Chapter 16

AN:

Did I say next week? I mean now. Read 5 chapters now.

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            Leon slowly relaxes his aim as the golden titan stalked out. His augmented mind still screamed for caution while his body was still hot from the remaining adrenaline. Leon could feel his augmented heart still beating in trepidation until Hyperion finally disappeared into the hallways.

"You're good?" Leon let out a small nod towards August as the red spartan slowly holstered her rifle. The three were still reeling in from the pure bloodlust Hyperion let out when Dominicus approached them from the corner of their eyes.

"Are you all right?" Dominicus inquired as Leon shifted uncomfortably. "Yes sir. All is well." Leon lied as he could practically feel the scrutinizing gaze of the yellow angel. A part of Leon knew that his flimsy lie had already been seen through.

His eyes were unsteady, his grip was still hard, and his breathing had yet to be controlled. "Is that so? Then that is good." And yet Dominicus kindly turned a blind eye and said nothing more of the matter. "I sincerely apologize for this matter. We are still... new to... well everything." Dominicus said as he turned his gaze towards Alvar who was currently apologizing on their behalf.

"No worries sir. You will get used to it... I hope." Leon said as a small chuckle escaped from Dominicus. "As do I spartan... as do I." Dominicus softly replied as Leon shifted once more uncomfortably. For the short 2 weeks he had spent with the gentle giant, Leon had yet to grow accustomed to his soft and mellow nature.

He and his brothers and sisters in arms were told how to fight. How to neutralize targets in the most efficient and violent way, how to sabotage behind enemy lines, how to quietly infiltrate ships all alone, and a myriad of other things to kill and disrupt the enemy.

Dominicus... Dominicus was a walking anthesis of a soldier he had been trained to be. Leon could see the tempered biceps readying at a moment's notice, the combat knife secretly hidden underneath his armor, the constant alertness that could only be seen in veterans, and so much more. Yet his eyes told a different story.

It was soft, gentle, and even anxious. Sure, Leon and his family did care for humans, for each other, but it was always for safety. Dominicus stared as if he was a... father? He'd always helped people onboard during those weeks. Always chatting, always trying to learn more about them, about him.

Leon did not know what it was, but it was so alien to him that it scared him. Being polite was more than enough, going the extra mile was just... unnerving for him. Why care? Does he have hidden plans waiting to be enacted? Does he plan to use them? No, he was just as strong, perhaps even stronger than them by a considerable margin so why would they?

Was it perhaps they are trying to control the UNSC? But why did he have to be so kind? It could be fake, a pretense, but if it was fake he would have already seen it. Unless he was a good liar... but he was not. Hyperion might be, but Dominicus was not. But in the off chance that he was indeed good at lying, why go the extra mile talking constantly with everyone?

You only need to curry the favor of those in control, yet Leon could still remember how Dominicus mingled with the lower officers and marines. If there were children onboard, Leon even wagered he would give them bedtime stories. It can't be a lie if he was going that far... but why he was so kind? There was nothing to be gained other than to do what was necessary. So why?

Leon soon brushed off the thought as Alvar and Kaiden soon approached them. "I believe we've waited enough; can we finally proceed?" Kaiden said, a hint of annoyance stirring within his voice though Leon could not blame him. Dominicus nodded before replying. "Lead the way."

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"Hmm, this room is smaller than I expected." Kaiden sighed as he watched the super soldiers crammed into the room. The two giants thankfully took off their menacing helmets as he replied. "You will have to let this one captain Alvar. We will do our best to accommodate the next visit, but please endure it for now." Kaiden said as Alvar grunted.

Kaiden gathered his breath before clearing his throat loud enough for everyone to hear him. "Anyways after all the... circumstances that happened today, I would like to get to business if you wouldn't mind?" Kaiden said as Dominicus nodded back this time.

"Agreed. As much as I wanted to spend time with your empire, I need to go to the front lines as soon as possible." Dominicus said as Kaiden raised a brow. "The UEG isn't an empire captain." Kaiden said as it draws confusion from every imperial.

"Pardon? But what else would you call it but an empire?" Silence fell through the room as the men and women soon came across their first hurdle. "Hmm I see. Captain before we begin any talks, I think it would be appropriate to introduce ourselves formally first." Kaiden said.

"My thoughts are the same. Very well then, I will give a rough rundown of our imperium first." Kaiden could already feel the red flags rising, though it was nothing when Dominicus actually begins explaining. "To make our history as brief as possible, the Imperium of Man is a galactic human empire." Kaiden blinked as it drew several gasps from his side.

"G-galactic?? Do you mean..." Kaiden trailed off as Dominicus nodded slowly. "That is correct admiral, the entire milky way galaxy was ours." Dominicus said as a sad smile stretch his lips. "Was?" Kaiden clarified as Dominicus nodded.

"We fought back of course, but the enemy is simply everywhere. We cannot hold back everyone so we... we had to sacrifice what we can't." A great hint of sadness plagued his voice as Kaiden shuddered at the dark thought Dominicus was implying.

"Then what happened? If you had the galaxy under your rule, surely you could have staved off any potential danger right? I mean the sheer vast resources available alone would put ours to shame." Kaiden said as Dominicus gave him an answer he never knew he never wanted to hear.

"...Greed was... something even we cannot escape." It was all Kaiden needed to hear as a galactic-wide insurrection group cropped up in his mind. "I see...it must have been a headache for your leaders huh?" Kaiden tried to lighten the mood as Dominicus sighed.

"If only the emperor was with us..." Dominicus said as one of the men from the imperials, the general, suddenly frowned. "The emperor was always with us captain." The general said as Dominicus wave off his hand. "I mean physically. If he had been leading us till this day, we wouldn't have to keep sacrificing our children for 10 thousand years."

The air seemed to freeze for a moment as Kaiden soon found a buried question rearing its head once more. "I had to ask captain. Back in the control room, Rashum did say 10k years also. I was wondering about the validity of this claim." Kaiden said, hinting to know the truth only to be met with a confused gaze.

"It's not a claim admiral. The Imperium is, if I remember correctly, 12,346 years old. Hyperion being as old as the Imperium was also not a jest." Kaiden felt his old bones shake as a new voice suddenly voiced out his thoughts.

"B-but that's impossible! Even spartans are estimated to only live through 200 years!" Miranda voiced out as Kaiden and every UNSC personnel for that matter agreed. "It is impossible by current technology to even go past 1 thousand! Much less 10! The technology to have that power is hundreds! Perhaps even thousands of years... into the... future..."

Cold silence reigns in as realization hits everyone all at once. "Wait... a-are you saying you're from the future?" Miranda almost laughs off her careless remark, though the heavy silence answered her otherwise. "...It has not been confirmed, but it was either that, or we come from a different galaxy." Kaiden felt his knees grow weaker as he forcibly took a seat.

"W-what time was it before you arrived here?" Miranda barely let out a whisper as Dominicus replied. "M42 102. In simpler terms, 42,102." Miranda also took a seat as those who couldn't fell flat on their backs. "T-that's... wow just... wow." Kaiden chuckled when a thought suddenly raced through his mind.

"W-wait if you did come to the future, then that means the war is not lost!" All UNSC's eyes blaze with vigor and hope at Kaiden's words. "Humanity is saved! We did not die!" A whooping celebration erupted from the UNSC side though it slowly died down when they realized the lack of response from the imperials.

"Did I misread it captain?" Kaiden said, hoping for a positive answer when Alvar interjected and had given him both instead. "If we did come from the future admiral, then yes, humanity did not die out in this galaxy." Alvar said as Kaiden tilted his head.

"Isn't that good news?" Kaiden asked as Alvar sighed. "If 10 thousand years of constant war is good news for you, then I suppose it is." Alvar grimly replied as all colors drained from Kaiden's face. "T-ten thousand?? B-but that is-" "Miserable. We knew nothing in our lives but war admiral so I'm not so certain if this is indeed good news."

Any semblance of the joyous celebration a moment ago had died out as Dominicus replied this time. "But it is good news captain Alvar." Dominicus confidently replied as all eyes turned. "Sorry captain Dominicus, but I don't see how it could be anything but good news?" Alvar said as Dominicus chuckled.

"Admiral if I may ask, what year is it today?" Dominicus said as confusion sets in. "That would be 2532 captain." Kaiden replied, thoughts still heavy. "You still got 39,570 years left admiral. It should be enough time to alter the future." Then it clicked.

Kaiden eyes widen as Dominicus chuckled at Alvar's surprised gaze. "We will aid humanity in this era, you will save humanity on ours. Not a bad trade don't you agree?" Kaiden blinked for a moment before smiling foolishly. "Aye, it's not." Kaiden said.

"Then that is good. Anything else you wanted to ask?" Dominicus said as Kaiden thought for a moment when it clicked. "You said the Imperium of Man right? Then does it mean it is ruled by an emperor?" Kaiden asked as the eyes of the imperials seemed to light up in hope.

Dominicus lowered his head slightly before speaking in a revenant tone that Kaiden or anyone else from the UNSC for that matter, have ever heard. "Indeed, the emperor of mankind is the master of our race. He is our guardian, our lord, and our caretaker." Kaiden suddenly felt uncomfortable as Dominicus reminded him of the covenant though in a much different degree.

Kaiden kept it all to himself however as he spoke once again. "I see... may I ask who is the current emperor?" The imperials blinked for a moment before they collectively looked back in shock and distaste. If Kaiden had never felt fanaticism, he does so now. Is this bad?

"... Admiral I don't mean to be rude, but insinuating that there could be someone, nay, multiple emperors other than He who sat on the golden throne, is one of the most heretical things you could have possibly said.

There is only one master of mankind, one emperor of humanity. If there is even a single couth dare to claim so, then let it be known that I will personally claim their heads. Even if they are the rulers of your nation." Oh God, they're sounding like the covenant now!

"...Fortunately, this is our first meeting so we can look past it. But I implore you admiral to never mention this to our people, especially the custodes." Kaiden let out a sigh of relief as he quickly fixed the bridge. "Of course captain, I mean no offense." Kaiden said as the imperials nodded back in satisfaction.

Kaiden was about to continue when Miranda suddenly cut her off. "Wait custodes? Are they someone we should be wary of?" Miranda pointed out a reasonable query as Dominicus's eyes clouded with confusion for a moment before clearing up with clarity.

"Oh right... ahem! M-my apologies, I seemed to forget sir Hyperion had never introduced himself and his kinsmen properly." All eyes turned cold for the UNSC side as the recent memory sprang forth. "You mean there are more of them?" Kaiden  asked carefully as Alvar nodded this time.

"If memory serves well, there should be 10 thousand custodes who guards the emperor, 300 who guarded him at all times." Kaiden almost fell off from his chair as Miranda swallowed nervously. Liam felt his arms tremble as he spoke this time.

"I-If I may ask captain, how many are there in your fleet right now?" Kaiden asked as Alvar considered to even answer when Dominicus patted his shoulder. "I don't see the harm of it." Alvar stared for a moment before sighing and answering in kind.

"Seven. There are 7 custodes including lord Hyperion and their sisters. No need to worry admiral. So long as you don't intentionally hinder their mission, they wouldn't give you much trouble." A huge sigh of relief seemed to escape from the UNSC as the imperials looked ever more confused. "Erm sorry for asking out of the blue captain, but what sisters are you talking about?" Miranda raises her hand as Alvar suddenly lands a firm gaze.

Miranda almost jumped from her skin as Alvar spoke in the most gravely cold tone she had ever heard. "They are the sister of silence. I will not speak more of them, but I do warn you all. Do not, I mean this with all of the emperor's mercy, do not bother them." Alvar said as he seemed to shudder uncomfortably.

All eyes, even the imperials, took Alvar's warning seriously as he spoke softly. "In fact, it will do you all well if you avoid them entirely instead." Alvar did not continue then as the air awkwardly shifted back into focus. Dominicus cleared his throat loudly which sounded more like a giant's growl before speaking.

"A-anyways, is there anything else you need to know first before we start?" Kaiden stuffed Alvar's warning at the back of his mind before speaking. "There is one actually. It's about your emperor." Kaiden carefully said as the imperials eyed him warily.

"You said there is only one emperor, am I also to assume that he is as old as the imperium?" Kaiden spoke as a chuckle escaped from Alvar. "Even older than that admiral." Ok, calm down. Don't shout, no need to shout. Kaiden thought to himself as he really couldn't deal with the sheer impossibility they were throwing at him seriously.

"How old are we talking here captain Alvar?" Alvar replied without missing a heartbeat. "As old as the human race." Ok, they have to be fucking with me right? Kaiden thought that not even the other UNSC personnel took it seriously.

"...I know it may seem impossible admiral." Damn right it is! Kaiden thought in silence. "But believe me, the emperor is with us and had always been." Dominicus said when a scoff escaped from one of Kaiden's men. Kaiden shot a glare at the man, no, it was an odst as all eyes turned on him.

"Is there something you like to say soldier?" Dominicus calmly inquired, though the rest of the imperials, saved for the ever-stoic Alvar, were anything but calm. "Yep there is. I call bullshit." The air seemed to freeze as Kaiden growled out a reply.

"Stand down soldier." Kaiden warned, but the female odst did not heed his word. "Come on admiral. These fuckers aren't taking us seriously! From the future? 10-thousand-year-old freaks? An 'emperor' as old as mankind?? Even children can make better fiction than that!"

The odst did not shy away from the bloodshot eyes of the 2 mortal imperials as the astartes remained silent. "That is enough!" Liam shouted as the odst only seemed to frown. "You can't possibly take this shit sir! It's one thing if they are reluctant to tell their secrets, but this? This?? We are being treated as if we are kids!" The odst glared furiously at Dominicus.

"Enough! Someone take this lunatic away before-" "It's all right admiral." Kaiden turned back in shock as Dominicus did not look offended in the slightest. "Let her speak her mind for now. Please, do continue." Dominicus said without a hint of mockery.

The odst seemed to blink in confusion for a moment, before turning back into her fury. "Listen here you oversize lemon, I don't give two shits whether you are a spartan freak or whatever! I am not buying your story!" The odst spat out.

"40k into the future? Really?? You might as well tell me you are fighting space orks or demons from hell while you are at it!" Kaiden was turning red in embarrassment and anger when he noticed Dominicus and the rest of the imperials flinched for a moment. Kaiden could only pray he would not kill her immediately.

"Speak your mind child, what is it that truly angers you?" Dominicus calmly spoke as the odst only turned red before shouting. "That you are cowards!" Now that really caught everyone by surprise as all turned to shout and admonished the odst.

Kaiden felt his heart drop when he saw the 2 imperials pulling out a pistol simultaneously before Alvar stopped them. Amidst the clamoring chaos, Kaiden thank whoever was in heaven for they did not notice how close the odst had died at that moment, even still, she continues to shout.

"For 7 years! For seven fucking years the bastards massacred billions without a fight!" The shouting slowly died out when they noticed the crack in her voice. Though it did not excuse her, they slowly began to understand her unbearable insult as she continued to shout.

"They came out of nowhere and killed everyone for no fucking reason! 700 worlds had died! They all died desperately, trying to save their lives and you bastards did nothing! For 7 years you had all this technology in your grasp and did nothing with it!

You hid while the rest of us were being hunted down like animals! If it wasn't for your cowardly ass, 57 billion would have been still alive right now! If you had showed up! If you had just shown up, Harvest would still be alive right now! It should... it should... i-it should still be alive right now..." The odst slowly comes to pause as she began to cry.

She tried to hold it in, but her voice betrayed her at the last minute. "...My family would have been still alive right now..." The odst cried for a single mournful minute before shouting back in profanity. "And now you come? After all these years, only now?! And you still had the audacity to spin fairy tales in front of me?!

You could have told us a better lie, but this?? Are you fucking with me?! You sick sons of bitches! You heartless, emotionless fucking... fucking... f-fucking..." The odst slowly comes to a stop once again as she looked up to see Dominicus staring down at her with a mournful expression.

It did not stare down on her with annoyance from her constant babbling, nor disgust one might have from a fellow soldier. It did not even look offended for even a moment, it was just... sad. Sad for her. The odst flinched as Dominicus laid a gentle hand on her shoulder before kneeling just to be at eye level.

"...I'm sorry for your lost child." The odst blinked before her face contorted into distraught and agony. "I am not a fucking kid." The odst sneered as Dominicus shook his head. "No, you are not, but to me, you are still a child." Her throat tightened in rage, but it died midway beneath Dominicus's sad gaze. "There is no need to hold it in child, let it all out."

The odst blinked as her lips began to tremble. "It won't bring them back." The odst tried to scream, but her voice was so tired now. She was so tired. "I know." Dominicus softly whispered as a sharp gasp came from her.

"M-my family is gone." The odst trembled as Dominicus nodded once more. "I know." She was sick of it. She was so sick of fighting and still losing despite everything she had done. "Y-your sorry won't bring them back! They are gone! Everyone is gone!

The bastards took everyone from me! My parents! My brothers! My... m-my... my husband and my baby... are gone... they're all gone..." The odst crumpled to the floor and began weeping uncontrollably.

To what seemed to be an eternity, the odst broke down completely as Dominicus gently patted her shoulder as her cries grew louder. She was so tired now. So tired of everything, so tired of living. She did not care for these newcomers to kill her; in fact, she wanted it.

She couldn't bring herself to pull the trigger, so she took the cowardly way out and had someone do it for her instead. But the giant lemon would not let her. The lemon had seen past her long before anyone did and cruelly prevented the release she so desperately craved.

Now she will rot in a brig. Stripped of everything what little she had left before being dishonorably discharged for- "I'm sorry I cannot help you then." The odst slowly looked up to see a pair of gentle eyes peering down on her as the lemon spoke.

"Everything that happened to you, to all of you, I'm sorry I could not save you then." The hand slowly tightened its grip. "I can't bring back your lost, but I can give you a knife to strike down who did it." It caught everyone by surprise by the sheer coldness in Dominicus's voice.

"I know you are tired child. I know. But you cannot give up now. Not now when you finally had the chance." Dominicus said as the odst blinked in confusion. "W-what chance?" Dominicus then gave a cruel grin as he whispered what she desperately wanted to hear after all these years.

"Retribution." The UNSC flinched at the sheer glee and hatred it had within the lemon's voice. The odst recoiled in horror as she never knew how much she loved that word. It held promise, it held justice that had been taken from her.

"My fleet may be small, my brothers are numbered, but I can promise you all, promise all of humanity the righteous justice you all deserved." The odst listened closely like a worshipper does to a priest as Dominicus continued to whisper what she desperately hungered for.

"Give me a month, and I will make a line they'll never cross. Give me a year, and I will free the worlds they've stolen from you... give me a decade, and I will make them bleed." Light suddenly flickered in and out as the very station trembled violently.

The UNSC shouted in surprise and panic, but the cold imperials simply stared back like heartless daggers of violence. For a few painful seconds, the air did not break. The danger is simply held in place there where everyone can see. Thankfully, the moment soon passed as the light returned and the shaking stopped.

Dominicus smiled softly once again and whispers in warm honey. Like a father consoling his child, Dominicus was so warm. The fears that had gnawed their hearts since the beginning of the war were slowly being cleared by his affectionate touch and tone.

"So please, live on for a moment longer, make them pay for all the torment they had done to you. You don't deserve to die with regrets. You all don't deserve it. So scream, let the stars know of your loss, of your pain... of your rage.

Make them bleed for every child they had taken from you, taken from us. Make them know what it's like to lose a brother, a sister, a father, a mother... a family. Pry their eyes open, let them know what it's like running away in fear as your home, your world burns.

Carve it into their flesh just how painful and miserable they had given you all and send it back tenfold. Let them understand what it's like to have your child stolen from you! Let them scream as you did when your brothers in arms died in your arms! Let them know!

...So please, endure it just one more day, and I'll even accompany you in death." The odst blinked before letting out a soft whimper. "Y-you are so fucking cruel lemon." The odst gasped as Dominicus smiled.

"I'm sorry. It is all I can do. Will you help me?" Dominicus said as the odst simply blinked for several moments before nodding back slowly. "If you can p-promise me a miserable death for them... then I will." The odst said as Dominicus smiled. "I swear it child. I swear it on the emperor's name." The odst nodded silently without a word before a group of marines escorted her out.

Silence soon invaded the room as Kaiden and every other UNSC personnel present saw Dominicus in a new light. The level of restraint, the level of compassion, it was simply unreal just how controlled and patient he was.

Kaiden actually reconsidered if angels do exist as Dominicus's calming features match his demeanor so much so that it has become uncanny. He did not feel like a human but closer to that of a compassionate entity, earning respect and even reverence from some of the members.

"...Thank you for your patience captain Alvar, general Lekarius, and admiral Vröshtien." Though it did not mean everyone was appeased. For one, the imperials were absolutely showing clear signs of restraint as veins were protruding from their heads.

Dominicus curtly gave a nod to each member of the imperials as Alvar spoke first. "No need to say it captain... though admiral." Kaiden snapped out of his stupor as Alvar's cold gaze landed squarely on his shoulders.

His voice was cold and emotionless, hiding its true thoughts at the last moment as Alvar continued. "...I implore you to discipline your men next time." The sheer disappointment and anger within Alvar's voice made almost everyone cower in fear. Almost everyone that is.

Kaiden straightened his back as he spoke without hesitation. "Duly noted captain. It will not happen again." "It better be." Alvar growled as Omega team stiffened ever so slightly as they reached for their rifles. Miranda quickly shot them a signal to stand down as Alvar continued.

"Otherwise, I will personally discharge any insubordinate cur. Imperial or not. With my own fist if I have to." Alvar glared at Kaiden for a brief moment as the aging admiral stood firm despite his trembling hands. "Yes captain." Kaiden promptly responded as Alvar continued to stare.

"Captain please-" "Captain Dominicus..." Alvar whispered as he turned to face his cousin. Kaiden could not feel more grateful for the other giant as his wits were barely hanging on. Though his eyes were but an ugly scowl, a hint of worry was embedded inside them.

"...I know you are fond of the normals captain, but you cannot let them disrespect you like that." Alvar hissed as Kaiden awkwardly lowered his gaze. "They are young captain." "That is not an excuse." Alvar snapped back instantly as Dominicus nodded.

"I know, I know all too well captain... but I can't seem to do it. They are scared, captain. Scared of the dark future they have no way of predicting, much less influencing it. Please do not hold them in contempt. They are just... scared." Dominicus broke a small smile.

If Dominicus had not won their public approval then, he did so now. It was part of everyday life of course. Death is after all one of the contracts a soldier must accept before joining the ranks. Though, it did not mean it became any easier.

They're still humans through and through, but they have to put up a strong front. They have to! If no one was going to save them, then who else? Dominicus had just answered that question. They were. It was ok to be afraid, they were not alone now. They have them.

It was a great solace any soldier could hope for. Now when they fall they no longer have to worry about the people behind them, because there are others now. "...You really are like your father." Alvar snorted out as Dominicus let out a soft laughter.

"I'll take that as a compliment, thank you cousin." Dominicus smiled as Alvar shrugged. He took one more glance at Kaiden before falling in line from behind. Omega team slowly relaxes as well as Alvar looked content standing by.

After the awkward silence that ensued, Dominicus cleared his throat. "Apologies admiral, but can we discuss this for another day? There are far more pressing matters to tend to. I will explain our history to the best of my abilities in due time. For now, we need to prepare for war." Kaiden could not be happier for the change as it was both needed and direly pressing.

"Of course, captain, of course. So... where should we begin?" Kaiden asked as Dominicus smiled. "We will need a brief summary of all the progress you've made these couple of decades. Technology, military, naval, logistics, anything you can get your hands on that is crucial for this war. We need to see first what we need to fix before making out a plan."

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An: So.... I just learned August was a girl... Yep... Gonna make changes in previous chapters. August is a girl from this point onwards.

Also, looks like karma blessed me again. The gatcha game I've been playing dropped a nice song, truly the emperor smiled upon us all this day (https://youtu.be/Vq-P_Ihd5XU) it's from momentum mori

Also also, as much as I want to make the imperial execute her commisar style, I personally think it's lazy writing. It's also stupid right? Like you're there specifically for diplomatic missions. You're not a world eater ffs, why does most 40k fanfic has to jump the gun so fast??

I sure as hell believe lamenters would try to reason out first and talk things down unlike the inquisition. (fuck the inquisition. Yeah you heard me, fuck them! They can suck my balls for doing my bois in lemon and the celestial lions dirty!)