This was a long time coming, a chapter I've been wanting to write for a very long time with a lot of moving pieces. And in a way, it's still not done. Not because I had to split it further. No, because the implications here are just a set up for what is going to happen next. And to be clear, it's about to get SO much worse. But let's stay with the immediate issues for now and the set up.
Mourning Period: I think the difficulty in properly adapting Halo lies in its main character, the Master Chief. It's not because he's faceless in my opinion, it's because he's so uncomplicated in terms of a protagonist. On the outside at least. He doesn't really give you much of a means to get under the armor. He's stoic, he's direct, he does not show much emotion. I think it was right for 343 Studios to try and give him more outward exploration, as subtle characterization sometimes isn't enough to convey a personality. And I think respond more to a character if they clearly relate to and define them. I'm not sure all their attempts worked, but I can pinpoint moments where they kept Chief's subtle traits while allowing him moments of vulnerability and openness that enabled him to actual present him as actually human.
In my opinion, those traits were always there. Even as far back as the first game, I could see them in the small interactions and Chief's refusal to surrender, to give in, to complete the mission. But there's also the quiet parts. At the end of "Combat Evolved", Chief looks contemplative, he seems almost sad, even with no face to convey the emotion. You see it in his body language, his request to Cortana if anyone is still alive. There's no big triumphant pat on the back, no cheer of victory, Chief is resigned to the cost of the mission and it clear hurts him that he was unable to save anyone else.
And that was what I needed to bring to this, but in a more personal manner. This isn't a hundreds of people lost, this is a handful, but it's also a friend. A brother. I probably could've made it more dire by including more of Spartans that were found in the original story. But, if it's just Anton... it hurts more. Because we spent time with Anton, we had him around for a lot of missions. He worked with the other Spartans and was generally likable. Not really a rookie or fresh face, but he's outside the traditional team Chief leads. Yet, he's one of the Spartans he knows more intimately than Kat or Jun.
Him dying hurts Chief. It probably even hurts more to lie to himself that he's not KIA, he knows he is, but he has to follow the protocol. So I think it's also hard for him to mourn when he's technically not supposed to acknowledge that mourning period. And at the same time, he has Cortana who is trying to help through it, but he's trying to downplay it.
However you feel about Cortana and Chief's relationship, I think it's best moments are when Cortana is trying to remind Chief that he IS human. I honestly think that's part of her dry wit and humor, her sarcastic bends to her conversation, a bit of the smugness, all trying to get Chief to drop his guard a little and stop acting like a walking tank for a second. This is the quiet moment I wanted to express between both of the characters. To show them being themselves together. If there was any problem with the Chief and Cortana on the live-action show, it was how they tried to make them antagonists at first. And that did not work, because the affection they tried to forge felt phony. Worse when they split them up for a whole season with no explanation it seems other than plot had to happen. But that whole show was a mess of characterization, so there's the issue.
I hoped to avoid that by having the two alone here, somewhat like the book, and just give them a minute to themselves. To both adjust, absorb and reposition themselves after Aton's death. It was a good way to also get some exposition out of the way, speed up the plot and get to the meat of the chapter. And also give Chief back some of the spotlight because it's been on the whole space pirate plotline for a good long while. I keep reminding myself to not let MY story get in the way of the grander story at play. Hard to do, I think a lot of writers have trouble getting out of their own way. Me included. That's why I'm grateful to my editor, Crow, who as an outsider can see things from a different perspective and help me get out of my own head. Better than just assuming I know all the answers.
I guess that's a bit like Cortana and Chief actually, now that I think about it. Point is, it's good to have friends talk shit out with you. Believe me, I wouldn't have managed half as well as I do without a lot of people doing that for me.
The Brawl: This has been a long one waiting in the wings. And it changed over time. A long time. I originally was going to do this BEFORE the planetoid mission. But that didn't make sense because nothing nearly so awful or bad had happened to force the Marines to react like they did to the Jackals being jerks to the grunts. It just didn't make sense, the raid on the Plunder Nest was a success! They won! It was annoying, it pissed everyone off, but everyone mostly blamed Zix for it. The underlying issues everyone was feeling had not bubbled to the surface in a believable way.
It was then supposed to happen DURING the planetoid mission once they were swallowed up into the void. That would create the appropriate tension. But I ran into various logistical problems in its set up. I'd have to get Zek and Retz back to the ship and then back to the Planetoid's engine room. It just didn't work, it made things too stupidly complicated.
AFTER was therefore the only option. It would force tensions to the surface because of the many dead Drop Troopers and Anton. It was the only thing by that point that would drag relations out into the gutter. And more or less that's where I put it. I did have a concern the Batarians would be too cool with the Marines to jump in and help the Jackals, what with Varvok's development. But in the end, I reasoned just because Varvok's mind has changed, doesn't mean his men have. And there's a simmering bit of anger that hasn't been truly addressed. So that's why they get involved.
Everything else was more or less how I planned. The grunts turning on the jackals, which I was setting up for a while since it's very clear that things aren't great for them. They're not cannon fodder anymore, but they're basically being used for all the crap jobs no one else wants to do. And by Jackals of all species. Something was going to break eventually. It was the Vid argument that did it.
Why are the grunts obsessed with the animated Transformers movie from the 1980s? Simple enough, the fact Rodimus Prime, a loser idiot autobot who fails a ton, can rise up to become just like the brave, amazing, super powerful and strong Optimus Prime, is a bit of a power fantasy. That any of them could be brave like Optimus in the face of death, that someone would sacrifice themselves for the weak and inspire them, that's huge for them. So they are fascinated with the message of the film that says "You can be more."
I've always had sympathies for the grunts, I've said this before. They're dumb, cowardly, little shits, at least on the outside. But when push comes to shove, they can prove to be as resilient and smart as any alien within the Covenant. And they've always gotten the rawest of deals, being no better than slaves within the Covenant Empire. So it felt natural that the grunts would eventually align themselves with the OTHER bottom of the food chain soldiers among the UNSC. So in a sense, this became two groups of grunts joining together to kick some ass.
I had a lot of fun with it, especially getting Kowalski's team into the mix. I was missing writing them since they didn't drop into the planetoid fire fight. I guess I was making up for lost time. The interaction between Agley and the grunt that wanted him to "Toss Me One" was the my favorite. It's both a play on the grunt battle catchphrase they shout when throwing a grenade "Tossing One!" and a human euphemism that the poor thing would not understand. Not because he's innocent or whatever, I just don't think that double entendre exists in the Covenant at all.
The thing that broke up the fight, Miranda showing up and firing into the air, was actually inspired by a scene I saw long ago. Back in the REAL golden age of genre tv where sci-fi/horror/fantasy/adventure serials were all over the place. Remember when SG-1 was on the air? Awesome series! Monster of the week pulpy goodness was all over the airwaves, Xena, Buffy, Farscape, Jack of All Trades, Brisco County Jr., all the great Sci-Fi Channel hits before they became an mockbuster ripoff factory. But one of MY go-to's was a TV adaptation of the Lost World. Because it had dinosaurs.
"Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World" was essentially a modern Gilligan's Island. A bunch of turn of the century explorers, trapped in the titular "Lost Word", fighting all sorts of dinosaurs, cavemen, wizards, monsters, anything and everything from the Two-Fisted Tales sort of comic book. Of course the problem was escaping the Lost World, and they always failed because of course they did. They can't just LEAVE, the series would end. In one episode, there was a fight between a bunch of characters, total fisticuffs throwdown. And the whole fight is ended when the Femme Fatale of the main cast, Marguerite, fires up into the air with her gun and makes everyone freeze. For some reason, probably because she looked a little bit like Miranda actually, I pulled that sequence, from the depths of my mind, from a show that premiered in 1999! And I decided, Miranda has to break this fight up. And believe me, if anyone is going to stop fighting over anything, it's a very angry Aussie woman with biotic powers, firing a weapon in the air and screaming at them.
I guess it was ultimately to give Miranda a chance to do something cool as well, she hasn't gotten to do much lately since the Plunder Nest. Either way, it was a great set up for the punchline, as that jackal gets one last punch in before being dropped like a sack of rocks. That was fun to write, nice little bit of levity.
If you're wondering what part of the movie the brawl actually started at, I left it open to interpretation. Part of me, personally, likes the idea of it being during the Junkion Fight sequence, because a bare-knuckled brawl while Weird Al's "Dare to Be Stupid" plays in the background is funny to me.
One last thing, I appreciate Crow suggesting to move some of those insults around, along with some other suggestions concerning descriptions and the like. I feel that made the tension and the fight more palpable. As I said before, thanks for getting me out of the headspace a little.
Zek and Retz's Argument: This was more utilitarian than anything. I needed to give a substantial reason for why Zek is so resistant to siding with the UNSC. And the simple fact is, as Retz finally draws out of him, he's afraid of becoming like his father. He doesn't believe he can win. He doesn't believe anyone can win this fight. Even with the Astral Cutlass. He doesn't want to take another risk like that. He thinks any effort to stop the Covenant is doomed to failure. And even if they do collapse, something worse will take its place. Either the UNSC reveals its true colors or maybe Atriox, whatever.
Point is, the Astral Cutlass is his escape hatch. Get the magic sword, no one will ever bother me again, even if half the shit about it isn't true, just having it will convince everyone to stay out of my way because I'll be such a certified badass pirate, no one will mess with me! Ever! I'll be a legend and all I have to do is get a dumb sword. Because in his mind, Zek does not really think he's up to the task. He can't be like his father, he doesn't even want to be. He barely escaped the Covenant alive. He's not good enough to be like the song. He can't sack heaven. He's not built for this. He doesn't even want to be a part of it! This isn't what he wants! He just wants to be free of all the shit weighing him down!
And Retz sees something more in him, its why he follows him, why he supports him. He is the friend who believes in Zek when Zek does not believe in himself. Retz is trying to make Zek stop destroying himself, because he can see, even now, that Zek can change. He's just his own worst enemy. Has been for a long time because Zek routinely makes reckless decisions based on his first gut born emotion. Has since they were kids. And while that can serve Zek well, it also hurts him more often than not. Retz just wants Zek to finally be the pirate he knows he can be. And the best way to accomplish that is finally stand for something. Beyond the quest for credits, or being top of the underworld ladder, or whatever else in his selfish haze of a modus operandi. Zek isn't giving his crew a direction or purpose and it's hurting everyone.
I've noticed a lot of people comparing Zek to Edward Kenway lately, frankly, it's fair. Zek borrows a lot from a ton of pirates in fiction and reality. Kenway is one, specifically, Kenway's refusal to stand for anything other than himself. I felt that was the best arc to use with Zek, a selfish pirate who becomes a legitimate hero. Except, I decided it was going to be a lot more involved, a lot harder for Zek to change, and he will do things that actually alienate him from people who could help him be better. Worse than Kenway. Because, really, all he did was mostly ignore a lot of the crap happening around him until it bit him in the ass. He didn't ACTUALLY do things to jeopardize the Assassins and their mission. He just used them to get what he wanted and for the most part tried to avoid them. Work as a hired hand.
Zek actively kept resisting the UNSC's requests, and abused the relationship again and again. He lied to them, put them at risk, continually had to be forced to even do things to help them out. Where Kenway was at least useful if flawed, Zek would actively make everything harder for himself and the UNSC just by nature of him being him. And for the most part, the crew were with him on that. Retz was with him on that.
If there is one specific difference between Zek and Kenway, it's that Kenway, I feel is not really aware of the conflict he's bumbled into and doesn't take it seriously. Zek is painfully aware of the conflict, thinks it's stupid, hates all sides, wants no part in it and desperately wants out forever. Mainly because he knows where this leads and it's not good for him or anyone, in his mind. Retz has come to the conclusion though, that if Zek does not start to stand for anything, he will become worse than Snarlbeak. He'll just be another lowly crook, drinking himself to death while rolling around in a bunch of creds he has no idea what to do with. And that's not what he wants Zek to be.
And this is where all that came to a head, kicked off by Zix revealing to Retz the truth of things he didn't want to believe until now. Retz needs Zek to change, Zek is afraid to, and that leads us all to here.
Differences Of Opinion: Zek's argument with Retz pisses him off enough that he heads to the meeting with the other leaders of the Flotilla alone. He just doesn't want to deal with the problems Retz brought up. Too bad, everyone else does. And without Retz, Zek makes things worse for himself. He's belligerent, he's crass, disrespectful, he lets his temper get the best of him. And while he might have a point somewhere in there, it doesn't matter if he's being a dick about it.
For Holland its about that lack of respect despite going on out a limb to help Zek when he needed it most. It's Zek constantly and deliberately taking every opportunity provided to him to prove he's a worthwhile ally, and smacking it away out of spite. Whitcomb sees Zek as a criminal who is a liability and is not beholden to the same deal made. Haverson is disappointed that all the space pirate has done is proven how the jackals are as untrustworthy as expected. That this exercise is proving to be a failure and a waste of time. For Shepard, it's losing an opportunity to build a bridge between species and forge and united front. Not just to defeat the Covenant, but a potential alliance against the Reapers who are still a major threat to both universes. A threat Zek doesn't care about or recognize because he's too concerned with his own fortune and glory.
And then there's Varvok, who is aligned with Shepard in that sense, but is also close to Zek. He has already come to terms in his own way that stopping the Covenant, saving the UNSC is important to his own goals. To liberate batarians from Covenant control and the corrupt government that enabled their homeworld to essentially be silently conquered by aliens. He's come to terms with it, even if his own men haven't. He's already decided what he's going to do. What he has to do. And he wants Zek with him... because Zek helped him see what he was doing wrong by following Balak. This is Varvok trying to pay it forward, but of course, Zek has to be the one to take the jump.
But with everyone saying the same thing at the table, Zek just feels attacked. Like everyone is turning against him and he just lashes out. Finally just ripping into everyone. And it's a bad look, it's bad for him. I was so sad watching Zek piss this all away... and I was the one who was writing it and planned it. I was making him fail himself and it sort hurt to watch me type all these mean horrible things. I of course went back, on Crow's prompting, and attempted to show Shepard being actually more diplomatic, mentioning somethings that would benefit him by helping. And Zek rejects him, which makes his angry, more than likely drunken rant, even worse because he's just not listening. And it's Zek's problem to a T, his inability to accept that he's a part of this even if he wants out. And the only way out... is to basically torch EVERYTHING he's been building, even if unintentionally.
And because of how acts, what he says, what he rejects, Haverson has no issue with doing what he had been planning to do for a while.
Drug Bust: I always knew that the sugar mill was going to be uncovered. I'm not sure if I ever said it never would be. I don't know why I'd spoil that. I think it was very obvious that there was no way they'd keep this secret. You can't run a drug operation under the noses of various people who's job it is to sus this stuff out! Just not happening!
Building up to the reveal, the previous section set up, the slow lead in as the door gets torn down, the banter before that about how much the jackals are enjoying this job. It all went better than I thought. Especially he last bit with the Jackal who tries to snort sugar and run. I think he just thought that he was gonna lead by example and be rewarded. His plan did not work past the vent he slammed into honestly.
Samara had to be a part of this by the way. I couldn't just set it up that she was actively investigating the Jackals' actions and not have her be there. As much as she's bound to Shepard, her oath is to prosecute injustice. And the Jackals were doing some major illegal things in her eyes. Maybe not to the same extent as the worst offenders on her list, but enough to force her hand. Plus, Zek's crew are all terrified of her, so that reaction I enjoyed writing made the most sense with her in the room. Nothing is scarier to a pirate I think than a super powered murder cop. Which is what Sam is to them essentially.
Now Sword For You: Zek's belligerence and excuses continue as the UNSC berate him for his actions. And their concerns are well-founded, just as much as Zek's defenses are a bit better than his previous insistent complaints from before. But it's no good, they've already made the call. Everything that's gone wrong, plus the revelation of the sugar plantation, it all just says to them "Zek isn't trustworthy" and that it's time to end this charade. As in, the UNSC is out. Zek doesn't think he's part of this Flotilla? Doesn't want to be part of it? Ok, then they're not helping him anymore. The Cutlass is no longer on the mission board.
But then they go a step further, they take the sword off the table entirely. The relics being confiscated is something that pushes Zek over the edge. From distrusting and disliking the UNSC, to outright hostility towards them. It's one thing to call him out on his bullshit, it's another to stop him in his tracks. To impede his freedom and his goals. And that's the line too far.
Worse yet though, I think it's because of what it does to Taq. While that relationship is still very broken, Zek still loves her. And even if he can't be with her again, seeing her devastated over losing her chance to do something truly amazing as an archeologist, to be the thing she was denied by the Covenant, to find the truth of kig-yar history... that hurts. I think it's the first moment that Zek probably really understands what he did to Taq in a way. While Zek clearly has his own very selfish reasons for what he plans next, I do think Taq being hurt by his shitty behavior, even if indirectly, is a big motivator for him.
It makes sense why Taq goes along with Zek here in the end though. Why does Retz? Well that's mostly spoilers, but again, even if he disagrees with his friends, Retz is loyal to Zek first and foremost. He won't betray him. Even if he knows he's probably wrong. But he goes with what the crew wants and the crew ultimately decides being denied the Cutlass really isn't fair.
By the by, the final line from the Goonies that sells Zek on his plan? I've been wanting to use that scene here for so damn long. I felt that one line from Mouth, perfectly encapsulated Zek's character, as an arc and in that moment. And angry, spiteful reaction to a world that's denied him his dreams, taken away what he most wanted. How often has Zek been so close to what he thought he wanted and constantly had it ripped away somehow? Too much. His dreams didn't come true... so he's taking them back. It's a bad epiphany to be sure, but it spoke so well to Zek I couldn't help but use it.
This is Getting out of Hand...: The Cortana copy subplot in the latter part of First Strike was a cool idea I felt was a little undercooked. The prospect of Cortana duplicating herself is just too fun a thing to use as a minor plot point in an assault on a space station. I wanted to expand it a bit. So here's my attempt. Cortana develops this new ability, with a little help from her fellow AI, in order to make the upcoming operation potentially less risky. And, with any luck, it will enable Shepard to actually get the Cutlass and save the Alliance.
Showing Chief and Shepard on the same page with each other, mainly because they both saw the future and both know what will happen if they don't actively prevent it, is another way of solidifying the bond between the two heroes. I have a lot of Shepard and Chief scenes planned for the future and making sure that dynamic is well-established ahead of time is important to me. While a lot of this scene was having fun with two Cortana being... well, themselves, it was mostly just nice to have everyone in the room come up with a last ditch attempt to preserve the alliance they've forged together. Just to show there's still some hope here.
This Is Zek's Only Number: I have no idea how people are going to react to seeing Zek and the Fallen Serpent crew sing their own version of "Professional Pirate" to Kasumi. I really don't. I'm hoping they'll like it, somewhat crossing my fingers that Zek's razorfin skin hat will distract them if they don't.
Why do this? Generally, because I need to have a little fun before things got extra serious in the next few chapters. But also to fully lay out Zek's philosophy. Silver might have been fudging the truth and lying through his teeth in an attempt to gas light Jim to join him. Zek BELIEVES in the Pirate Way of Life completely. Not a single thing he sings here is a deception. Not in his mind. He truly agrees that pirates don't lie or cheat, they do things that are misconceived as that. Zek calls it being cunning or advantageous or keeping options open or seizing an opportunity.
When he declares that Kasumi will be honest, brave and free, the soul of decency, loyal, fair and on the square? He believes it! If Zix was wrong about anything it's that Zek does believe in something beyond himself. It's why Retz follows him. He's selfish about that belief, but he holds it dear. That being "The Pirate Life Means Freedom" And he believes in it so much he's willing to sing about it in a song that's basically one giant villain gaslight song.
Of course his crew goes along with it, because they think it would be fun to try. They all love the Vid, no one can say no to Muppets! Also, let's be fair, the kig-yar all kinda look like smaller skeksis. I don't know if the Jackals of the Fallen Serpent have ever watched that vid. I think I thought about them doing so at some point but it got lost in the other scenes I was desperately trying to get right. Point is, it fit them.
Krez has no idea what's going on though. Being the habitual new guy, I imagine he just wandered into the galley as everyone was setting up and they needed someone to take the part. They would've coached him on more of the lines, but Kasumi was almost there and they needed to wrap up rehearsal. "So just say the lines from the vid, don't ad lib!" And of course, Krez missed Muppet Treasure Island, which was one of the first vids they all watched. So he has no idea what is going on. He also did not see "on the Waterfont" so he does not understand the reference he's making at all. I just found it funny that he keeps messing up through no fault of his own.
And that's everything concerning this unfortunate but necessary fracturing of the protagonists. I hope you enjoyed it and get ready for the real wedge to be driven in hard next time. But trust me, you're not ready for how bad this goes. as Kasumi said, this is a bad plan, you just don't know how bad yet. Or how much more worse it's about to become. I don't want to raise expectations too high, but just to make it clear... Zek isn't the only problem about to rear its ugly head(s).
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