Confronting the Unknown

The cold, sterile interior of the drop ship hummed quietly as it cut through Phaeton Minor's atmosphere, ascending back into the dark void of space. Marcus sat in the corner, his body still trembling from the aftereffects of the system's latest surge. His breathing was shallow, his heart pounding in his chest as the artifact's pull lingered in the back of his mind, like a faint whisper that wouldn't go away.

Alyssa sat across from him, her gaze fixed on the stars outside the small viewport, her expression distant. She hadn't said much since they'd escaped the Covenant base. She was always quiet after missions, but this silence was different—heavier. He knew she was worried about him, and she had every right to be.

Lachlan, however, wasn't one to stay quiet for long.

"Well, that was a bit of a bloody mess," he said, leaning back in his seat with a grin. "But we got out in one piece, didn't we? That's a win in my book."

Alyssa glanced at him, her lips twitching into the faintest of smiles. "Barely."

"Barely's good enough for me," Lachlan replied, his grin never faltering. "Besides, ONI'll be thrilled we got the intel. They'll probably give us a nice bonus or, at the very least, let us take a few extra rations."

Marcus didn't respond. He was still too lost in his own thoughts, his mind a tangled mess of conflicting emotions. The system had grown stronger. Its influence was undeniable now, and it was getting harder to resist. The artifact hadn't just affected the system—it had affected him. Every second he had spent near that relic, he felt the pull growing stronger, like a dark part of him wanted to submit to it.

He clenched his fists, his knuckles white as he fought to push the thought away. He couldn't let that happen. He couldn't lose himself to the system.

Alyssa must have noticed the tension in his posture because she leaned forward, her voice soft but firm. "Marcus, we need to talk about what happened down there."

He didn't look at her. "I already told you—"

"You didn't tell us everything," she interrupted, her tone more insistent now. "This isn't just about the mission. Whatever's going on with the system, it's more than just a glitch. It's connected to those artifacts somehow, and it's getting worse."

Lachlan nodded, crossing his arms over his chest. "She's right, mate. We can't keep running missions like this if you're about to go haywire every time we get near a Forerunner relic. We need to know what's really happening."

Marcus's jaw tightened. He knew they deserved answers, but how could he explain something he didn't fully understand himself? How could he tell them that every time they got near one of those artifacts, he felt less like himself and more like a puppet being pulled by invisible strings?

"The system..." he began, his voice low. "It's... it's not just reacting to the artifacts. It's syncing with them. Every time we get near one, it's like the system is trying to pull something from it—something powerful. And every time, I feel like I'm losing control."

Alyssa's brow furrowed. "Losing control? What do you mean?"

Marcus ran a hand through his hair, his fingers trembling slightly. "I mean it's pushing me. It's making me do things—making me stronger, faster—but at the same time, it's... it's taking over. I can feel it trying to pull me deeper every time we get near one of those artifacts. Like it's trying to become... something more."

Lachlan let out a low whistle. "Well, that's... unsettling."

Alyssa's frown deepened, but her eyes softened with concern. "Why didn't you tell us sooner?"

"Because I didn't know what was happening," Marcus admitted, his voice filled with frustration. "And I didn't want to worry you. I thought I could handle it. But now..."

He trailed off, his gaze dropping to the floor. He didn't need to say it. They all knew what he was feeling—that the system's influence was growing too strong, that he was slipping away.

"We'll figure this out," Alyssa said, her voice steady and reassuring. "But you need to be honest with us from now on. If the system is pushing you too far, we need to know."

Marcus nodded, though the weight of her words sat heavily on his shoulders. He wasn't sure how much longer he could keep this up. The system was relentless, and every mission they ran seemed to push him closer to the edge.

Just then, the drop ship's comm crackled to life, and a familiar voice filled the cabin.

"This is Commander Tate. Prepare for debriefing upon arrival."

Lachlan groaned. "Ah, Tate. Just the man I wanted to avoid after that lovely little outing."

Alyssa shot Lachlan a look, but Marcus barely registered the exchange. His mind was already spinning with thoughts of the debriefing, of what ONI would want now that they had the intel. But more than that, he was starting to wonder just how much ONI knew about the system and its connection to the artifacts.

They had always been too secretive, too focused on getting their hands on Forerunner tech. Marcus had played along for the sake of the missions, but now he wasn't so sure. There was something deeper going on here—something ONI wasn't telling them.

The debriefing room was as cold and sterile as ever, the walls lined with sleek metal panels that reflected the harsh overhead lights. Marcus, Alyssa, and Lachlan stood at attention as Commander Tate entered, his face as unreadable as always.

"Good work on Phaeton Minor," Tate began, his voice as flat and emotionless as ever. "The data you retrieved is already being analyzed. It's clear the Covenant were after another Forerunner artifact, but we still don't know exactly what it does."

Tate's gaze flicked to Marcus, his expression unreadable. "And you? Any further incidents with the system?"

Marcus hesitated for a split second, then shook his head. "Nothing I couldn't handle."

Tate nodded, though Marcus could tell he wasn't entirely convinced. "Good. We'll need you sharp for the next mission. We've identified another potential artifact site, and ONI wants it secured before the Covenant can get their hands on it."

Alyssa frowned. "So soon?"

Tate's eyes narrowed. "Time is of the essence. Every day we waste is another day the Covenant gets closer to unlocking the full potential of Forerunner technology. We can't afford to wait."

Lachlan raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. "You know, Commander, you could at least pretend to care about our well-being. It's good for morale."

Tate didn't even acknowledge Lachlan's comment, his focus solely on the mission. "You'll receive the full briefing in an hour. Dismissed."

As they left the room, Marcus's mind was already racing. Another mission. Another artifact. The thought made his stomach turn. How many more of these relics were out there? And how many more times could he resist the system's growing influence?

As they walked down the corridor, Alyssa fell into step beside him. "Something's not right," she said quietly.

Marcus glanced at her. "What do you mean?"

"I mean ONI's pushing us too hard. They're desperate to get their hands on these artifacts, but they're not telling us everything. There's more to this than just stopping the Covenant."

Marcus didn't say anything, but he knew she was right. ONI had always been secretive, but lately, it felt like they were hiding something bigger—something connected to the artifacts and the system.

"What do we do?" Marcus asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Alyssa's eyes hardened. "We complete the mission. But we keep our eyes open. If ONI's hiding something, we'll find out."

Lachlan, who had been walking ahead of them, turned and flashed them a grin. "Well, whatever's going on, I'm just along for the ride. But if it comes down to ONI versus my survival, I know which side I'm picking."

Marcus nodded, but his mind was still swirling with doubt. The system had gone quiet for now, but he knew it wouldn't stay that way. The next mission would push him even further, and he wasn't sure how much more he could take before something broke.