Unraveling Control

Darkness swallowed Marcus whole, pressing in from all sides. It wasn't the usual kind of darkness—this felt different, suffocating, filled with the weight of something ancient and incomprehensible. Flashes of light blinked in and out of his vision, quick pulses of energy that seemed to come from somewhere deep inside the system. They weren't random—they were messages, commands, fragments of something far more powerful than he could understand.

[Artifact Analysis: In Progress.]

The words appeared, then vanished in a flicker. Another flash. Another surge of energy, this time pulsing through Marcus's body like a shockwave, making his muscles spasm involuntarily. He tried to hold on, to stay grounded, but the artifact's pull was too strong, dragging him deeper into the void.

"Marcus!"

A voice—faint, distant. Alyssa. But it felt like she was a world away. He could barely hear her over the cacophony of commands and warnings flooding his mind. His vision blurred, his thoughts scattered.

The system was taking over.

[Energy Surge Detected: Forerunner Artifact Sync Established.]

The message blinked in his vision again, but this time it came with a deep sense of foreboding. Marcus could feel the artifact reaching out to him, trying to connect, trying to pull him into something far greater than himself. The system wasn't just malfunctioning—it was reacting to the artifact in a way that was terrifyingly familiar. The last time this happened, on Phaethon, he had barely managed to break free.

Now, he wasn't sure if he could.

"Marcus!" Alyssa's voice cut through the chaos again, this time louder, more urgent.

Suddenly, his vision snapped back into focus. The dark chamber came into view, the glowing Forerunner artifact pulsing with energy just a few feet away. Alyssa was standing in front of him, her hands gripping his shoulders, her face etched with concern. Behind her, Lachlan stood with his weapon raised, scanning the room for any sign of danger.

"You with us?" Alyssa asked, her voice low but tense.

Marcus blinked, his breath coming in short, ragged bursts as he tried to shake off the residual effects of the system's interference. His hands were trembling, his body still buzzing with the artifact's energy.

"I... I'm here," he muttered, though the words felt hollow. He wasn't sure how much longer he could keep saying that and mean it.

Alyssa didn't release him, her eyes narrowing as she studied his face. "You were out for a minute. What happened?"

Marcus opened his mouth to answer, but the words wouldn't come. How could he explain it? How could he describe the overwhelming flood of energy that had nearly torn him apart, the feeling of losing control of his own body? He couldn't. Not yet.

"Artifact," he finally managed to say, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's... it's connected to the system."

Alyssa's frown deepened, but she didn't press for more. "We have to move. We can't stay here."

Lachlan glanced at the artifact, his usual grin gone, replaced by a look of unease. "Yeah, mate. Whatever's happening with that thing, we don't want to stick around and find out."

Marcus nodded weakly, forcing himself to stand on shaky legs. His vision swam for a moment, the edges of the room blurring as the system struggled to regain its equilibrium. He could feel it—an underlying hum, like the artifact was still trying to pull him in, trying to take him somewhere he didn't want to go.

"We need to extract the intel and get out," Alyssa said, already moving toward the Covenant consoles scattered across the room. "We can't let them secure this thing."

Lachlan moved to help her, leaving Marcus standing near the artifact, the pulsating energy still washing over him in waves. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself, but every second that passed felt like the system was slipping further out of his control.

[Warning: Artifact Connection Strengthening.]

The message flashed again, and Marcus winced as a sharp pain shot through his skull. The artifact's energy was starting to overwhelm him again, and this time, it was stronger. He could feel the system syncing with it, locking onto its power like a leech, drawing strength from it.

He couldn't let this happen. He couldn't lose control.

Gritting his teeth, Marcus took a step back from the artifact, forcing himself to break the connection. His breath came in shallow gasps, his heart pounding in his chest as the system fought against him, trying to reestablish the link. But he wouldn't let it. He couldn't let it.

"Marcus," Alyssa called, her voice urgent. "We've got the data. We need to move."

He turned to see her and Lachlan standing at the entrance to the chamber, both of them watching him with a mixture of concern and impatience. They didn't know what was happening inside his head, and he wasn't sure he could explain it.

"Let's go," Marcus said, his voice steadier than he felt. He moved toward them, his body still trembling from the aftershocks of the artifact's power.

As they left the chamber, Marcus could still feel the artifact's pull, a faint whisper at the edge of his consciousness. The system had gone quiet again, but he knew it was only temporary. Whatever was happening, whatever connection the system had with these Forerunner relics, it was growing stronger. And he wasn't sure how much longer he could fight it.

They moved quickly through the Covenant base, avoiding patrols and slipping through narrow corridors that led back toward the surface. The tension between the three of them was palpable, the weight of the mission pressing down on them with every step.

Lachlan was the first to break the silence. "So... is this a bad time to ask what the hell happened back there? Or are we saving that for later?"

Marcus shot him a glance but didn't answer. He didn't have an answer. At least, not one that made sense.

Alyssa spoke up, her tone more serious. "Marcus, if something's going on, you need to tell us."

He stopped, turning to face them both. For a moment, the words were stuck in his throat, the weight of what was happening pressing down on him like a physical force. But he knew they deserved to know. He couldn't keep this from them any longer.

"It's the system," Marcus said quietly. "It's... it's reacting to the artifacts. Every time we get near one, it's like it... connects. I don't know how to explain it, but the system is tied to them somehow. And it's getting stronger."

Alyssa's eyes widened slightly, but she kept her composure. "What do you mean 'stronger'?"

"It's trying to take over," Marcus admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's pushing me harder than ever. Every time we encounter a Forerunner artifact, it's like the system syncs with it. It's starting to feel like... like I'm not in control anymore."

Lachlan whistled softly, his eyes wide. "That's... not good, mate."

Alyssa didn't say anything at first, her expression a mixture of shock and concern. Finally, she spoke. "We'll figure this out. But first, we need to get out of here. ONI will want that data."

Marcus nodded, though a part of him wasn't so sure. ONI had known more than they let on in the past, and the deeper they went into this mission, the more he suspected that ONI had been keeping things from them—especially when it came to the Forerunner artifacts.

They continued their escape, moving through the base as quickly and quietly as they could. But as they neared the surface, Marcus could feel the system stirring again, its presence becoming more pronounced. The buzzing in his mind was back, louder now, more insistent.

And with it came a new message.

[New Objective: Secure Artifact.]

Marcus's heart skipped a beat as the words blinked in his vision. The system wasn't just reacting to the artifact—it was demanding that he take control of it. And the worst part? A small part of him wanted to.

He shook his head, trying to push the thought away, but the system wouldn't let go. The artifact was too powerful, and the system wanted it.

"Marcus?" Alyssa's voice snapped him back to reality.

He looked up to see the exit ahead, the light of the surface gleaming through the opening. Freedom was so close, but the pull of the artifact was still there, tugging at the edges of his mind.

"Let's go," he muttered, forcing himself to move forward. But even as they emerged from the base and into the open air, he couldn't shake the feeling that the system—and the artifact—wasn't done with him yet.