1112 HOURS, NOVEMBER 15, 2554 (UNSC MILITARY CALENDAR)
HALO INSTALLATION: SIRCA--QOPPA--FREELANCER HEADQUARTERS

Bethany followed Director Lionel, with Tysiac right behind her. He remained alert, anticipating danger from the Director or a possible HADES incursion. Given the Director's role in Project Werewolf, his significance shouldn't be downplayed, despite his limited resources. Tysiac's immediate priority, should anything happen, was getting her to safety. His mind briefly revisited Director Lionel and the lingering weight of his previous statements.

He had strong opinions on the chupadores' methods but was less certain about Lionel's personal reputation. Within Tysiac's thoughts, his mind mulled over from what he had heard... And he doubted Dr. Catherine Halsey would've thrown her daughter into experimentation so willingly as this chupadore had with his children, not even under the pretense of 'protection'.

As they moved, the dim office transitioning to the artificial illumination through the corridors that gave off a little more light than the desolate red from outside, Director Lionel gave a small glance towards Tysiac over his shoulders. Tysiac could see the green eyes of his studying the Spartan with cold curiosity.

"I'll admit," The Director declared, "while I have seen enough of Omega through recent communications with him, you don't act or behave anything like him."

Curiosity started edging into the corners of Tysiac's mind, "In what way?"

His voice was clinical, reminiscent of an ONI agent evaluating a subject, "The professionalism, for one. You engage in matters directly, involving yourself personally rather than delegating to underlings. You do not indulge yourself in sadistic theatrics, unnecessary cruelty, or revel in chaos and destruction."

The Director's lips curled into a faint smirk, "And your disposal with Agent York and Alpha-Thirteen.... Efficient, pragmatic, and calculating... something I certainly can admire."

Tysiac kept his response low and steady as he noticed Bethany stiffen at the Director's naming for Church. He also wasn't entirely pleased, but the Spartan didn't show it to the chupadore, "I only do what's necessary to complete the mission," he finally said.

Director Lionel's expression had a hint of approval, "Which brings me to ask: What are you? Both in species and in what makes you a force capable of cutting so efficiently through Omega's HADES forces?"

There were many ways Tysiac could respond to the two questions, and he had to deliberate how to best answer them. While progressing through the corridors before encountering another elevator, the Spartan pondered on the words that would work as his answer.

The elevator doors sliding open with a soft whir, and they stepped inside. As the elevator descended, Tysiac gave his reply, "Who I am is someone who stumbled upon Sirca, and someone Omega doesn't want around to keep you all hidden. As my continuing survival means my species' increasing attention and knowledge of Sirca."

The Spartan's tone sharpened. "We already know about Sirca and your people. The more we learn, the more likely we are to eliminate Omega and his House. Depending on your species' response, diplomacy may not be enough."

Bethany's gaze flickered toward him, sharp with understanding. Tysiac could sense the weight of her thoughts--the lingering memory of their earlier talks about her species and the coming interaction with ONI and the UNSC and her people. If handled poorly, the chupadores would end up in a far worse position than they realized. Their freedom from Omega might only mean replacing one form of control with another.

The Director's face was inscrutable, yet Tysiac detected a slight tremor in his expression as he uttered, "A bold claim. And my other question?"

Tysiac again considered on his answer. "I am what you sought to accomplish with Project Werewolf," he replied.

This brought the Director to turn around, facing the Spartan fully. His posture shifted and for the moment, Tysiac could see his face revealing more emotion than before. The faint flicker of intrigue, perhaps even surprise, "Interesting." he muttered, his voice becoming quieter.

Tysiac saw the opportunity to press further, letting his thoughts over Director Lionel's efforts were, "Your methods, I consider shortsighted. Using sleeper agents with your chosen augments provide a short-term gain with no long-term survival. The process itself contains too much risk; The constant replenishments of the augmentations would mean you are killing off your best and effective candidates. If you were truly trying to create super-soldiers, then your first mistake was binding them under the hypnotic conditions and controls of an animalistic transformation."

Director Lionel's lips thinned into a hard line, his silent frown betraying his displeasure. A slow, canine-like baring of teeth accompanied his tightening expression. He kept a tight rein on his temper, though his clenched jaw betrayed well enough of his annoyance.

"In the end," Tysiac went on, "you created soldiers who rebelled. Your 'test subjects' turned against you in droves. And given Omega's HADES we encountered, you can only hope for her to finish what you wanted to start." He gave a slight nudge to Bethany's side before finishing, "To both myself and the Office of Navel Intelligence, that is a colossal failure, and a waste of resources."

Director Lionel's jaw clenched as he took a slow breath, composing himself, "For what reason do you keep beating down an old man who has lost everything?"

Tysiac met the Director's gaze without flinching, his visor keeping his expression hidden from the two chupadores, "Perhaps that is something you can reflect on. My opinion is much softer than what my colleagues would have said about you and your project."

The elevator gave a subtle jerk, signaling both the end to the discussion and their descent as the door opened. However, their trip down the now brightly lit corridors came to a short stop as the Director stopped and turned towards a wall. Reaching low, the Director felt for an innocuous seam in the metal wall before moving something akin to a lever.

Before Bethany could demand what the Director was doing, the wall gave a hiss before lifting a heavy section of the wall, revealing a door with a keypad.

Bethany tensed, one claw gripping her pistol tightly. "A secret door. Of course..." she muttered under her breath.

Tysiac said nothing. He kept his sights on the Director and the motion tracker as the chupadore gave a four numbered passcode to the pad.

The barely audible hiss of the hidden door's mechanism, like a serpent exhaling, was followed by the soft *fwump* as it slid open, revealing a room bathed in an ethereal green glow from the lights above. The warmth of the glow was deceptive; as Director Lionel stepped in, the air seemed to grow heavier, colder. His breath plumed out before him, a white cloud in the frigid air, a silent testament to the room's sudden chill. Bethany shivered involuntarily, her claws flexing as she hugged herself, her breath misting in the frigid air.

A sharp drop in temperature triggered Tysiac's HUD alarm; his skinsuit's internal systems whirred as the fusion reactor compensated, expelling a frosty plume of vapor that enveloped him in a cold, dense fog. With measured steps, the Spartan followed, the heavy clunk of his boots echoing slightly as he scanned the Director, Bethany, and the room for danger.

The room seemed deceptively small at first glance, but upon entering, it opened up to reveal its true size. The green luminescent lights illuminated rows of dormant displays lining the walls and numerous metal tables scattered across the cold, metallic space, their surfaces reflecting the eerie glow. Every screen sat dormant, devoid of any activity. Motes of ice and dust danced in the faint light reflecting off their blank, dark surfaces, amplifying the eerie, abandoned quality of the area, a desolate stillness hanging in the air. The space clearly served a purpose, but its continued relevance was questionable.

With a silent reading, Tysiac's motion tracker confirmed only their own movement. As the Director strode past several tables, their dark, lifeless screens reflecting nothing but his own stern face, he moved toward a central terminal before stopping and turning to face Bethany and Tysiac. The Spartan's eyes, scanning the room as he drew closer, landed on something metallic gleaming faintly in the dim corner. The object's vibrant cobalt blue popped against the room's muted palette, immediately catching his eye and drawing him in as Bethany watched.

Tysiac approached cautiously, his boots echoing loudly on the cold, metallic floor. Kneeling down, Tysiac retrieved the object from the ground. One couldn't mistake the cobalt MJOLNIR helmet; it was likely a Mark VI. Or perhaps a copy, as it was significantly lighter than the original, the telltale sign of an imitation. Tysiac brought himself back up, then turned on his helmet's light to scrutinize the helmet.

The design itself was familiar, yet something was not quite right. The Mark-VI MJOLNIR helmet's sleek contours and purposeful form were visible, yet marred by dents and patches of faded paint. It didn't seem to match the same manufacturing skill of the Materials Group from Section Three. The thought lingered in the Spartan's mind. If it wasn't from the Materials Group, he guessed it was what Section Three's Freelancer had done. Copying the design, but cheapening it. However, he couldn't be sure and would need ONI's opinion over it.

His motion tracker notified him of Bethany's approach as she looked at it. "What is that? Looks similar to yours."

"Similar," Tysiac muttered, "But not quite. Looks as if someone had attempted to mimic the designs." He looked at the Director, who stood waiting at the terminal as it turned on. Slightly raising the helmet, the Spartan spoke to the chupadore scientist, "Is this yours?"

Director Lionel's eyes weren't visible, but Tysiac knew he was looking, "A relic," he answered, his tone neutral, "Something I hid from HADES as they ransacked my facilities. It, along with a few other prototypes, became the foundation for the standard armor used by Blue and Red armies--and later, the advanced equipment HADES forces possess. Though, of course, their gear pales compared to what your armor clearly possesses, given you ripped through them so easily."

Tysiac raised an eyebrow behind his visor as Lionel's gaze lingered, "Energy shielding..." The chupadore mused, "Omega uses similar technology to protect his throne safe from the blizzards of Kaprime. But never would I have imagined it could be miniaturized for personnel use."

So did Dr. Halsey when she saw combat footage of the Covenant and their personal shields firsthand, as Tysiac mused. "Good." he said flatly, "It would've made my job harder." He twitched the helmet in his hand, "Mind if I keep it?"

Director Lionel waved a claw with a careless gesture, his tone belonging to an elder who couldn't care less, "Take it. And consider it a token of good will. I have no use or value for it, and you don't work with Omega."

Tysiac gave a quiet, sarcastic chuckle as he hooked the helmet to his belt, "Perhaps if you spent more time innovating for your Freelancers, you might've had more use of it."

"Perhaps." The Director's dry tone sounding hollow in the cold room, "When you are ready, Agent Texas."

He retreated a few steps as the holographic terminal finished booting, illuminating with a pale blue light. Bethany gave a glance towards Tysiac before moving to the terminal, finding a port where the data crystal could slot in.

Tysiac came over to her side as the data crystal loaded, the lines of data beginning to populate the holographic display. A gut feeling formed inside him, distracting him from the information flying across the screen. The feeling warned him that things wouldn't end well. Something cold from the room seemed to seep past his armor, leaving a sense of deep foreboding. The kind that only years of intense combat and stealth experience could instill.

He could only watch and wait to see what would happen. The terminal buzzed to life, its screen flickering, displaying a holographic image of a snow-covered Forerunner base, the metallic gleam of its structure stark against the jagged, snow-capped mountains. A gasp escaped Bethany's lips, "That's... Sidewinder base," she whispered, her voice awestruck.

As snow fell softly, blanketing the scene, the recording revealed a low wind howl that made the base unnervingly still; a ghostly quiet. Then a lone chupadore wandered into sight. Her fur was a vibrant Maya blue, and her shoulder-length red hair, neatly pulled back in a ponytail, swayed as she moved. She paused and glanced around, seemingly restless but poised and ready as she had her pistol out.

Bethany inhaled sharply, her voice barely above a whisper, "Lina..." she murmured, a tone of dread and awe.

Tysiac's gaze fixed on the chupadore. She held herself similarly to a trained soldier, the emblem of the Freelancer logo on one of her armor plates.

From the far end of the camera, a loud guttural growl echoed, resonating through the terminal speakers where the base was situated. A towering werewolf in the same maya blue emerged. It began looking around until Carolina had turned to face the hulking figure.

Bethany's black fur bristled in dread, her eyes wide as she recognized the werewolf, "Oh god... Church!"

He could see it, too. It was the same posture of the mindless and violent werewolf Church had transformed into at L-Base. With a guttural snarl, saliva glistening on its fangs, the creature roared, the sound echoing through the air before charging at Carolina on all fours.

Carolina didn't flinch, but her expression hardened as she began shooting. However, Church's resilience seemed just as strong as it was during Tysiac's fight against him. The bullets bit into Church's fur and flesh, but he didn't register them as he barreled into her.

Snow flew in all directions as Carolina stayed back. She fought as viciously as Church did. Carolina neatly avoided his aggressive, overreaching strikes, punishing him with a series of effective counter-blows. The fighting went on, with Carolina getting a few scores of scratches to her armor, but Church suffered every blow delivered. His nose bashed and bloodied, spraying and staining his fur. His legs occasionally struggling to keep himself upright, one side of his face sporting bruise marks.

The werewolf fell after Carolina's staggering blow, bringing the fight to a slow end. But something seemed to have changed for Carolina, as her claws twitched. Then Carolina's fighting stance began falling apart as she slowly came closer towards the fallen werewolf.

"She's realizing who that is," Bethany breathed, the cold temperature around her forming mist around her. Carolina faltered as her guard fell away, the recording barely picked up her voice, quivering in dread and recognition. But it was clear she was figuring out who she was beating to death, and likely was told to kill.

His werewolf form rendered Church impervious to her hesitations and words. He lunged before Carolina could react. Leonard Church, in his werewolf form, dragged his sister into the snowy ground and viciously attacked her, tearing through her armor and leaving deep, bloody wounds on her limbs and face. The recording captured Carolina's screams, mostly calls for her brother.

The vicious clawing and biting ceased, and Bethany's claws balled into fists. Seizing Carolina by the head, Church lifted her into the air. Severely injured, she could barely muster the strength to fight back. With a snarl, the werewolf tossed his sister over the icy cliff nearby. Though aimed at the edge, the camera image revealed nothing but faraway arctic waters and icebergs.

Church roared violently as he seemed to revel in his victory, unaware of what had happened. All the while, the camera kept focus over to the ledge. Soon after, a bell faintly chimed, resonating from the base and reaching Church. The werewolf's growling ceased as he collapsed and went limp, entering a forgetful unconsciousness as he shifted from his werewolf trance to a maya blue chupadore.

The Director appeared in the recording, a blur of motion as he sprinted towards the cliff edge. He stumbled, his claws digging into the icy snow as he scrambled toward the edge, his emotional state clear in his frantic movements. The recording faintly captured his shouts against a background of howling wind, his head swiveling before his shoulders slumped. The recording concluded just as the director, sitting on his knees, leaned back from the ledge.

Bethany's voice was low and venomous, as the holographic terminal turned to an empty pale blue, "You let her die."

Director Lionel shook his head, his voice calm but heavy, "No. Omega had been the one to order this to occur. It was only after that thing threw her did I learn about the arranged encounter. I would never have allowed this, dear Tex..."

His voice became strained as Bethany gave a doubtful glare, "I sent search parties. Combed every inch around Sidewinder base and the waters below. But there was no sign of her body, not even the fragments of her armor. After several days, I had no choice but to list her MIA."

Tysiac stood silently as he processed the recording. His mind had recalled and connecting dots, as this situation was mirroring the reports ONI had from their own version of Project Freelancer. Agent Carolina--the human counterpart--had also been thrown over the side of a cliff and presumed dead. Only for her to reappear later on under forged papers and having hidden herself as a UNSC Marine during the latter end of the Human-Covenant War. McCallister, he believed she called herself?

Regardless, seeing more and more things mirror and run so parallel that it was like traveling back in time and being placed in an alternate story. Might the Carolina here have done the same? He never learned how the human Carolina had done so...

"There is more on the chip." The Director spoke steadily, "This... is only part of the full picture."

Bethany's breath hitched, pain twisting her features. Tysiac snapped back to reality as her claws dug into the console, leaving deep scratches. The red tassel on her tail bristled, as did her black fur. Bethany turned towards the Director as Tysiac interacted with the terminal. "More?" Bethany hissed through her teeth. Her voice trembling in pain and anger, "How could there be more with Omega's fucking game in getting Carolina killed by her own brother?"

The Director looked burdened, as if things hadn't been worse from his daughter being taken away from him, "Omega's hand didn't end here with Sidewinder. What happened there was a fragment of his grander scheme. There is a reason why he targeted Carolina--and you."

With another quiet buzz, the terminal displayed another recording, its low hum filling the otherwise silent room as it played. Instead of the snowy vistas of Sidewinder, now it was the interior of the metallic and angular aesthetics of a Forerunner interior. Faint blue lights cast an ethereal glow on the building's interior, highlighting the walls covered in glyphs and intricate patterns, before Bethany cautiously appeared in the camera's view. Tysiac couldn't identify the rifle in her grasp as she cautiously aimed, scanning her surroundings while moving down the sloping ramps.

Beside him, Bethany's jaw tightened, her body tensing as the scene played out.

She inspected a nearby dead chupadore, who wore a purple necklace and a purple armband, a single gunshot wound to his head indicated what had killed him. Bethany quickly turned and looked up, as a shadow appeared over her and revealed Carolina. She had leapt off a ramp and tried to land on top of Bethany. She failed as Bethany hopped on one hand to move out of the way before she kicked with both her leg and tail to sweep Carolina's feet off the ground before the two ended in a stalemate with their guns pointed at each other's heads.

Bethany was the first to speak, as the recording picked up her voice, "Getting sloppy, Lina."

Carolina's response and the women's following chat were inaudible to the security camera. But the two seemed to be within speaking terms and friends... To a certain extent, as they both kept their weapons trained on each other. From what Tysiac could tell from the inaudible conversation and body language, they were catching up with one another. The surveillance cameras there could show the mischievous grin on Carolina's face while Bethany had that same cocky smirk Tysiac remembered well during their own sparring sessions.

Something seemed to have passed between Carolina and Bethany, as they put away their weapons before taking fighting stances near each other for a moment before Bethany started with a sweeping kick.

Bethany gave a pained smile, seeing herself and Carolina fight, "We still didn't know who was the better fighter that day..." A choked chuckle escaped her, "I was supposed to be guarding the vault and not be inside the shrine, she was doing petty trespassing."

So a much greater sense of friendship and rivalry between these two women, Tysiac mused. He watched as the two used their legs for both agility and powerful kicks that the chupadores' digitigrade legs could provide. Carolina was the first to disengage as she leaped over Bethany onto a walkway, making Bethany chase after her through the Forerunner facility.

Tysaic took a glimpse towards the Director, keeping his head still to give the illusion the Spartan was still watching. It was like seeing a shadow of what the chupadore might have been before losing his family. There was a ghost of a smile forming on his lips, and the lights didn't hide the faded warmth in his eyes. Even after all that had happened, it seemed there were still remnants of a father who cared, dead as it may be present.

The Spartan's eyes returned to the recording as the security camera angles changed, catching the two sprinting through the facility. Carolina leaped across a wide gap between two platforms over a large descent with effortless grace. Bethany wasn't far behind, her eyes fixed on her rival. After jumping the gap, she veered to the side, aiming for a lower path that would allow her to cut Carolina off.

But as Bethany came to a landing, something seemed to have happened. Her legs suddenly seized, almost involuntarily. And Bethany's feet missed her landing completely.

A sharp, cracking sound resounded through the facility, eliciting a pained wince from Tysaic. Bethany's back had landed squarely on the edge, making Bethany give a scream. Her claws scrambled for purchase, but she could not stop her body from falling off the edge of the platform.

"Beth?!" Carolina's head had turned towards the chupadore. As Bethany fell, Carolina tried to intercept and catch her. All the while, Bethany tried again to use her claws to grab a platform or anything to stop her from falling down further. But from what it appears, the pain must have been too excruciating.

Bethany slammed into the ground, Carolina's scream cutting through the air. As Carolina leaped from platform to platform in trying to reach Bethany, the black-furred chupadore didn't move or make a sound, either lost in unconsciousness or already at death's door.

The recording paused as Bethany turned away. Her breath was uneven and her claws dug into the metal, "Why?" she demanded, her voice shaking, "Why remind me of that fucking accident? I already know what happened there, since I was there!"

A calm, yet weighty voice, Director Lionel asserted, "But you don't know what caused it."

Turning back to the holographic display, the screen went back to the moment of Bethany missing her landing. This time, there were sections of the recording zoomed in. The quality of the zoom was understandably not the greatest, but it was enough to reveal the sparks of electricity that arced from the platform and to Bethany's legs. It slowly played out the accident, as the muscles in Bethany's legs seized up and the electric current was potent enough to cause the armor at her legs to slide off the platform. The position of Bethany's legs obscured the entire event, giving the impression of a simple miscalculation of momentum. But the evidence was damning.

The Director's voice became grim. "That was no accident, Bethany. I didn't know it, but Omega has been observing both you and Carolina far longer than I realized. Omega has been after you and my daughter."

Bethany could only stare at the screen in shock and anger, "He... Did this to me?" She whispered, her voice barely audible, though Tysiac's helmet caught it easily, "He's the reason I was in Freelancer in the first place?"

"Yes," the Director intoned, "He had hoped your fall would either kill or cripple you from continuing military service. While he expected Carolina to ask me to save you, he didn't expect that I would succeed. The experimental surgery I told you about."

Bethany's fists clenched, her black fur bristling in rage as she turned towards Director Lionel, "Why?! What the hell did either of us do to make him try to ruin my life and kill Lina?!"

"I will reveal that shortly," Director Lionel assured, "However, his efforts weren't solely in killing you or my daughter." He adjusted his glasses with a claw, "He wanted to control you both. And he made considerable effort into trying to take you both at a young age..."

Tysiac felt a chill of apprehension as he started piecing together what the Director was talking about. Already, some memories and rumors of the Spartan-II program Dr. Halsey had started with was echoing through him. Bethany herself didn't seem to understand, but her tail was stiffening, the red tassel bristling as the Director asked, "Do you remember what caused you to be an orphan, dear Tex?"

The Director approached the terminal and gave a swipe, sending the recorded footage of Bethany's accident away. In its place was a series of reports, with an old news broadcast with a grainy footage showing the wreckage of a mangled car at the edge of a darkened road. Emergency vehicles had the area surrounded the wreck as a newscaster's voice narrated over the footage, "Tragedy struck late last night on the Episemon Highway. A single-car accident claimed the life of one adult, leaving two children unaccounted for. Officials say that the local wildlife had contributed to the crash, though eyewitness reports say they heard a noise and a bright light off in the distance moments before the accident."

Bethany's brow furrowed as the display moved the footage away. In its place was a brief report labeled with the insignia of Omega and the words 'HADES' labeled on it. As Tysiac read and inspected, the report was called 'Operation: NIGHT ARRIVAL'. The operation comprised five HADES soldiers with stealth and night vision equipment, positioned three miles away from a nearby chupadore village in Episemon territory. They hit the transport of their target, labeled ‘LINA', by laying down an anti-personnel mine. Then they used a wild animal to force the vehicle into swerving directly over the mine.

One glaring detail about the report was the response of the operatives at the crash site: "Operatives encountered one minor target at the scene. Primary Target 'LINA' fled into a nearby civilian zone and could not be retrieved. Secondary minor target escaped into the nearby forest, location unknown. Primary objective deemed failure and position compromised. Terminating search due to escalating local interest."

Her tail fell to the ground with a soft thump, the expression of fear spread on Bethany's face as she whispered, "That's.... Lina's accident... She said she thought Church was dead."

The Director nodded solemnly, "That was the incident that stole my wife and son. I believed the official report for a long time, even during the time you were in the Freelancer Division."

He fell silent as the chupadore seemed to be overtaken a bit by his own ghosts and memories before the Director continued, "Omega had been monitoring my family, and at first I was led to believe it was merely confidentiality... Something he took advantage of as he wasn't just targeting my daughter, but both her and my son... But they weren't the only ones monitored, my dear Tex..."

A fresh series of photos replaced the car that belonged to his deceased wife. This time, the image was of a house, burned and in ruins. The sight of the destroyed building caused Bethany's eyes to shrink in fear; her fur seemed to lose all color, and a whispered, trembling "No..." escaped her lips as the horrifying truth solidified in her mind. A chilling silence filled the air, broken only by the sound of her ragged breathing.

"Authorities are investigating the cause of a devastating explosion that destroyed a family home in the rural outskirts of Qoppa last night," Another newscaster's voice narrated with a somber tone, "The explosion had rocked the neighborhood and the report has come in that two chupadores had died in the explosion. Witnesses claimed to have seen military vehicles within the area, but the House of Omega made an official statement that the sight of the vehicles was of a separate matter, and expresses sympathy for the tragedy that befell those who knew the deceased, leaving behind one child."

Her tears started falling as Bethany leaned heavily against the holo-terminal. Her claws tightened into the console as Tysiac realized Bethany was an orphan, cruelly ripped away from her parents. He placed his armored hand on her shoulder. She stiffened for a moment before leaning away from the terminal and against him. Tysiac didn't elect to hug her as closely as the two had back in the archive room. But simply being here, giving her someone who she could unironically trust, was enough.

The news report moved to the side as Tysiac's focus shifted to several documents being displayed. It was another series of HADES reports, this time they were post-combat details. The cold and detached report described a falsified report of "purging suspected heretics" in Qoppa. HADES was there for more than just eliminating Bethany's family, they were there specifically for her.

The report ended by saying the HADES operatives had failed to locate their target and had to disguise their operations. They burned the bodies of her parents in their bedroom, then ripped open a gas line and after ensuring there would be an explosive fire, HADES evacuated in the night.

Bethany's breath came in sharp gasps as she pushed away from Tysiac, her face twisting between rage and despair, "It was never an accident..." she hissed, "That motherfucker... He killed my parents. He made me...." The words trailed off as her tail lashed violently.

She raised her claws and slammed them against the holographic terminal and nearly screamed, "Why?!" Bethany whirled on the Director, her voice cracking, "Why did that asshole do all this to me and Lina? Killing my parents, destroying my life, and then he crippled me! What the fuck is he getting out of this? Why us?!"

The Director sighed heavily as he came closer, his claws tapped against the edge of the scratched console. His eyes now seemed to hold a tired, deep sorrow as he explained, "Omega saw you both as potential tools. I don't know what it is he saw, but all I can offer are possibilities. The two of you had something he wanted, either alive so he could turn you into his puppets, or dead so neither of you would be a threat against him."

He paused, his voice growing quieter, "He didn't do this out of fear. No, Omega was looking to claim and control. You and my daughter were prizes for him to collect. And when he failed to have either of you, and you both grew up, he decided he couldn't risk anyone else having you either."

Bethany's breathing grew heavy as she came to terms. Tysiac, in the meantime, was unimpressed in the greatest meaning of the word. The chill of apprehension faded from his body, but now came a fire setting in his heart. Tysiac was certain that Omega was at fault for the Last Word's crash landing, despite the absence of evidence. And with him in control of an alien species, brought them into a religious cult in seeing Omega as their god, and Sirca's presence as a Halo Installation, Tysiac could hold his judgement no longer.

Omega was an ambitious threat. Any attempt at reasoning or bartering was useless.

"I'm going to kill him." Tysiac's mind snapped back to reality as he heard Bethany growling. Her tail lashed and her claws flexing, "That fucker's taken everything from me, just so he could get to me. Well, he's going to get me," Her eyes blazed with hate and rage as she continued, "And I'm going to rip him apart."

"Beth-" Tysiac stepped forward, keeping his voice steady but already seeing that she's past her boiling point. All these revelations have shaken her to where he was worried she would react emotionally and get herself killed.

"FUCK OFF!" she yelled at him, the sheer ferocity causing the battle-hardened Spartan to hesitate. Her tail flicked sharply as her voice was low, seething in rage as she turned to glare at him, "Don't fucking stop me. Omega's fucking took everything and I'm going to pay him back!"

Before Tysiac could respond, she stormed out of the cold room. Her claws clicked against the floor in a sharp rhythm, her breath becoming a far more visible mist as she left.

Tysiac made to follow her. She was spiraling out of control, and he had to stop her before she escaped him.

"Let her go, for now." The Director said quietly. Despite underlying concern and sympathy, his tone remained peaceful and composed, "She needs to process this. I know I've had to. But as she comes to terms with herself, I want to ask you."

Tysiac paused and turned to look at the Director, "Before and in my office, you stated you knew about Sirca, its creators and its purpose. Might you indulge me? I have my own reasons to go against Omega and sadly they have all gone to ash as of recently. I'm an old man, left with only curiosities."

The Spartan considered his words. The knowledge of the Halo Array wasn't information accessed by the civilians, not until ONI and the UNSC felt comfortable in disclosing the monumental structures...

Tysiac's posture became firm, but he reeled in his feelings out of caution, "Sirca is a ‘Halo.' One of seven across the galaxy; Though this one seems separate from the main Array. They were created by an ancient species known as the 'Forerunners'. One could be forgiven by mistaking them for being gods. However, they created these Halo Installations for a reason. The purpose of a Halo Installation is simple: wipe out all sentient and organic life from the galaxy to starve this terrible force in a radius of twenty-five thousand light years."

The Director stood motionless, his eyes widening as life seemed to spring back behind his green eyes. They flicked briefly to the holographic terminal. He leaned against one of the holostorage tables before looking back at Tysiac.

Director Lionel's voice seemed drenched in disbelief, "Sirca." He began, his tone low and careful, "This entire ring world, our home, is a weapon? Designed to kill everything? Within twenty-five thousand light years?"

Tysiac nodded, his helmet's visor causing some of the light to reflect and bounce against the wall, "Yes. It can be used for inhabitation, but its primary use wasn't to win battles. It's meant to kill all organic life."

Director Lionel took a step back, running a claw through his graying fur as he looked away, staring out into the middle distance of the room, "The Forerunners..." He repeated, testing the word as if it were bitter, "These... Ancient species built this? And there are seven more out there?"

"Yes," Tysiac nodded again. He wasn't hoping to frighten the Director out of the truth, but there wasn't much to soften the blow, "They built them to combat a force so catastrophic and existentially threatening, they deemed using the Rings as their only solution."

The chupadore's claws clicked against the metal of the holostorage, "And... what 'force' was this to justify making these rings?"

Now Tysiac hesitated. "It's best to say what it was is worse than even Omega could dream of. It was terrible enough to even frighten and make the Forerunners lose in a war against it. They created the Halo Installations out of necessity, not casually. As nothing else they had could do anything to stop it."

Lionel turned to face Tysiac, his eyes narrowing, "You're withholding what this 'force' is?"

Tysiac inclined his head slightly, "I am. While it's classified, my reason is because you and your species have enough to deal with. Omega, the House, the Movement. There's enough on everyone's plate here without the need to add an existential horror from a far more ancient history."

He scoffed, though there was no humor in it, "Ancient History? Your very word is historical. They are more relevant because of what you claim. If Sirca is just as capable as you say, and Omega has even the faintest inkling of its purpose..." His voice trailed off, but the implication was clear, and Tysiac couldn't help but agree. Omega may very well use Sirca to threaten, control or devastate the galaxy at mere whim.

The Spartan didn't waver, "That's why I'm here. And it's why I'm staying here. To stop Omega, secure Sirca's Control Room and prevent him from using a weapon he doesn't even understand."

"And us?" Director Lionel's gaze hardened, "We've lived here for generations, unwittingly and unknowingly sitting in a weapon of mass extinction, are we pawns to your fight?"

Tysiac shook his head, "The chupadores were reseeded here by the Forerunners. Just as they did for my species and every other species in the galaxy after the Array's activation. We're living in their legacy with very limited knowledge of them, and what we do now is on us. But if Omega gains control, he'll destroy everything the Forerunners seemed to have intended. He must be stopped."

Red vs Blue © Rooster Teeth. Halo © 343 Industries. Concept by Myshu, assisted by The Department of Chupapology.