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  • Subject: Halo: ODST (High Charity) [Revision 2.0] *Part VII Up*
Subject: Halo: ODST (High Charity) [Revision 2.0] *Part VII Up*
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The story of Gunnery Sergeant Scott McHale should be a familiar one to some of the readers in the Gallery Forum. I have decided to go over it again, fix things up, and make it better than before. For previous readers, I hope you enjoy this take once more and for newcomers, I hope you enjoy it for the first time. Since this is version 2.0, you can still feel free to leave suggestions.

Part I: Captured

The hums of the Phantom, the lingering stench of decay, and the wild smell of Brute fur awoke Gunnery Sergeant Scott McHale as he gazed at the gargantuan ape-like creatures. He causally craned his head and stared at the pile of bodies littering the Phantom dropship, the bodies of his squad. He could not tell who was alive or dead, not one figure made an attempt to make the most minuscule movement of any muscle.

McHale and the bodies were Orbital Drop Shock Troopers who made up the second initial force against the Covenant on the ring world known as Halo. The In Amber Clad had jumped with the Prophet of Regret's carrier over the New Mombasa skyline back on Earth and ended up thousands of miles away to this curious installation. His squad didn't go in HEV pods with the other ODSTs, Sergeant Johnson, and Spartan-117, or Master Chief as he was commonly know. Instead, they landed on Halo inside a Pelican after they were signaled that Chief and another squad of Marines and ODST's breached an alien temple based in the center of a lake.

Unfortunately, it was at bad timing. When they got to their landing zone, a Covenant capital ship appeared over the temple and blasted it away with the Marines and Chief still residing in it. Their dismay was interrupted by a neon-green Fuel Rod Cannon round that tore apart their Pelican, effectively isolating them from any rescue. Looks like the Chief didn't completely clear out the area of all Covenant forces beforehand after all like they were briefed. Nobody saw the Brutes stationed anywhere on the Halo and it was a surprise to see the apes blitzing out of the jungle around them. Those cunning, yet savage, creatures waited for the Pelican to set down and drop it's precious soldiers before attacking. The initial Fuel Rod round and Brute Shot grenades rendered the Pelican inoperable and a smoldering husk.

Getting back to the present situation, McHale saw that the attack had taken it's toll on his squad,some of whom were now showing signs of life. Private Paul Anderson lay motionless near the foot of a Brute, his head apparently caved in by the giant's foot, bone, brain, and blood pooled together. Corporal Mohamed Al-Kali was sitting with his back against the Phantom's wall, but he was either dead or resting, Scott couldn't tell. Privates George and Richard Hodges were looking alive, at least for the timebeing.

Suddenly, he felt the Phantom jerk to a grinding halt and the witnessed the hatches open. He was promptly picked up by a gray haired Brute, along with his other living members of his fellow ODSTs, and taken off the ship. A blinding light momentarily made him wince his eye's before the polarization of his helmet kicked in, but when it did all he could do was gaze in majesty. Before him was seemingly limitless sight of a Covenant city with a three pronged tower in the middle, all in the classic violet the Covie's loved so much. It was High Charity, the holy space station and city of the Covenant war machine.

Turning his neck to the left he noticed another Phantom go to the opposite part of this station, probably another batch of prisoners unlucky enough to be subdued by the Covenant. The outside view quickly disappeared as he was led into a dark hallway, only lite by dim light violet and crimson lighting, and to an anti-gravity elevator. The ultimate destination of this platform was an area that many humans could identify, a cell. Inside he found their were other prisoners, though certainly not human. Angry, rabid Jackals snapped at them with the fire of rage in their eye's and a creamy white froth excreting form their beaks. Richard was thrown in their cell, his screams hinting hauntingly at what was being done to him, sometimes an imagination was not needed to convey a tragic end. His brother George tried to break free from the iron grip of his Brute captors, but was quickly recaptured by a Brute and thrown into an empty, dank cell. Al-Kali and McHale were tossed into a separate cell across from George's. His helmet flew away from his face and his sense were all attacked at once. The death of Richard, the horrific stench of the cells, and a pulsating migraine were too much for McHale to handle . He found the embrace of unconsciousness once more.

Elsewhere on High Charity, in the midst of the Prophets, a green "demon" appeared in a dazzling yellow shroud. His judgment would be the one who reigned supreme in the Prophet's domain.

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Part II: Freedom...Or Not

McHale was brutally awaken with a stinging smack to his face by a hand, a human hand. Al-Kali was standing above him, purple blood soaking his armor.

"Come one Gunny, time to get moving" Al-Kali said "I'm not sure how long we have to do so."

Still adjusting to his sudden awakening, Scott managed to utter, "Report Corporal, I need to know exactly what happened."

The bear of a man that was Al-Kali replied in a thick Middle Eastern accent, "About ten minutes ago a brief power surge opened our cells, all of ours". Al-Kali answer clarified the appearance of the purple blood splattered on his chest. McHale staggered out of the cell and saw the carnage, all the rabid Jackals were dead, some had their necks snapped while others suffered blunt force trauma. Al-Kali was know for his sudden improvisation, this wouldn't be a terrible different case.

Suddenly, remembrance of George surged in his mind like a cascading ocean wave pounding against a beachhead, but he was relieved to see his other squad mate alive. Hodges was sitting down, head in his elevated legs in an obvious form of depression and grief. McHale walked up to the motionless statue that was George and gently put his hand on his head. Scott gaze him a stare that said simply "We have to go now". Corporal Mohamed strolled over to the two of them and gave them each some Covenant weaponry, a Covenant Carbine for George and a Plasma Rifle for Scott.

"Where did you find these Corporal?", McHale asked Al-Kali, a tab bit little impressed that Al-Kali managed to secure weapons. "They kept them in containers just outside the door", Al-Kali replied, "Seems odd when you consider the prisoners are only separated by a door.

Scott smiled and laughed at the stupidity the Covenant employed with their jail security, it was simply asinine. George said nothing.

"Oh", Al-Kali said "I think you'll need this", he handed Scott his helmet. The hissing vacuum seal of the helmet met his armor and he was ready to go.

Al-Kali walked up to the elevator console and attempted to hail an elevator down. All he kept getting was an annoying beep and a red light. That's when George made an "up" motion with his hands at the elevator already descending down to them.

"I didn't call that elevator, get down!" Al-Kali screamed. The trio crouched down behind the console to avoid being spotted.

The hum of the anti-gravity technology that powered the elevator was getting closer and closer, tensions rose in each ODST.

"On three, we attack whatever is on that elevator", McHale ordered as both Al-Kali and Hodges nodded. Once it touched down, Scott and George unleashed a torrent of plasma on the unfortunate Grunts and Jackals that were on the elevator. Al-Kali, Needler in hand, lunged at a Jackal and slammed the needle side on the remaining Jackal's face. Puncture holes and torn flesh mapped the dead Jackal's face as Al-Kali ripped the Needler from it's face.

"Well men", McHalo said "Nest stop, anywhere but here". The ODSTs stepped up on the elevator lifted up to the top.

Elsewhere on High Charity, a separate group of Marines, on the verge of abandoning hope, stared at the figure coming the their aid, the Prophet's challenger.



[Edited on 02.08.2010 12:27 PM PST]

  • 01.29.2010 5:21 PM PDT
Subject: Halo: ODST (High Chairty) [Revision 2.0] *Part I and II Up*
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Part III: Discovery

The pulsating hum of the gravity lift sounded off the walls as the team of ODSTs soared to their destination, the Phantom docks. All they had to do was go up and grab a Phantom ride out of High Charity, a fairly simple task. Unfortunately, their ride came to a screeching halt about seven levels from their intended destination. That presented a problem, instead of quickly making it to the dock undetected, they now had to take an alternate route that risked exposure to the Covenant.

Luckily, they stopped at an open door and stepped out to find a luxurious area before them. A large tree stood near them and just behind it was an imposing statue of a Covenant Prophet, the species of large headed aliens that seemed to be the Covenant's religious leadership. It's arms were outstretched in a manner of embrace, ironic considering they had been exterminating the human race for the better half of the century.

McHale stared at the statute when Al-Kali stepped next to him and said, "Looks like these bastards aren't much different than we are when you think about it."

"How so?", asked McHale,"Referring to the the extermination of races or what?".

"Nah, I mean they make statues of themselves all the while praising a fictional deity or deities," Al-Kali corrected "Were, or are, we much different?".

Scott shrugged off the question and motioned to a glowing hologram at the end of the area, it's neon purple glow continuing to uphold the color tastes of the aliens. It seemed to be a 3D display of High Charity with a shimmering yellow dot probably indicating their location.

"We should be here," McHale motioned to the dot, "And we want to get to the docks that are right here, see the grav lift was right there and if connects to this area. According to this hologram, it would seem we have a big trek ahead of us as we now have to slowly make our way up through a set of pipes."

No sign of disagreement came from his squad and they huffed it to their designated location updated to their HUDs. Things would have gone smoothly if they hadn't bumped into five gargantuan Brutes, suffice to say both groups were surprised. Of course, that didn't mean the surprise would last as both humans and Brutes opened fire on each other.

The ODSTs sprinted behind the grand Prophet statue while the Brutes took cover behind planters and the walls. Flashes of green Carbine blots, red Brute Plasma Rifle blasts, and pink crystalline Needler shards flew across the air in the heat of battle. Each ODST knew they were not in a good position and needed to find a safer position, which they saw in an open door. Without much knowledge of what room it was, they roadie ran to it while still avoiding the Brute's fire.

As they rushed inside the room, George slide to a console and closed the door. Shortly after the sound of the pounding Brutes echoed through the room, which turned out to be a security room of sorts. Numerous monitors filled the room and created a bright light that illuminated every square inch inside. One particular screen struck the most interest in McHale, it showed a prison section much like the one that they had just broken out of. The Marines inside were escaping under the supervision of a green armored figure, it was Master Chief.

"Well boys I'll be damned," remarked McHale, "Seems our Spartan made it." The other ODSTs seemed stunned that Chief had survived, understandably considering he was last seen at a temple being vaporized by a Covenant cruiser. Needless to say, they were in a spiritual awe as the morale cascaded back into their systems.

McHale turned around and said with enthusiasm, "ODSTs, it's time for us to regroup with Master Chief, grab a Phantom and get the Hell out of here, sound good?".

Al-Kali and George nodded in agreement, but something was amiss inside the security suite, the Brute's had stopped pounding on the door. Cautiously, George opened the door to investigate the mystery only to be tackled by an Elite. The imposing figure quickly stood up, it's black armor shone by the monitors. Without hesitation, Al-Kali snatched up George while McHale opened fire with his Carbine.

The Elite warrior ignited his Energy Sword and deflected the rounds with it causing sparks to shimmer from the weapon. With a roar it jumped and thrust the blade into George. His screams echoed through the room and the weapon pierced his stomach and seared his flesh. Al-Kali's fist crashed into the Elite's face while McHale jumped on the alien and jammed his Carbine into creature's gaping mouth. With rapid succession he squeezed the trigger, ending the foul monster's life.

Not forgetting their dying comrade, they turned to George and tried to help him to no avail. Within minutes, he was dead from the deadly Energy Sword that ruptured his organs with fiery plasma and brute force.

"Damn it!", McHale grunted ,"God -blam!- damn it!".

They were now down a man and they still had to escape this hellhole. Things couldn't go any worse.

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Everywhere on High Charity, uneasy trust became full fledged hatred. It started with a Brute pumping an Elite's head full of Needler shards. It was the Elite that slaughtered the five Brutes banging on the security rooms door. Now, the ODSTs, and even Master Chief, were in the middle of an all out Civil War. The Great Schism had started.

  • 02.01.2010 6:04 PM PDT
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  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

GO GO VADER! (that sounded weird lol)

  • 02.02.2010 10:24 AM PDT
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Part IV: Chances

Shock.That was the only thing running through Gunnery Sergeant Scott McHale's body at that moment. George was dead, cut down by a Elite's Energy Sword, now he could be with his brother in everlasting sleep. A massive hand perched itself on McHale's shoulder, he turned to find Al-Kali looking at him. Though shield by his helmet, Al-Kali gave him a sympathetic gaze, but it also had a hint of urgency. They had to leave. Sprinting down the massive hallways and corridors of High Charity to the pipeworks was uneventful at first, but a voice, an alien voice, rang out through the city.

"Fear not, my brothers! The Sacred Icon is secure. It was Tartarus and his Brutes who took the Icon from the Flood, and for that they have our thanks."

Their translators picked it up, but it still didn't make any sense to them.

"Got any ideas what that was about?" McHale asked. Al-Kali gave him a shrug, but a thought in both their minds knew something was going on. Why had that Elite slaughtered those Brutes at the security room? Was it an act of civil war? Couldn't be...

So McHale and Al-Kali resumed their trek and kept going heading to the Phantom dock. Once they had that, they would look for the Chief and get out of High Charity. Both ODSTs rounded a corner and headed for an elevator lift, but heard the distinct growls of Elites heading towards them. Thinking quickly, McHale motioned Al-Kali to go into an exposed network of pipes, one they could crawl through. They squatted in the pipes and could overhear the conversation the Elites were having.

"The Prophets have betrayed us brothers," a red Elite Major told his three blue Elite Minor soldiers,"They order our death while placing those bastard swine the Brutes to lead them through the Great Journey!". One of the Minors weighed in saying, "Indeed Major, what could cause such...such...heresy!". The Elites all grunted in approval of the Minor's words.

"What do we have here Gunny?" Al-Kali whispered to McHale. "Sounds like the Covenant are fracturing up," McHale answered. "How and why I don't know, but it sounds like the Prophets have something to do with it."

The Elites continued to stay by the lift for a good ten minutes and didn't budge.

Probably guarding it so the Brutes or whoever is against their side of the civil war don't get up to the Phantoms, smart plan on their part, but not for ours.

He told Al-Kali to just keep going along the pipes. If his hunch was right, the pipes would go towards the pipewroks area anyway. As they were moving he could hear the loudspeaker utter...

"The Elites have failed to protect the Prophets, and in doing so, have put all our lives at risk. Let no warrior forget his oath, 'Thou, in faith, shall keep us safe, whilst we find the Path."

That was met with the angry roars of the Elites, angry roars that vibrated along the pipes as the ODSTs navigated them. Covenant pipes were somewhat similar to human piping, sure it was purple, like a lot of Covenant engineering and architecture, but it was still cylindrical and mixed in a web of crisscrossing intersections. However, the ground was somewhat sticky, for reasons McHale could not deduce.

The answer came rather quickly as a Drone came flying around a corner, totally by surprise, and in the grasp of Al-Kali. The bugger was stunned, but Al-Kali took no chances, he crouched down and smashed the insectoids face into the piping.

Crap, the buggers must use the networks of pipes to get around, how many more are in here? McHale thought to himself.

Tension rose in the narrow corridor of Covenant pipes, did anything hear the brief struggle? Luckily, they were fine, the visible hallway they could see through the piping was clear of any enemies. They kept crouch walking until they heard another message through the loudspeaker...

"With my blessing, the Brutes now lead our fleets! They ask for your allegiance, and you shall give it."

Except, this time it sounded like it was nearer and not broadcasting over a P.A. McHale looked to his left and saw the source, a Prophet clad in a red robe flanked by a pack of Brutes and another Prophet, this one clothed in white.

Suddenly a loud boom echoed throughout High Charity.

The Prophets and Brutes stopped and looked around, they were almost in front of the ODSTs except they were at a distance. Seemed like they though it was time to make another announcement because they Prophet started to utter an alien language.

The Prophet said: "At this moment, the Council is gathered on Halo, to see the Icon secured."

A large Brute with a huge hammer stepped beside the Prophet and added: "Rise, my brothers! Cast down the Elites!"

His Prophet friend also spoke up again with: "There are those who said this day would never come. What have they to say now?"

The Brute then said: "Once the towers are clear, we'll drive them from the lower district."

McHale made a gesture to Al-Kali to aim his Needler at the group, more urgently at the Prophets. Taking them out could cause even more friction in the Covenant, it had to be done.

The red clad Prophet spoke up again: "I have listened to the Oracle, and confirmed our deepest hope. The Great Journey begins with Halo."

His giant Brute bodyguard with the hammer responded with: "The Elites are falling back to the Mausoleum. Fools! Their Arbiter can do nothing for them now!"

The Prophet, almost smugly, ended with: "Who would doubt the Prophets? What have they foretold that has not come to pass?"

"How about the annihilation of the human race?", McHale whispered to himself. Both ODSTs had heard enough. McHale and Al-Kali opened fire on the cluster of Covenant. Two regular Brutes leaped in front of the Prophets and took the shots meant for them. The giant mohawk-haired Brute, probably the leader roared, "Assassins in the pipes, protect the holy ones!". His lackeys tossed plasma grenades and opened fire in return with Plasma Rifles vaguely in the pipes. Quickly, the duo of ODSTs sprint crouched along the pipes and found an open hole on the "floor".

They landed in a room filled with human equipment. Looks like they wouldn't be getting into the pipeworks area now. It was the Grunts workshop, this was the place where they tried to figure out the humans technology. No time to rest, however, as thundering footsteps came to the rooms door. The ODSTs hid behind a holoprojector or table right as the door opened.

The Brute leader walked in and looked around, fiery rage in his eyes. He was stopped by the Prophet who uttered, "Tartarus, come we must go," he said. "But noble Hierarch of Truth, I believe the assassins fled in here through the pipes!" the Brute, now named Tartartus replied. "Every minute we spend here is a minute we delay the Great Journey," Truth reasoned, "And nothing must stop us now." Tartarus looked back, nodded, and walked away. "Come, we will take an alternate route to the dropships." Truth added.

Al-Kali and McHale waited five minutes, enough time to feel the Brutes and Prophets were far away before moving. Moving away from their position, the soldiers noticed some human weapons. Checking their ammo from their Covenant weapons, they replaced them with the human ones. McHale took a Battle Rifle and M6C and Al-Kali grabbed an M90 Shotgun and shoulder-strapped Rocket Launcher. Grabbing as much ammo, not so much as it weighs them down, they left the workshop.

"Where to now Gunny?" asked Al-Kali. McHale pointed towards the clumps of fur dotting a path ahead and said, "Not that way."

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Elsewhere on High Charity, out of the wreckage of the crashed In Amber Clad came a parasite.

  • 02.03.2010 5:12 PM PDT
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Part V: Flood

McHale and Al-Kali wet through a door, but immeasurably dove to the ground to avoid the massive, gaseous blue Wraith mortar. They lifted their heads to see an expansive garden filled to the brim with Covenant forces, all of whom were attacking each other. Al-Kali was about to aim his Rocket Launcher, but McHale put hs hand in front of him.

"You can probably sit this one out Muhammad," he cautioned, "They seem to be doing a good job killing one another."

The battle below was a grand spectacle to behold. From what McHale would reason, it was the Elites, Hunters, and a majority of the Grunts, clad with methane tanks painted with blue stripes, versus the Brutes, Jackals, Drones, and some other Grunts. A mixture of vehicles, ranging from Ghosts, Wraiths, and Spectres. An Elite commanded Grunt Fuel Rod Cannon unit toasted a Brute operated Spectre. Over in the distance an Elite was sniped by a Jackal sniper. Two Hunters rushed up, blasted, and smashed a Wraith. Drones buzzed overhead firing Needler rounds at Grunts, Elites, and Hunters, though ineffective against the latter. Small bursts of pink enveloped the battlefield.

Suddenly, a Brute towing a Gravity Hammer, one more high-tech than the one held by Tartarus in the Grunt's Workshop, flanked by a group of shielded Jackal units surged across the garden. He jumped and smashed an Elite into the ground while launching a squad of Grunt with the gravitational repulse. Three Energy Sword wielding Elite Honor Guards burst onto the scene and surrounded the Brute. It roared and swung it's massive hammer, it struck one Honor Guard, but the other two lunged at it and plunged their blades into the massive ape's chest.

All Scott McHale could do was create a smug look on his face and shake his head. In truth, the battle was much larger in scope, but there was too much to process. Unfortunately, a new problem raised it's ugly head on the two ODSTs. In order to get across to the Phantom docks, their HUD's only pointed towards one way, across the battlefield itself. It would be hard, but they had to do it, no other option existed to them.

With reckless abandon, they sprinted down the hillside into the midst of the fighting. Al-Kali noticed an overturned Spectre and flipped it over. McHale climbed into the gunner turret and they sped off. Naturally, tow humans would draw some gunfire, but for the most part they weren't being targeted. With expert navigation, thanks to Al-Kali's extensive Covenant vehicular training, they inched nearer and nearer to the end of the garden in their shark-like speeder.

Suddenly, the domed roof of the garden split open and an ominous green eye peered into the battlefield. More and more of the beats emerged until it was revealed to be a Covenant Scarab. The white, four-legged walked opened it's "eye" and started to charge it's massive energy cannon. The blast was illuminating, the green laser ripped apart both the Elite and Brute-led ranks. Bodies and limbs tossed everywhere in all directions, multi-colored blood stained the garden's water. This was not the worst part of the attack however, something was moving down the garden's rock walls.

It was like a yellow-orange wave cascading down the rocks and spilling into the main garden area. The surviving Covenant forces ran away from the wave, but were stopped in their tracks by an unknown force. Some fell to the ground and screamed in their dialects, but then fell silent. They would then rise up, horribly deformed and spouting huge tendrils bursting from their bodies. A universal roar echoed through the garden as anew being rose up. By the mass zombie-like revivals occurred, McHale and Al-Kali had made it to the giant garden's exit.

The ODSTs jumped off their vehicle and started to pant like dog's in the summer. So many conflicting thoughts rushed through their minds. First they saw a Covenant civil war, then the Scarab appeared and things went south. What was that cluster of bulbous spider creatures flowing from the roof? Something was wrong, seriously wrong.

"What the Hell was that?" asked a confused Al-Kali, "I have never seen anything like that before in my entire service in the UNSC!". McHale could provide no answer.

After getting re-adjusted they decided their only hope now was to find the Chief and join up with him. They went through a automatic door and stepped onto an anti-gravity elevator. Al-Kali stumbled onto another 3D sign and suggested they go through a place called the Mausoleum of the Arbiter, whatever that was. Following this path would lead to where Chief went, proven due to the insanely high body count and Covenant Battle.net chatter indicating he had passed though, and maybe provide a chance to run into him. As they turned a corner, they heard Truth continue his propaganda...

"Shall we let the Flood consume our holy city? Turn High Charity into another of their wretched hives? No enemy has ever withstood our might. The Flood too shall fail."

The lift positioned them right near the grand structure that was the Mausoleum and they both ran inside the massive tomb. Things seemed normal, except for the multiple corpses of Covenant troops littered around the area. Without even getting halfway across the room, the caskets around the walls started to push open. From them came bodies of Elites horribly misshapen by these Flood organisms.

"You have got to be kidding me." McHale simply said before the former Arbiters lunged at the two ODSTs.

  • 02.04.2010 9:01 PM PDT

I'm someone you knew, maybe even were friends with.....but from another time...another place.

The Mayans were the most epic trolls EVAR.

Good job. A few mistakes here and there, but it's all coming together nicely.

Just a couple of things: How did Al-Kali flip a Spectre? He's not a SPARTAN or anything, just a regular ODST.

And I think I know where you got the idea of the dead Arbiters being controlled by the flood ;)
But good job overall. Keep 'em comin!

  • 02.05.2010 7:39 AM PDT
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Part VI: Cryptkeeper

The Arbiter. Once a respected Elite warrior on the Elite homeworld of Sanghelios, it became a mark of shame in Covenant society. Those given the rank became the Sword of the Prophets and sent on perilous suicide missions to serve a death sentence. Whatever could be salvaged from their life ending journey was stored in the Mausoleum of the Arbiter on High Charity. Now they return from the dead in an unholy alliance with the Flood.

McHale and Al-Kali had made it to the center of the mausoleum and got a definitive grasp of their situation. Elite corpses, now mutated with bulging yellow pus colored skin and red tipped antennae. Most stood on two legs, but others had no legs and crawled towards the ODSTs while others lacked individual appendages at random places. They did not outright rush the ODSTs, they merely shuffled slowly towards them as a sort of taunt that, eventually, they would get them. Al-Kali could fire his Rocket Launcher, but there were way too many Flood forms around them to make a difference. Trying to find an exit, McHale saw that the center structure had a hole that led down to a dark abyss. That was their only option, so he pointed it out to Al-Kali.

"Are you serious sir?" Al-Kali asked flabbergasted, "We don't know where it goes."

All McHale had to do was jump down it himself to convince Al-Kali to do the same.

"Always the daredevil," remarked Al-Kali.

Above the hole, the Flood-infected Arbiters all let out haunting roars.

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The Gunnery Sergeant was a very lucky man, when they jumped down the hole in the mausoleum death was not what they encountered. Instead, they found themselves landing on a soft surface in darkness with only a very faint red light in the distance. Something was wrong.

Suddenly, they were both swept off their feet by an unknown force and were drawn towards the red light. What they found was an orb-shaped machine, the red light was it's eye.

"Hello," the machine greeted, "My name is 2401 Penitent Tangent and I am the Monitor of Installation of 05."

McHale felt something holding onto him, so he asked, "Are you responsible for what is holding us in the air?".

"Heavens no!" Penitent Tangent exclaimed, "That would be the actions of my occupant, the Gravemind."

"What's a Gravemind?" Al-Kali whispered to McHale.

His question was soon answered as the room's lights intensified and revealed a hideous creature. It resembled a Venus Flytrap crossed with an octopus and smelled of rotting flesh. Most surprisingly of all, it spoke.

"I am the one who this machine speaks of," the Gravemind said, "And you are in my domain."

The ODSTs had fought countless battle with ruthless, zealous Covenant species for many years and never felt fear, they did know. This Gravemind was massive, it's entire being covered the entire room where the were being held, now revealed to be a complex storage area filled with decorative Elite armor parts. It's tentacles wrapped around machinery while Flood-infected Elites, humans, and Brutes occasionally came in with live organisms and "feed" them to the Gravemind.

"Do not be afraid...I am peace. I am salvation."[.i] the Gravemind said, [i]"The time for panic has come and gone, soon we shall all becomes brothers."

"What the Hell are you?", asked McHale, "What do you want with us?".

The Gravemind delivered an oddly deja-vu answer, "I? I am a monument to all your sins."

"Pretty vague to be honest," replied Al-Kali, "But that's besides the point. Are you going to release us or not?".

It's laughter boomed across the chamber, "No, we exist together now, three corpses in one grave."

That didn't sit well with Al-Kali as he finally got his arms free and fired his M60 at the monster's face. It wasn't very effective and only seemed to anger the Gravemind. The Gravemind lifted the tentacle Al-Kali was in and dragged it towards it's mouth.

"You will be food, nothing more," was what it said before it jammed Al-Kali in it's massive throat. McHale was in shock as he heard his only remaining allies screams being drowned out the creatures massive gullet. By then, he had his arms free and fired his Battle Rifle with reckless abandon. The beast grunted some more, but then started to draw McHale closer just as it did Al-Kali. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Al-Kali's Rocket Launcher caught on a femur protruding from the Gravemind's closest tentacle, so he extended his arm and grabbed it. The blast on the Gravemind's face brightened the room while causing it to release McHale.

As soon as he landed on the body of the Gravemind, he bolted towards an open door, another gravity lift. He lunged into it and pressed the "UP" button vigorously. The monster was coming for him in a desperate attempt to garish another meal, but failed when the lift rose at the last second. McHale collapsed on the lift and removed his helmet to vomit from disgust. He then pressed his back against the lift's wall and started to hyperventilate. How could everything go so wrong?

From the lift's intercom, Truth delivered another message.

"This crisis will not be the end of us. It is but one last hurdle before the journey and salvation!"

McHale fired his BR at the intercom, destroying it and silencing the lies of the ironically named Prophet. Once the lift stopped and opened, he saw that much had quickly changed. Gone was the curved, purple architecture of the Covenant, in was the bulbous, rotten biomass of the Flood. The Flood forms screams, mixed with the cries of dying Covenant, created an appropriately toned environment. All hope was lost.




  • 02.06.2010 2:48 PM PDT

"The Internet is a hostile and unforgiving place. Avoiding a flame war is like trying to walk unscathed through a minefield with a blindfold on. Likely it isn't going to happen."

Poor Al-Kali may he R.I.P

  • 02.06.2010 7:34 PM PDT
Subject: Halo: ODST (High Charity) [Revision 2.0] *Part VII Up*
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Part VII: Uniting Ties

Terror rocked the inhabitants of High Charity. The Flood were spreading at an incredible speed consuming everything they touched. From the savage Brutes to the noble Elites, nothing would remain untouched. Gooey biological material clung to the cities buildings and floors creating the necessary components to create more Flood. In time, large sacs filled with the spider-like Infection Forms bubbled everywhere, their growth echoing a noise not unlike a heartbeat. In the middle of all this was Gunnery Sergeant Scott McHale, unfortunately he was all alone.

The war hardened ODST had seen many conflicts in his career, but nothing measured up to what was happening to High Charity. The city was dying from a horrible parasite and actually made him feel sympathy for the Covenant. Bitter adversaries they may be, but nobody deserves such suffering.

When he stepped out of the elevator, he found himself on the streets of a city, an actual Covenant city. Littering the streets were bodies, Covenant species young and old not yet claimed by the Flood. It brought McHale to tears, first a civil war claims their lives and now they very well may be claimed by the Flood. Images of dead humans joined alongside the dead aliens subconsciously in McHale's mind, suddenly a terrible thought crossed his mind. If the Flood can escape, they could hit Earth. They had to be stopped, but what could one ODST do against an army of the most destructive creatures he has ever seen, a title previously held by the Covenant.

No, he mustn't think like that, he WAS an ODST, one of the most highly trained soldiers the UNSC had to offer, he could do some damage. He sprinted through the streets looking for something that could be used against the Flood, he didn't notice the group of Elites running in his direction.

A white armored Ultra smacked McHale with his massive arm and sent him flying into a building's wall. The Ultra was flanked by three crimson Major's, the four Elites slowly moved towards the downed ODST. McHale was grabbed by his throat and hoisted p by the Ultra who spoke with fire in his voice.

"Human," McHale's translator echoed, "You dare trespass on High Charity's holy streets? Do you think you will survive, you are still an enemy to the Covenant."

McHale couldn't make out an answer, his lungs were starting to cease working from the lack of air. The Ultra grabbed his Energy Sword, raised it up and swung at McHale's head. It was stopped mid-strike by a Major's shouts, the Flood were approaching. Saved by the Flood, McHale was dropped to the ground gasping for air. The four Elites stood ready to stand their ground.

"Brothers," the Ultra ordered, "Arm your blades and destroy the enemy, may the blood of your father's flow through your veins and give you strength."

The Elites met the Flood in the center of the road, their forces totaling to six Elite Combat Forms, four Brute Combat Forms, eight human forms, and a massive Flood form both factions had never seen before. Energy Swords ignited, the Elites slashed two Brute forms outright, the formerly massive ape-like creatures dropping to the floor. The human Combat Forms fired their weapons, ranging from BRs, SMGs, and Covenant Carbines, opened fire on the swordsmen. A Major fell to the ground due the torrent of lead and plasma, his blade was picked up by the Ultra. The human Flood Forms were quickly dispatched by the Elites, that only left two other Brutes, the Elite Combat Forms, and the unknown Flood organism.

The Flood-infected Elites ignited Energy Swords of their own and ran towards the Ultra and his remaining two Majors. The Flood ineffectively used the blades and were taken care of by the expertise of the non-infected Elites. Out of the air came the two Brute Forms with Brute Shots blazing, they scattered the group and rushed forward. A disabled major was cut down by the Brute Shots massive blades, but was avenged by the Ultra and final Major.

Two more left. The final Brute Form ran towards the Elites, but met only the super-heated blades of the Elites. They turned to face the giant Flood Form, but it was gone. Both Elites paced around looking for it, but to know avail. A shot was fired by McHale that missed the Elites. The Ultra was enraged, but was stopped by the Major who pointed to the downed body of a new, skinnier Flood form. The dead beats morphed into the massive creature seen earlier, but whats dead is dead.

The Ultra was stunned, the human had saved his life, this was unheard of in Covenant society. Some barks were exchanged by the Elites until the Major walked up to McHale.

"You shall come with us." said the Major.

[Edited on 02.08.2010 12:28 PM PST]

  • 02.08.2010 12:27 PM PDT