Sequel to the The Weapon II... This is the final effort, the final fight... Their final stand.
|
This article, The Weapon III, was written by Lauren Spartan177. Please do not edit this fiction without the writer's permission. |
The happenings of this article form a temporal alternate reality which is resolved in the end of The Weapon III. The start of this conflict begins in The Anomaly. |
 The Weapon III |
Prologue: "I, am the one who is in control..."[]
177 jumped over the brute, then stabbed it in the back, it's blood gushing onto her helmet like a fire hose. She ran on, then slashed another across the chest plate, leaving its chest open to the battle and its organs visible. More of the warm liquid and innards shot out. 177 jumped high into the air, then landed, pouncing another. She drove the sword into it's skull, with a sickening crunch. She spun around, and grabbing one of the spears, drove it into another Brutes stomach. “I'll kill you Truth!” Her anger poured all through her veins. Her armor was dripping with blood. If you could have seen her, she'd appear as though she had just emerged from a crimson blood bath. "I'll kill him. I'll rip him apart!" She ran into a large blast door. 177 screamed, then brought her fists onto the door, making a dent. Her strength had become so much more, in her rage she felt like an invincible warrior, with no purpose other than to kill the Prophet of Truth. She repeated, when finally it fell, her adrenaline fueling her rage even more. 177 wiped the purple and red blood off her faceplate, then waited, the sounds of the earlier fight echoed in her ear drums.
177 allowed the dust to clear, revealing a multitude of covenant awaiting her, and a titanic brute, with some sort of hammer. She had never seen a weapon like that. 177 had lost her sword, and had her shotgun on her back. She put her fists up in a boxer stance, then saw him. He was there.
“Truth!” Truth smiled, the wicked grin that had tormented her. He stared at her.
177 forgot about the brute, then took off towards Truth, she felt like crushing his skull, she wanted his blood! She wanted to see him bleed! She'd lose her mind if she didn't. She jumped up to kill him, she was one meter away... so close to ripping his flesh open... one meter from her vengeance...
"We have to go back!" Leo shouted.
"Too dangerous, I'm detecting multiple ships gathering, we need to regroup!” Blaire said.
Luke punched the wall. “I can't lose her again!”
177 screamed, feeling knifes on her insides, then came crashing to the floor. It finally halted, and her blood started to pool from under her chest plate, dripping onto the floor. 177 collapsed, “W-what?”
Truth looked down, and smiled, “You should well know I am completely in control of you.”
177 struggle to meet his eyes, “Wh-what have y-you done-to-me?”
Truth chuckled, “Well, SPARTAN, I suppose I could allow you the knowledge… since you will be forgetting it either way.”
177 collapsed, “What did you do?!”
Truth leaned down, “Now, listen closely, SPARTAN.”
Chapter One: What now? As time flies...[]
Heated Altercation[]
Luke walked onto the bridge of the Dawn’s Right. “You have to make them go back!” Rage had deluded him, all he cared about was going after her!
Ultra Chief S76 turned around in the Captain’s chair. “Let her go, son.”
"You wouldn’t understand! You had a lifetime to forget about her! It’s only been a year for me,” Luke shouted. He doesn't understand! And he never will!
S76 took in a sharp breath, “Breath, calm down, and listen. I have no idea of what the hell she was thinking, but Lauren… the Rogue she was is gone. She’s being controlled by the Covenant. Its too late.”
"You mean to tell me she went there willingly?!” Luke shouted, “Not Lauren! Not her!”
"I didn’t say that, but she’s gone, face it, son,” S76 said.
"You're not me, you're some grumpy old man with no heart!” Luke growled.
S76 stood, “You watch your mouth, boy. I remember how it was when she died, hell, I remember the first altercation! Do you think I wouldn't?! I loved her too, but she has been taken over by the Covenant, and there isn't anything either of us can do!”
"You're lying! Lauren isn't bad! She was more of a leader than us! How dare you say that! How dare YOU!” Luke shouted in rage. His passion, and something else was boiling within him. He shot over, then knocked S76 out of the captain's chair, and decked him in the nose. Everything in Luke wanted to kill S76. Murder... the thought made him feel better.
S76 had been taken off guard by the attack, and looked back up, “I'm going to ignore what just happened.”
"Bastard!” Luke shouted.
S76 swiped Luke's legs out from under him. Here S76 was, fighting with his younger self. Luke was still mourning, and now that he knew she was alive, his passionate rage would drive him to no end.
Kar'eth and Mar stood on the bridge of the Descendant. Both were silent, they didn’t speak. Mar hated when he and Kar’eth were forced to meet on duty, but why?
"Admiral on deck!”
The two shot around, then snapped to, with the rest of the crew as Vice Admiral Pillar stepped onto the bridge, Yantari right behind him.
All six AI popped up, except for Ten, who was assisting on the Twilight’s Hope , and solidified themselves, making them each appear real.
Pillar cleared his throat, “At ease.”
Agent Ferrel was the first to greet him, “It’s an honor to see you again, sir.”
Pillar shook her hand, “Do I know you, Ma’am.”
Ferrel chuckled, “You’d know me better as Hypno, sir… I saw you last about a hundred years ago.”
Pillar blinked, “You sure have groan, SPARTAN.”
Ferrel smiled, “Thank you, sir.”
Doc walked up, “A pleasure to see you alive sir, it’s been a very long time.”
"F06?”
Doc nodded.
"Good God, you’re a seven foot tree!”
Doc laughed.
Vira couldn’t wait, she walked forward, “Hello, Sir, I’m Vira, and might I say it is an honor to meet a true legend!”
Awakening[]
Cleo shot up, “Lauren!” She jumped off the medical bed, then was about to run, when there was a sharp, stabbing pain in her stomach. She gripped her stomach, then crashed to the deck, “Damn! What the hell is-?!”
"Cleo!”
Leo shot over, then picked up Cleo, “You need to take it easy, you've not the idea of what you just-ugh.” Leo stopped.
Cleo felt him tense for a moment, “Leo?”
"It's nothing,” Leo whispered, then set her back on the table.
"Leo... I know everything that happened, just because I was in a coma, didn't mean I couldn't hear you.”
Leo stopped, “You knew about getting-?”
Cleo nodded, “Yeah, and about that thing you can't get out, the nerve control.”
Leo took in a deep breath.
Cleo hated to see him in such pain, he didn't deserve it. Just then something snapped, all her own pain vanished with the horrifying thought of Lauren going onto the ship. “Leo, where's Lauren, I thought I heard that she... that she-.”
Leo sighed, and liquid flooded his eyes, “I don't even know if she's alive, Cleo.” Leo gasped, is a gust of wind, Cleo had vanished.
Cleo ran up to the bridge, she recognized the ship, it means another one had came through, just as she had heard, and they made peaceful contact with the Twilight. The bridge doors opened. Cleo shot in, with out looking, and knocked over Yantari from behind, and without apologizing, she got back up, and shot to the scanner's station, knocking Menos out of the chair, then she sat, and started to type in commands so fast her fingers were a blur.
"Aye!”
"Cleo? Cleo!” Yantari shouted.
As he was about to touch her shoulder, she smacked his hand away, “Just give me a second!” Cleo came to a stop, the scanners responded, revealing a brute ship... Cleo knew the ship very well... The signal was at a halt, but the heart rate, and vitals were off the charts, when the image cut off, “No!” she shouted.
Yantari yanked her back, “Cleo, calm yourself!”
"Lauren! Her heart rate was off the charts, and that brute ship! I know who he is! He'll kill her! Worse truth is going to do something with the implants, he knew she was going to be-!”
Yantari grabbed her by the shoulders, “CALM DOWN!”
Cleo stopped... it felt like her heart skipped a beat, and she finally relaxed, “I'm sorry...”
Yantari released her, then put a hand of warm friendship on her shoulder, “Take it easy.”
Cleo felt the blood in her head vanished, and she saw black sploches start to form in her vision.
"Cleo?”
Cleo fell back, barely catching herself, with the help of Yantari. “I'm okay.”
Admiral Pillar walked forward, “So you're the one that saved our hides from that Covenant ship?”
Cleo recalled the fight, that seemed so long ago, being ensnared by the booster frame's cables, “Admiral Pillar... SIR!” she snapped to, coming to her senses.
"At ease, 841.”
"Sir, there's an altercation on the Dawn's Right, pardon me,” Ari said, then whisked away.
"All of this is incredible...” The Admiral awed.
"I thought the same,” Morak said.
Admiral Pillar turned, he winced, “You are-you're Covenant.”
Morak dipped his head, “A traitor, if they knew my roll in all of this.”
Admiral Pillar's voice changed... he was angry, “And what is your roll?”
Morak leaned up, “A saw to it that your Rogues escaped after 177 was killed, I helped them in finding her.”
"It's true, sir,” Alex nodded.
The Arbiter walked onto the bridge, and slipped beside Savage, only to watch the conversation.
"But something that I have just realized, is that 177 wasn't only being controlled... no,” Morak whispered, “She is a weapon, the weapon that all have spoken of... Her implants hold fail safes that would order all systems to overload if they come in contact with the central computer... If we find her, it is vital that she's not permitted to roam until we can remove the implants... she'll kill us all.”
Truth arrives[]
"After collecting our escape pods, we scanned the debris field once more, finding a body... your body,” Truth said, smiling, “When we retrieved it, we discovered your body utterly scorched, but your armor barley touched. We thought of simply disposing your body, but with your brain still slightly active, we realized by simply replacing a few organs, you could be of use, so we implanted as needed, installed new technology, placed you in a pod, and let you drift until the humans would find you.”
Blood started to come into her mouth. 177 felt like her insides were falling apart, what the hell was he doing to her?
"Now you come crawling back, planning to kill me, and you can’t even stand, you can’t even get off the floor,” he said with delight in his tone. “Don’t fret though, SPARTAN, you will not die…”
177 felt herself twitching, and she lost her ability to even keep her head up, she laid in a pool of her own blood, unable to move, and she was in fear for what Truth would say next.
"You will see your friends again… when you kill them,” Truth finished, turneing, then he slowly left.
177 had to say it, she had to, and she had to kill herself somehow, “I-ll –kill YOU!”
S76 had Luke in a headlock, “Stop this, boy!”
"Shoot me!” Luke shouted, then brought his arms up, and flipped S76 off him.
The two were on the ground panting when Ari showed up, the Elite AI blinked, “Um… I – uh…”
"We don’t need to go after her, she will come for us, Luke,” S76 panted.
Luke lifted his head, “How do you know?”
S76 chuckled, “If I need to explain that, then you don’t know her as well as you thought you did.”
Yantari walked abruptly out of the bridge, following Cleo to the armory, “Cleo, you shouldn’t-!”
"You’re no doctor!” Cleo snapped.
"But you just-!”
"If I get into my armor I can activate the regenorator within, and I’ll be ready within an hour.”
"Your armor is still on the Twilight’s Hope,” Yantari said.
Cleo stopped, “Blaire!”
Blaire knew better then to object, and in the blink Cleo was on the Twilight’s Hope in front of her armor. “If you damaged that, I’ll kill you myself.”
Two SPARTAN Rogues shot around, “How’d you get here so fast? I mean, Pillar just told me I could give it back.”
"It’s called a transponder node,” Cleo growled, “Now give it back.”
"Wait, can I ask some questions?” C14 asked.
Cleo took in a sharp breath, she needed to slow down, despite on the drama occuring within the four ships, this needed to be delt with delicately. She slowly nodded, “Fine, but while I’m suiting up. Ten, could you tell Blaire I need a transport for three?”
"Aye, sir!”
"No! I’m not letting anything go out of this ship until I get some answers! I’m putting this on lockdown!”
The lights went off, leaving them all in pitchblack.
"Uh-oh.”
177 jerked at the cuffs. Here she was once again. Cuffed by her wrists, ankles, waist and neck. She felt the bruises forming from her continuous struggling, and they were starting to prove painful. 177 helplessly reached for the controls to free herself.
Pillar looked up from Lucky’s scans of the area, and evidence of 177 being alive. “What?”
Mai’leen and Karai glanced at each other, knowing what had happened to Maj.
"She must have taken to our influence,” Mai’leen whispered.
"No shit!” Karai shoot back.
Mai'leen face-palmed, hopelessly.
Maj held all systems in stasis, first the Comet had blown, then the Alfa Nova, and now she was about to blow the Twilight's Destiny up herself.
"Restrain yourself!”
"Get out of my systems!”
"No.”
"Do it or I'll cut life support!” Maj shouted.
"Don't do something you know you'll regret,” Ten said.
Houdini slowly put the pipe in place, then welded it in place, and walked back to the tool table. She sighed, then put the blow torch down, and tested the pipe. Suddenly the lights shut off, and she slipped on her oil rag, hitting her head on the table, then puncture drill fell off. Houdini heard it before she felt it. Houdini screamed in shear agony at hit piercing her left shoulder. “Doc!” She ripped it out, it was dark, and she could barely see, even with her night vision. But she felt it sputter out. She felt it... the wound was vast, and it prevented her from moving. “Help!” she screamed, praying for someone to come, why was she stunned? What was going on?
Back in black[]
Cleo, with only her night vision, slipped into her armor,and activated the regeneration sequence. She took in a deep breath as all the pain slowly started to wash away... “Terra, Ten needs help, show me to the AI unit's holding chips.”
Terra turned her helmet's lights on, “Why?”
"I can deactivate Maj from there, but we need to make it fast, before someone gets-...” Cleo trailed off.
"Before someone gets-?” Terra asked.
"SH!” Cleo shouted, “sh-sh!”
"What is it?” Fixit asked.
"Slip! She's hurt!” Cleo shouted. She hovered up, “Stay, I'll get her!” Cleo rocketed forward, punching the door out of the way then disappeared.
"Damn, I've got to get me one of those!”
Cleo dodged the floating beams, then shot down, and twisted up. “Houdini!”
"Help!”
Cleo adjusted her night vision. Blood drops floated all through the room, a couple attached her armor, splattering across her protection. “SPARTAN Rogue 098B!”
"Right here!”
Cleo turned, then hovered over.
"Wasn't expecting you to come to my rescue!” Houdini grunted.
"Sorry to disappoint you, Slip.”
"Who's Slip?” Houdini grunted.
"You, your call sign becomes Slip, you haven't gotten there yet.”
Houdini grunted.
"Do you know where the AI units are stored?” Cleo asked.
She nodded, “Right behind you.”
Cleo blinked, then turned around. “Alright, let me get Maj taken care of, then I'll get you to Leo, can you make it that long?”
Houdini nodded.
Cleo released her, and permitted her to float in the air, then floated over to the AI conduit, and removed the cover. The matrix was stage red... There was a lot of problems within this system... but how? She stopped. “Maj, I know you can hear me in there, I don't want to deactivate you, but you are giving me no choice.”
There was no response...
"Maj!”
Ten's voice came, “Cleo, don't touch any of the systems, due to your brain waves being able to convert into cybertronic matter, if you touch this, you mind will be sicked in, like Mr. Kites access realm you were stuck in, you'll be converted to matrix!”
Cleo thought carefully... what if she could help? It was worth it. Something was happening to Maj, but what? Cleo had heard of AI being influence by a smart AI, it was possible that one of the AI had been into the system. Now Maj has all these feelings, and most likely has not the idea of what to do with them, what if all of this was just because of that? She could be saved. Cleo removed her left gauntlet.
"Cleo, don't you d-!”
Cleo touched the matrix.
"If Maj doesn't kill Cleo, I will!” Blaire shouted.
Yantari jerked up, and Blaire's shouted, hitting his head. “Ow!”
"What happened?” Pillar asked.
"Your AI has completely broke down, Ten is currently fighting her, and Cleo's mind has been sucked into the matrix!”
Pillar stopped, “How is that possible?”
"Physical contact would have done it,” Mono said.
"But how?”
"Put simply, by converting brain waves, similar to an ancient human movie known a The Matrix.”
Yantari took in a deep breath, “That Elite Rogue Commando is going to get herself killed.”
Cleo looked at the matrix around her, it clearly indicated the state of the stability of Maj... she was in chaos. But Cleo marveled at the technological realm she was in, how many other humans had seen what she was seeing, from where she was seeing it. The site was breath taking. So much---destruction...
"Cleo! I told you not to!”
Cleo turned, “Last time I checked-you don't outrank me.”
Ten growled, “You don't understand the severity of this, do you?! If you die in here you die for real!”
Cleo stopped.
"Or become a brain dead moron!” Ten said, “If Maj kills you, you die!”
Cleo had never really thought of death when she was in combat, but thinking of dieing in a computer?... it made her freeze...
Houdini looked at 841, she suddenly tensed, and she had touched the matrix-just as the AI had told her not to. The future SPARTAN was just plain stupid... Houdini thought. Just then gravity reactivated. “N-!” Houdini crashed to the ground, losing her helmet. “Owh---,” she whispered, then back-up lights came on. She leaned up, when she suddenly yanked forward. She saw her fresh blood sputter out. The blade was torn back out of her back, and she remained on the ground... her life was fading... and she tried to hold on, but lost the impossible fight for her life...
Matrix
[]
Cleo dodged Maj's continuous efforts to destroy... what ever Cleo was at the moment. “Dang! What the hell are those?!”
"She's manufacturing viruses, don't let them touch you!”
"No?! You think?!” Cleo spat.
"Get out of my systems!” Maj shouted.
"Maj! I know what's happening!” Cleo dodged again, “You're becoming smart for the first time, you're thinking things that you had never expected. You think you're becoming a monster, but if you don't stop, then you will become that monster!”
"Shut up!”
Cleo jumped through a cybernetic tube, most likely leading to the bridge's systems.Did she want to kill Cleo?
Cleo shot out, then ran over to the first station, and stopped. “How the hell am I supposed to use this?!”
Ten shot over, “What are you thinking?”
"Set up a Trojan to put her in stasis long enough for me to talk to her,” Cleo said.
"I can do that!” Ten said, “And why didn't I compute that?!”
"Just do it!”
"It's done!”
Maj suddenly stopped.
"Maj, I need you to listen to me, you are developing... things are vastly changing for you, and you don't know what to do. Our AI can help you adjust.”
Maj blinked.
"Hear me out, being a smart AI is so much more than thinking barbaric thoughts as you are probably thinking, you can be so much more. We want to fix this too, and we could really use your help, but in order to fix this, we'll have to pull together,” Cleo said.
Maj looked away...
Val took in a deep breath, then opened her eyes, she felt as though her lungs had been crushed.
"Val? Val, can you hear me?”
Val turned, and saw Yan standing there.
"What happened?”
"The titans nearly killed the two of us... are you thinking clearly?” Yan asked.
Val nodded, “Perfectly, why?”
"F06 had expressed a concern for you never being able to recover, mentally.”
"I'm fine, Yan.”
The door to the medical bay opened, Yantari walked in.
"We need to talk, alone.”
"Can you take it away?”
Cleo sighed, then turned to Ten.
"We don't know, but we need to restore the ship to normal status,” Ten said.
The coding slowly became purple, as she lowered her attitude. “Do you promise to help me?” she asked Ten.
"We'll do everything we can,” Cleo assured.
The coding became, and returned to blue. The three of them stood there.
"You had better get out of here,” Maj said. “Go down there.”
Cleo turned down the hall, then bolted out.
Cleo opened her eyes, and took in a deep breath, “I'm alive...” she slipped her gauntlet back on, she stopped, seeing something... something horrifying in the corner of her eye. She looked at Slip... laying dead on the floor with a familiar set of holes in her back. She laid in a pool of her own blood. “Oh n-!”
A deadly blow to the back knocked the wind out of her, then two arms wrapped around her from behind, squeezing the very life out of her, and making her vision go black.
Ten twitched at a surge in the sensors... someone had just transported away.
"Red alert! Brute ultra ship! They're charging weapons, and attack the Twilight!” Blaire shouted.
"Return fire!” Lucky shouted, jumping into the captain's chair. The joysticks formed at the ends of the arms, “All SPARTANs and Elite pilots to fighters! This is not a drill I repeat! This not a drill!”
Alarms started to go off.
"Why the hell are they here?!” Lucky shouted.
Leo stopped at the com announcement. He froze, then made a mad dash down the hall, “There here for Cleo!”
A SPARTAN his size fell into step.
Just then the spasm shot through Leo, sending him tumbling forward.
The other SPARTAN stopped, “You okay, dude?!”
Leo looked up, just before whisking away.
The Rogue vanished in a beam of light.
Don stopped, “What the hell just happened?”
Rwon, and elite cadet shot around the corner, not bothering to look where he was going, he knocked Don to the ground.
"Aoh!” Don shouted.
Rwon froze... “Sir..”
"Rwon! You've two seconds!”
Rwon leaped back, “Sorry, sir.”
"Ugh,” Don growled, standing up, “Be careful.”
"Yes sir, sorry, sir,” Rwon was about to walk away.
Don grabbed his shoulder, “Wait-wait a minute, you, walk with me, we need to go to the bridge.”
Gone again.[]
Cleo hit the deck, then was up in a heartbeat before she dodge, the brute kicked her back. Cleo used the force to her advantage, then flipped back, and landed on her feet. “You’re going to regret underestimating me!” Cleo rocketed up, head still beating, and she rocketed up.
"Damn you, demon!”
"Gotta blast!” Cleo shot through a vent, breaking the cover, and bolting through the tube. “No way they can catch me!” She had memorized brute ship layouts, if she was correct, she was somewhere near the armory. Cleo stopped in the vent for a moment. “Torpedo tubes, of course.” Cleo grinned, receiving a grim thought, then shot out of the closest opening. There was an open pod. She climbed out of the opening, then shot over, rigged the system, and activated the countdown. She climbed in, then shut the cover.
"Oh not again!” Yantari shouted. “Doc and Cleo?”
Patrick nodded, “Yep, it was their bio-signatures.”
"Agh! Oh-oh-oh!” Mar muttered hitting himself.
"Stop that!” Yantari shouted.
"Why don’t you make me!”
"Now is not the time to lose it!” Yantari scolded.
Specs parted them, “Stop this right now!”
Puppets and Puppetiers...[]
Leo opened his eyes, right into a bright light. He grimaced, what had happened? One moment he had been running, the nest he had tripped and everything vanished. Leo attempted to sit up, when he noticed the restraints keeping him on the medical table, “…uh-oh,” he whispered. He turned his head to Lauren, hooked up to countless wires. “Oh no.”
"Welcome back, F06.”
Leo leaned up as much as he could. “What are you doing to her?!”
Truth smiled, “She is no longer trusted… but you are, we are doing that of which we will so to you.”
Leo had rarely ever expressed his brutality that was said to be in all SPARTANs, and especially in Rogues, but he couldn’t hold in the rage of what they were doing to his sister. Leo heard the metal whine as he tried to break off.
Ship discussion.[]
"Alright, we know what caused the anomaly. It was 177 causing the science ship to explode, in that a substance called holcron was ignited. Don’t get me wrong, it takes years to develop into a nebula, but the mix of that and 4th matter caused it to form a temporal anomaly,” Specs started.
Patrick displayed the holo-forms. “The timeline has been greatly altered by their presence, in order to completely fix everything, we’d need to cause a greater explosion, consisting of holcron, 4th matter, mercury, satin, and plasma.”
"What’s satin?” Fixit asked.
"You haven’t discovered it yet, but its what is used to send the waves through matter in our transporters,” Lex explained.
"What makes you think that a bigger explosion will do the trick, and how will it fix everything?” Admiral Pillar asked.
"The temporal event would eradicate what has all that was done here. Thus, fixing the alternate reality we have created by coming here,” Kagome said.
Pillar looked over, noticing her. “Who are you?”
"I am Kagome, Elite Rogue 428,” she said, she was sitting at the end of the table, with her hands together and eyes closed.
"Kagome is blind, and is only half human,” Doc whispered to Pillar.
"What’s she the other half?” Pillar asked.
Kagome started to chuckle, “No, Admiral, sir, that would never happen between a-well. Heh! It would never happen,” she laughed.
Pillar went blank, “How did you-?”
"My blood is genetically instilled with the blood of a Covenant Thinker. I can communicate to other thinkers, and alter brain signals, not to mention, learn-decode-and read them. You could say I’m ike a dolphin or bat using echo location and sonar,” Kagome said.
"Interesting,” Pillar said.
"On-no sir, it is nothing of fantasy. It is not like in books where a mythical creature can enter one’s mind, not at all, sir. You would most likely better understand it as… persuasion. By sending out waves aimed to suggest something, it could be considered… interfiering with one’s mind. It’s no different from an interrogation drug, if you understand me correctly,” Kagome smiled.
Pillar blinked.
Kagome opened her eyes, revealing her blindness.
"You-uh… How in the hell does someone blind become a Rogue?”
Alex slapped a hand over Nick’s mouth, “Shut the hell up!”
"No, it’s fine. My hearing, smelling and other senses are multiple times stronger.”
"Back to the subject, Leonardo and Cleo are gone.”
"And just in case no one got the memo, there’s also a brute ship around here,” Tucker said.
"No need to become so agitated, Tucker,” Kagome whispered, “Be calm.”
"Kagome, I’ll say this once, make a suggestion, and see how quick I have you on the ground.”
Kagome frowned, “Ahem, as we were. The only logical reason to take Cleo along would be to see what she herself knows of the UNSC Elite Guard. Unfortunately Cleo did have a few ONI assignments.”
"Bad news,” S76 said, “There’s only one thing left, we have to finish this fight.”
Cleo slapped the switch. “5-4-3-2- …1!” the torpedo discharged. Shook as her speed continued.
“Curse the laws of motion!” The speed was causing her pain, not to mention the force of discharging. She looked up, and saw the ice planet drawing nearer. “This wasn’t my best plan.”…
177 stood… she was no longer conscious of herself…
"Alright, in order to stand a chance, is to coordinate with a lot more of your ships. We’re going to need all the help we can get our hands on,” S76 said.
Pillar look down, “Do you understand what you’re asking for?”
"We do,” Yantari said. “But, there isn’t any way to hid it anymore, we have to tell the ONI at the least. We won’t be able to fix this time unless we-.”
The door opened, Terra entered.
"C14, can we help you?” Pillar asked.
C14 had her helmet in her arm, and her head turned down, “H-Houdini’s d-dead.”
Pillar stopped.
"We found her in engineering, sword went through her back… it happened in the black out.”
"Computer, can you find Rogue 098?” Kagome asked
"Negative.”
"That means by killing Nikki in the past, they also killed her in the future, 098 was serving on the Dawn's Right,” Kagome said.
Pillar sighed, “We'll talk about that later, if we can fix everything, then it will never happen.”
"He's right,” S76 nodded.
"Of course Yantari, Captain Keyes became a commander after the battle of the Rubble,” Kagome smiled. “That was in...” she peeked up, “2535, I believe.”
Yantari growled, “Please stop that.”
"Well, keep your brain waves to yourself.”
Yantari growled, “As I was about to say, Keyes would be an advantage, as well as Admiral Davids.”
"Bringing my Step-brother into this are we?” Pillar asked.
"Sir?”
"We're not exactly a close knit family,” Pillar growled.
"Am I sensing waves of jealousy beating off you, Admiral?”
"No,” Pillar growled.
"I've set up a conference with the ONI officer contact I have. We are to meet him at the Taiga station. One day's travel from here, bring what proof you can.”
"Whether you believe it is safe for me or not, sit, I am one from the first mission, and therefore am going,” Yantari said.
Admiral Pillar sighed, “I sure hope you know what you are doing.”
"It's our only choice, sir,” Lucky said.
"She is ever so right, if we choose to stay long, time shall be distraught... Soon, if we continue, we shall have never been,” Kagome whispered.
Yantari turned back to Admiral Pillar, “We need to leave, sir.”
Pillar nodded, “My crew knows everything, I trust them with my life, they won't let us down.”
The ONI's responses...[]
Pillar felt the sweat run down the back of his neck, “Oh boy.”
"Relax, sir. I'll jam the systems,” Blaire said. “Ten and I are coming along.”
"Hop in,” Yantari said.
Ten transferred to Yantari, and Blaire to Doc.
"Doc, Yantari, and Vira'tis will be accompanying us,” Kagome said.
"Ok...” Pillar breathed.
"I'll be coming too, sir, I wasn't aloud to tell you, but if they fix the time line, it won't matter,” Leo grunted, he was still in pain, “I'm under ONI orders... I have been for a long time, sir.”
Pillar nodded, “I know, son.”
Leo looked up, that could only mean that Pillar was part of the ONI as well.
"Lets get moving,” Pillar said. “I-.”
"No, sir. We're going to transport down,” Kagome said.
Pillar rolled his eyes.
"Well, sir, make an attempt to keep your thoughts contained,” Kagome said.
Pillar, Kagome, and Leo walked into the room, the lights were darkened as usual, and Leo could barely see the people that they were going to be talking to. Yantari and Vira'tis were still behing them as far as they knew.
"You said that you found something that would affect the entire universe if it's not dealt with, what is it, Pillar?” the leader asked.
"Sir, this will be something most hard to believe, but it could affect our entire future, as I said. It is a vital matter of what we have found. F06?” Pillar said.
"A couple months back, we had received a distress signal from this ship.” Leo held up a holo graphic image of the Midnight's Destiny, then place it on the table. “We responded, as they had said they were with the UNSC. But when they arrive, an odd SPARTAN had appeared. She had black armor, and claimed to be Elite Rogue Commado-841. But soon after, an we found an Elite, two actually, that was with her, she then claimed they were part of the UNSC Elite Guard, which as we know, doesn't exist... Not yet,” Leo explained.
"What do you mean by, not yet, F06?” on asked.
"Allow me to make my point, sir. After their escape, we found a small communication device... scans of carbon dating put it at over negative one hundred years,” Leo said.
All was silent for a moment.
"... F06, are you attempting to convince us that these people were from the future?” a woman asked.
"That is precisely what he is say, ma'am,” Kagome intervened.
"And who might you be?”
Kagome, Elite Rogue 428, sir. I am one of the SPARTANs who later entered the anomaly of nebula 177.”
"Are you trying to tell us you are from the future?”
"Sir, I know what you are think, you are thinking this is utter ludicrous, and a simple scheme. Don't worry, sir, the Covenant have not drugged the Twilight's crew.”
"How in the hell did you just repeat everything I was thinking, exactly?”
"As I told Admiral Pillar, my blood is genetically instilled with the blood of a Covenant Thinker. I can communicate to other thinkers, and alter brain signals, not to mention, learn-decode-and read them. You could say I’m like a dolphin or bat using echo location and sonar... oh no, sir you've never encountered a Thinker, they look more like white foxes, some have multiple tail. They come from the same planet as Lurkers, though,” Kagome said.
"Alright, you have my attention, since that sort of technology seems eons away from where we are at.”
"I am not alone here, though,” Kagome said.
Yantari and Vira decloaked.
"Security!”
"I apologize, but I have severed all communication from this room,” Blaire said, appearing at Leo's shoulder.”
"Please, listen to us,” Yantari said. “In the future, humans and Elites join forces to destroy the covenant, we when the war, and after a few years, Thel' Vadam gave his speech which lead to the birth of the UNSC Elite guard...”
"We're on your side,” Vira said.
The room was quiet for the longest time.
"Sir, I think is a hoaks, and we can't afford to act on this.”
"This is no hoaks, and we are in no way under the influence of Covenant. If you could simply open your… oh, I apologize I had no idea of the ordeal, sir… Nevertheless, I will say for the good of your future listen to us,” Kagome said.
"And why don’t you have the respect to look at those who you are speaking to?” a female asked.
"She is blind, ma’am, she doesn’t mean anything by it,” Yantari said, “Please, we wouldn’t have come if it wasn’t necessary. SPARTAN 841 has been abducted by the Covenant, we have found our own enemies have come through the portal, and now in order to set things back as they were, we must destroy the largest covenant ship.”
"And how do we know this isn't a trap?”
"You know, it would be so easy to alter your brain waves, but I am attempting to give you the freedom of your mind!” Kagome growled.
"Kagome, calm yourself,” Pillar admonished, “Perhaps they could show you proof that they are from the future.”
"Alright, Harper! If it takes showing you your future, we'll chance it. Yantari,” Kagome ordered. “I'm sorry to say sir, but you don't survive the war.”
Yantari brought up a small device, then placed it on the table. “Call your name, your record will appear.
"Harper, UNSC Navy,” Harper said.
"Fleet Admiral Harper, United Nation Space Corp.” His profile came up. “Presumed KIA after battle of earth 2553.”
"You gave all of earth a fighting chance sir. Maverick, you survived the world and became a great leader on Reach rebuilt,” Kagome said.
"They're all telling the truth, s-sir,” Leo said.
"Are they hurting you to say that, F06?”
"N-no sir, while tending to 841 while she was unconscious... the Covenant transported aboared, after her, I was taken along to make sure she lives. They put some sort of restraint on me,” Leo pointed to his neck, “Its attached to my spine, and we haven't been able to remove it yet.”
The man at the head of the table sighed, “Alright, we'll have to take this to Lord Hood.”
Attacked before under way...[]
"Pillar, I know you would never lie to me,” Harper said.
"Yes sir,” Pillar said.
"But this doesn't seem possible at all,” Harper said, “I hope you're being honest about all of this.”
"I am, you'll see.”
Yantari stepped off first, “Our ships will get us to earth in unmatchable time, Blaire?”
Blaire appeared in holo-form, then solidified, “Yantari?”
"Set a coarse for earth, all ships, communicate and coordinate with the Dawn, and the Descendant.”
"Aye, sir!” Blaire whisked away.
"Was that-?”
"An AI unit named Blaire, she's actually more or less a copy of the only Smart AI during the war, Cortana.”
"How so?” Harper asked.
"When she developed into a Smart AI, just before entering the anomaly, she was given Cortana's personality.”
"And who is this Cortana?” Harper asked.
"An AI yet to be created,” Kagome answered.
"Sir? Who do you wish to remain in charge of your ship as we are gone?” Mai'leen asked.
"Sergeant Torres, thank you Mai'leen, is it safe to leave Maj behind?” Pillar asked.
"I believe so, sir,” Mai'leen said, then flashed away.
"Yantari!” Morak rushed over, “Trouble for the planet bellow approaches!”
"Covenant?” Yantari said.
"Worse, Truth's entire fleet, and you know what that means,” Morak said.
Yantari turned, “They know.”
"We can't risk giving Earth away,” Harper said.
"They already know, Harper.”
"SPARTANs to battle stations! Brute ship on approach! Remember the Alamo, Rogues!”
"Who's he?” Harper asked.
"Morak Vel'ten'ee, Admiral,” he said, then shot off.
"Bridge to Yantari, we just detected the brute ship shoot something out... you need to come look at this,” S76 said.
Yantari walked out of the vanishing light, then looked at the image. “A comet?”
"That's no comet, thats Cleo.”
Seeing light[]
Cleo shivered through her armor. It was the pole, or a total ice planet. She was in a blizzard. Her armor's environmental suit systems “Com check! Can anyone hear me?!” She gasped as the ground gave way. Seconds later she hit solids ground. Cleo grunted, “Ooh...” she leaned up.
She turned her helmets lights on, then got up, there was a vast door. “An artifact!” She ran to the door. “This pattern is similar to the one I studied that was on the halo rings and the ark.” She ran her hand over the ice covered door. She gasped at a green holo-panel formed. Cleo ran over, then placed her hand upon the panel.
Cleo gasped, then jumped back as the thick layer of ice split, and the door opened. She gasped at a light, then brought her hands up to cover her face plate from the blinding light...
Bringing the fight[]
"Booster frame, LAUNCH!” Blaire sounded.
"Yantari, with his secondary commando armor for space operations, thrust down on the pedal. “Vira, Mar! Fighters dead ahead, brute seraphs coming from the ship.”
"Put the pedal to the metal, Sparties!” Mar said.
"Mar, don't make me come over there!” Siri shouted through the com, “We're SPARTANs!”
"Optimizing mobility!” Yantari said, then twisted over, engaging the enemy. He fired the ion cannon at the ship, then flanked off, and shot up before coming over the vast ship, he turned back down, and bolted into the launch bay, before he even landed, he shot off his booster frame, somersaulting backwards before hitting the ground, she drew his sword, then stepped out of his shield, “Bring it!”
Luck like dust in the wind[]
"Your luck just ran out, Leo!” 177 shouted.
"Lauren,” Leo gasped, “I won’t fight you.”
"Die SPARTAN!” 177 charge, then drove her fists into his gut.
Leo brought his arms up, trying to block her next blows.
177 brought her fists together, then pounded down before he could protect himself. She swiped his legs out from under him, then kicked him back into a wall, making a dent the size of a warthog. Before he had recovered, she grabbed him by the neck, and threw him down.
"L-Lauren...” he managed.
"As you can see, SPARTAN F06, she is beyond your reach. Too far gone for any of you to bring back, and the same will happen to you,” Truth said.
Honor[]
Yantari made it into the engineering, starting to wish he had paid more attention to history. He set the charges, then spun back around... four elites and an Arbiter entered. He armed the explosives, then activated her sword.
The arbiter activated one in each hand, “I know who you are... I know where you're from.”
"Hm-well then don't make me kill you,” Yantari threatened.
"Sad how you can simply kill your ancestors as you have done... no honor.”
"Heretic,” one of the elites hissed.
Yantari shook it off. “Think what you will! I'm doing this for the time I came from not the history that destroyed us once before!” Yantari jumped up, and swung at the Arbiter, just realizing that he hadn't been real. “Hologram?” *whooshk*
"Yantari!” Vira screamed, firing her plasma shotgun at the arbiter that had just knocked Yantari out, Get away from him!” She threw out three plasma stars, each hitting the arbiter.
"Hm... is that the b-?”
They exploded, throwing him back.
Vira got down, then shoot Yantari's shoulder. “Yantari?... Yantari! Get up!”
Reinforcements[]
Ensign Coleman increased the volume. "Sir, we're recieving... Taiga station is under attack, sir! We're being requested!"
Admiral Ericson stood, "Get me Seaman C94!"
"Aye sir!"
"Admiral?"
"C94, you and your Commandos prepare for combat," Ericson ordered.
"... Aye sir."
Blaire nodded recieving confirmation from Ericson, then thought. They were going to need all of the SPARTANs, SPARTAN IIs included, at least all they could reach. She quickly hack the UNSC records and looked for blue team's location. "Dean Davids..." she whispered.
"Admiral, we're receiving a distress signal from the Taiga."
"What is it?" Davids asked.
"They're under attack," the com officer replied.
"I'm sorry, Alexa, we have to go help," Davids said.
"But I-!" she started.
"No, I'm sorry, tell Mira to give you some space, I'll be home soon," Davids said, then cut the channel.
"We need to keep it up, mate!"
"Zee Covenant are 'a gaining on uz!" Akarah said with her odd accent.
"CRIKEY!" Zebon shouted, "That baby was close!"
"Ve need to get out of dis!" Akarah shouted.
"I know, shieler! Look out mate!" Zebon twisted over, then jumped off the booster frame just as it exploded. "Good gosh!"
"Sebon!" Akarah shouted before four fighters started to fire at her. She tossed over, then fired. She turned back around... "SEBON!"
Cleo opened her eyes, she tested her fingers out, before leaning up, there was a bright orb, glowing bright blue, misty energy danced around it. "W-what?" She gazed at the sight, and blinked... It was an artifact of some sort. She grunted as she stood, then looked at it. Cleo walked closer, then lifted her hand to touch it. *snap*
"Cleo?... Cleo?”
Cleo took in a sharp breath. Her head throbbed with utter pain, and strain ran throughout her body like a never collar was on her. She opened her eyes, and he was the first thing she saw.
"Cleo, can you hear me?” Yantari asked.
"Y-Yantari?... It's you?” Cleo asked.
Yantari nodded.
"What happened?” Cleo asked, “Agh-my head.”
"The nebula slung our ship back out, you hit your head pretty hard,” Yantari said.
"Oh... Did you transport me out of the artifact?” Cleo asked.
"Artifact?” Yantari asked.
"Yeah, on that planet. I had just shot out of a brute torpedo tube, after they killed Slip, and the Twilight's Hope had been taken over by Maj, it took Ten to get her back to normal,” Cleo explained, “Didn't he tell you?”
Yantari blinked, “Who's Maj, when were you on a brute ship, and 098 isn't dead.”
"What do you mean? I was there, don't you remember being thrown into the past,” Cleo said.
"Is she delusional?” Mar whispered.
"Mar, you remember don't you? Where's Doc? And Lucky?” Cleo asked.
"I-am right here,” Doc said, coming up with a scanner.
"No, I mean Leo of the past, as in about sixteen years old, where is he?” Cleo asked.
Leo looked at Yantari.
"Must have hit you head really, really hard,” Yantari said.
Cleo's face turned stark white... You mean it was all just a dream?
Reality of Nightmares...[]
Cleo sat on her bed, waiting… think. “It happened, I was there…”
The horror of the fact that it was only a-a dream. Was… could 177 be where Cleo had found her? Or had she dreamed everything?
The door beeped.
"Come in,” Cleo whispered.
"Hello Cleo, I’m Special Agent Ferrel, NCIS.”
"I know who you are ma’am, and I’d rather not talk to a shrink.”
"Cleo, if you’re having delusions, then you need to let them go,” Ferrel said.
"They aren’t delusions. They weren’t I found 177 on a moon, she was alive, the Covenant had implanted her, and-!”
"Cleo, stop, 177 was incinerated, I remember,” Ferrel said, “177 was my sister.”
"I know, but you have to believe me, if we go into that anomaly we’re going to be thrown into the past, I know it!” Cleo shouted.
"Careful, 841, you’re starting to obsess with this,” Ferrel warned.
"I-am-not obsessing with anything, I know what happened. You can’t take that away, I can show you where I found her!”
"Cleo, you need to be hospitalized,” Ferrel said.
Cleo stopped, then slowly turned. “Hell no, ma’am. Not happening.”
"Cleo, please, let me help you,” Ferrel said.
"Don’t use my name like you know me!” Cleo shouted, she dashed for the door, only to see two of her fellow rogues there, “Brung back up?”
Ferrel took in a deep breath.
"841-,” S76 started.
Cleo kicked him back, then shot into the hall, with no armor on she didn’t feel right, making everything harder. She wasn’t crazy. I know what happened. This is all just a crazy dream, I’ll wake up, and it’ll all be right! Cleo skidded to a halt at Don.
"Cleo, stop,” Don said.
"Get out of my way, Don!” Cleo shouted.
"Cleo, look you’re hallucinating, I don’t want to-.”
Shot past him into the transporter room, and jammed the door. The station wasn’t close enough to transport, but if she could transport to the Elite flagship, she could transport from there. Cleo punched in coordinates, then timed it. She hopped onto the platform just as Yantari got through.
"CLEO!” He ran over to the console.
"Too late, Yantari!” Cleo shouted.
Yantari turned to her, then jumped over, and tackled her down, just as the light came.
Cleo kicked Yantari back, then shot over to the elite console.
She manage to put in half the coordinates before Yantari grabbed her.
"Get off me!” She thrust her elbow back, forcing the air out of Yantari before throwing him over her. She finished punching them in, when something hit her in the base of the skull, leaving her on the grounds as the blood pooled in her head.
"Arbiter-ugh-don’t hurt her,” Yantari said. “She doesn’t know what she’s doing.”
"Like-hell-I-don’t!” Cleo managed, before a sharp boot came down on her back.
"Cleo, listen-.”
"No-! You listen! I can show you!”
"No you can’t you worthless SOB.”
Cleo stopped. “What?”
"You heard me!” Yantari shouted.
Cleo stopped as his eyes turned red.
Cleo slipped out, then jumped up, “This isn’t really.”
She gasped as something sucked her back, and she saw a light before seeing a bright blue sky. She was on a beach… The nebula was so far up, Cleo turned, feeling light then gaped at a light shooting up into the nebula. Cleo stood, then ran out, ad saw the now dried up sea, and there was 177’s pod, the source of the anomaly. Cleo ran as fast as she could, feeling energy trying to throw her back, Cleo screamed, feeling her top layer of skin peeling off. She reached for thepod, feeling her eyes start to burn, her tear sizzled on her skin, mixed with blood, Cleo didn’t feel her skin split open at her elbows and knees, as well as the cracks traveling further, allowing more blood loss. The pod split open, then 177’s body hovered up.
Cleo froze.
Lauren’s body, as though it was a puppet or ragged doll, sagged up, eyes like a terminator, bloody red. Her voice was like a demonic toy, as it said, “Die 841!”
Assistance and assailants...[]
"Red alert! Breach on C deck, we can’t take another hit like that Sergeant!” Maj shouted.
"Contact the future ships, tell them we are going to DIE!” Torres shouted.
"Aye, sir!” Maj said
"Vira to Torres, send out a couple Rogue on frames, Yantari and I are about to blow this ship, and we need a ride!”
"Sending Terror and Boomer to your location, hold on in there!”
"You don’t have any idea, sir,” Vira said, then cut the channel.
"Sergeant, reinforcements have arrived!” Maj informed.
"About time, thank you, Blaire!”
"Admiral Davids is hailing us!” Ensign Kai said.
"On holographic display!” Torres ordered.
Torres saluted. “Sir, no time to expl-!”
"Sergeant, what the hell is that ship?!” Davids demanded.
"Long story sir, these three are on our side, that spiked one is one nasty son of a bitch!” Torres shouted.
"Alright, alright, I’ll send out the SPARTANs.”
"Did I hear the word SPARTAN, sir?”
"Sir, Ericson has arrived.”
"How ‘bout adding a Rogue and Commandos, sir,” X84 chuckled.
"Commandos have arrived sir, where do you need us?” C94 asked.
"We need you nine to destroy one of the Covenant ships, we’ve just transported charges to your booster frames!” Lucky said.
"W-how-?”
"Don’t ask! Just do it!” Wolverine shouted.
"Jeez, yes sir!” C94 muttered.
The painful burning, and beating in Cleo’s head had finally drove her to consciousness. She cracked her eyes open, then winced as her eyes started to tear from looking straight into the blinding blue light. She shook with the horror of what she had just seen… Lauren had been the source of the Anomaly? Could her implants have had a magnetic effect on nebula 177, then caused a temporal reaction?... The thought of everything never happening forced a head throbbing to come join the beating in Cleo’s head. She felt the blood pooling in her cranium. She permitted herself to close her eyes once more. The weight of her unwillingness to take care of her physical needs was catching up with her. Her stomach had a stabbing sensation. All her time as a SPARTAN, she had always been told acting as she did, not bothering to recover would eventually catch up with her. Her limbs started to feel a lot colder., she lost feeling of them, part of her didn’t care, but her other part forced her eyes open again. She saw an alarming silhouette. Cleo was about to sit up, when suddenly she realized her no longer had any feeling in her arms. Cleo struggled with her body, then saw an elite enter her view with some sort of injector… Cleo remembered nothing else.
Shn’tak smiled as Chesj injected the drug, and the SPARTAN stopped struggling with the paralyze. It was a blessing that it had already been unconscious when they had arrived.
"I’ve been ordered to carry the load,” one of the brutes growled, then picked up the limp SPARTAN.
Shn'tak nodded, then turned. As they walked on, the scraping of the demon's metal boots against the rock ground was becoming quite annoying, but he coped.
Matchstick ran towards the core, she had made it all the way though this ship, she could blow it up… but what if Leo was here? The thought tried to stop her.
"'Terra, watch out, that brute ship has-."
Terra flashed her acknowledgment light, then walk around the corner, only to find herself screaming in raw agony. It continued to run through her as she slowly fell.
"If there's anything we know...”
Terra stared at a brute's foot.
"It's how to kill SPARTANs.”
Ash gaped as all the ships suddenly went into slip space, the battle had only started for the Commandos. She halted her booster frame.
"Alright, what the hell just happened?!” she shouted.
"Commandos, report back to your ship.”
"Hm, someone sure is bossy,” Daniel muttered, “Alright, lets move.”
Daniel yawned, then swung his arms out, allowing them to pop.
"I feel a disturbance in the force,” Ash muttered.
Johnny sighed, “Alright, Yoda, what’s this disturbance?”
"It just feels wrong something, I don’t know.”
Daniel rolled his eyes, “There you go aga-.”
The nine of them stopped, seeing Ericson, Pillar, Davids, Harper, and an Elite walking towards them.
They drew their rifles.
"Stand down, Commandos,” Ericson ordered, “He’s one of ours.”
Daniel looked at Ash, then nodded. They put their rifles back on their backs, “Sir?”
Major CorporalCoshknink,” Pillar said.
The elite extended his hand, an honor.
Daniel looked at his hand, then shook, “I-uh-Daniel, SPARTAN Rogue Commando C94.”
Yantari nodded, “I know. Invented the Rogue Commando form of SPARTAN combat.”
"Um… and what hell are you from?” Ash asked.
He smiled, “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
"Commandos, you’ll be coming with us for a large debriefing.”
"Blaire, thirteen to transport,” Yantari ordered.
177 walk steadily, target ahead, all that mattered to her was the target.
"Hey! Hey, you can’t be in here, SPARTAN!” an engineer shouted.
177 didn’t turn from the core.
The engineer ran in front of her, “STOP!”
177 halted.
"You need to-!” the engineer gasped ass 177 grabbed him by the throat, he looked at her while gagging, then froze at the snap.
177 tossed the body aside, then proceeded. Through to the next hall.
Fixit looked up. “L-Lauren? Is that you? Lauren!” he shouted in joy. He embraced her, “I heard they had found you, did you escape?!”
177 didn’t respond, or look at him.
"Lauren?... Are you okay?”
177 looked at him.
Fixit gasped, grunting in pain, then looked down at the purple blade. He looked back at 177, before collapsing.
177 caught him, then dragged him into the next hall, before dropping his body.
Ash stopped, “Wait!”
Yantari looked at her.
"Just give me a second!” Ash shot down the hall, she knew the smell, blood… too much to be an accident. For once she was thankful to have had her helmet off. She had always had the best sense of smell, the boys said she could smell plasma exhaust a continent away. She skidded to a halt at an engineer, dead. Ash bent down. A crushed throat. Ash stood back up, then sniffed, he wasn’t the source of the smell. Ash ran forward again before freezing at a bloodied Rogue on the ground. She got on her knees. “068? Can you hear me?”
"R-Rogue…1-7-sev.”
"177? I thought that one died a year ago,” Ash whispered.
Just then her danger senses shot off. Ash jolted around, just in time to jumped over a purple, bloodied blade, and roll to a stop. She felt the blood drain from her face, “177…”
"Ugh-she will do anything to avoid confrontations. She’s not comeing back, we might as well go.”
"Admirals?”
Ericson rolled his eyes, “X84 can be briefed by her CO if she’s going to run off like that, its not respectful to keep the others waiting, lets go.”
"Whoa! Take it easy, take it easy!” ash muttered, somersaulting back.
177 was unrelenting, it was as though she was possessed.
"Stop it, or I’m going to have to hurt you!” Ash took out her shot gun and prepared to fire, when she blinked, and 177 was gone.
Ash scoped around, before blacking out.
177 walked over, then prepared the fail safe before touching the core.
Then in a single light, she was transported away.
"I’m sure many of you are wondering what the hell you are doing, and who we are,” Yantari started, It’s time you knew what this is all about. We are from the future, your future.”
"Before you completely dismiss the thought, allow us to explain how,” Lucky said.
Yantari nodded, “177 for those of you who don’t know is a SPARTAN Rogue who had been presumed.”
Lucky cleared her throat, “SPARTANS never die, Yantari.”
It was 177 causing the science ship to explode, in that a substance called holcron was ignited. It takes years to develop into a nebula, but the mix of that and 4th matter caused it to form a temporal anomaly, resulting in each of our ships being tossed into the past. The timeline has been greatly altered by our presence, in order to completely fix everything, we’d need to cause a greater explosion, consisting of holcron, 4th matter, mercury, satin, and plasma. You haven’t discovered satin yet, but its what is used to send the waves through matter in our transporters. The explosion of the temporal event would eradicate what has all been done here. Thus, fixing the alternate reality we have created by coming here, the covenant ship here,” Yantari brought up an image, “High Charity, is our target. We’l-.”
"Excuse me, but how do you expect us to over run the largest fleet of Covenant anyone has ever seen?”
"Ahem, that’s where you SPARTANs come in, one ship at a time, as we are attempting to distract them, you’ll blow up each of these flag ships, one at a time, riding in on our booster frames, which are far more durable than that of you time’s,” Val’tira said.
"It’s going to require a great deal of skill and unrelenting cooperation to pull this off… Now while we are here, is there anyone who has an objection?” Yantari asked.
He waited, no one spoke up.
"Very well then, w-.”
Through the screen, they saw Ericson’s ship suddenly explode.
Ash came to systems, consoles everything was going erratic. She ran over, then punched out a fuel tank… supposedly unbreakable. She ran over, then picked up the limp Rogue, and jumped in. She shut the hatch, then said her very last prayer…
The Arbiter picked up the unconscious SPARTAN, then slung it over his shoulder and started for the interrogation room. The brute had been sloppy in simply dropping it.
Once in the interrogation room, he sat her in the chair, then cuffed its hands to the arms, then removed the gauntlets, and helmet. The SPARTAN was female. He walked back, then sat the items on a lit table, and left.
Cleo woke with a start, she shook her head remembering what had happened, then looked, again… capture, this was the worst thing that could possible happen.
Cleo's wrists were cuffed to the arms of the interrogation chair, she pulled as hard as she could, but the energy cuffs wouldn't give. The door opened, then the Arbiter, three Prophets, and several guards came in. Cleo glared.
She knew the prophet's name, everyone-anyone could identify the Prophet of Truth, Mercy, and Regret.
Cleo held in her rage, “Well not only one, but three prophets, I should consider this an honor... should.”
"Flattery will get you nowhere, SPARTAN,” Regret sneered.
Cleo swallowed, then continued to glare, when an elite came over and pushed a button. Cuffs of energy formed around her ankles, then around her waist. Cleo shuttered, then looked up. “I'm not telling you anything.”
Truth smiled, “I believe you will, SPARTAN, one thing we got out of your friend was, 'future' tell me, what did he mean by future?”
Cleo chuckled, “If you think I'm just going to pour out my life's story to you then y'all really are idiots.”
The arbiter drew her fist back, then punched her.
Cleo grunted, then shook it off.
"Show respect, you worthless human!”
"Make me,” she whispered.
The arbiter grabbed her chin, then punched her again.
Cleo felt the blood run from her lip, and nose, but she had been through worse.
"What did he speak of?!” Mercy raised his voice.
Cleo glared, “Nothing, he was delusional.”
"I don't believe you're going to be honest with us, SPARTAN... willingly.”
An elite slid a long needle into her wrist, then injected the painful drug.
Cleo pressed her head back, the spasm shot through her muscles. Then it stopped leaving her feeling sick... and oddly-willing. “Oh jeez-I'm so drugged...” she whispered under her breath.
"Now SPARTAN... Who are you?”
Cleo looked up, her head twitching as she tried to resist, “I-I'm designation Cleo-Elite SPARTAN Rogue Commando 841_Rank: Ultra Commander.”
"Where are you from?”
Cleo stopped, clenching her eyes shut, she grinded her teeth, digging her fingers into her palms, “Nice try Truth, but I read about you, and you'll find me a bit harder to break... I have no weakness.”
Truth drew closer, “Oh, I don't believe that, SPARTAN, you have a weakness, and I will find it.” Truth grinned with a devilish stare of intent. “Whether it be physical or emotional pain, you have a weakness.”
The Arbiter grabbed a clump of her hair, then yanked back, forcing her to look into the light. She heard the prophets drawing closer.
"A shame, all of their SPARTANs seem to start so young,” Mercy said.
"Only the ones known as Rogues, but indeed, not that it matters they’ll all be destroyed,” Regret said.
"The elite’s find out about your damned lies! It takes a few decades, but they find out!” Cleo shouted.
"Tell me, 841, what lies are we supposed to be telling?” Truth asked.
"Your great journey is a lie! You prophets are phonies!” Cleo shouted.
The blow Cleo received this time knocked her breath out…
"What the hell was that?!” Daniel shouted.
"The ship…” Ericson whispered.
"Ashley!” Sly jumped up.
"Blaire, what just happened?”
"I don’t know… But I don’t think there are any survivors.”
"Scan the area for the time being, Ericson, you and the rest of your crew may stay here, the rest of you return to your ships, thank you,” S76 said. He turned back to the screen.
Ash trembled within the pod, it was air tight, luckily for the Rogues. She suddenly realized her helmet –she hadn’t picked it up… She was scared… What if they didn’t find them? She trembled from the stress her body was under, and that 177, she had to tell the others. 177 had blown the ship straight to hell, with the entire crew aboard… She could only hope that her brothers had left. It hit her, what if they had waited? What if they had blown up with the ship?!
Cleo waited, Truth most likely thought by letting Danutrog lose, he could break her. It would never work. Cleo cracked her knuckles at the brute entering.
He snarled, “We meet again, demon.”
Cleo glared, as he approached, then walked behind her. She didn’t bother looking back like a coward.
He grabbed part of her hair, and yanked back.
Cleo grimaced, and grunted at the pain.
"Scream, demon… Let me hear you scream,” he growled with pleasure.
Cleo closed her eyes. The smell of raw meat from his breath was unbearable.
He released her head, and continued his circling, as though he was attempting to decide what first.
Cleo caught her breath, her ear flicked back at what sounded like a metal blade. Not even a heartbeat later, something sharp was painfully and brutally drove into her right shoulder. Cleo held it in. She wouldn’t give him the pleasure.
"Scream, demon!” he roared.
"Kill me!” Cleo shouted.
Danutrog ripped the blade back out. “Oh, I will, demon, but it will be a slow, agonizing death.”
Cleo breathed, shuddering with the pain. “I am not afraid of you.”
"Then tell me, demon, what are you afraid of?”
WEAPON 177[]
"SPARTANs never die, son,” S76 said, putting a hand on Daniel’s shoulder. “They’re just mission in action.”
"I know sir, but what happened?” Daniel asked.
"177,” Morak whispered.
"What?” Yantari turned.
"That explosion came from within. I don’t think that Ericson crew was suicidal. It would have been Weapon 177,” Morak said.
"Are you sure?” Mar asked.
Rwon hovered through the wreckage on the booster frame… It was devastating…he had come across a few singed corpses… Watching Mummy the night before had been a bad idea. Of coarse it was simple human fiction, nothing real about it. He looked around, he kept thinking he had heard something in this floating wreck… Then he saw it, a helmet. He hovered over, then picked it up. Aross the visor it said
SPARTAN Rogue Commando X84-Ashley<SPARE>
Rwon frowned, another SPARTAN MIA… She must have been on when it blew. He started to wonder why she hadn’t been on the Dawn instead of on the ship, she had probably been the only one not there. He examined the helmet further, and found that the record chip was nearly completely intact. Rwon turned around, and rocketed back towards the Dawn’s Right.
"You found what, Private?” Yantari asked.
Rwon respectfully walked over to Daniel, and handed X84’s helmet to him. His face turned stark white… He had been holding on to the tiny flicker of hope that Ashley might have survived.
"This is the recording chip, we might be able to see something, sir,” Rwon said.
"Thank you private, dismissed.”
"Wait,” Daniel said.
Rwon stopped.
"Thank you.”
Rwon dipped his head, “I’m sorry.”
Rwon went back out, something was missing… Something. He was going to find it. No matter what it would take. He knew something was out there, maybe a few of the crew had made it into some sort of containment. All he knew was that there was something in that wreckage.
"That’s where she ran off, turn the audio on,” Ericson said.
The camera bounced at her every step, ten turned, and revealed a dead engineer, the camera went closer, his neck was crushed.
"What the hell did this?
"Did you find what did?” Ericson whispered.
The camera moved on, then froze, and turned to 068 laying on the ground, blood gushing from a opening in his stomach.
"068? Can you hear me?
"So she wasn’t trying to avoid the briefing…” Sly whispered.
"1-7-sev.
The camera jolted, then somersaulted back, revealing 177.
The camera dropped, X84 had dropped her helmet.
"Whoa! Take it easy, take it easy!
"Stop it, or I’m going to have to hurt you!
The camera revealed 177 behind her.
Ash looked around, before 177 swiped a knife across the back of her neck.
177 walked over, then touched the core.
In a single light, she had vanished.
Yantari fast forwarded a minute, Ash struggled up, then ran over, and looked around, the las glance there was of her, was her picking up 068, then a bright light, and the image ended.
Rwon looked at a fuel tank that was untouched… or so it seemed. He tapped on the surface.
Ash felt the air getting thick, she’d go unconscious pretty soon, she’d die without telling Jason that he needs to go to hell again. She closed her eyes, telling herself that SPARTANs never die, that include Rogue Commandos…
*thud* *thud*
Ash opened her eyes, “Huh?...” She touched the cold metal, and with the heat of her hand, it became warmer.
Rwon tapped it again before feeling a difference, he noticed that the pod was warm… Out in space? Rwon quickly realized when he heard it. |…---…| “Someone’s in there!” He was about to open it when he realized, whoever it was might die if he does.
"Very well done,” Truth said, looking at their two new puppets.
"Their bodies are completely within control, and whenever injured their implants will make them ignore it, and continue with whatever the order might be. Example.”
177 walk to C14, then grabbed the front of her helmet, and knocked her skull into the wall, forcing her to collapse.
C14 lifted herself back up, then remained standing straight. 177 returned to her place.
"With the brute’s help we can place each of them on the future ships, and destroy them,” the Arbiter said.
C14 twitched, “N-n-no…”
"How is she still able to speak?” Mercy asked.
The body is merely under control. Each of their minds are still active, but they can’t regain control,” Tirok said.
The closest ship had been the Scarlet Storm. Rwon ran over, then took the crowbar, and bashed the pod open. He gasped, “Someone get over here and help me!” He picked up the unconscious X84, then cradled her. SPARTAN 117 appeared with 068. “Mono transport us to the Dawn’s Right.” It brightened, then Rwon turned, “Please, follow me, sir!” He ran down the hall, then into the medical bay. He sat X84 on the first table, and looked her over, she had probably fainted at lack of oxygen, he placed a respirator mask over her mouth, then sped over to where 117 had laid 068. Rwon rushed over, “We’ll need F06! Mono!”
"On it!” Mono said.
"Mono to F06, we need you in the medical bay.”
"Transport me there.”
"Get your bloody grimes off me, damn it!” Zebon shouted.
"Ha! Just kill the demon!” One of the brutes laughed.
"The hierarch has other plans.”
F06 slipped past 117 and Rwon, “Trent… Oh-who did this to you.” He whispered, starting to operate.
117 and Rwon stepped back. “Thank you, sir. Would you like to return to your ship?”
117 nodded, and vanished in a beam of light.
Rwon opened a channel. “This is Minor Private Rwon to Commando C94.”
"Yes?”
"Get up here, now.”
Rwon turned back to X84, then looked her over again, her face was stark white, and her lips were nearly blue. She veins showed even more than a natural human.
"ASH!”
Daniel ran up, “I knew you’d make it!”
Sly came up, along with Orbit. “She made it.”
"I found her in a fuel tank, along with 068, she’s oxygen deprived, but being a Commando, I think she’ll be fine after a bit of rest,” Rwon said.
"Maybe she can tell us more on the encounter with 177 when she comes to,” Orbit said.
Sly slapped him in the back of the head, “Just say you’re happy to see her alive!”
Sealed fate[]
Cleo’s jaw started to tremble, she body was limp in the restraints.
Danutrog continued to fill himself with the pleasure of having the Elite Rogue Commando that had destroyed his operations, in his clutches… Cleo waited for him to cut her again. He grabbed her chin, then lifted her bloodied face, “Will you speak now?”
Cleo glared, “N-No.”
"You will!”
He took hold of her throat, and squeezed.
"Do-it,” Cleo dared.
"Alright, each of you have been chosen for your intense skills of leadership. John 117, you, your blue team, and our Gamma team will be entering in on SAPI speeders. Your target is High Charity . With the assistance of the Rogue Commandos AC team. You’ll advance from this point, maneuver around this cluster of ships, which Rogue Sapphire team will be taking out the flagship-you’ll enter in through this top area. Once there, the commandos and blue team will split up. The commandos will search for Cleo near this brig section, blue team will make their way to the third deck bellow, and attempt to find the other three Rogues we are missing.”
"Why is it so crucial to find them?” a marine asked.
Kale glared.
"Other than the fact that it’s Rogue Protocol not to leave a man behind?” Daniel snapped.
"Because, the Covenant have probably use much of the brute technology on them, Cleo is from the future, when High Charity blows, if Cleo is on there it could screw even more up.”
"And if we blow up the rogues, even worse than that,” Lucky added.
"Not to mention if one scrap of us is left here we might end up doing this all over again,” Yantari said. “That includes the brutes… Listen, to be honest, if we succeed, in which I have no doubt we will, each of you became legends… The reason you were called is because of your roll that you had. I wouldn’t rather be fighting along side anyone else… The rest of you know what to do,” Yantari said, then her looked at the Rogues, “Don’t let them mess with our Texas.”
They snapped to, then saluted as they left.
Betrayal[]
"Hm, the Death Angel had said that the elites would think us phonies.”
"Could that mean that they are intent to turn on us, I wonder?” Regret said.
"Yes, it would explain a great deal,” Mercy said.
Truth seemed to be thinking, “Exorcize each of them from the ship, kill them all.”
Shn’tak walked out of his quarters with his friend In’ton.
"Tell me what happened if its bothering you so,” In’ton said.
Shn’tak growled, “Fine. We found an artifact and the prophets ignored it.”
"You said that that the demon was from the time to come,” In’ton said. “Maybe it was-.”
"Prepare to die, heretics!”
The two stopped, then dodged at the brutes fire.
"By the gods! What the hell are they doing?!”
"Get them! The prophets ordered them all to be killed!”
"What did he say?!”
"The prophets? They would never.”
Shn’tak stopped, then remembered the SPARTAN on the monitor. “The elite’s find out about your damned lies! It takes a few decades, but they find out!” He realized the prophets must have believed her… “It’s the SPARTAN’s fault, she told the hierarchs we would betray them! We must flee!”
"I will contact our brothers, and the Arbiter!” In’ton said, “We have to get off High Charity, and to the phantoms to get to our ships!”
"You go, tell the Arbiter to meet me in the ultra security block!”
Ash slowly opened her eyes, it was dark, but it was warm. She looked over to see Sly sleeping with his arms on the medical bed. Ash touched his arm, then took his hand, a slight grin came to her.
Sly opened his eyes. “Ashley, you’re awake.”
"I didn’t think I’d see ya again, brother.”
You have no idea,” Sly said. “What happened?”
"177-sh-she’s insane.”
"We know, she was being controlled. Are you going to be okay?”
"My h-head- the back is stinging.” She brought her other hand up, then placed her hand on the back of her neck, her eyes widened, then she brought her and back, seeing blood.
Sly stood, let me see.
Ash leaned forward.
Sly looked at the wide gash, it was healing, but she had just slightly reopened it.
"Eh, Doc Ash has a nasty gash here,” Sly said.
Doc walked over, then examined, “I can seal this.” He took out a small device, then started to run a beam over, within seconds, new skin had formed. “That should do it, you don’t need this anymore,” he said, removing the respirator. “Give your self about an hour,” Dc ordered, then took an injector, and placed it on her should, and dispersed the medicine into her bloodstream, “You’ll be battle ready.”
Cleo remained hanging there he had finally left after a few stunning blows. She felt the blood still wet on the side of her face. The pain was the worst she had ever experienced. The brute was wicked, he wanted to hear her screams to satisfy himself. Seconds later the door flashed open. Cleo could hear alarms blazing off, but she didn’t have the strength to look up to see who had come. The restraints suspending her wrists gave way, making her fall to the ground before something picked her up, and tossed her over its shoulder.
"If the prophets choose to betray us, then we will take their precious future SPARTAN,” a voice hissed.
"This is it!” Yantari shouted, with in his commanding SAPI Speeder, “It’s either now or never!”
"SPATAN team, the moment we break the stealth field, commence operation!” Blaire shouted.
"Yantari?”
Yantari looked over to Mar in his cockpit.
"What if we don’t make it?” Mar asked.
"What will happen?” Vira asked.
Yantari looked back at his command screen, so many familiar faces, all of the legends he had heard about but never seen, he knew them.
"We’ll make it,” A familiar voice said.
Yantari looked over to SPARTAN 117’s speeder, he had said it.
"We will,” Yantari whispered.
"Deactivate cloak! Go teams, launch!”
Yantari felt the release, then put the pedal to the metal, and shot forward, “Com check.”
"Blue Team copies.”
"Red Team copies.”
"Garnet copies.”
They all copied loud and clear.
"Seraph formation!”
"Ignore them, we’ll take them out, you hit the target!” Vira shouted. “Lets go, team!”
Yantari fired at the seraphs directly in front of them then continued on.
"No! Attack them, the brutes have turned on us!” The arbiter shouted. “Have our fleet pull together!”
"Arbiter, there are human forces attacking, with the help of those future forces.”
The Arbiter tapped the surface of his command seat.
"Whoa, Yantari, you see that?!” Vira gasped.
"They’re fighting each other,” Mar blinked.
"It’s just like when there were close to Delta Halo!” Yantari shouted.
"Delta what?” Someone muttered over the com.
"Hasn’t happened yet, but this happened in the Covenant before, keep going!” Agito shouted.
"Shn’tak continued to fire at the on coming brutes, “We need the rest of these beasts off the ship!”
"On it!” Sash’aki shouted, and elite Commando Major. Despite her rashness, she was a beauty of fire. She drew her sword, then gutted the captain, before killing the others in the a blink.
Sash’aki turned, “What has caused the beasts, Yanme'e, and Kig-Yar to turn on us?”
Shn’tak thrust his hand to the limp SPARTAN that he had tossed behind a crate in the battle. “The Death Angel of time to come told him that the Sangheili would find the truth behind their lies.”
"Was she speaking the truth?” Sash’aki asked.
Shn’tak stopped, the SPARTAN was from the future, and the future elites had been working along side her, what if it had been the truth? “I don’t know.”
Sash’aki looked down at her, “If the elites from the future are working with the humans, could it be in the least bit possible?”
Shn’tak blinked, “Yes.”
"This must have happened before...” Sash’aki whispered. “Carry on here, protect that SPARTAN, the brutes will want her back, but we need the answers! I will eradicate the rest of these beast, warriors, ONWARD!”
"Yantari! Ghost team Ebony has detected Cleo’s transponder! It’s not on High Charity! It’s on an Elite Flagship!” Karai shouted from his helmet.
"Can they phase through?” Yantari asked.
"Of course, but I believe you should go. They can get you in as well.”
"Alright, Morak! Vira! Follow me!” Yantari ordered.
Joining forces with Texas...[]
Cleo coughed, her lungs were on fire, and the beating in her head had not halted. She didn’t want to open her eyes to see what would happen next, she wanted to be dead. There was a clicking sound, which made her open her eyes.
An engineer was presiding over her.
Cleo blinked, “Uh… Howdy.” She sat up, then scooted back until she felt something stop her. Cleo shuddered, then turned her head, and looked up.
The elite growled, “You finally come to thanks to the Huragok.”
He pulled her to her feet, and held her roughly by the arm. “What happened? Where am I?” Cleo demanded.
"The brutes have turned on us, the Covenant have turned against us, and it’s because of you. Is it the truth? Are the prophets liars?!”
"Would I have said that if I didn’t mean it?! The brutes were always intent on becoming the Covenant’s guard!” Cleo shouted.
The elite growled, then took her neck, “Don’t speak to me that way, human! I’ll gut you like the miserable little worm you are.”
"Shn’tak!”
Shn’tak turned to where Sash’aki stood.
"Release the SPARTAN at once, if she tells the truth, then she is an ally.”
Shn’tak looked back at her.
"Don’t touch her!”
An elite came through the ceiling, followed by several other SPARTANs, and two other elites… Shn’tak knew one… Morak.
"Shn’tak, don’t you’ll regret it,” Morak said.
"Morak…”
The SPARTANs had their rifles up.
The elites drew theirs.
"Stop! Don’t shoot, we are your allies,” Yantari said.
"Then lower your weapons,” Sash’aki ordered.
"SPARTANs, stand down,” Yantari said.
At the same time, all weapons were lowered.
"If you kill her you’ll be killing our future,” Morak said.
Shn’tak looked at Morak.
"Humans and Elites join forces in the end in order to defeat the Covenant,” Vira said, “The Arbiter of that time, Thel ‘Vadam gave a speech that started the UNSC Elite Guard. The prophet’s great journey is nothing but a lie.”
Shn’tak set Cleo back on her feet, then let go.
Cleo glared at him, then extended a hand, “I’ll forget that that all happened.”
Shn’tak looked at her hand, then accepted, and shook.
"Alright, Cleo, status?”
"I’m fit for battle Yantari,” she said.
"There’s no time to explain, but we are your allies.”
"Then what do you purpose?” the Arbiter asked.
"Fight together just as before,” Cleo said, “This has all happened already."
"Our plan is to blow up high charity.”
"What will that accomplish?” the Arbiter asked.
"We are going to put several element in with the explosion which in theory will open another temporal anomaly, this one as big as it will hopefully be, will be enough to set everything back to normal,” Yantari explained.
The Arbiter seemed to be in thought, then finally nodded, “We will assist you. Take my best commando, Sash’aki Coshknink’ee.”
Yantari grinned at the irony, he was waiting to meet someone he knew of and was related to.
Cleo activated her boosters, and hovered off the ground, “I’ve transmitted my frequency, call me if you’re in trouble.”
"Wait Cleo, are you sure you’re alright?” Yantari asked.
"A Huragok gave her medical treatment. As long as you do not take on too much, you should be fine,” The arbiter said.
"Sorry, sir. No promises,” Cleo said, saluting, “Don’t let ‘em mess with Texas!” Cleo turned back, the Mark L armor should have mater circulation armor just like the Elite SPARTAN VII armor, which circulates matter allowing the user to phase through solids. Cleo activated the inhibitors, then shot forward, with the slightest flicker of doubt, but in seconds was in space. Cleo screamed as a seraph fighter was meters away. Cleo phased through, appearing inside. “Watch where you’re going! Maniac!”
"By the Gods! How did you-?!”
"Attention all elite ships, the humans are our allies, do not attack them! This is your Arbiter, do not attack them!”
The Elite turned back, “A relief… Take a seat,” he said.
Cleo sat in the co pilot’s seat. “I need to get back to High Charity!”
"It will be done… What do I call you?”
"Elite SPARTAN Rogue Commando 841… I guess you can call me by my call sign. Call me Texas.”
Val’tira gripped her gut as she ran for the bridge, “Whats the problem?!”
"Shipmistress! You should be in the medical bay!” Lucky shouted.
"Don’t give me that, Alex, what have I missed?!” Val asked.
"This is our final battle in this time, we’ll win this or die trying,” Lucky said.
"Yan?” Val gasped.
"Yes, he’s in the fight, do you want to-?” Lucky turned, “Val’tira?! Shipmistress!”
Val mounted the Booster Frame then launch, “Val’tira to the Yan, can you hear me?”
"Val? What are you doing?!” Yan shouted.
"Thanks for the ride,” Cleo said.
"Be careful SPARTAN,” the elite said.
"No prom-i-ses!” Cleo jumped through the hull, then dodged a plasma round before shooting into the city. She didn’t bother fighting her way in, she activated her sharp ends, cutting straight through several brutes, then wiped the innards off her faceplate. Anyone in her way, would be dead.
"Cleo, you rib cut has reopened, and you need to wait for back up!” Yantari shouted.
"Can’t do it Yantari, this ends now!” Cleo shouted. She cut the channel, “My turn, Truth.” A blast aimed at her boots, knocked her boosters out. “No-!” She crashed to the floor, flipping over twice before crashing into the wall.
"Hm-nice attempt SPARTAN.”
Cleo got to her hands and knees, then shook her head.
"Guards! Remove this vermin from my sight!” Regret ordered.
Cleo stood, then grabbed two brute plasma rifles, “Bring it.”
"This is SPARTAN 117, blue team is entering.”
"At least you’re on schedule!” a voice grunted.
"John, what do we do inside?” Kelly asked.
"We complete our mission, find those Rogues.”
"Aaaah!” Murmph screamed, “WE’re going to die!”
"Hold yourself together, we’re not dead yet! Head for the ghosts!” Yark shouted.
"WE won’t die today!” Teimo shouted.
The three Unggoy ran for their lives.
"Val, what are you doing here?!” Yan shouted.
"Saving your sorry hide!”
She killed the leftovers, then landed.
"You aren’t completely healed yet!”
"I’m as well as you are!” she shouted, bring up her shotgun.
"Stubborn fool,” Yan growled.
They came back to back as more enemies entered.
"She would say the same of you…”
Fallen Heroes... []
Her shields lit up, nearly blinding Oliona, when suddenly they vanished, and her controls failed. "I’m hit!” Oliona screamed. “Nahhhhhh!”
The explosion blinded Keoni who had tried to get to her “OLIONA!” he screamed.
"She’s gone, Striker!” Zeth shouted. “Finish the fight!”
"Damned covenant!” he shouted, then turned to the seraph that had killed her, “I will!”
Ryan somersaulted over the brute, then grabbed it from behind, and threw him into several others, before something came down on the base of his skull, knocking him to the ground.
"No!” Danny shouted. Running up, and tackling the brute. “Set the charges, Tyler!”
"On it!” Tyler replied.
A chieftain ran out, hammer up.
Danny didn’t have the chance to see it hit him, before the hammer came down on him. His body, blood sputtering out, went flying into the wall.
"DANNY!” Tyler howled, ramming into the brute, then grabbing his hammer’s handle. “You killed my brother!”
"I will kill you!” The brute roared, ripping his hammer away, then knocking Tyler into a wall, he brought his hammer up.
"Ryan, the charges!” Tyler screamed, just before seeing the bright light.
Ryan struggled up, then looked at both of his dead brothers. “Remember the Alamo, guys.” He looked at the brute chieftain, then turned back to the charges. He jumped up, “Guys, I don’t know who can hear this, but… I wanted to say it was a blast.”
"Ryan?!”
He activated the charges, then turned around, just in time to catch the brute’s hammer. “DON’T YOU DARE MESS WITH OUR TEX-AS!!!”
Joel frowned, it was only a matter of time for the rest of them, he turned away from the still exploding Covenant cruiser, then went onto the next.
“Oliona?... Oliona!” he shouted, fearing the worst he stopped.
… She’s gone, Bat.”
"I don’t remember seeing this in the brochure!” Shiloh shouted.
Gary tossed over, “What brochure?”
"The lawyers.”
"We aren’t lawyers, UJ!”
"No, but we might as well be, all we ever do is escort and protect JAG or NCIS personnel!” Taylor muttered.
"There's a lot more to what we do, and you know it! Besides! We’re here now, so put your big girl pants on, ditch the diapers, and deal with it!” Gary shouted.
"GARY!” Shiloh tossed over, taking a plasma cannon round, then the booster frame blew, along with Shiloh’s life signs.
"Shiloh!”
"Watch where you’re going, dumb ass!” Taylor shouted.
Gary looked away, feeling the weight of Shiloh’s death… He should have been the one tumbling without life.
"Watch it, Paste!” ZT shouted.
"Thanks!” Paste shouted.
"Focus!” Titan shouted, zooming in between them, then took the lead, and shot upward. He twisted to the right, then shot into a cruiser, the other two right behind him. He jumped off the booster frame, then ran through the fist door, they’d find the plasma on this ship, that was their assignment, to find whatever plasma possible.
He stopped at the next door it opened… “No…”
Phantom shot in, “ZT, Paste! IT’S A TRAP!”
The two shot around.
"Stephen!” Ash shouted.
"No, we can’t lose anyone else!” Sly shouted.
"God, please,” Daniel prayed.
The ship was still exploding.
"Anything?” Daniel asked.
Ash looked at her screen. “N-… YES!”
Two booster frames shout out of the fire.
"Stephen and Zachem!”
Daniel breathed with relief, “Who?”
"Jason and Zackle,” Stephen replied.
Falling Regret []
"I will exorcize this demon myself!” Regret shouted.
"Big mistake!” Cleo shouted, taking the advantage, she twirled around, firing.
"Your very existence offends me, demon!”
Too bad, so sad.
"You shall not hide from me, demon!”
Cleo shot up, about to fire, when a blast hit her directly in the chest, throwing her meters back into a wall.
"Perhaps you underestimated me, no?”
Cleo struggled up, the place where the blast had hit was glowing from the heat. Another blast to the back knocked her back down.
"Surely, you can do better than that?”
Cleo grunted trying to stand, only to be punished by yet another blast.
"Regret!”
Regret turned.
"Taste rocket launcher!” Fred shouted.
The blast didn’t make it through his shield.
"Why anyone would fear these demons is beyond me!” Regret moved away from Cleo to meet his other foes.
"The enemy has breached High Charity.”
Truth thought a moment, “Who?”
"The Death angel and several of their SPARTAN IIs.”
Truth turned to his puppets. “Go, kill the demons, but bring me the Death Angel.”
"…841, 841, wake up…”
Cleo didn’t want to, there was no fight in her sleep, there was simple peace at mind, but she knew her friends were in danger… still the temptation remained.
"Texas!”
Cleo opened her eyes, to see corpses on the grounds, then she turned and saw 087-Kelly.
"841, can you hear me?!”
Cleo got to her knees, “Yes ma’am.”
John leaped into the air, landing on Regret’s throne.
Regret’s throne went into the air, then the barrier threw him off.
"CHIEF!” Cleo screamed, rocketing up, he wouldn’t survive that kind of fall. She caught him under the arms, “I got you, sir!”
"You dare intervene, demon?!”
Another blast knocked out Cleo’s boosters.
Cleo tossed him over her, then drew her sharp ends, and clung to the wall, sliding down the wall, “Hold onto me sir, it’s going to be a rough landing.” She drove her fingers in harder, sparks flying erratically.
Cleo grunted hitting the ground.
John extended his hand then pulled her up.
"Thanks, sir.” She turned back to Regret. “This-ENDS-NOW!” Cleo scraped her boots on the ground, causing enough friction to activate her boosters, then shot up. She drew her sharp ends.
Cleo landed seconds later, holding her breath, there was no scream, the prophet was dead, his throne into two pieces. She turned around, then walked through the purple-red fire to meet the other SPARTANs.
"841, are you alright?” John asked.
"Yes sir, we need to find the others. I’m aware of your mission, I’m going to assist you in finding the Rogues while Yantari’s team sets the charges,” Cleo said.
"We won’t have to find those Rogues,” Linda said.
"What?” Cleo asked.
"WE won’t have to find them ‘cause they’ve found us!” Linda said.
Cleo turned around.
Lauren, Terra, and Leo were waiting…
The Rogue's Revenge...[]
Cleo herself nearly trembled in fear of what had happened.
Terra brought up her rocket launcher, then fired.
"SCATTER!”
Cleo was thrown meters up from the blast, then landed with ringing metal in her ears. She stood gripping her helmet, the pressure was awful, and the dizziness brought her down again Cleo looked up, then saw the SPARTANs engaging, but not killing Leo and Terra… Where was Lauren?
Something sharp came down Cleo’s back, forcing her to let out a cry of agony, then she was turned over, and a boot came down, almost crushing her neck.
"L-Lauren-agh!” Cleo choked. “St-p!”
Lauren pushed harder.
Cleo saw blots of blue and black. She lost feeling of her limb.
Kelly shot over, tackling Lauren to the ground, and leaving Cleo laying there, stunned. “177! Snap out of it!” she shouted.
Lauren drew a knife, then took the advantage, and made a gash in Kelly’s shoulder, then kicked her back, and fired a plasma pistol.
Cleo retched everything in her to look up, just as the SPARTAN IIs were cornered.
C14 aimed up, and fired, the ceiling came down on the SPARTANs.
"NO!!!” Cleo screamed, she ran forward, forgetting she had no helmet, and pushed past the Rogues. “John?! Kelly! Linda? FRED, can you hear me?!”
"Dead SPARTANs,” C14 said.
Cleo turned around, not believing what had happened, it was all so impossible, it wasn’t supposed to be happening. She slunk to her knees, feeling that with the death of SPARTAN 117 all was lost.
Cleo didn’t bother looking as 177 lifted her hand, and brought the butt of the plasma rifle down on her exposed skull.
"Yantari! We just lost contact with blue team!” Vira shouted.
Yantari killed the last remaining brute, then stopped, “What do you mean lost contact?!”
"As in their com channels are only static now.”
Yantari stopped, “Are they dead?”
"SPARTANs never die.”
"No, are they MIA?” Yantari asked.
Vira frowned, “Lets just do what we came to do.”
Yantari took in a deep breath, “Agreed.”
John yelled as he broke out of the debris, then turned back, picked up Linda, and pulled her out. His head was beating, the ringing was still in his head from the collapsing metal. “Linda?” He felt for her pulse, nothing. “No…” He started to perform CPR. “Come on, Linda, stay with me.”
Kelly ran to his side, “Is she going to make it?”
Linda yanked forward, coughing.
"Linda? Linda, are you alright?”
All Arbiter’s pain…[]
Dangers of Love...
Val spun around, swiping her sword up, killing the beast, then jumped backwards, and cut into another. The battle had been long, and even Val, an Elite Commando of the Elite Guard was growing very tired.
"Val!”
And very, very careless. She hadn’t known what had hit her, but she had found that she was on the ground.
"Val’tira! You’re going to be fine!” Yan shouted, remaining over her.
But she then knew that everything was over. Blood gushed out of the opening on her back, and other places. She could find the ability to speak.
"You’re going to make it, Val! Do you hear me?! Don’t you dare leave me!”
Val took his hand, and held on with everything in her being.
"Please Val! I lost her, I can’t lose you too!... I love you, Val. I love you!”
For the last time, Val smiled… Smiled at Yan, and finally perished.
Horror struck Yan, as Val’s hand collapsed, and she became limp without life. “V-Val.”
He turned, then looked at the charges. “I will join you, Val. I will join you in paradise soon.”
He activate the charges, then closed his eyes, preparing to die.
There was a wising sound. His eyes shot open at light appearing. “No!” he shouted. “Why?!” he roared at S76 at the terminal.
"What?”
"Why would you take me away from being with Val?!” he snarled.
Endings…[]
The Ending of Rogue’s Revenge[]
Cleo opened her eyes, something-someone was dragging her back by her wrist. She looked as the door that they were approaching opened, Cleo looked up seeing it was Terra and Leo.
"Ah welcome back, SPARTAN.”
Cleo grunted, as the dropped her, then she struggled with her cuffed hands to get to her knees, Terra grabbed her by the shoulders forcing her to stay put.
"Just as 177, you have come crawling back to us, how typical you SPARTAN’s minds,” Truth said. Mercy was nowhere to be found…
Cleo glared, looking at the SPARTAN puppets. “Snap out of it! Lauren! LEO! Terra!”
John and his team had survived the oddly possessed Rogues, now they could get back to their own mission, which now included finding 841 again. He gave the signal, and they entered the nest room.
"Surprise. Surprise,” Kelly whispered.
There was a SPARTAN, future SPARTAN engaged in combat with another prophet’s guards.
"CRIKEY!”
Linda's helmet followed as an explosion threw him across the sanctuary. “Do you think we should help him?”
"You bums gonna stay there, or help me?!”
John blinked, then jumped away as a brute chieftain attacked with its gravity hammer.
"Lauren! Stop this isn't you!”
177's boot came down on Cleo's neck.
"Hm, I simply can't decide whether to kill you or use you, SPARTAN... A shame.”
"Terra! Leo! REMEMBER!”
They stood there, watching.
CLEO NO! Terra screamed trying to break free. Why can't I get out of this?! CLEO GET UP! There has to be something I can do! Terra did everything possible, but it seemed impossible to break out of herself.
"T-TEXAS!”
Cleo thought of everything this wasn't working, she had to try, her new idea was simple, so simple its possible that it might work! “T-TEXAS! You're letting Texas down! Don't let them mess with Texas!”
Truth paused.
177 didn't budge, then pressed harder.
Terra grabbed 177's arm.
177 looked at her hand, then at Terra.
"Sorry, Lauren.”
"No!” Truth shouted.
Terra flipped Lauren over throwing her ten feet away.
Cleo gasped as Leo broke her out of the cuffs, then pulled her up. “Your time is up, Truth.”
"GUARDS!”
"Say goodnight SPARTANs!”
They turned around, “Its Lauren.”
Cleo looked at Danutrog coming in. “You two will have to take her, he's mine.”
"You got it, Cleo.”
Cleo was about to go, when she stopped, “Are you sure that the two of you are alright? No more-uh-,” she pointed to her head.
"We're fine,” Terra nodded, “We won't let it happen again.”
Cleo nodded, then rocketed up, she landed across from Danutrog.
"You and me, SPARTAN... At last,” he growled.
"Yep. It will be your last.”
Danutrog charged, raising his hammer.
Pillar punched a terminal in, “We're losing!... What are we going to do?”
The commandos left... Ash, Daniel, and Nick huddled together on their knees.
"Well guys, it was a blast.”
"SPARTANs never die, Nick. We'll just join the hundreds of others gone MIA today,” Daniel said.
Ash looked at the two of them, but remained silent, as the core exploded, instantaneously killing them, and destroying the future brute ship.
"Now you die, SPARTAN!”
Cleo looked over to Terra standing, barely... Leo unconscious or dead on the ground. 177 took a sliver of metal, then drove it into Terra's shoulder, before knocking her across the helmet.
"Chieftain our ship has been destroyed!”
"What?!” he roared.
Cleo took her chances, slipping herself out with the little strength that remained, then roundhouse-kicked him into a sharp point of metal sticking out, then closed her eyes, hearing the sickening sound of his end.
"I-I-Impo-ssible...”
Cleo had finally ended him, then turned to face Truth only to have a boot knock her back, then brutal, bloodied hands punch her in the helmet, knocking her semi-conscious.
"You may have killed your enemy, SPARTAN. But you will never kill me with 177 here.”
Cleo came out as quickly as she could, then backed away. She had depleted her energy, she had nothing left in side of her. “You're right, Truth. I can't kill you, not with Lauren here, its not my place. I have one thing to say to Lauren before I die though...”
177 remain the cyborg... watching, waiting.
"Remember the Alamo, ROGUE! REMEMBER IT!”
177 grabbed her head, shrieking in agony, what was happening? Where was she what had happened? She backed away, griping her helmet, then her back hit a wall. She remembered the entire puppet act of Truth's. The pain continued, but 177 suddenly became used to it, the implant was attached to her spinal cord, and her neck where the main core of it was, was trying to electrocute her, to regain control. She had figured it out. Lauren looked up to see Cleo collapsing, Cleo had awakened her, Cleo had set her free. “I will Cleo! Always!” 177 turned to Truth, her hostility, her rage, the monster in side of her took over. “Truth!” She started to walk towards him.
"You might no longer be under my command, but you are still within my control,” Truth hissed, pressing a button on his throne.
Lauren grimaced, nearly stopping at the horrible pain, then continued, walking with the pain.
"Interesting,” he whispered.
Lauren glared at him, one thing on her mind.
Truth took it to the full extent, then pressed.
Lauren tried to hold it in, then took a step back at the excruciating pain. She bit back the scream within her. She couldn't move at the tension building within her body. The burning, cutting pain all throughout her body.
"As I said, SPARTAN. You are still within my control, and the time for you demise has come,” Truth said.
"Not-lik-ely, TRUTH!” Lauren reached her hand up, shaking in the pain. Just then she drove her fingers into her neck.
Truth himself gasped in horror.
Lauren shrieked, yanking the core implants right out of her very own neck. She dropped at the sudden vanishing of agony, despite her neck.
"Impossible!” Truth shouted.
Lauren trembled for a moment. Have to get up... Have to finish this!... Going to make it!... This is my last fight... I'll finish it. Without the implants, I'm gone... She pulled up everything within her, then sot to her feet, trembling. “Time to die, Truth.”
Truth hit a button on his thrown, a hole appeared in the floor, and he shot down out of sight. 177 bolted over, then jumped down, and straightened herself to gain speed. Seconds became nothing, and she demolished the thrown by simply plummeting into with brute force, and the weight of her armor. She knocked Truth off the throne, then took out her Covenant knife.
"Kill me or not, SPARTAN! You are going to die without those implants!”
"Haven't you heard, Truth?!... SPARTANs never die!”
Lauren's hand drove down.
Cleo inched over, slowly making her way to the gravity lift, then finally dropped herself in. Lauren had followed Truth down, Cleo could only hope for her to still be alive. Cleo activated the last source of rejuvenation, then was able to stand as she landed. Cleo stopped hearing a sickening *splat* sound, then turned to see 177 continuously beating the bloodied corpse of Truth.
"Lauren,” she gasped.
The moment she had made it to her, Cleo grabbed 177's wrist before she could continue. “Lauren,” she repeated.
177's head turned, she was still gasping for air.
"He's dead...”
177's shoulder slightly loosened.
Cleo caught her as she fell back, then dragged her away before gently laying her down, and removing her helmet as careful as possible.
Tears were running down her cheeks the side of her neck was bloodied from where she had removed the implants herself. 177's chest plate was drenched in the prophet's blood.
"You did it, Lauren, you killed him,” Cleo whispered.
177 smiled, “He had it coming... Now-now I can go. Now I can stay gone.”
Cleo stopped, “Lauren, you can't die now. You-.”
"SPARTANs never die, Cleo, we're just missing in action... I've wanted to for a long-long time. My night-mare is over...”
Cleo removed her own helmet. “I suppose it is.”
177 inched her hand towards Cleo's.
Cleo took her hand.
"Tell Luke he's gotta forget about me. SPARTANs can't love that way... They can't. We live together... We fight together... W-we die together,” 177's voice became gravely.
Cleo barely smiled, “They can't call you Stiff anymore...”
177 closed her eyes, “No... They can't.”
"I know what you are, Lauren...”
177 opened her eyes one last time.
"You are Rogue. You are the rogue... I want to say it was an honor, Rogue... An honor to fight along side you, an honor to meet you, Rogue.”
177 smiled a warm smile, her last, then released her tension, and died.
Cleo released Rogue's hand. “Rest in peace, this time, Rogue... For ever.”
Cleo finally had the chance to realize her pain, he injuries, her blood loss, then fainted beside 177's corpse.
"Thank yah, mate, Major Chief Zebon at your service,” the SPARTAN said.
John nodded, “We need to keep moving, we lost the Rogue we were looking for, and need to find them fast.”
"Found C14 and F06!”
Leo jerked around, “Terra needs medical help!” he shouted.
"I'll take her, mate, the rest of you fine 841 and 177,” Zebon said, picking Terra up off the floor.
Leo stood as he vanished in light.
"F06, d-?”
"They went down the gravity lift, follow me.”
Leo said, then ran to the lift, and shot down, he looked up, the SPARTAN IIs directly behind him. He saw Yantari, “Yantar-!” he shouted in the few milliseconds that he had seen him. Leo tapped into the com. “Yantari, I just passed you!”
"Vira and I have to shut down the grav-lift to get down to the core, you're heading straight for it.”
"Rodger that, we'll clear the area. PLEASE, do not shut it down while we're in here, F06 over and out.”
The lift took a sudden curve up, then spit Leo out, forcing him to tumble to a stop. He gripped his shoulder in pain, then shook his head. Once he had regained his full vision, he blinked, and froze. The prophet was dead on the floor... beat to a pulp in literal terms. Leo's eyes followed the trail leading on, and stopped. “Lauren... no.” He took one step at a time, pain, dread, fear, and thousands of painful emotions washed over him. He slunk to his knees at her corpse.
"I’m sorry… Leo, I’m so sorry…”
He looked to where Cleo struggled up.
"She ripped out the implants, but took the prophet with her.”
Leo nodded, “Good.”
Cleo was surprised, he said ‘good’ at death… Leo, for as long as she had known him would have never have said ‘good’. As far as she knew, that was.
"Are you okay?” he asked.
"I will be,” Cleo said.
"841!”
The SPARTAN IIs ran from the gravity lift. Yantari and Vira followed.
"841, are you hurt?”
"I can’t move the lower half of my body,” Cleo admitted.
"You might have nerve damage,” Leo said.
"All of you need to get out of here, we’re going to end this here and now,” Yantari said.
Fred lifted Cleo off the ground.
"Yantari!”
He stopped, turning to Cleo.
She touched his shoulder, “You’d better come back… I-I’ll kick your-“
"I’ll come back, Cleo… I promise, I’ll come back.”
"You too, Vira,” Cleo breathed. “Bring ‘im back, bring you both back.”
Vira nodded to her with determination.
"Ten, transport them.”
Yantari turned back to Vira, “Lets finish this.”
"Plasma in place.”
"Setting charges,” Yantari said. “Ten, tell all ships to clear away from High Charity… Not that it’ll matter.”
Vira held out her hand. “Do it, brother.”
The last containment...
Yantari took her hand, and closed his eyes, “Blaire! NOW!”
Cleo laid on her stomach, and felt the scanner wave over her spine.
"I'll start the regeneration cycle,” Doc said.
Cleo gasped at High Charity becoming a bright orb of a blue explosion, “Yantari! Vira!”
Just then, another containment orb appeared, then suddenly shot out, leaving nothing but light.
Cleo gazed at the wonder around her, images of what had happened on this adventure flashed past her, but vanished just as quickly, disintegrating into nothing. She soon found Yantari and Mar at her side.
"What's going on?” Mar asked.
"The temporal anomaly is unfolding, putting everything back as it was,” Yantari awed.
"This is going to require a-lot of paperwork,” Mar hissed.
Cleo brought her hands up at a portal opening, bright, too bright to look at.
"Cleo!”
She turned around, “Leo!” she ran to meet him, this light dimension was too complicated for words, it was slippery, bright, foggy. Cleo embraced him, “We did it! Everything is going to go back to normal!”
Leo smiled, “Yes...”
Cleo tilted her head, “Is something wrong?”
Leo took off his helmet, “Will we remember any of this?”
Cleo stopped, “... I-well-we-I don't know.” She removed her own helmet.
"Either way, this is the last time for now. It was fun, Cleo.”
Cleo could see how disappointed he was, she smiled with gentle eyes, then gently kissed his cheek.
He looked at her.
Cleo smiled, “Good bye, brother.” With that, she put her helmet back on, then turned. She looked at the portal, then ran forward. Yantari and Mar jumped in, Cleo, without looking back, dove through.
Epilogue...[]
Another Flaw []
I had not died, fool... I lived, and I will have my vengeance, this is not over. I will create a future for all without human and Elite forces. The future will not be as it was before. I shall see to that... You prepare for the flaw you had left behind...
|