Project Preview: Icarus
#8 of Scraps, Miscellaneous and Practice
As alluded to sometime earlier in the year, while working on smaller projects I've also been working on what I just call "supers." Stories that of course always harkon back to my loving of all things inhuman, but these pieces of writing rival the size of a small novel.
This is a snippet of what I've just so far codenamed as Halo:Icarus. So far the story now stretches into roughly 120 pages and roughly 50,000 words. And I'm still in the first opening section. But I thought I'd drop something along anyway. Pique some interest for the future. I don't know whether or not I'll release this monster when it's finished entirely, or break it up into sections as I work. Regardless, one day it'll arrive.
I hope you guys like character development with your sexy times, because I know I can't write 50,000 pages of sex.
July 10th, 2555
On an otherwise cloudless day among a towering cityscape of spires and pristine superstructures, on a quiet corner on a rooftop plaza rowed with tables and umbrellas for the tropical rains that inevitably came sat a silent pocket, its white tables and chairs devoid of people save for two figures if looked at from a distance.
One of them, the owner of the somewhat prestigious little café. The other being Meyers, having just recently arrived, sat down albeit nervously. He sat in an unnerving silence, waiting for his suited host to say something. The man was busy finishing off a meal, enjoying the benefits of being the employer to all the chefs who worked here, paying no mind to Meyer's presence.
When finally he had finished, wiping crumbs away and sliding cutlery onto his plate to set it aside, he turned a steely gaze to the orange jumpsuit clad Meyers, who'd remained deathly silent the entire time. The older man, looking somewhat typical in a well-made business suit that blended well with steel colored hair and fine blue eyes, smiled slightly, something unsettling in the gesture to Meyers.
"ONI's not often in the business of hiring freelancers. They're sloppy. We didn't necessarily contact you because you were the best. I recommend that you take that to heart and ego."
The man crossed his arms together, with Meyers taking the opportunity to speak for the first time.
"You haven't told me why you contacted or brought me here to begin with but I'm guessing it's because you need a man to go where you can't."
The steely haired man reached into his vest pocket, pulling out an antique lighter, ornately carved in silver to light an equally fine cigar pulled from his other pocket. The man blew clouds of smoke upwards to be whisked away on the gentle breeze passing through the plaza.
"You are aware of your position are you not?"
Meyers nodded.
"No accountability traces back to you. It's all on me."
The steel haired man smiled.
"You'd be going somewhere were the lines blur. Morals and alliances, an afterthought. You've got connections, Meyers. There are some doorways ONI can't go through due to their rather wide reputation. With you, IF you're on board, we might have an easier time."
"So what's the catch?"
The steel haired man let another cloud of smoke fly upwards to drift away on the wind.
"You watch the news lately, Meyers?"
Meyers shrugged.
"Too much propaganda for my taste."
The man chuckled, blowing smoke from his nose.
"Well, if you did, you might've heard about the recent rise in attacks. Our old friends, Innies. Most targets being hit lately are notable for high population density. I'd be a poor liar if I said it didn't have ONI's attention."
Meyers furrowed is brows, shaking his head lightly.
"That sounds a little too convenient."
The man puffed another wave of strong smoke upwards, turning his cigar over in his fingers before returning it to his mouth.
"It is Meyers. Innies wouldn't have the technology to make something with such potency and deploy it on such a well-coordinated scale."
"So then what's the whole story?"
"We suspect it has something to do with some other old acquaintances of ours. Or at least, their leftovers."
Meyers raised his brows.
"I thought the news said the Covenant was gone."
The steel haired man smiled, puffing out slowly drifting rings of smoke.
"I thought you didn't watch the news. There's always holdouts somewhere."
Meyers nodded.
"So that's it then. You want me to trace things down to the source."
The man blew one last puff from his cigar before snuffing it out on the plate of his finished meal.
"This job is all about your particular specialty, Meyers. Your record shows an impressive rate of breaking into places and gaining access to information otherwise wanting to be withheld."
The man smiled.
"Although your record for covering your tracks is.....less than reputable."
Meyers rolled his eyes.
"Just give me the pitch."
"Down to business then. Good. I'll run you up to speed on the basics. We can go from there."
The man reached into his pocket, sliding a data pad out across the table.
"We know the insurrectionists are getting the weapon from Covenant remnants. Mainly Kig-Yar gang rings. We've tracked supply lines and distribution points. But we haven't pinpointed specific locales or the manufacturers themselves. Our suspicions lie strongly with Sangheilios."
Meyers blinked while skimming over the data pad.
"That's the Elite homeworld. That's been sanctioned off limits to all Human traffic by both the UNSC and the Arbiter."
The man chuckled.
"Indeed it has. How's the internet connection in prison? For a man who doesn't watch the news you're surprisingly well informed. I trust you see why we need a man like you on the job?"
Meyers looked up from the data pad, sliding a hand over his chin.
"How's this being done then?"
"We've made some special arrangements if you make it that far. Thel' Vadam is aware of the ongoing problem and he's concerned with keeping on our good side. You'll be going much deeper than you're accustomed to. The data pad will fill you in on the rest."
Meyers nodded slowly.
"So what do I get in return?"
The steel haired man smiled.
"A paycheck, courtesy of ONI. Six figure digits or more, of course. A clean slate, and your sentence will have been effectively served. You'd be a free man with a brand new lease on life Jason."
"That's if I get out of there alive."
"If you have issues with the job, the prison bunk is still right were you left it. Probably still warm, too."
Meyers skimmed down the details of the data pad, sighing.
"It's like you were expecting me to say no from the start so you offered the buffet."
A final nod from Meyers as he signed his name, and it was done.
"I'll do it."
"The car outside waiting for you will take you to a launch facility. As soon as you leave the premises, your job begins. You'll be on a ship out of this system by sundown."
Meyers stood up from his chair, data pad in hand. The steely haired man cracked a genuine smile for the first time.
"One last thing Meyers. We've assigned you a baby sitter. They'll teach you some tricks. And they'll cover your tracks for you if need be. Consider them your unofficial partner."
Meyers shrugged.
"AI?"
The man chuckled.
"You've dug up enough buried coffins that you'll recognize the codename. They're somebody with as much accountability as you if a mission goes wrong. See what you make of working with a Headhunter. Be seeing you."