thought for a moment. “Y-yes, sir,” she answered sheepishly, “I didn't forget...this time.”
“This time?” He grinned somewhat.
“I, uh...” She looked back down at her DATA-PAD. “It's really embarrassing. Let's just say I was warned.”
“Hmm. I see,” Moretti raised both eyebrows. “By the way, if you did forget even one thing on any other mission, I would have reprimanded you, and make you stay inside the Black Cat until I was finished.”
She peered over at him. “What would you have done for this mission then?” She curiously asked.
He shrugged, replying, “I would have told you to borrow an extra set of combat armor at the security station at the entrance into the facility.”
“Fair enough.” She looked at him for another moment or two before returning her attention down to her pad as she reviewed dossiers of each scientist she would see.
He exhaled slowly, reading the message from his Operations Commander before he grabbed for his DATA-PAD to continue watching the video. After reading the message from Major Wagner, he picked up and rested the DATA-PAD in his lap, and pressed the playback button. Now focusing on the video, he watched as a thirty-year-old man pointed the video camera at himself; looking like he was suffering from a bad case of insomnia, and sweating profusely from running through what looked to be an underground tunnel. He sat down against a wall for the next three minutes, looking around the dark tunnel uneasily, with the video is still recording. Moretti impatiently fast-forward through until the man started speaking. The man swallowed hard, glancing down, and wiped sweat off of his forehead with the back of his lab coat's dirty sleeve. He then stared back at the camera. Taking a deep breath, he started to speak in an urgent-sounding, frightened whisper into the camera's microphone.
“I'm Doctor Xavier Black, MD. I'm a medical doctor attache for Section Three, who works at the medical labs here inside this facility,” Moretti activated ONI's facial recognition software to scan the man's face, as well as his right eye, and it informed the Commander that Doctor Black, was in fact, the person who he said he was.
“This message has been encoded pursuant to Naval Intelligence statutes. This is for ONI Section Three Eyes Only, with Alpha-Delta Clearance.” He continued, while data about the facility and its location were quickly typed on the screen outside of the video frame itself; informing Moretti that it was considered a “black site”. Other information, including the number of ONI personnel, civilian workers, and security detail were also being shown.
“I was asked by the Division Head of the ONI Advanced Research Facility on Perennial VII, Doctor Aiden Harper to take part on these projects of his that he wanted to do while we were out here,” he explained, “I'm a medical doctor, not some scientist, but...”
He laughed nervously, shaking his head. “...money talks.” The man chuckled again, and then let out a shaky sigh.
“That was five years ago,” he went on, “Doctor Harper made us all swear to him to not mention to anyone about these unsanctioned experiments of his and what we found, but now...if I knew what he was planning and why...I wouldn't have agreed to this, and I would have...”
He cringed, “I would have reported him earlier.”
“Something!”
He ran his hand over his face and through his matted hair after he took his eyeglasses off and dropped them carelessly onto the ground. Meanwhile, the ONI scan picked up on the name 'Doctor Aiden Harper' and searched for him. A profile of the scientist popped up seconds after, revealing who he was and what he looked like, as well as a short biography. Moretti read through Doctor Harper's profile before resizing it to a smaller box with his fingers, and sliding it off to the side so he could continue watching the video. Doctor Black sounded as if he was starting to cry, in which he did. The tactical field officer fast-forward through this part, where the man sobbed quietly for the next couple of minutes, until he calmed down and peered up at the screen again.
“It...it was good for a while, I admit, but...weird things started happening all around me,” he explained, “Things that I couldn't explain, nor wanted to ask if the others who worked here were experiencing the same thing.” A slight cringe. “I know, I know...a man of science...a medical doctor shouldn't be freaking out, but the more it happened, the more it started happening to some of the others. You can...tell...they were dealing with the same issues as I was, and eventually, we started whispering about it, letting the others know that they weren't alone in dealing with these...unexplained...things, and not going insane.”
He cringed again, rubbing at his tired eyes. He continued while he set the camera on top of something that was next to him, and then he started to rub his hands together anxiously.
“Eventually, word got around to the administration offices and then to Doctor Harper, who had the in-house psychologist tell us that it was just stress of working in such a remote planet, and we were just having nightmares.”
He suddenly and angrily kicked at something off camera, which clattered across the floor before hitting the wall on the other side of him.
“Bullshit! All of us were awake...all of us were hearing strange sounds...whispering...crying...strange things...and...other things happened in the workplace...people started disappearing, and some frightening, unexplained deaths and someone who ended up brutally murdering another person, and then telling us that the devil made him do it.”
A long pause as he stared wide-eyed at the screen in front of him. “I wish I didn't...I wish I didn't learn what the researchers were doing in the Delta Sector..I wish I...didn't learn how Doctor Harper was using civilians and captured human and alien prisoners in heinous experiments that made me...ME...a medical professional...puke and have horrible nightmares because of it.”
Another pause, while he decided on what to say next. “What's worse...no one knows exactly what the Delta Sector personnel were doing, even to this day, but whatever they are doing in there, it was when all the strange noises and whispering, and accidents started happening throughout the entire complex.”
The man trailed off, lowering his head into his hands, and became rather silent for a while.
Moretti watched the video on his PAD quietly with an ear bud in one ear, so he could listen without interrupting anyone. After all, he kept repeating the video over and over, searching for clues. The more the man talked, the more the Commander was beginning to feel uncomfortable; a feeling of dread, too. Were the doctor's claims true, or were these claims nothing more than stories from a deranged man? He won't know until he finds out. He shifted in his seat a little, and continued paying close attention to the video. He watched as the man slowly leaned closer to the camera, and stared right into it.
“I have files and proof that Doctor Harper is gaining illegal funding for his side projects,” Black explained, “I also have proof of him ordering all work-related and unexplained deaths here to be hidden. I have a close friend here, a scientist...she can help you when you get here. You can trust her.”
He then begged, “Please...please find out what's going on and stop that man before something bad happens...and something bad will happen...”
He grimaced, looking around again. He leaned back against the wall and stared down at his hands. He glanced up at the screen once again.
“Forgive me, Anya...” Doctor Black whispered indifferently.
Moretti looked on, gazing into the man's eyes, and noticing just how empty they were, and how lost the man was. Even after he realized the first time watching this video recording, and realized what the man was going to do, he still cringed when the doctor brought up a gun and pressed it underneath his chin, and pulled the trigger. The officer didn't blink but grimaced as the blood poured out profusely through the fatal gunshot entry and exit wound of the poor doctor's head.
“Fuck me...” whispered the Commander, “I hate that...” He stopped the video and leaned his head back against the headrest.
Rajskub glanced up from her DATA-PAD, and glanced over at him for a few seconds before slowly returning her attention to the pad to continue reading silently. She didn't have to ask why the man said what he said, as she figured he was still going over that video, and searching for things that may have been missed in the initial viewing of it during their first meeting. The Section Zero agent could only watch it once, as the suicide freaked her out, and all that blood nearly made her lose her lunch. Shifting her eyes, she glanced over, and watched him out the corner of her eye. Moretti had his head leaned back up against the head rest of his seat, with his eyes focusing on the ceiling.
“Um...” Rajskub started, and then finally asked after pausing for a moment, “Are you...okay?”
The Commander was going to answer, but pressed on his ear-piece instead when he had an incoming message from the pilot, who was telling him that the facility wasn't responding to their hails. Frowning, he said, “That's concerning. Keep me updated until we get there.”
Rajskub heard it as well over her ear-piece. Can I get even more worried? She thought.
Moretti sighed, his eyelids closing for a few moments. “I'm fine,” he finally replied, “I'm wondering about what was scaring this man so bad for him to commit suicide.”
She shrugged. “I honestly don't know, Commander,” the woman replied, “Hopefully we can learn what the hell is going on while we're there. Maybe that scientist can tell us more when we find her.”
“Yeah,” The tactical field officer inhaled a sigh. “I just hope this investigation and escorting that scientist back to the Prowler doesn't give us more questions instead of answers.”
Rajskub looked back at him curiously. “I...I don't know,” she admitted, “It's all very strange.”
“Well, it's certainly the strangest assignment I've ever been on,” He tilted his head a little, and said, “ONI thinks they are hiding something, and so do I. Also, the fact that they have yet to answer our hails makes me more suspicious.”
He glanced down at his DATA-PAD, and brought up a dossier of the female scientist, and then showed the screen to the Section Zero agent.
“Doctor Anya Peterson knows the truth, and the more she stays where she's at, the more her life is in danger. I need to get her out of there. In the mean time, I'll help you on your investigation along the way.”
Agent Rajskub nodded, thankful for his assistance. After a few minutes of silence, she turned to him again. “Permission to ask you a question, Commander?”
Moretti looked over at her. “You really don't need to go all formal on me, agent. Shoot.”
She nodded, and then carefully asked, “Do we really need our weapons and armor?” She was nervous asking him that, seemingly afraid of his answer. “It's not like we're dealing with the Covenant or Insurrectionists.” She sighed. “Sorry, I'm just not comfortable with the possibility of shooting at other ONI personnel. It doesn't feel right to me.”
She then asked him, “Does it bother you?”
He gazed intently at her. He knew she was unaware of the scaled-morality training he and other Section Three field operators go through to deal with UNSC personnel when needed, like the UNSC Astronavigation Personnel, but at least she was honest on how she felt. Now, was the best time as any to explain operational procedures like this.
“It's precautionary measures and an intimidation tactic to let them know we aren't here to make friends if they really are doing something unauthorized by ONI.” He explained more, “If they truly are doing things out here they shouldn't be doing, and we find out, and they refuse to cooperate with our investigation, then expect them to become hostile to try to cover their asses.”
While adding, “Maybe they will even try to use Doctor Black and Peterson as scapegoats.”
Interval 02
- Anyone There?-
- Anyone There?-
Outer Colonies
Perennial VII
ONI's Advanced Research Facility || Port Entry
October 30, 2558
The pilot lowered the small transport ship into the port entry, and eventually landed on the landing pad. A minute after finally landing on the ground, both the Section Three and the Section Zero agents were cleared to leave their seats, and gather up their equipment, and exit out of the ship. She took her sidearm and holster out, and began checking it, which he was now doing the same thing before the two eventually strapped their weapon to their thigh holster. The young woman glanced back at him again, while he was securing his M6H2 burst-fire magnum with a mounted suppressor attachment in his thigh holster after doing an ammo and condition check of his sidearm. She parted her lips to say something to him, but hesitated when the seasoned tactical field officer turned around to face her.
Moretti caught her staring at him, and he smiled a little at the younger agent when she quickly looked away as soon as he noticed that she had been staring at him a little too long.
“You okay?” he asked, “Cat caught your tongue or something?”
“What?” She blinked. “Oh! No. I, uh...” She stammered nervously.
Chuckling lightly, he then assured her by responding mildly, “I don't bite, you know,” A smile. “Is this about your decision of letting me be in charge while you assist me instead of the other way around?” He asked. "Because...I'm fine assisting you on this. I'm only here to find Doctor Peterson and make arrests. So, if you feel more confident in taking over, I'm good.”
Rajskub tensed a little when she heard him chuckling at her, but soon relaxed when she realized he wasn't really laughing at her, and managed to smile back a little at him as he spoke to her with his strong English accent of his, which made him sound even more polite. She was expecting him to be rude and obnoxious since he has a reputation of being a major dick with a huge ego.
“No,” she replied nervously, “It's...not that. You're more experienced than me dealing with these things out in the field, and I'm more comfortable in assisting you instead during our joint-investigation.”
“Then what is it?” He asked, and smiled again, as he raised his eyebrows. “Speak your mind, Agent Rajskub. I'm all ears.”
“It's just...” She trailed off, nervously gazing toward the opened door where they would be making their exit out into the space port very soon.
Moretti studied her expression and body language, and then slowly nodded in understanding. “Worried?” He questioned. She nodded, and he pressed on, “Of what we'll find out here?” Another nod, but she still seemed rather nervous, and possibly scared.
He could tell, as she was easy to read, and had a good idea on what it entailed. “You're afraid of the possibility of them not complying and cooperating with us?”
Rajskub nodded, looking back at him. “That, and...” The Section Zero agent sighed, and went on, “What happened with Doctor Black to drive him insane, and then kill himself? And what if Doctor Peterson can't be located? What if someone silenced her, and is going to lie about her whereabouts?”
He quietly nodded at that, gazing at her for a few more seconds, before nodding again. “We'll figure it out, ma'am,” he said, “Whether or not they comply with us.” He added, “Just follow my lead and do your thing, while I do mine, and you'll be okay. All right?”
She slowly smiled shyly at him, and nodded. “All right.”
Moretti let her walk out into the aisle first, and then followed close behind as the two exited the transport ship, and started walking across the landing pad and headed along the cat-walks of the space port toward the security check-point.
“Don't look down...” He muttered, glancing down at his feet as he looked through the steel grate of the cat-walk platform they were walking on.
Rajskub glanced down, noticing the deep, dark crevice they were walking over. “Oh...” She lightly gasped, looking up and hurried along.
He grinned a little. “Well, I told you not to look,” he then wondered, “I wonder how deep the ravine goes?”
“I don't want to find out,” she replied. She then glared back at him. “That was mean.”
“Hey, you're the one who looked down after being told not to,” he retorted with a small shrug. “You'd think after all of these years, people wouldn't do something when they are told not to. In any case, you need to relax.”
“There is no way in hell that I'm going to relax, knowing that the landing pad is extended over a damn cliff they built to gain access into the research facility,” She complained, “Why couldn't they place the hanger somewhere safer, like inside?”
He shook his head as they drew closer to the security station, as he really couldn't care less about the landing pad. He had more important things to worry about and deal with, and she should too. He stopped at the Security Station, and noticed it was empty. Soon, his eyes rested on a large screen behind the desk. On it, there was a 'Security Alert'.
WARNING – For the safety of ONI Personnel, a mandatory lock-down is in effect. For further information, contact security personnel with yellow or higher clearance.
“Where are the guards?” She wondered, sounding slightly worried, as she read the screen.
“Not a good sign, but a good question,” replied Moretti as he headed inside the room. “At least one guard should be stationed here at all times. They aren't supposed to leave their stations unless someone else is here to relieve the other.”
He was about to unlock the door himself as he went into the security room, but she stopped him when she urgently waved at him to return to where she was standing outside. On an AI Pedestal, an AI of a man in a suit appeared, and welcomed them. Moretti returned to her side, and the two agents listened to what the AI had to say.
“Welcome to ONI's Advanced Research Facility, I am Mason,” the AI explained, “Due to the research facility's site-wide lock-down, I'm going to have to ask you two to submit to a formal screening and wait before you are given permission to allow you inside.”
“Why is the whole facility under a lock-down?” Moretti questioned. “And why hasn't anyone answered our hails before we arrived?”
“I am not in liberty to say.” It was right then when a lot of red flags went up in Moretti's mind. He needed to know why and who ordered a lock-down in place throughout the facility.
“Under whose orders?” The Commander demanded.
“Doctor Harper's, sir.”
“This is Agent Marissa Rajskub with Section Zero, and I am Commander Michelangelo Moretti with Section Three,” Moretti responded bluntly, “We refuse the formal screening and do not need to wait for permission, as we both have executive autonomy. Allow us through. We are operating within our rights for access.”
Rajskub slowly looked up at him, a little surprised. Damn, he means business, she thought.
“I can not,” the AI responded.
“This is our request, as you are impeding our operation. You will comply.” Moretti repeated. “You are in violation of Article 84.6. I certainly hope an AI knows what that is. Don't waste my time any more than you already have.”
Mason was silent for a few moments.
“Pass the airlock, and proceed through,” Mason said to Moretti and Rajskub. “You will be taken care of shortly.”
Moretti nodded, glaring at the AI in annoyance. “There, now was that so bloody hard?” He asked sarcastically, walking away to head through the airlock after it opened with a hiss a few moments ago, with Rajskub walking closely behind him.
(Next chapter will be posted soon!)
Good, good...-steeples fingers- >;D
