Sent To Protect and Serve Humanity

Chapter 66: Served

3rd POV

"I extend my most sincere congratulations to each of you. Every single one of you has ventured into the harrowing storm of war and returned as a better being."

Organicum spoke, his ethereal voice booming in everyone's ears. The exact concept of words felt almost foreign as it sounded like they came from the groups' own minds, much like their own thoughts.

Those that dared to look toward where his head would be would immediately fall victim to a golden light brighter than anything they have bore witness to. Brighter than the stars, as intense as a nuclear detonation, and as blinding as both. Most of the group were forced to look at the floor or table to avoid the intense light.

However, the seven that could view him, the enhanced warships and their AIs, were met by the ever enigmatic expression he wore. To the humans, he appeared as before as an old man. To Defiance, he appeared as an old Sangheili Warrior, one adorned in traditional robes but still maintained his swirling elliptical eyes.

"From the great Halo Installations of your past to the present destruction of Atlas, the Alliance has excelled far beyond initial parameters, outdoing all but one previous test." Organicum continued with his booming ancient voice. "You all have rallied Remnant, a place that is not your home nor your birthplace, behind a single banner. You have eradicated the Grimm threat with efficiency, shattered the Covenant into a civil war, brought the kingdoms to heel, and ended Salem's reign of terror. The warships of the Alliance have proven their worth."

The man would pause, awaiting a response from the stunned table.

Oklahoma would take the chance to speak up. "Tests? Could you finally tell us what this is all for?" Even if he could see the deity's face, it still gave him a headache if he stared for too long.

The normal humans were far more than intrigued now. Especially with the prospect of learning everything that was hidden from them. After a lengthy pause, the God spoke without emotion.

"It started off as an experiment. We wanted to forge a new line of Kansen, which is what you are. Unlike your predecessors and other Kansen, you were going to be faster, stronger, smarter, the perfect warriors." Organicum explained as the intensity of his heavenly light slowly died down. It died down just enough for the affected individuals to get a look at his chest. "Previous Kansen lacked the killer instinct necessary to win wars with efficiency. However, as we continued our experiments, our focus shifted from wanting warriors to wanting Heroes. We wanted individuals who could rise above the rest and become a beacon of hope for all to bear witness. That is what each of you that were chosen are."

These words swirled around Oklahoma's head, and it was driving him man. He knew that these Deities had designed this entire thing for either their personal amusement or as a test. Test. His mind focused on that word. He mentioned that there were other tests.

"What were these tests?" Oklahoma looked up, clearly suffering from a migraine. His hands soon rested on Coco's shoulders in an attempt to alleviate the burden on his mind. "How many were there?"

After a pause, Organicum would continue again.

"There were a total of one hundred tests. Each one had different variables and different outcomes. Over eighty percent of the tests resulted in failures due to a lack of cohesion among the Kansen, a lack of control, a lack of direction, the loss of the UNSC Oklahoma, or the loss of the Pledge of Defiance. Twenty of these tests provided adequate results, yet they were of little importance due to the experimental variables. Only two of these tests were successful. Your test, the 100th, and the 91st."

Oklahoma found his mind numbing from everything newly learned. He tried to piece together what he knew. He knew that they were an experiment, and these 'variables' were more than likely the warships themselves or what the Gods gave to them. Finally, he knew that his 'experiment' was the last and most successful one.