Halo Reloaded: Atheon
Their private living-quarters is their little oasis... Linda-058—no, Linda Downes, six months along by this point in time, nestled into the pillows with a gentle sigh, her armored plates set aside for the evening. Her legs stretched toward the warmth of the small electric heater humming in the corner.
"John?" Linda's voice, tinged with a child-like whimsy, broke the quiet. "Could you... would you tell me a story tonight? Something happy?"
John smiled, the scar on his face softening in the dim light. He settled beside her, their hands finding each other naturally. "Yeah, sure. You remember Atheon, right? The hero from the tales I told you about when we were kids?"
Linda's eyes lit up, a sparkle of amusement dancing in them. "Yeah! The one who fought with a laser sword and rode a star dragon?"
"That's the one." John chuckled, his voice a soothing rumble in the quiet room. "Okay, let me think... Ah, got it. So, this story takes place on a distant, colorful planet called Neonis. It's so bright and vivid, every sunset there paints the sky in a million shades."
Linda giggled, tucking her feet under her. "Tell me everything!"John began, gesturing with his hands as he wove the tale. "Atheon was not just any hero; he was known as the Guardian of Joy, sworn to defend the smiles of every child in the galaxy. One day, the gloomy shadows—serious creatures made of drear and drab—decided they had enough of Neonis's bright colors."
"Atheon wouldn’t stand for that, would he?" Linda interjected, her voice playful. "Never," John affirmed with a mock-serious nod.
"Atheon strapped on his jet boots and soared into the sky, his laser sword gleaming. But as he confronted the shadows, he realized that fighting them would only spread more darkness." Linda leaned forward, absorbed. "So, what did he do?"
"He did something unexpected. Atheon started to dance." John’s lips twitched into a smile. "Yes, dance. Right there, in the middle of the sky. His moves were so silly and joyous that the shadows, who had never seen anything so ludicrous, couldn’t help but laugh."
Linda clapped her hands delightfully. "He danced away the gloom?"
"Exactly," John said, nodding. "The shadows began to dance too. They twisted and twirled until they turned into bursts of color, adding to the sunset themselves."
Linda’s laughter filled the room, light and carefree. "Atheon the dancing hero, I love it!"
John looked at her, his heart swelling with affection as he watched her joy. "And they say that to this day, the sunsets on Neonis are the brightest, all thanks to a hero who dared to dance instead of fight."
Linda snuggled closer, her head resting against his shoulder. "Thank you, John. That was perfect. Atheon’s my hero."
John whisperes to her, kissing the top of her head gently. "...And you're my hero, Lyn."
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