- Rare_Spartan
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- Exalted Legendary Member
Chapter 22: Dead or Alive
"What?", the Grunt sargeant barked, "The demon is here?"
"He is.", 'Rtay replied grimly.
"Ugh, he must've followed us. So, where exactly is he?"
"This grid indicates that the demon is just outside of the control room.", 'Rtay paused for a moment, looked back at the grid and said, "Unggoy, ready your weapons."
"Err...We don't have any.", Pillow answered, as a disappointed 'Rtay sighed.
Standing in the middle of the corridor just outside of the control room, the Master Chief and Cortana contemplated their next action.
"Cortana, we have to get back in there!", the Chief exclaimed.
"Chief, going back in there now would be suicide. There's simply too many Flood for you to handle.", replied Cortana.
"Wanna bet?", the Chief asked, as another cry from Captain Keyes erupted over the COM. With that, the Chief took hold of his Assault Rifle, rushing through the pair of auto-doors ahead. When he entered the control room, it was suprisingly empty. Perhaps Cortana miscalculated.
"Chief, look!", beamed Cortana. Master Chief looked forward, marched up the ramp, and stared at the bolbous creature infront of him. Inside of the hive-looking beast, the Chief could see the face of Keyes himself.
"No Human life-signs detected. The Captain! He's one of them.", Cortana shuddered, "We can't let the Flood get off this ring. You know what he'd expect.....What he'd want us to do."
The Chief nodded, as he clenched his right hand into a fist. His hand lunged forward, and into the enormous Flood form, digging deep into the captain's face. A few seconds later, he reached his fist back out, with the neural implants. He shook the Flood goo off of his hand, then placed the implants into his helmet.
"It's done. I have the code. We should go.", Cortana said softly. "We need to get back to the Pillar of Autumn. Let's go back to the shuttle bay and find a ride."
The Master Chief looked off of the platform, with legions of Flood now pouring into the chamber. He jumped off, heading for the only exit that wasn't infested with Flood. However, once the auto-doors opened, Fisca and Silco stood before him.
"Now!", the Grunt sargeant shouted from behind, as the two Grunts tossed their plasma grenades forward, one of which went a bit too far. The other, however, sat right next to the Chief for a moment. Once it detonated, the Spartan's shields were drained completely.
"Find cover, now!", Cortana barked, as the Chief jumped backward, and into a pit below the platform; a few feet away from him, he spotted a blue, triangular object. As he walked through it, the Master Chief became completely invisible.
"This camoflague won't last forever, Chief, so you better hurry.", Cortana inforced.
"Understood.", Master Chief answered, heading through the auto-doors above the pit.
"Damn, he's gone!", the Grunt sargeant exclaimed, setting down his Fuel Rod Cannon.
"No, Unggoy. We must head to the shuttle bay. He cannot escape!", 'Masta shouted. With that, the entire squad headed backwards, and toward the shuttle bay. A few moments later, once they reached their destination, the troops impatiently waited for the Master Chief to arrive. 'Rtay examined the chamber, with their Phantom being the only aircraft available.
"Oh, no. Look!", the Grunt sargeant said, pointing to the other end of the catwalk; it was him. The crimson-armored Grunt readied his Fuel Rod Cannon, aimed it at the Chief and said, "Eat this!". Once he actually fired however, he missed.
"Now would be a great time to jump!", Cortana shouted through the Master Chief's helmet. The Spartan looked to his left, jumped off of the catwalk, and onto the floor of the shuttle bay. The Covenant troops also jumped. They did not land on the floor, but rather the platform where their Phantom was parked.
"Into the ship, Unggoy. Go! Go!", 'Rtay whispered. The Grunts listened, and headed into the gravlift infront of them. Just then, a buz of static went over 'Rtay's COM. "Bringing reinforcements now, leader."
"What? I didn't-"
'Rtay looked through the enormous window to his right, as another U-shaped dropship entered the cruiser, as well as two Banshees.
"No, you fools!", 'Rtay shouted. Unfortunately, the Banshees landed just next to the Master Chief, and once they did, two dark-clad Elites jumped out of them, giving the demon a chance to escape. And just before the Elites could fire at him, the Spartan hunched into the Banshee, and took off into the night.
"Curses!", 'Masta barked, as the two silver-clad Elites entered the Phantom. "The demon has escaped, Unggoy. We must follow him at once.", 'Rtay panted.
"Already set.", Pillow answered, while hunched in the pilot's seat. The gravlift below their feet died, the Phantom rose, and took after the demon.
"Hey! Where leader 'Latume be?", Moshpit asked, speaking for the first time a long while.
"Oh, damn! That's right. Pillow, head back. We need ter-"
Just then, the Grunt sargeant felt a touch on his left shoulder. He turned backward, and there he was. 'Latume stood before them all with sharp, blood-shot eyes.