February 16th, 2558Hello and welcome to a story actually following Dawn for a change. At first, it may not seem entirely like a Halo story for obvious reasons. This is merely the prologue. As we go along, we're going to follow the life of Dawn Harlowe, a story I've been interested in writing for some time.
There will be points, as I've said, that will not feel like Halo. That is because this story is less about the Halo side of things, and to further strengthen Blaine's humanity, and how his tutelage in Dawn's life, will shape her into the person you will see at the end of this story.
This story will take place a few years after her birth, narrated by Blaine. It begins around the time of Spartan Ops, when she is five. That all said, please enjoy.
One week after the Requiem Campaign begins.
UNSC Aura of Armageddon.
'The mythical creature of Death is much like the Valkyries of Norse Mythology. It decides who stays in this world, and those that move on to the next.'
"I hope he's okay." Autumn sighed, sipping her glass of coffee.
"Blaine?" the boisterous Doctor Bailey chuckled. "He'll be fine, he's got quite the track record."
Dawn sat in the high chair beside the two women, bubbling as she mimicked her mother, sipping from a sippy cup filled with apple juice. Autumn smiled at her daughter, wiping up a slight amount of slobber on her daughter's chin.
"So did many Spartan II's. People are lead to believe they are practically invincible, but he and I know full well that they aren't."
"Ah, but that doesn't stop him, does it?" Bailey winked, turning her head towards Dawn. "You and I both know why that is. It's not just because of the Spartan II Oath to Order anymore."
Dawn turned her attention to Bailey, producing a cute smile for the woman. Bailey returned the smile, patting Dawn on the top of the head. Autumn smiled briefly, before staring at her coffee.
"That's what I'm afraid of." Autumn shook her head. "With her in his life now, he's been much more... aggressive."
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"Boots on the ground Spartans!" Blaine barked, hands gripped firmly around the S.A.W. in his hands. "Let's show these Forerunner assholes just who owns the Universe now!"
Stomping out of the Golden Eagle's troop bay, Blaine's trigger clicked, the light machine gun in his hand unloading hell on the enemy's position. Forerunner Knights' face plates opened, revealing the luminescent orange skulls beneath.
After New Phoenix... we got sloppy. Blaine growled mentally. We need to fight these bastards out here. Dawn and Autumn had been in the city the day before that attack.
The bullets from his S.A.W rained down upon the hulls of Knight's bulky bodies. After a full clip, three Knights slowly evaporated into deep orange clouds of data. Unhooking his sidearm from his hip, he popped five rounds at the Watcher looming over head, the beast dropping to the ground in bits.
The Spartans to his left and right took a knee, firing their various weapons at the encroaching Crawler enemies. One pounced David to his right, Blaine snatched the robotic beast by the neck, tossing it to the ground. Before it could scamper away, he placed a knee on it's back, ripping both of it's mandibles clean off.
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"When he was indoctrinated into the Spartan II program, he was led to believe that fighting for Earth and her colonies was all he had for a purpose." Bailey shook her head.
"Virtues that you are told to believe in, and virtues that you believe in with your heart are entirely different. He may truly care for the sake of humanity, but coming from a childhood like that, Family may be the only anchor he has to his Humanity."
Autumn frowned, clutching the cup a little tighter. She had heard the tortuous stories that had been the Spartan II training program. She couldn't imagine being ripped from your home, starved, beaten... broken. Just to have a gun shoved in your hands and forced to fight a battle that wasn't even yours.
"Yeah, I guess that explains it." Autumn nodded.
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'In Spartan Boot Camp, Aiken once told me he believed in Valhalla, the afterlife of the Warrior.'
Ben growled as his shotgun flared, the shot expanding outwards, shattering the shield of an Elite. Within a heartbeat, his knife plunged itself into the Sangheili's neck, kicking it's chest, Ben ripped his knife free. Turning on his boots, he flung the knife at the nearest Grunt.
The Grunt cascaded to the ground in a heap, Ben pumped a fresh shell into his shotgun, as a pair of Jackals trotted in his direction. Turning to the Grunt's corpse, he claimed one of it's plasma grenades. Priming the blue sphere, he flung the grenade with precision towards the duo.
'At the time, I had laughed at the idea, but he had been convinced.
"They don't allow ONI into Valhalla", he had always said.'
One of the Jackals primed it's Needler, firing the homing purple/pink needles at the Spartan. Ben flinched for a millisecond as the projectiles riddled his armor. David and Naomi turned as there was a violent explosion of purple. Naomi stood stunned, while David's grasp on his BR tightened.
The Plasma Grenade Ben threw had stuck itself to the Jackal's needler, detonating the pair of bird-like creatures. More Grunts and Jackals encroached on Ben's prone body. His HUD indicated that Ben was in a critical condition, but he was alive. Thrusting his knee up and into a Grunt's chin, David roared as his BR chirped to life. Bursts of three bullets sprayed over the miniature horde.
Naomi, however, sprinted towards Ben, sliding along the ground. Placing her DMR aside, she placed a hand on her older brother's shoulders. There was a cough beneath his helmet, as he snatched her pistol. Aiming it directly above her helmet, the round met purchase in a Crawler's face.
Blaine took a knee near Ben's location, his fully reloaded S.A.W firing in bursts at enemies that attempted to approach them. Ben's hand clasped Naomi's, as another Golden Eagle descended on their location. With David holding the enemy's off, Blaine gently lifted Ben over his shoulder, Naomi lifting her rifle to help David. Shoulder carrying one of his adopted children, Blaine silently placed Ben in the troop bay.
Whistling to the other two, David and Naomi finished the rest of the current wave of enemies. Trotting towards the troop bay, he motioned for them to get on. Tapping the side of the machine, Naomi and David shook their heads, as Blaine took Naomi's DMR from her possession.
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Autumn's eyes widened, however, as blood began to pour out of Dawn's nose. The once smiling girl frowned, her eyes slowly rolling to the back of her head. Screaming, Autumn pushed herself off of the table, as Bailey sprang to action. Cradling her toddler in her arms, Autumn and Bailey hustled to the medical bay of the Aura.
Placing her on the table as gently as she could, Bailey placed a hand on Autumn's chest, pushing her back a ways. Leaning over the girl, Bailey began to call out for medication, the AI she used as an assistant used it's mechanical arm to collect the items for her.
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Blaine stomped forward, DMR across his chest, as Sangheili Warriors, Knights, and even Grunts roared at him. Standing there, he felt the wave of energy as the Eagle sped off. The enemies raised their weapons to the Spartan, whom just stood there, unfazed. The artificial sun produced by Requiem glinted off of his black Recon visor.
Dashing forward, his shoulder crumpled the metal of one of the Knights. Smashing the butt of his DMR in it's face, he turned in one fluid motion, firing his DMR into the head of one of the Grunts's heads. The small alien chittered as blood squirted out of it's forehead, the Plasma Grenade it primed adhered itself to it's hand. Crawlers and Jackals near the alien were evaporated by the cobalt explosion that ensued.
One Sangheili slashed with it's energy sword, Blaine backstepped, firing his DMR as he did so. Blue energy splashed across the Elite's chest as it's shields began to fail. Firing one last round into it's neck, the beast dropped it's blade. Once more, Blaine drove his shoulder into the beast, folding it over.
Turning towards a Lancer Knight, Blaine held the DMR up, the super heated blade of the Lancer sliced through the weapon. Tossing the halves aside, he grabbed the base of it's blade, planting his boot in it's chest. With one mighty tug, the sword and the arm came clear off. The Knight responded by opening it's face plate, once again revealing the skull. Blaine's left fist shot out, fast as a viper, and smashed the orange skull.
As time drew on, another Golden Eagle descended, this time with some other Spartan IVs. Trotting out of the troop bay, they Spartans covered the Spartan II as he entered the ship. Piling in after him, the Golden Eagle ascended to the heavens once more, as MAC rounds smashed the position.
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Bailey quivered for a moment, as she placed her right hand over her mouth. Autumn's eyes widened as she attempted to approach her daughter.
"That's not wise, Mrs. Harlowe." the AI replied with a shake of her head. "Your Daughter is in critical condition, I would recommend placing her in cryo until more extensive work can be done."
"She can be saved." Bailey nodded. "But we need her."
"She's a war criminal." Autumn growled.
"She's on the Infinity now. It's Dawn's only chance. We NEED Halsey."
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Blaine's helmet malfunctioned, the damage he had received during the fight had been too strenuous for the old model. Ripping it off of his head, he tossed it to the side, sprinting for the medical bay.
David and Naomi stood over Ben, who had already been hooked into the machine. Palmer stood there, shaking her head lightly. Slight tears formed in her eyes, before she saluted Blaine, stepping out of the room. Blaine's fists clenched as he glanced at Ben, the Spartan's entire right side had been burned by the needler's explosion.
David brushed his hand on Naomi's shoulder, before approaching Blaine. Escorting him out of the room, David sighed, his adoptive father staring down at him.
"It's not good." David said. "Doctor's say they can try and vat grow his internal organs destroyed by the explosion, but they doubt he can wait that long. Cryo will likely kill him in this state too."
"God dammit." Blaine shook his head. "-and Naomi?"
"Devastated, as expected." David frowned, turning towards the closed door.
It was then that Blaine's wrist pad blinked. Frowning, Blaine clicked the comm.
"Blaine, a little occupied right now." Blaine shook his head.
"Are you in battle?" Autumn asked.
"Negative."
"We're coming aboard the Infinity."
"This is an active warzone, Autumn. I told you to stay on the Aura for a reason. You're supposed to be caring for Dawn."
"That's exactly it. We need Halsey."
"I'm sorry, say again?" Blaine shook his head. "You need Doctor Halsey?"
Autumn's voice fell silent on the other side of the comm. Suddenly, her face appeared on Blaine's wrist pad. The camera displayed Dawn in a cryo tube, her eyes closed peacefully.
"What's the matter with Dawn?" David asked, his eyes widened and glued to the screen.
"I couldn't tell for certain, I've never seen anything like this before." Bailey's face appeared. "Seeings how she's the daughter of a Spartan II, I think Halsey may have better odds of telling."
Blaine growled, clenching his fists as David placed a hand on his shoulder.
"She's just sick, she's not dead." David said. "Halsey's on board, isn't she? You have the clearance, we need her."
Blaine sighed, as he walked in the direction of the brig. A pair of ONI operatives stood guard at the door, weapons primed and at the ready, but at carry.
"Official business with the Doctor, soldiers." Blaine said.
"Negative Admiral." one of the operatives shook his head. "Spartan II involvement with Halsey is forbidden without an escort."
"Doctor Bailey will be arriving shortly, I just need to talk to Halsey." Blaine said, holding the wrist pad up. "Bailey, can you confirm?"
"I confirm. I'm en route to the Infinity with Mrs. Harlowe now, on a Golden Eagle. ETA 5 minutes. This is the matter of life or death."
The Operatives looked amongst each other, before peering at Blaine. They took notice that his helmet wasn't on his head, meaning his shields were not active.
"Trust me lads, if I wanted to kill you and break her out, I would've done it already." Blaine shook his head. "Please, allow me to pass."
Sighing, the Operatives opened the door with a number imput. Blaine nodded respectfully, as one of the Operatives kept his distance, weapon trained on Blaine's head.
There Halsey sat, on a cot, staring inquisitively at the wall. Blaine stepped forward, as the elderly woman began to stand in her usual, bold stature.
"One-One-Five." Halsey said, a faint smile on her lips. "It's good to see you Blaine."
"Mum." Blaine nodded his head respectfully. "There's been an emergency, something only someone with your expertise can handle."
"I'm afraid I'm a prisoner of war, Spartan." Halsey frowned, showing her shackled hands. "I'm not allowed out of these quarters."
"You are not a prisoner of war, mum." Blaine said, clenching his fist. "You are a war criminal. There is a difference."
"Not in my eyes, one-one-five." Halsey replied harshly.
"I'm not here to argue semantics over the Spartan II program." Blaine's eyes cast down on the floor. "I'm here because... it's an emergency."
Halsey's wrinkled face softened as she glanced at the desperate look in Blaine's eyes. The same desperation she had seen many decades before, when she had recruited him for the Spartan program.
"What's happened?" Halsey said softly.
"I had a daughter, mum." Blaine shook his head. "She's gotten sick, and Doctor Bailey can't determine what's making her so ill. I don't know the full logistics... but, if you truly interested in making amends, I need your expertise."
"I thought I had told you Spartans about the suppressed sex drives?" Halsey sighed. "It's very likely that your augments passed on to her biologically. That can have.. bad.. consequences on her health. I would need to examine her in a lab."
Turning to the Operatives, they both frowned. One of them produced a picture of her husband and kids, kissing the picture.
"It's the matter of a little kid." the Operative smiled. "So long as you allow us to escort you both, I'll allow it."
"You can't be serious!" the other Operative hissed. "She is a War criminal! I'm sorry for your daughter, Admiral, but we are not running the risk of this monster getting loose. Especially to deal to the health of a civilian."
"This man has done so much for you." Halsey said, approaching the bars. "Countless years of selfless sacrifice, valor, and bravery in the face of insurmountable odds. Something I can guarantee you would never be able to repay. All he wants is a family of his own to go home to, grant him this."
Blaine turned his attention to Halsey, who held her shackles up to the bars. A smile formed on her face, as tears actually began to well up in her eyes. For once, Blaine saw legitimate remorse in her. Placing his hand up to the bar, he placed the glove over her hand.
"Man to man." Blaine said, looking the Operative in the eye. "Not soldier to soldier. Let me help my kid."
With a shake of his head, the Operative punched the code into the door, opening the door. Blaine stood back, as the first Operative came around, putting his rifle to her back.
"You're out until the kid is helped, then you're going right back in." the Operative growled, as his partner smirked.
"Harold, you DO have a heart!~" the other operative cooed.
Harold grunted, the group working their way hastily towards the Medical bay. Blaine opened the door, as Naomi, David, Bailey, and Autumn turned to them. Dawn lay in the bed directly next to Ben, who meekly glanced over towards her.
"Yo Dad." Ben said quietly. "My sis gonna be okay?"
Blaine walked over, placing a hand on Ben's good hand. Halsey was unshackled, as the two Operatives trained their weapons on her. Dawn lay there, coughing quietly, dried blood under her nose.
"What can you tell me of the patient, Bailey?" Halsey asked, slipping on a pair of gloves.
"Nose bleed, her eyes rolled to the back of her head. Seemed like a standard seizure. When I ran the bioscan, however, it didn't list it as a seizure."
Halsey sighed, as she sat down in the chair. The Operatives flagged David and Naomi to stand on the other side of Ben, while Blaine, Autumn, and Bailey stood back. Rolling it along the floor, Halsey went to work. Pulling down a screen, she grabbed the screen, dragging it down the length of Dawn.
"It's not Parkinson's, which was a side effect of Spartan II augments." she mumbled to herself. "It isn't pulmonary heart disease."
Dawn's eyes shuttered open, as she smiled at Halsey, who didn't notice her.
"Y-you're Doctow Hawsey." Dawn smiled.
Halsey stopped her movements for a moment, as the girl addressed her. Looking down at the toddler, Halsey glanced into the deep blue eyes.
"She's got your eyes." Halsey said, staring into Dawn's eyes.
"A-are you my grammy?" Dawn asked, as Halsey gently placed a hand on the girl's cheek.
"Yeah kiddo, I'm your grandmother." Halsey said with a slight smile. "Now, can you point to where you hurt?"
Dawn weakly nodded, moving her arm to her chest. Halsey dragged the screen over, scanning. It was then that Halsey's eyes widened, thankfully something that Dawn couldn't see.
"Rest now, kiddo." Halsey said. "You'll be good as new soon."
Standing, the Operatives kept their weapons trained on her, as she slowly shuffled to Blaine.
"It's not good." she whispered. "It's as I feared, the augments you received have become biologically grafted in her. Her bones hold the same density as yours, almost everything you have is also hers."
"But?" Blaine asked, fist clenched.
"Her heart isn't strong enough. The augments are slowly starting to take effect, and, unlike you, she is too young."
"Is there a way we can treat her?" Blaine asked, his head drooping.
"She'd need a new heart, one already augmented. It would also need to be the same blood type as hers." Halsey frowned. "If you can get that, Bailey would just need to due a standard heart transplant procedure."
"You're hiding something." Blaine shook his head.
"The rest of her body is also augmented, even if you gave her the augmented heart... her body wouldn't know what to do." Halsey shook her head. "She would need to be fully augmented, if she is to survive."
"Augmentations are expensive." Blaine clenched his fist. "If I used UNSC funding on this, she'd have to be a Spartan, or people would get pretty damn angry."
"Sir." Ben said quietly from the back of the room. "What's her blood type?"
"O positive." Halsey replied.
"Perfect." Ben smiled, pointing to his chest. "Give her mine. I'm as good as dead anyways."
Blaine turned to Ben, who smirked. Placing a hand over Ben's, Blaine shook his head.
"Are you sure that's what you want, Ben? The Doctor's said they could potentially help you out."
"Absolutely, sir." Ben nodded. "It's to help my baby sis. I might die on a hospital bed, but at least she could live her life."
"That's noble of you." Halsey frowned. "But that still wouldn't cover the cost of a Spartan IV augment."
The door opened, as Sarah Palmer smiled, a pair of Spartan IVs behind her.
"I suppose that's where we come in." Palmer grinned. "You eggheads always worry about cost. Don't worry Admiral, I can start a ship wide fundraiser. You've done so much for us, it's time we pay you back."
Blaine stood there, smiling proudly, as for the first time in public, tears began to well up in his eyes. Taking the chair beside his daughter, Blaine pressed a light peck on her forehead, before placing his head on her's.
"Daddy? Am I sick?"
"Yeah kiddo. It's okay though, you're gonna feel better soon." Blaine smiled, rubbing his thumb on her cheek. "Sleep for now."
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Weeks Later.
"She's recovering well." Bailey smiled. "No doubt she'll still be in pain, but all things considered, she's doing good. Actually, better than good. She's probably great."
"Good, Dad will be happy to hear." Naomi said, tears welling up in her eyes. "I'm just glad that his heart is still beating, especially considering how it's keeping our sister alive."
Naomi and David hugged one another, glancing at the bed before them. Dawn laid there, out like a light, oxygen mask over her mouth.
'After my son sacrificed his life to save his baby sister. I realized something about what Aiken had said. He hadn't been wrong, Death was a Valkyrie, and Ben had found his way to Valhalla, so that Dawn could live.'
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Blaine stood there, arms wrapped around the elderly lady, as the Operatives continued to train their weapons on them. He hugged the woman that, while she had ruined his life, she had also granted him a new one.
It hadn't been glamorous, but the ends had justified the means, and yet again, she had saved him. Halsey smiled warmly, as if she had been hugging one of her own kids.
Yes, I'm your Grandmother.
'He had been wrong, however, in my eyes. Some ONI were an exception, they deserved Valhalla as much as anyone else.'