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{{ | {{Title|''Soma the Painter''}} | ||
{{ | {{Status|RealWorld}} | ||
'''''Soma the Painter''''' is a short story exclusive to the separate Volume I edition of ''[[Halo: Evolutions]]''. It takes the point of view of [[Soma]], a [[Forerunner]] inhabitant of [[Seaward]], as she experiences the first sighting of the [[Flood]] in the [[Milky Way]] since the [[human-Forerunner wars]].<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions''', ''Soma the Painter''</ref> The short story was penned by [[Frank O'Connor]].{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.gregbear.com/archives/board_2010_2.htm|Site=Greg Bear|Page=Discussion Board Archives}} | |||
'''''Soma the Painter''''' is a short story exclusive to the separate Volume I edition of ''[[Halo: Evolutions | |||
==Plot synopsis== | |||
The short story begins with the [[Forerunner]] [[Soma]] waiting for the sunset on the planet of [[Seaward]]. It is explained that all the Forerunners on Seaward live with only the basics of technology and live a relatively primitive lifestyle. [[Forerunner personal armor|Personal armor]], starships and communications are either not used or use to only a very limited extent. Most of the planet's residents, including Soma, live in the small community settlement of [[Wharftown]]. Located on the edge of the [[Milky Way galaxy]], Seaward is designated uninhabitable and was only open to extremely wealthy individuals or high-ranking politicians. | |||
As the sunset begins, Soma begins to paint it with her [[jetbrush]]. She captures the unique optical effect caused by its two suns, called ''Twofire''. As the jetbrush automatically paints on her glass easel, Soma notices that it has made an error: drawing a dark gray streak in the sky, with a sickly trail of yellow smoke following it. Upon looking up at the sky, she notices that [[Flood|the object]] on her easel is in fact in the sky. As the object moves towards the horizon, she packs up her equipment and returns to Wharftown, realizing that something is wrong. | |||
Sometime later, the [[Auditor]] receives a report from the [[Prelate (Forerunner)|Prelate]] detailing the events, recorded by an automated monitoring system spanning the Forerunners' [[ecumene]] and employing a variety of devices: a trade beacon, a medical station, and Soma's jetbrush. Unaware of the true danger, only a [[transorbital balloon]] is initially sent to Seaward to give supplies to the damaged medical center. The two Forerunners decide to inform the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]] of the event, claiming that their "test has come". | |||
==Appearances== | |||
{{Featurelist|secondcolumn=title-5|title-1=Characters| | |||
*[[Auditor]] {{1st}} | |||
*[[Ur-Didact|Didact]] {{Fm}} | |||
*[[Prelate (Forerunner)|Prelate]] {{1st}} | |||
*[[Soma]] {{1st}} | |||
|title-2=Species| | |||
*[[Flood]] | |||
*[[Forerunner]] | |||
|title-3=Organizations| | |||
*[[Ecumene]] | |||
|title-4=Locations| | |||
*[[G617]] {{1st}} | |||
**[[Seaward]] {{1st}} | |||
***[[Wharftown]] {{1st}} | |||
|title-5=Events| | |||
*[[Forerunner-Flood war]] | |||
|title-6=Vehicles| | |||
*[[Transorbital balloon]] {{1st}} | |||
|title-7=Technology| | |||
*[[Forerunner personal armor]] {{Fm}} | |||
*[[Jetbrush]] {{1st}} | |||
*[[N-barrier]] {{Fm}} | |||
*[[Triangulation]] | |||
}} | |||
==Production note== | |||
''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'' reveals that the Didact was not awakened from [[Cryptum|exile]] until the last decade of the [[Forerunner-Flood war]], meaning the Auditor and the Prelate could not have informed him of the Flood's return for roughly 300 years. | |||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
{{Ref/Sources}} | |||
{{Evolutions}} | |||
[[Category:Halo: Evolutions]] | [[Category:Halo: Evolutions]] |
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