The Hybrid a FanFic by Tehface
"Look for the signs, the keepers of the flame. They will lead you to war, and perhaps, to victory."
Part Six- War Heroes
"Gross!"
A Corporal shouted, mistaking the statement.
Some Marines cracked up, even the Sergeant Major flashed a brief smile.
The Elites looked confused, and slightly annoyed.
"Get it Arbiter? Touching?" The Corporal spoke to the largest Elite, poking it's arm.
The Arbiter ignored the soldier, staring at Mark.
Mark's breaths came in ragged gasps, teleportation was painful, especially if your own body provided the energy.
"Human. Are you alright? What happened?" the alien asked Mark.
"I'm fine. I...I" Mark managed to start, but the Sergeant Major cut it.
"At another place," he ordered, then he turned to the other humans and Elites, "You never saw him? Am I clear?"
The Marines all snapped a salute, but the Elites first turned to the Arbiter, who nodded, as did they.
"All right. Vince, Arbiter, come with me, bring Etch-A-Sketch," the Major said, then turned to another Sergeant, "You're in charge of this Recon now."
The Corporal, Vince, and the Arbiter each grabbed one of Mark's arms, and followed the
Sergeant Major to a transport Warthog parked nearby.
Securing Mark into the back, the two proceded to sit next to him. The Major positioned himself in the drivers seat, and started to drive.
"Where are we going Raymond?" the Arbiter asked.
"Back to the ship," the Sergeant Major, Raymond, said, "where I imagine the ONI spooks will want to interview the poor bastard."
"It seems he's the by-product of a Forerunner experiment, a biological one, at that." said the Arbiter.
"So they messed with his body?" Vince sputtered.
Raymond looked back at Vince, then jerked his head to Mark. "Ask him."
Mark thought for a second, then looked at Vince sadly.
When he truly thought about it, he didn't know.
It was silent for awhile, the foliage of the area passing by in a blur.
Then, they drove into a clearing and came to a stop.
"This is where the Pelican will pick us up." Raymond stated, getting out of the Warthog and stretching.
"Your not going to bolt on us right?" Vince asked Mark, who shook his head. Then Vince released Mark's restraints.
Mark hopped out, straining his sore muscles. Vince opened a storage container, and pulled out some old marine armor.
"Here man, put this on, it's kinda old but should work for now." Vince said, giving Mark the gear.
While he equipped the armor, Mark noticed he was only wearing cloth-like shorts. The armor had belonged to a very slender Marine, it was a tight fit.
A voice blared out of Raymonds walkie-talkie, " This is Groundreaper, ETA 3 Minutes, over. "
"Alright...uh..." Raymond said, looking at Mark.
"It's Mark," he said.
"Ah yes, Mark. When we get to the ship, we're all going to go directly to the Captains quarters. Do not make contact with anyone on the ship unless I tell you to do so. You hear?" the Major looked over Mark, daring him to say otherwise.
"Yes, sir ." Mark replied bitterly. Already he didn't like Raymond.
Sometimes power gets to peoples' heads.
Mark froze.
He heard something, a familiar noise, the sound of anti-gravity boosters, and lots of them.
"Guys?" He asked, and saw they heard them too.
The Arbiter grabbed his carbine and held it at the ready.
Vince threw Mark a SMG, supressed.
Raymond was looking at the sky, his Assault Rifle up.
Five Banshees zoomed over the trees.
"Get Down!" Vince screamed.
In sync, they hit the dirt.
**********************************
"This is the UNSC Carrier 'Bundle of Joy' in response to your distress call, does anyone read?"
No reply was heard, but a beacon showed where the call was made.
The ship descended towards the Ark, and the Gravemind prepared.