User:Ahalosniper/Following Orders

Another Day on the Job

 * The wind bit down over a smooth, white expanse of land. The snow was halfway to a man’s knee, and covered in a slick, thin sheet of ice. It crunched under his ivory and cobalt armor as Kodiak lay on his belly, on a high drift, looking over the massive building below him. He was perfectly camouflaged in the ice, but he was still uncomfortable.

‘Out of any of seventy-six Spartans, why did I have to end up in this forsaken icebox?’ :He wiped away some of the snow that had collected on his gold visor touched a button on the side of his helmet, engaging his binoculars. A massive Covenant citadel stood silently, it’s ascetic purple curves causing the wind to moan and whistle across the landscape. Four bulbous turrets encircled the main structure, connected to it by a spiderweb of wiring. Motion sensors lined the outlying buildings, thinner curves connecting them to the main building. They controlled the plasma turrets. :“Dyne.” He said into his radio, “Take them out.” :Far below him, the tan and crimson Spartan sniper suddenly leapt up from behind a drift at a full run, battle rifle in hand. The sensors took notice, and the two plasma turrets guarding the front entrance began slinging plasma at him. :As they tracked him, Dyne let loose a pair of three-round bursts. The shots flew and shattered the motion sensors on one of the buildings. Still running, he threw two grenades into the sky and shot them on the fall. The explosions and smoke confused the turrets, and Dyne shot up the sensors on the other building. On one knee, he threw the battle rifle in the snow and pulled the S2-AM Rifle off his back. :Taking aim, he loosed two shots towards the top of the central tower. A final, master sensor broke off the tower and dropped a long way to the ground. With that, the entrance was clear and waiting for them. :A minute later, Kodiak and Erin Coney, the ONI officer they had chosen to help, came up to Dyne, who was brushing snow and ice off his battle rifle. :“Good shooting.” Kodiak said, eyeing the smoldering tower sensor. :“Easy. Taking out the seven-brute squad with a single clip on Mars, now that was tricky.” Dyne replied, snapping the gun on his back parallel to the sniper rifle. :The three walked between the two now dormant turrets and to where the streamlined Covenant building tapered to a point. A black pad stretched out from the smooth outer wall, no door in sight. :“So how do we get in?” Dyne asked. :“You should know by now,” Erin murmured, typing into a hand held pad she pulled from the helmetless ODST suit. “Covenant don’t use doors.” :A wave of blue energy waved up and down their bodies, and suddenly they were indoors. The room was paneled with Covie purple material, lined by a grid of grey. :“Whoah! Little advance warning next time please!” Dyne gasped as Kodiak began moving into one of the corridors. :“Just be ready next time.” Erin said, pocketing the datapad. :The passageways were empty of Covenant, the citadel being abandoned for nearly a decade. But the power was still up, and everything was still working as far as any of them could tell. They moved silently, Kodiak in the lead, Erin pointing the way, and Dyne checking behind them. The visors of the two Spartans were unreadable, while Erin’s green eyes darted back and forth, searching for any small oddity that could tip off a trap. :Eventually, a portal slid open and revealed a large room. Dark panels made of what seemed to be glass rose up from the floor bordered by smooth Covenant alloy. Erin stepped forward to a terminal and placed a wire from the datapad onto the screen. The entire room came to life as the panels exploded with holographic data. Tables, charts, sensors, and Covenant writing flashed on all over. :Kodiak and Dyne stood back in awe. :“What is all this. . .?” Kodiak asked as Erin moved to one of the panels. :“Covenant research on humans.” She said, concentrating on a line of Covenant script. “Or more precisely, Spartans. This is the location the Prophet Hierarchs set their traps and strategies for killing the Demons. And where far more sinister things happened.” She pointed to what looked like a blue cryogenic tube built into the wall. :“What might that be?” Kodiak asked, mentally preparing himself for some ONI secret. :“No one else is to know of this without my permission. Swear that to me first.” :“Considering you tried to kill us,” Dyne said evenly, “I don’t exactly feel very compromising.” :“Understandable. But it isn’t a matter of trust.” :“We won’t tell anyone.” Kodiak said, fitting his MA5C on his back. :“Many years back, in the early years of the Covenant War, Naval Intel made contact with a group of Elites who acted friendly. Hoping for peace, we traded with them. Later we found out it was only a group branded as heretics. We were desperate even then, and traded for some of their technology. It was what we traded to them that brings us here. We traded Spartans.” :Dyne swore explosively. Kodiak stood shocked, but remained silent. :“They wanted them for their own uses, and we trained a class of twelve. They were nowhere near what any of the Spartan IIs were of course, but this sacrificial group was abandoned in the hope of peace.” :“How many people know about this.” Kodiak asked, masking his emotions. It wasn’t as hard with a helmet on. :“Brigadier James Ackerson, Dr. Catherine Halsey, and then a few at ONI. And myself.” :“How did you learn about it?” :“In my short life I have been known as different people by different people. A girl’s got to have a few secrets.” :“Pretty big damn secret.” :“You have some repressed memories of your own if I’m not mistaken.” Erin shot back, returning to her work. “I hate it as much as you do, and more. The aliens wanted these Spartans to be even more powerful. They used methods. . . even Halsey wouldn’t have considered. Didn’t dare use. They lost their humanity in the process, in return for power. They are gone, only their physical bodies remain. A fitting name for them might be Demons.” She mused. “And I’ve been ordered to kill them.” :“They pose such a threat to the UNSC?” Kodiak thought out loud. :“No, but they know things. Things that could let the Covenant Remnant blow right past our defenses at Earth. That could still kill off humanity.” Erin paused, then tapped a final button. :The panel glowed a warm cinnamon red, and a circular pattern rotated swiftly as a small human figure began to form in the light. The figure was a girl, no more than early teen years, clad in somewhat elaborate padded armor. The deep scarlet was clear against the midnight black of her long hair and the shadows on her body. :Her lips moved softly, “UNSC AI unit Jasmine assigned to. . . where am I exactly?” :“A Covenant fortress on the edge of nowhere.” Answered Erin. She made introductions, then turned to the Spartans. “One of you will have to carrying her. Are either of you rated for an AI?” :“I can do it.” Dyne said, stepping forward. :“You can fit an AI?” Kodiak asked incredulously. :Erin smiled mischievously. “Sec-ret.” :Dyne slid back a section of the armor on the back of his palm, removing a thick disk. One side was a small holo-projector, bordered by silver casing. He reached out to the AI with it, saying, “I haven’t been implanted before. It hurts a bit, right?” :“Don’t worry,” Jasmine replied sensuously, “It’s my first time, too.” :Dyne grinned under his helmet. Jasmine touched the pad, and it glowed red as she disappeared from the Covenant screen. Dyne slipped the disk back in his armor, then suddenly doubled over, blacking out.

His HUD was like a set of neon lights in his face, and he blinked to clear his eyes. After a minute, he could see Kodiak standing over him, the assault rifle back in his hands. :“Ha. Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey.” He taunted as Dyne got up slowly. :Dazed, he looked around the room. “How long have I been out?” :“Just for a minute. Jasmine hasn’t been responding either.” :Dyne looked at his hand, and the disks built into the back and front of his gauntlet palm. The projecting glass gleamed a warm cinnamon, and he felt the warmth in the back of his head. Jasmine’s form appeared on his wrist, about three inches tall and standing formally. :“I feel fuzzy. . .” Dyne moaned. :“It isn’t all comfortable for me either.” She said through his helmet speaker. “Although there’s plenty of space in here.” :Kodiak chuckled, “Why am I not surprised.” :Dyne only noticed Erin when she started laughing. :They stopped laughing when a buzzing filled the air.

The Swarm

 * Kodiak and Erin ran into the hallway, followed by a still slightly drowsy Dyne. They stopped at a t-intersection of passages and listened, Kodiak with his MA5C, Erin with her M6 out of its leather holster, and Dyne with a BR55.

Dyne put a burst in its head, and it toppled to the floor oozing green-gray blood. The buzzing resurfaced, becoming a deafening thunder, and Drones poured out from the corner. The humans opened fire. :These enemies carried both plasma pistols and needlers, firing at them randomly as the swarm charged them. The sporadic fire was easily avoided, ducking around the corner for a half second as the whining projectile or sizzling plasma flew by. :“Dyne,” Jasmine said from inside his mind, “Aim ten degrees up and spray left.” :He did exactly as she said, and the burst brought down three Drones at once. He grinned, and fired again.
 * The dead Yanme’e began to carpet the floor, and the Spartans’ magazines began to run dry. Erin stopped firing. “Screw this.” she said, and ran down another corridor.
 * “Where the hell is she going?” Dyne asked incredulously. Betraying them again, now?

“I’m out.” He said sorrowfully. :“Here.” Dyne tossed him his SMGs. :Kodiak set them to fire, when he caught movement over Dyne’s shoulder, a crate moving slowly down the hall. Erin was pushing the massive Covenant supply case on its side, filled with small blue orbs. Covenant plasma grenades. :“Damn.” Kodiak said in amazement as she drew nearer. He grabbed two of the spheres, lit, and threw them. The resulting explosion threw torn insect limbs into the air. He went back for more, but Erin stopped him, and pushed the crate into the passage the Drones were spilling out into as the others covered her. :Satisfied with it halfway down the corridor, she grabbed one and lit it, then tossed it in the pile and ran for cover. The orb shone brightly, then detonated, taking the others with it and bathing the entire scene in ghostly blue light. Erin jumped for the corner as the explosion ripped down the hallway, grabbing Kodiak’s hand and swinging her around as plasma scorched the opposite wall. :Kodiak looked back over his shoulder into the corridor, and saw it had collapsed in, blocking the swarm on the other side. He could still here a slight humming as survivors investigated the roadblock. :The three breathed a sigh of relief and sunk against the walls, taking a welcome moment of respite. :“I hate bugs.” Dyne said exasperatedly. :“Agreed.” Kodiak breathed. :“Well, tough luck.” Erin said, reluctantly getting up. “Cause the other reason we’re here is to find a ‘demon’ that was mutated into a bug.” :“What!?!” Dyne yelled, looking over at her. :“Don’t worry, I’ve got something else in mind for you and your AI, Dyne.”

From the cavern beneath, the stench of decay billowed up. Kodiak turned on his breathing filter, and Erin removed her odd helmet from her pack. :“You really think Dyne and the computer can take one of your ‘demons’?” he asked. :Erin donned the helmet and took a deep breath. “If Dyne doesn’t manage to somehow screw everything up on the ship and crash on the short trip he has, they should.” :Beneath them lay a dark cavern, the weak light from their opening revealing the Drone hive. The structure reminded Kodiak of a beehive, yellow-orange columns of what seemed like wax reaching up to the ceiling. :“I really hate these bugs.” Kodiak said as he fixed one of his many combat knives to the muzzle of his sidearm, a suppressed M7/S SMG. :Erin threw a rope into the darkness and switched on her helmet lights. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of them.” :She slid down to the cave floor, and Kodiak followed. He started his lights and said, “No, they are just really. . . creepy.”

The Themistocles

 * Spartan Commander Branwyn of Mirage Team stood at rigid attention on the bridge of the UNSC light cruiser Themistocles. Captain Jim Harris, the ship’s commander, stood with the clipboard report on the TGL-49 expedition in hand. He was a weathered man, hair and mustache grayed but neatly shaved and cut, an exemplary Navy officer.

:“Yes, sir.” She answered smartly, but still in her natural, gentle voice. The voice did not match the tall, white and blue Spartan armor she wore. “They went to get her out, but the officer ordered takeoff as they were trying to help.” :The man sighed, and sank into his chair in front of a hologram table, centered in the shadowy bridge. Computer monitors glowed as Navy personnel rushed back and forth around them. “It couldn’t be helped, I suppose.” Harris said, “ Lieutenant Marx?” :A young man stood up. :“List Spartans S2b one-four and one-seven MIA, along with Lt. Erin Coney.” :“Sir!” :Harris turned back to Branwyn, and stood up once more. “I understand it must be hard for you to lose your brothers. You and your team are off duty until we reach Eden Station, then you’ll be reassigned as they see fit. Dismissed.” :Harris turned back to his holo-table, and Bryn took her leave. :She spoke to no one as she made her way back to the Spartan barracks. The Themistocles was outfitted to care for a score of actively training Spartan Betas, which there had been close enough to before. Her, Morgan, Andor; Kodiak and Dyne of Ion Team; Aspen and the rest of Haze Team; and Jack’s Fury Team had been lodged there, not two weeks ago. Seventeen of them. :Outside the door, two of Fury Team stood guard. Jack, the team leader, was not one of them, but Cody was, armed with two M6Gs at his sides and the katana all of Fury team’s units sported. Cody enjoyed hand to hand fighting, and the two of them often had friendly sparring matches. They jeered and jibed as they all had in their training under Sgt. Stacker, a man later assigned to the Pillar of Autumn and saw action at the first and second halos, as well as the Ark. :“You all right?” he asked, turning the helmet of his light green Mark VI armor. Bryn could only see her own reflection, but knew the look in Cody’s green eyes beneath. :“Fine, why wouldn’t I be?” she asked in return. :“I know you guys were close with Kodiak and Dyne. We all miss them, but it has to hurt you pretty bad.” :She hesitated. “Is she awake?” she said, motioning to the other Fury sitting propped against the wall. :“Pips is out cold. She can’t hear us.” He said, shrugging off her suddenly less powerful tone. :“It isn’t that great losing a close friend like Kodiak, or you, or Dyne. And we lost five others down there, and almost lost Aspen. It feels like there must not be many of us alive anymore if we lost seven, one out of every ten of us, in one day.” :Cody put a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Well, so far as I know, Jack and Captain Harris aren’t sending me anywhere, and I don’t plan on leaving myself. It’ll be alright.” :They exchanged a Spartan smile and Bryn went in, looking for the comfort of her bunk. She walked into the small alcove of four bunks that held Mirage Team. Morgan had shed her armor and was in the bunk above hers, reading her worn copy of The Rainforest Wars. :Bryn took off her armor and threw it into the spare bunk, then swung into her bed. It was little more than a rectangular carving in the wall with a sleeping bag, but it was better than she’d had at Checkpoint One on the planet. :Morgan’s sarcastic voice drifted down from the bunk above. “You know, they must have died trying to save the lieutenant. Ironic. She was the one who commanded the dropship to lift off without them, effectively killing them as they were trying to save her.” :Bryn turned over. “It was their responsibility as Spartans to get everyone out. You or I would have done the same.” :“No, I would have left that marine for dead, following her orders.” :“I think that book is making you a little sadistic.” :Morgan shrugged. “It’s a sad book.” :“It’s better talking to Jack about them than to you.” Bryn said, annoyed. Spartan Commander Jack had disagreed with Commander Kodiak on nearly everything, even if he knew Kodiak was right. The two came as close to hating each other as brothers could. :“Speak of the devil. . .” Morgan said without looking up as Jack walked in. :Out of his armor, Jack walked rigidly as if standing before an officer. He had a shaved head, hard green eyes set deep into his worn face, and he carried an M4C revolver on his belt. Sighting Branwyn, he strode up and regarded the two women of Mirage Team. “I’d appreciate it if you’d stand up when I talk to you.” :Morgan nonchalantly flipped a page. “Bite me.” :Jack didn’t so much as flinch, “That’s an order.” :Bryn and Morgan rolled smartly out of bed and stood next to each other. Beneath the Mjolnir Mark VI armor each Spartan wore light military fatigues, a sort of pajamas for supersoldiers. :Jack fake smiled and tilted his head towards Morgan. “No back talk next time, okay sweetheart?” :Morgan smiled back, her ice blue eyes and short, snowy hair matched her cold tone, “Anything you say, honey.” :He turned to the other. “Spartan Commander Branwyn, Captain Harris has hailed an Elite vessel to glass the planet. They are meeting with us soon, and he wants you to be there when they arrive. Meet him at Cargo Bay Two.” :Without another word, Jack about-faced and walked away. :Branwyn sighed and began to head out as Morgan went back to her book.

Remains

 * In the deep of space, the UNSC Nightshade shot out of the slipspace and glided in the void. The freighter in the night was black on black, the only sign of its existence the stars that were hidden from view by it cruising over the velvet cosmos.

From its belly, the ship opened and a small Pelican dropship fell out. It’s engines lit up and the small troop carrier descended to the sea of glass below.


 * After an easy landing, Dyne jumped out the back of his dropship, a BR-55 rifle in hand and a scoped M6C/SOCOM on his thigh. Dyne’s sand tan and crimson armor was the only spot of color against the lifeless gray of the glass around him. It towered up into a windswept and desolate landscape. The land was smooth on its surface and sharp where it was broken. Hills had been blown into glossy lumps by the wind, and places where the surface had cracked left spears of glass. The whole place echoed of things long forgotten.

:“Yeah.” he said, and started out into the wasteland. He tried to keep his mind off the fact that he was hunting a Spartan.
 * ‘Demon’, he corrected himself. “Lot of history here. One of the first places the Covies hit.”

:Dyne sighed. “Lets just do what we’re here for, and leave. This place looks like something out of my nightmares. You sure you know where we’re going?” :The ice-water feeling in his mind warmed slightly as Jasmine double and triple checked her systems. “The armor of Spartan II Martyr-03 is in a semi-glassed building a fourth-mile from here. As for her herself, I cannot be sure.” :“Fantastic.”

It was obvious she wasn’t trying to hide, the old concrete building had been transformed during the glassing. Now, an obsidian column rose up from the gray valley, a lone spire in the windswept glass. It wasn’t difficult to find a way in; Dyne simply set a frag grenade on the outside of a glassed over window and swung inside the blasted-open hole. :“Well this is different.” Jasmine stated. The old military facility had been nearly untouched inside and preserved as it had been fifty years before. The pale light from outside sifted in through the translucent glass, giving the concrete room twilight stillness. The only door out gave way to a pitch-black hall. :“Old. Reminds me of Sgt. Stacker’s office.” :“Sgt. Stacker?” :“The man who trained us. He was an ODST.” Dyne thought back on him. Since he had last seen the Sergeant, they had lost twenty-three S2bs on the line. :Dyne slung the battle rifle over the magnetic plate on his spine, and unclipped the M6/SOCOM. He twisted on the flashlight under the barrel, and decided to ignore those on his helmet. Too much light would give him away to his quarry. :In his mind, Jasmine warmed, looking at the information she had gleaned from the Nightshade. “Pete Stacker, now Sergeant Major after the MIA status of Avery Junior Johnson. Noted for surviving both Installation 04 and 05, as well as the Ark. He seems to have been the ideal person to train Spartans.” :Dyne advanced down the dark hall, the pistol light illuminating his path. “He did a good job.” Though he said no more, his thoughts continued. ''‘For the most part. . .’''	:Jasmine suddenly cooled. “You know, I can read your thoughts Dyne. What do you mean?” :Reaching the end of the hallway, Dyne eased open a rusted iron door. “It’s just that this mission brings up a few memories. The S2b program had its failures too.” :“The three non-grads?” :“No, an old teammate.” :Jasmine heated with thought, trying to guess what he meant. “So you’ve hunted Spartans before?” :“No. Ask Kodiak about it sometime.” :The door opened out into a large warehouse room, only the far end lighted by a hanging lamp. In the center lay a motionless form in a sleeping bag. Dyne switched off the flashlight on his M6 as he entered the light. :He pointed the sidearm and whispered, “I’m sorry.” :Only then did he notice the trap. :As he saw the jumble of a backpack in the sleeping bag, Jasmine almost yelled, “Movement! Behind you!” :Dyne spun, but only had begun to turn when something hit the back of his helmet, hard. He fell to his knees, then twisted and collapsed to the floor. As darkness crept around his vision, he looked up into a pair of bloody red eyes.

Blade of the Prophets

 * Vract Aeramee knelt before the prophet as he examined the relic he had recovered. The red armor he had been given glowed in the soft orange light of the Renewed Strength’s bridge. Scars covered his body, received from honorable fights to the dishonor of a dungeon cell. They marked him as a hero and shamed him as a fool.

:All through the spacious bridge, other Sangheili stood watching the prophet. Vract bowed not of necessity but of respect. After the Great Schism, Redemption had been dismayed by the actions of Truth. Fleeing with his ship, he liberated the dishonored and imprisoned kaidonship of Vallen, and Vract, the last of the line Aeram, with them. He was the last of his family. :The prophet finally tore his gaze from the helmet and looked upon Vract. When he spoke, his voice did not attempt to hide his curiosity for the universe itself.
 * “Rise, warrior, we do no longer live by the shackles of the Old Covenant, or its descendants.”

“Do you know of the history behind the armor which you so willingly quested for?” :“I never asked the details, when I knew that such that you searched for would help us to accomplish our Journey.” He said sullenly. :“I should think that after the events of the Schism, your kind would begin to question that which made no sense to them. I was wrong.” Redemption turned back to the armor, a full suit of emerald glory, and each individual piece floating in an order that made it seem as if a ghostly invisible warrior still inhabited the harness. “When I fled a Covenant who had turned its back on those who founded it, I knew I could not side with the Heretics who joined the Humans. They were blinded by their hatred, and in their new quest to destroy Truth, they had lost sight of the Journey. And becoming the Prophet of Redemption, I freed those who were already branded as Heretics for incompetence so grand that it could not possibly be accidental.” :Vract winced as the words were spoken, as did many of the other Sangheili. :“They, you, would be redeemed, and light the rings one day leading all others on the Path. But we are few. To fight our way past the Humans and Heretics, we need relics of great power. Such as this.” :He caressed the emerald finish with a hand. :“This suit was worn by a warrior who went in search of the power of the Forerunner’s warriors themselves. He was Aeram, the namesake of your lineage. He did not return, and some said he failed. You have proven them wrong. The powers of this armor are far greater than what its original creators could have imagined it to be. Aeram was able to forge the power of the greatest Forerunner warriors in this armor. I bestow it upon you, Vract Aeramee, and proclaim you the Pathfinder of our Journey.” :The other Elites suddenly went up in cheers as Vract stepped forward and fit the helmet upon his serpentine head. It fit him perfectly.

The room was meant for such contemplation, small flecks of light dancing their meaningless patterns that seemed so much more. :Vract’s thoughts went towards what he would have to do to escape both the Brutes of the Old Covenant Remnant, and the Heretics and Humans who sought to sway them from the Path. :His considerations were interrupted suddenly by a demon. Sepia, to be exact. “Hello Vract.” She said sinuously, a too-sweet smile on her soft features. :The demon had come to Redemption displaying amazing knowledge of the Great Journey. She pleaded that she no longer wanted to live among the Heretics and ignorant Humans. Redemption had accepted her, and so she became the first demon to join the cause of lighting the rings. But Vract still mistrusted her. :Sepia walked through the blue smoke, and it streamed off her amber Covenant furnished armor. Wreathed in the haze, she appeared a real demon here to shake his faith. “So, you are now a guardian of the path. That won’t leave us much time for our games, will it?” :“What in the name of the gods are you here for?” Vract said angrily, never moving his eyes from straight ahead. :Sepia’s violet eyes sparkled from under the dark veil of her hair. “Come now, is that any way to treat the person who is supposed to protect you, the protector of our Journey?” :“You are not coming with me anywhere.” :She dropped her smile for a bored expression. “I don’t want to. But Redemption does, and we all must follow his design if we are to succeed.” :“Why would he want you to follow me?” :Sepia admired the difference of sides of her new suit. While the same color as her old Spartan armor, the new set was much lighter and stronger, and the left hand was built with sharp claws that could deliver an electric pulse to a target. A fearsome weapon, as twisted toward causing pain as she was. “The answer is quite simple. He doesn’t trust you. Or more specifically, Daak. Redemption doubts his faith in the Great Journey, and does not want his doubt to corrupt you.” :Daak Vallenee was the closest thing to a friend Vract had ever had, even before his disgrace at the hands of a demon. The two met in a Covenant prison, and had served Redemption side-by-side. Daak had once spoken to a Heretic, and seemed not as sure in the Great Journey since. :“Daak is not a concern of Redemption, or you.” :“Oh, but he is. He is.” :With that, Sepia slipped back into the shadow, and was gone.

Krast

 * The deeper into the Drone hive they got, the more Kodiak hated them. The beehive was constantly buzzing as Yanme’e fluttered about doing seemingly pointless tasks.

Erin walked ahead of him, holding the small computer in front of her. :“Do you really know where you’re going?” he asked. :“Not exactly, but I know we need to head in this general direction.” :“So when will we get to where we’re going?” :“Actually,” she stopped and looked up. “The thing we’re looking for should be right here.” :A laugh sounded from somewhere in the darkness of the hive. It rasped and made Kodiak’s ears wince. The voice sounded amused and crazed. “So, they did send someone to finish me. I wondered if it would be them or the Covenant, which would seek to end me first. But I did not presume I would have the honor of being killed by a Spartan. . .”	:Erin yelled into the shadows, M6C readied. “Come out, Kent. You can’t hide from us.” :The voice laughed again. “Ah, and you yourself were sent, sister. I should have guessed it would be you sent to kill me. I go by Krast now. And I am hiding, and I could hide for much longer. But why wait.” :Kodiak flashed his light up as part of the ceiling extended down and seemed to unfold. His light revealed a Spartan hanging upside-down, but it was horribly disfigured. Where stomach had been, skeletal ribs hooked out like sharp spears, and other spines protruded from the monster’s back. Insect wings were displayed wide, translucent and blue. :What had once been Mjolnir armor was now torn hunks of metal attached to the form by tattered black fabric, the only thing still intact was the blue CQB helmet. Kodiak doubted he wanted to see what was under it. :Erin loosed several quick shots from the M6C, and Krast sprung backwards into shadow. Erin ducked behind a column and reloaded, while Kodiak advanced slowly forward, M7S held high. The beam of light from his helmet saw only the columns and mist of the hive. :Without warning ghostly blue plasma streamed in from his right, and Kodiak rolled out of the line of fire. He caught sight of Krast with a plasma rifle in each hand and another in each clawed foot. The monster was laughing hysterically as it loosed volleys of blue fire at them. :Taking one of the plasma grenades he had saved on his belt, he activated and hurled it out at the source of the incoming fire. Krast had ample time to see and dodge it, leaping back into shadows as the orb flew past and exploded. :Kodiak looked up at the ceiling, anticipating the next strike, and moved back to back with Erin. “See anything?” he asked. :“Yeah. . .” she said and pointed. :Krast had withdrawn to the top of one of the columns, and now held two golden cannons over his disfigured shoulders. :“Crap.” Kodiak muttered, and Krast let fly an array of green missiles from the Fuel Rod Guns. Kodiak could only brace himself as one of the shots hit him in the chest. The blast threw him into the air and against a wax pillar. His armor’s shielding broke, the electronics sparking and his torso coated with soot. :Erin held fire with the M6 as Krast slid down the smooth pillar to the ground in front of her. The two stood not three feet apart, pointing the weapons at each other. :“I think I have you beaten in firepower.” Krast jeered in his harsh voice. :“Kodiak, grenade.” :Kodiak tossed an unarmed plasma grenade to her, and Erin kicked it up to the ceiling, the boot activating the small glowing sphere. :Krast didn’t even flinch at the action, and brought the cannons to bear. “You missed, sister.” he growled a laugh. :“I’m not your sister.” Erin replied as the grenade went off far above. “And I never miss.” :She leaped away, and Krast turned about. The column he had just slid down had been severed at the top, and the massive hulk of Drone wax came down as Krast screamed. The lump crushed him, kicking up a thin layer of dust from the littered floor. :Kodiak waved away the dust and heard Erin coughing. He got up and found her holstering the M6 at her side. :“Ouch. . .” he said plainly. “What’d he mean by you’re his sister?” :“Nothing.” She turned and walked away silently, and the Spartan followed.

Metria

 * After a long period of deep sleep, Dyne came around to find himself out of his Mjolnir armor and bound at the hands and feet. The tan and red suit was lying in a heap across the dark room. He was under the same spotlight he had approached before he was beat senseless.

:Dyne snickered, knowing Kodiak would have laughed at that. His noise must have alerted his captor he was up, as he heard something move in the darkness. :“I guess you’re the one I’m here to find,” he said. :“You mean kill.” The voice of a woman sneered back. :Dyne tasted blood in his mouth. “Spartan Martyr 03?” :“I have a name!” the voice shouted back. :“Of course you do. But I don’t know what it is.” Dyne looked around, trying to catch sight of her. “How about you come out so I can see you, and tell me your name.” :The voice remained silent, but Dyne could hear footsteps circling him. :“Alright, I’ll go first. I’m Dyne. A Spartan Two Beta.” :“Ooh, a new Spartan. A hero to keep the peace after the real heroes are done fighting.” :“Hey, I fought in the war, too. Do you have a name or not?” :The voice paused. “I did once. But for a long time, the things that made me like I am now just called me Metria.” :“That’s not a bad name.” :“It’s a number. The number the aliens gave me.” A figure stepped into the light. She was slender, sickly pale skin covered with a layer of dirt, and raven hair now matted by sweat and dust. A faded red suit that had once kept Mjolnir Mark IV armor together matched her hate-filled red eyes. Dyne could see she had been down here for a long time. She curled her lip in disgust, revealing pointed teeth, and a pair of fangs. “You’re lucky I didn’t kill you.” :Metria held Dyne’s M6/SOCOM at her side. He remained silent as she began. “I never did anything to deserve what’s happened to me. Doctor Halsey recruited me, said I would do great things as a hero of Earth and the UNSC. And now she sends one of her ‘perfected’ creations after me.” :“I’m just following orders.” Dyne realized it was a mistake to say it even as he did. :“Following orders!?” Metria screamed at him, “I followed orders when I got on the ship outside UNSC space. I followed orders when I got in a Pelican and met with the aliens. And I followed orders when they left me here, tormented by them. They made me into this monster.” :“You don’t look like a monster.” :“Well then, Dyne, there’s no such thing as a vampire. But I’m as close as you’ll get. The Elites made me stronger, faster, stealthier, than you could hope to be. But sunlight hurts. And I need to drink blood plasma. Blood. Tell me that doesn’t make me a monster.” :“How the hell have you survived down here?” Dyne asked. :“I broke loose. And instead of killing the Elites, I imprisoned them. And every day I exact my revenge on them, by feeding.” :Dyne shivered. :“I haven’t had the chance to taste human, never mind Spartan. I kept you alive so I can feed.” :Dyne wasn’t going to let that happen. He kicked at her legs and rolled across the floor to his armor. Metria lost her balance for a moment, but only that. She fired the magnum as Dyne pushed himself over the pile of armor. He reached behind him and grabbed a boot as shots pinged off the torso plating. Inside was a combat knife. :“Thank you Kodiak!” Dyne said to himself. :As Dyne cut himself loose, Metria strode forward, firing shots at Dyne’s cover. Then he leapt up and tackled her with knife in hand, the M6 thrown out of reach. Metria absorbed Dyne’s attack, the blade sinking into her skin without her even noticing. She twisted his arm fiercely, causing him to drop the knife. She had been right, Metria was many times stronger than Dyne. Then she threw him, and he whirled through the air and landed on his stomach. Metria picked up the knife, still wetted with her own mutated blood and advanced. :Dyne stood back up, holding the pistol in one hand. Metria stopped dead in her tracks. The two stood there, Dyne breathing heavily. He pointed the pistol. “Drop the knife.” :It clattered to the floor. :“Kick it over to me.” :She did, and Dyne picked it up. Without another word, he walked over to his armor, and suited up. Jasmine’s presence swept back into his mind. Dyne kept his helmet off, and clipped the M6 to his side. The sniper rifle secured over his back, Dyne exited the room the way he had first come in, never taking his eyes off her. Putting his helmet back on, Dyne examined the knife. Metria’s blood was red, but it glistened as if some sort of liquid metal. :“Why didn’t you kill her, like you were ordered?” Jasmine asked. :“Because she hasn’t done anything to anyone in her life. I’m not going to add myself to the list of people who hurt her.” :“But it was an order.” :“Just leave it alone. We’ll report her as KIA, got it?” He could feel her reluctant consent without any real words. “Get analysis on this.” He held the knife in the gauntlet with Jasmine’s chip. :“Done. Why?” :“Because maybe someday I can come back here and help her.”

Glorious Combat

 * Vract once again knelt in front of the Prophet of Redemption, this time between his friend Daak on his left and Sepia the Demon on his right. He was in the emerald armor of his ancestor, two unlit energy blades at his sides. Sepia was in her helmetless amber armor holding a similar blade, and Daak with his own sword and donned in crimson armor.

It would be of no consequence as they would be trapped there, but the Human ship’s arrival complicates things. While there is a chance, however slim, that the Flood have stowed aboard, the ship and those on board must be sacrificed. You will board it and kill the Demons on board to ensure they do not escape, then we shall burn the planet, regardless of any contaminated relics our gods have left there.” :“It shall be done, noble Prophet.” Vract replied dutifully, and the three of them turned and left for the docking bay. Walking behind the other two as they exited the bridge, Vract was suddenly pulled to one side. It was Daak’s sister, S’ren Vallen. She had been imprisoned for impersonating a soldier and fighting the humans. :“I’m going with you.” She hissed, definitely not asking. :“No, you are not.” :“You let the demoness fight, and not me? I have proven to you more than enough how I am skilled-” :Vract put his hand on her shoulder. “If you were even touched by a human, how do you think Daak would react. You’re all he has left.” :“My brother worries too much.” She replied, looking away. :Vract paused. “I will arrange it so you may pilot the Spirit on our next mission. Will this satisfy you for now?” :“No. But it’s a start.” :He grinned, and followed his comrades.

He gazed at the Forerunner lettering, making sure to respect the secrets of their technology. The demoness, as he watched her, was far less respectful. :Sepia met his gaze as she tossed the handle like a tool from hand to hand. Her new armor fit her form, but it was by no means comfortable, having been fashioned from spare pieces of Sangheili combat harness. Neither was willing to look away, forced to work together, but by no means trusting each other. :Vract walked into the middle of this, and their attention turned to him, as if each vying for his support against the other. With little hesitation, Vract walked over and knelt next to Daak. Sepia looked away, not surprised, and walked over to a supply case loaded with Carbines. :Vract whispered, “They don’t trust you.” :“I am aware.” Daak said, eyes still focused on his sword handle. :“It’s because they doubt your faith in the Journey.” :“It’s because I doubt in them.” Daak said, turning to him. “They are too willing to make sacrifices of all of us to assure their own ascension. Although the Demoness only wants for power, I think. She plays with others’ minds, and delights in causing pain. These Demons really are hateful creatures.” :“Like it or not, she’s on our side.” :“For now.” :The three of them walked into a tube that would take them to the human ship.

:“Welcome aboard. You will find-” :At that moment Sepia brought the sword handle up to Harris’ chest, and activated the blades. A light mist of evaporating blood drifted past her cruelly smiling face as the marines behind Harris gasped. He fell to the floor as the two guards opened fire with assault rifles, but they had no chance against a Covenant enhanced Spartan. :Vract Aeramee stepped out of the tube, followed by Daak, who was carrying the explosives that would take the ship down. :Vract readied one of his swords. “There are other demons on this ship. I shall slay them so they may not escape their destruction. Plant the explosives and report to me if there is any sign the Parasite may be on board.” :With that, the green armored Sangheili dashed off down a passageway.

A Sangheili with an energy sword rounded the corner a ways behind them. :“Rifle!” she called as the second man ran past her, and he gladly tossed her his assault rifle. She set the bolt and opened fire. :Vract responded by charging down the hall as bullets pinged off his shields and caused them to flare up a golden color. Reaching Bryn, he swung the sword down, and she leaned out of the way before flipping up the end of the rifle and driving him back with a blow. Even without her armor, she was still nothing to underestimate. :Vract’s next swing cleaved the rifle in two. Bryn gave him a harsh kick before turning about to get to the other Spartans, Vract following not far behind her.

Inside was Jack, suit on but for the helmet he had under an arm, Cody, Pips, and another Fury in armor, as well as Andor and Morgan. :“Suit up, the Elites are hostile!” :All of them sprang into action, Bryn and her team getting in armor as Jack donned his Security helmet and his team took up and drew their katana longswords. They were coated with a blue tint that would repel the blades of the energy sword. :“Branwyn, get your team to the bridge and defend it at all costs.” Jack shouted.

The two Fury Team guards drew longswords and held ready. He approached calmly, walking without fear or other emotion. :The two Spartans attacked, but Vract tucked, rolled, and grabbed them by the backs of their helmets. Then he twisted. :Their Mjolnir helmets locked to cybernetic ports in their necks, and if they were removed too quickly. . .	:The two gasped and fell to the floor, the katanas clattering. :Vract grinned evilly. The power this harness gave him made him nigh invincible. Its Forerunner technologies were far greater than those of the demons’ were. He could sense the presence of four others on the other side of the door. He unclipped the pair of swords and ignited the blades.

His own treated katana would be able to deflect the plasma edges. Jack opened with a downward strike, matched by Cody. The elite swept the blade in an arc and pushed them back, then engaged close in with Pips and the other Fury, Owen.

Given the chance, he might have prolonged the fight. He felt a pang of regret that he had to kill them so swiftly, then kicked the female and decapitated the other.

The green armored elite then turned on Pips, but Cody charged in alone with a yell and aggressive swings of his longsword. :The elite stepped back, blocking hit after hit without showing any exertion. Finally, he caught Cody’s blade between the two of his own weapon, then drove his other sword through the Spartan’s ribs. Cody silently sank to his knees, then fell sideways to the floor. :Jack and Pips came at him together now, prepared. :Metal met plasma again and again as the three dueled. Vract spun his blades around him as the Furies slashed at him. In a minute, Vract turned on Jack, taking his left arm, his right leg, and his life. :Pips, now the last of her brothers and sisters, stepped back as Vract took the offensive. He could practically sense the fear beneath the helmet, and for an absurd moment, Vract wondered if his harness’ strange powers allowed him to read the demon’s mind. :He shrugged off the thought. If it was so, it was best to end her fear. :A quick flourish brushed her blade aside, and a slash with the tips of his sword sent her to a grave, free of her pain.