- Rare_Spartan
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Chapter 20: A Sword, a Rifle, and Some Fists
The Phantom swiftly glided through the air, while on its way to The Truth and Reconciliation; inside of the aircraft, the Grunt sargeant and his men (excluding Pillow, who was piloting the ship) sat in one small huddle, debating which way was best in revealing the truth of Halo to their fellow soldiers.
"So, how do we break it to 'em, Sarge?" Silco asked.
"Ya see, that's the thing. We're not gonna tell 'em."
"Huh?"
"Don't ya see? If we tell 'em, they'll make us walk the plank. There's no way they'd believe that, so here's what I planned out: We warn 'em about the demon's plan to destroy this place, and hopefully give those fellas a chance to get off before he does it. Sure, it'll seem like the humans have got the upper hand, but at least it's better than all of us dyin'."
"I like it." Silco said, nodding his head slowly.
"I can't belive you all!", Fisca exclaimed, who just came from the corner of the dimly-lit room.
"Huh, whaddya talkin' about, Fisca?" the Grunt sargeant asked excitedly.
"Are you honestly suggesting that this is Halo's true purpose? Are you four so gullible as to basically side with this demon, believing what that blue-lit hunk of metal says is actually true? If that's the case, then I'm done with this squad."
"Ah, man. Fisca's right, everybody. To tell y'all the truth, the only real reason that I believed 'im was," the Grunt sargeant leaned closer to his men, and whispered "because of our time with Sparky. I just started thinkin', 'are his people really meant to survive?'"
"So what do we do now?" Silco asked.
"We do the unthinkable, that's what. Once we warn the fellers on the cruiser, we find that demon...and we kill 'im."
A few hours later, with the stars of Threshold blanketing Halo's sky, the Phantom finally reached its destination. The ship began to slow down, heading into Truth and Reconciliation's launch bay. The six Covenant soldiers (and Sparky) then began pouring out of the ship's gravlift, and onto the platform. Once each of them were outside, they were then greated by two Ultra Elites.
"Welcome back, 'Latume. What is your business this time?" said one of the silver-clad Sangheili.
"The demon," 'Latume said "has escaped-as i'm sure each of you are well aware of-and has now devised a plan to destroy Halo. We are simply here to warn of you of this, incase he succeeds. Therefore, I think it's best that you leave this ring at once."
"I thank you for your alert, 'Latume. But who of us will take the fight to this beast?", the Elite asked.
The Grunt sargeant walked infront of 'Latume, facing the two Elites. "We have decided to take 'im on....though....I don't have a clue where he is now."
The Ultra smiled-as best as a Sangheili could-and knelt down, placing his right hand on the Grunt sargeant's shoulder. "If by life or death, I can protect you, I will. You have my sword.". A second later, the other Elite moved closer and said "And you have my rifle.". 'Latume then looked down on the Grunt sargeant and said "And my fists."
The Grunt sargeant looked at each of them for a moment, smiled, then nodded when, suddenly, he could hear Little Sparky coughing under his breath, while sticking himself to the Major's back. "Thanks, fellers. Please, why don't y'all head back into the Phantom. We'll join ya in a moment."
"Will do, Unggoy.", the Ultra said, as he and the other silver-clad Elite headed towards the gravlift behind the others.
Approximately fifteen minutes later, the squad walked through a pair of auto-doors, entering the ship's control room, while on the platform above the ramp in the middle, a pale-green ball stood, with the size of almost a big-screen TV; sticking out of the top of the material was the screaming face of Captain Jacob Keyes of the UNSC. On the sides of it were long, brown, branchlike suctions that stuck to the walls of the chamber.
"Ah, it seems as though the boys have started without me." Sparky sighed.
"So, that's what you need to control the ship, is it?", the Grunt sargeant asked, pointing at the gelatinous sphere.
"Indeed." he answered.
"Well we'll just...er...we'll seeya later then." the crimson-armored Grunt stuttered.
"Leaving so soon, are you? Oh, I think not.", Sparky said grimly, as dozens of Flood infection forms surrounded them. The parasites grabbed each of them (excluding 'Latume, due to his size), and began carrying the Grunts up the ramp and towards Keyes, who was still screaming in agony. Two seconds later, however, 'Latume took hold of his energy sword, lunged foward, and cut the infection forms down.
"On your way, now, Unggoy. I shall deal with them myself!", 'Latume exclaimed. The Grunt sargeant looked at him carefully, gave a serious frown, nodded, then lead his four troops through the pair of sliding doors ahead.
[Edited on 04.29.2007 1:54 PM PDT]