- Rare_Spartan
- |
- Exalted Legendary Member
Chapter 8: That Old Bloke
The three Grunts stared blankly at the two, empty canisters standing before the strangely armored Unggoy. Just then, however, their attention shifted to the familiar, sphere-like object floating toward their adversary.
"Hello!", said the 'bot, "I am 343 Guilty Spark, Monitor of Installation 04."
"Ah, not you again!", exclaimed Silco.
"Ask the Oracle about Halo.", said the Heretic, "How the Prophets would sacrifice us all for nothing."
"More questions? Splendid! I would be happy to assist you.", said Guilty Spark. However, before any questions could be asked, the crimson-armored Grunt picked up a nearby plasma pistol, charged it for several seconds, and fired it straight forward. The bolt of plasma struck Pillow's chest, causing him to scream in aggony. The other two Unggoy then dragged Pillow by his arms, and placed him-as well as themselves-behind a small pillar.
"You hang in there, Pillow!", said Fisca, "Silco's gonna take 'im out."
"Say what!?", barked Silco.
"C'mon, Silco! It's time you proved your worth to this squad, anyway.", said Fisca.
"I'm pretty sure that if sarge thought I was useless to this squad, he would've kicked me out a long time ago."
"Well, I sure as hell haven't seen any sign of improvement since the moment you joined."
"That's fine with me, 'cause I'm not here to be judged by you!"
With nothing to repel that statement, Fisca sat quietly on the floor, behind the pillar. As time went on, however, the Heretic leader's position remained the same, and he did not seem to be running out of fire power, either. Where was the Arbiter? Should he not have arrived by now?
"Alright, this is just stupid! It's time to take some action!", shouted Silco, who then charged out from behind the pillar, and toward the traitorous Unggoy. The Heretic tried to activate his jet pack, though his attempt proved unsuccessful.
"Gosh darnit! What is wrong with this thing!?"
Just then, Silco slammed his grunty foot into the Heretic's chest, sliding him into the pillar on the other side of the hangar.
"Y'know, he could've just moved outta the way.", said Pillow, who appeared to be feeling much better.
"Whoah! Nice job, Silco!", cheered Fisca, as he and Pillow joined thier comrade, who was standing before the Heretic leader (after opening the hangar doors).
With a blast that hard to the chest, a pebble that was once stuck in between the Unggoy's toes was shaken out.
"Ugh, what happened? Where am I?", asked the Grunt.
"You're finished, Heretic!", barked Fisca.
"Heretic? What are you talkin' about, Fisca?", the dazed Unggoy asked.
"Wait! How did you know my name?"
"Now, don't pretend that I'm a stranger. It's me- Hackle!"
"Hackle!? I thought you were dead!", shouted a bewildered Fisca.
"Dead?", said Hackle, "That doesn't sound like me."
A few seconds later, the Arbiter and his men came rushing toward them.
"This is no time for foolishness, Unggoy! We must find the Heretic leader.", said the Arbiter.
"What took you guys so long?", asked Silco, frustratingly.
"It was those damn Heretics! Those Unggoy are vicious.", said a blue-armored Elite, who's left eye began squirting small droplets of blood.
"Well, we found the Heretic leader....but he doesn't appear to be a threat.", said Fisca, as he and the other two Unggoy slid to the side, revealing Hackle's now injured body. The Grunt stared at the Arbiter, then smiled.
"Arbiter, you're back!", cheered Hackle.
"Are you acquainted with this Unggoy, sir?", asked one of the Arbiter's men.
"State your name, Unggoy.", the Arbiter ordered, ignoring the Elite.
"Hackle Jackle, sir!", answered the Grunt.
The Arbiter turned backward, and said to his men, "We'll take him back to the city.". The others nodded.
Not but a moment later, with the hangar doors wide open, the Oracle (who had been forgotten until now) was flown outside, and latched onto the gravity hammer of the Brute Chieftan, Tartarus.
"Come, Arbiter.", said the Jiralhanae, "We are leaving this system."
[Edited on 08.27.2007 3:53 PM PDT]