Human Spirit

A/N: Been a lot longer than I anticipated to update this again. Everyone aside from the clones belongs to Bethesda, Zenimax, Id Software and all other respective owners. Here's to hoping I haven't lost my touch.

F finding her balance once more got up to follow the ever-silent marine. He kept a firm grip on his weapon as he continued to scour ahead. They had come to an area of the UAC facility that had been completely destroyed. Looking at the collapsed pathway before them she turned to the silent marine. He gave only a nod and she climbed onto his back once more. Holding on around his neck she watched their back as he jumped and maneuvered around the platforms.

"Cacodemons" F called as she watched them fly by, "They must not have too much interest right now."

The marine set her down as one started to approach, "Don't be so sure."

"Did I lure them?" F started to panic.

The marine fired an explosive shot at the demon and watched it's face explode from the blast, "They're known to eat anything. They may even see you as food."

"I doubt I would even make a meal" F pointed out.

The marine fired again and turned to the girl, "Focus. Pay attention this will save your life if needed."

F watched as another Cacodemon appeared and appeared to be more resilient then the first. The marine fired another explosive shot and the demon much to the clone's surprise ate it. A decision the demon would have regretted if it had survived being blown apart from the inside out. F was rather amazed and nearly froze as the combat shotgun was placed in her hands. The marine pointed to an incoming Cacodemon and she knew what he was expecting. Steeling herself she aimed the gun and readied the explosive shot for her target. As the Cacodemon approached, she pulled the trigger and watched it swallow the charge. However, unlike the one that had blown up before this one only became staggered. F froze feeling she had failed until she watched the Marine pull the demons eye out and the body fall to the chasm below.

"I don't understand I did everything you did!" F looked at the gun in her hands.

The Marine took the gun from her as she climbed onto his back again, "Some demons are more resilient then others. You cannot afford to freeze up if the shot doesn't have the effect you want. Keep moving, use anything to your advantage."

"Understood" F spoke and looked around as he set her down again, "An Elite Guard...they had it the worst out of the UAC. From my vague understanding Olivia could kill them with a Lazarus wave."

She watched as the Marine knelt down and retrieved a chip from the fallen man. F felt horrible for those who were killed by Olivia and her twisted ambitions. She watched as the Marine got back up and motioned for her to follow. As uncertain as she was, there was a lot more she could learn from him. As they continued, they came into a computer room that appeared to be online but in utter disarray. F sat down on one of the computers as she tried to compose herself. Her head felt like it was swimming and disorientation was starting to take hold again. She could barely make out what was being said by Dr. Hayden and VEGA.

"I will bring the tram back online to get you there. However, you will need a UAC Corporate Facilities Card to activate it. There is a security station nearby" VEGA chimed.

F looked up to see the Marine towering over her, "Well what are we waiting for?"

"You are in no condition to fight" he spoke, "Stay here. I will retrieve you once the area is clear."

"But-"

The Marine remained firm, "Stay put. That is an order."

Before F could protest, she held her head feeling like the entire weight of the planet had dropped on her. It was another episode, what would she see this time? There was a man standing before her barking orders. Behind him a group of women and children, innocents. Looking down she saw once more her hands were not her own, they belonged to the original owner of the memory, it belonged to the Marine. Rage and anger consumed her as the man once more barked at him and the others to fire at these innocents.

"You will obey my orders!" the man yelled.

F watched as "their" hands wrapped around the man's throat before beating them to a bloody pulp, "I don't care about your orders. I will not fire on the innocent and unarmed."

"Transfer that psychopath out of here!" one of the higher ups yelled.

F shook her head and was alert to the sounds of demons and gunfire outside of the lab, "Someone tied to the UAC with honor...what are the odds indeed...VEGA how far back does the UAC records span?"

"One moment please. The United Aerospace Corporation found the Argent Fracture here on Mars in 2095. Upon MTC 2096 the UAC had built an outpost to extract Argent Plasma from the fracture. Further work progressed including the completion of the Argent Tower and Advanced Research Complex" Vega chimed in.

F looked through the information provided, "Were there any outposts on Mar's moons?"

"Yes, there are facilities on both Phobos and Deimos. Both have been over run by demons in the past but that information has been kept under strict access by Corporate."

"Why tell me then?"

"Because Dr. Pierce's work claims that you would go into episodes where you seemed to be living through a traumatic experience. I believe that this information may help you piece together the pieces that you are seeing." Vega responded.

F looked towards the door, "He refused to open fire on unarmed civilians. For that he was sent to Mars and stationed on one of the moons. I'm thinking maybe it was Phobos? I don't know...I...do I even have my own identity? Do I even really exist?"

"You are alive and drawing your own breath, that is proof of your existence" VEGA spoke, "The heart that beats in your chest is your own. Clone or not I still find you to be quite alive and a prime example of the human spirit."

"The human spirit...VEGA is that airlock operational?" F asked as she picked up her gun again.

VEGA was quick to respond, "It is operational. Given the demonic corruption outside and your condition it is advised you stay here."

While F had conversed with the AI the Marine had been dealing with the hordes of Hell that had appeared. Breaking the skull of a Hell Knight he watched as a Cacodemon swallowed an explosive shot and became staggered. He watched as F used an Imp as a launch pad and pulled the demons eye out. Using the body as it fell she jumped and landed back on a shaky platform. The Marine wasn't too surprised that she hadn't obeyed his orders. He had done the same thing once, which lead to his fight against Hell. Shrugging his shoulders, he took out an incoming Revenant. F didn't need to speak she knew the objective. She would take out the weaker demons and leave the more dangerous ones to the seasoned warrior. Pulling out her shotgun she focused on plowing down the various Imps that appeared. Hearing the sound of projectiles, she could tell a Revenant was on the field once more. Before she could even attempt to confront the demon, she heard the familiar sounds of a Hell Knight barreling towards her.

"Not this again!" F groaned as she rolled out of the way, "This obsession has to stop! You remind me way too much of one of the former lab assistants. Guy was way too obsessed with his work. Oh, what was his name..."

"Dr. Stanley" Vega chimed in.

F grinned, "Stanley! Yes that's who these demons remind me of."

"If you name it you have to kill it" the Marine spoke and took the demon down, "Not this time though. You still don't have enough experience."

"I know you told me to-"

The Marine silenced her, "In that respect there is no denying who you are. At least you waited while most of the more dangerous demons were cleared."

F looked down and away at the decimated demon that was next to her, "I... I saw more of your memories. Why you were sent to Mars to begin with. You refused to fire on innocent people. This may not even mean anything coming from a fake human like myself but...I respect that about you."

"The breath you draw and the heart that beats in your chest is proof enough that you are anything but a fake human" the Marine spoke, "Has your condition improved? We aren't even close to the security station yet."

F nodded, "I'll be fine. I promise I'll do the best I can to not slow you down and be of use. Umm one question before you go back to your usual silent self...did you once have a pet rabbit?"

"I did" the Marine spoke and pulled out a small rabbit's foot, "When I returned to Earth, I found her killed by the demons. That is enough questions. Focus on the objective ahead."

F nodded and watched as the Marine put the rabbit's foot away. She followed the Marine in complete silence. She remained alert to their surroundings but so far, no more demons had appeared. At least nothing that felt too intimidating or overwhelming. She had so many more questions to ask the quiet man, but felt that answers would be impossible to get out of him. With a quiet sigh she looked around and felt that things were going to get interesting soon. They had entered an open area but she also took notice of a large floating stone with some odd engraving on it that was glowing. Before F could ask questions, demons began to appear in the area. The Marine remained calm and tapped the floating stone behind him. As it began to glow a portal opened. He pushed F through the portal and focused on the fast approaching demons.

"Be safe, F" he spoke quietly as he began to engage the demons.

F coughed and looked around her new surroundings. Panic at first gripped her as she realized she was separated from the Marine. Looking around she noticed several platforms and a dark abyss below. Floating above and around the platforms appeared to be runes or some unusual stone she hadn't witnessed before. Struggling to get to her own two feet once more she looked own at her arm brace and noticed a strange language appearing on the screen. As she tried to make sense of it a voice seemed to echo through the chasm, "Collect the relics of Hell and bring them to the alter."

"I guess those floating stones are the relics" F looked at them, "By the distance it may be doable."

"Thine time starts now!" the voice boomed.

F's eyes widened and she quickly ran across the platform grabbing the first relic from where she stood. When she touched the relic despite the burning sensation, it turned into small balls of energy that floated around her. As she went to jump from the first platform, she misjudged her distance and screamed as she fell into the abyss below. She had figured this would be her death but instead she reappeared at the first platform once more. Looking down at her brace she pulled up her vitals and sure enough she was still alive. Shaking the uncertainty away she tried again and once more fell into the abyss. Landing on the platform once more she looked at the distance carefully.

"You would need a thruster boot to get past that hole...unless no there has to be another way" F pondered and looked to the stone, "I can't seem to die here, and the time seems to activate once I touch that stone. What is this place? Some sort of pocket dimension?"

The voice spoke again, "This is where the worthy gain their skill to fly. You are not the Hellwalker. Yet, you share their blood."

"Yeah I'm just a clone created from their DNA" F spoke and looked around, "But I draw my own breath and my own heart beats in my chest! I will prove myself! Prove that I deserve to live even if no one wants me!"

"Your heart burns with what my kind calls the Sentinel Spirit. Prove yourself, child of the Hellwalker, the Slayer, the unchained and undaunted" the voice spoke, "Prove yourself and earn your freedom from this realm."

F wiped her cheek and looked at the platforms, "I don't have thruster boots so what can I use as an alternative. Perhaps if I used my strength and speed, I may be able to reach the distance. Well only one way to find out I suppose."

The clone got up again and first attempted to use her speed to get across the gap in the chasm. She fell back into the depths and decided a different approach. Holding onto the edge of the platform she lowered herself down against the rock face. Taking a deep breath, she pushed herself off from the face and grabbed onto the ledge that was below. Pulling herself up she noticed more of the floating runes. Shaking her head, she decided to run up and down the platform. She was looking for the best possible way to get the runes and make it to the alter. Coming to the edge of the platform she saw a round platform. Unlike the first one it wasn't flat but a shallow edge around a pillar. F returned to the start of the platform and ran down before jumping off and just catching the ledge with her hand. Walking to the other edge of the ledge she felt her heart grow lighter. Her fears were the platforms would be raised but instead they remained the same height. Feeling confident enough she threw herself into the void and landed back on the first platform, "I won't give up. I wonder are they still waiting for me? No, I can't get distracted! Focus F!"

Steeling herself she went over the same pattern she had done before. The run felt effortless however she was pulled back into the abyss and placed on the starting platform once more. Sighing she did it again trying to figure out why she wasn't succeeding. Jumping to the second group of platforms she made it to the rune that hung just over the opening into the abyss below. Once more the shadows came up and pulled her down. F sat up and looked at the runes once more, "What am I missing here...no it doesn't matter I'll do this as many times as it takes until I get it down!"

"You have sixteen seconds to complete this trial. Each Rune you collect will grant you one second more to achieve your goal" the voice finally spoke.

F shrugged, "Now you tell me! Sixteen seconds are you insane? It would take at least thirty for someone with the right equipment!"

"Then do you accept your failure on this trial and be returned to the world whence you came?" the voice asked.

F looked towards the path before her, "No, just because my name is Failure doesn't mean that I am a failure. I am so much more then that. Fine, I'll accept this challenge and I will surpass it!"

F prepared herself once more and used everything to her disposal to pass the trial. With each rune touched was one more step towards returning to Mars. To the literal Hell that scared her, but it felt like home. Touching the last rune, she landed in front of the alter panting. Trying to catch her breath she noticed a cloaked figure hovering above the ground. The handed her a rune carved in stone that appeared to be glowing with some form of energy. F looked at the rune and then to the figure, "Thank you."

"You worked hard for it, child of the Slayer" the figure spoke, "Do not lose your fighting spirit. Do not lose what makes you human."

Before F could ask any more questions, she found herself back on Mars and within the destroyed Argent Facility. Standing close to where the rune had stood was the Marine as if waiting for her return. Hearing her footsteps, he turned and faced her. Though silence consumed them he could see the stone in her hands. F offered it to him figuring it would suit him better. Though he was silent he declined the rune and instead wrapped her hands around it. She had earned it fair and square; it was proof that she was making her own path in a world that did not want or accept her. He motioned for her to follow and she did so without uttering a single question. Her injuries were still obvious. It was the first reason he had thrown her into a rune trial. To keep her safe, if only he could focus on slaying the demons without having to watch for her.

"Welcome back F" VEGA chimed, "I could not locate you for a short amount of time. However, you have returned."

F looked around the bloodied field of demon corpses, "Thank you VEGA. Hey VEGA can you pull up names that start with F? I think...I think I want an actual name."

'You don't want to be known or remembered as a failure. I cannot blame you for wanting that at least.'

-End.