Alone CH 1

"Talking"

Thoughts

Covenant Cruiser 8/4/2540 12:27 PM

You could say this was not a good day for Corporal Richard. Not a good day is an understatement at the least. After breakfast on the Silver Sides a covenant cruiser had jumped out of slip space and had immediately disabled their weapons and engines. Then boarding craft had latched on and a load of elites boarded and put everyone to sleep with gas grenades. Not to mention the fact that he is quite possibly the only human that wasn't captured by the covenant forces. Then to watch the ship you were on get blasted into scrap metal by the cruiser's plasma cannons can really add up. You could say this is the worst day ever. The worst Corporal Richard has ever experienced.

Corporal Richard was currently having a 'nice' quiet spacewalk on the purple hull of the Covenant Ship that attacked them. Thank god the suit had a long lasting air supply and a cooling system, not to mention radiation protection and it was the latest gen with a system that converted excrement to water and collected any oxygen that might be floating around in the quiet space.

Where the fuck is that hanger bay? He thought bored to himself as he trudged silently on the hull with his magnetized boots usually used for repairing the Silver Sides hull. If I spend any more time out here I'm going to die of boredom. He sighed, checking his backpacks inventory out of boredom. "Let's see here" he talked to himself as he checked the items. A gasmask, My shotty, 24 "Dragon's Breath" rounds, 24 Normal shells, my pistol, 5 clips for the pistol, my armor, and 3 frags. He reexamined the pack gloomily, there was no way in hell he had enough rounds to kill every one of them but he had to try, this was the only thing he could do stranded on a covie ship other than strip down, holler for the elites to get him, and lay down an a silver platter.

He continued over the smooth purple 'hill' of the ship. Thinking to himself right until he almost fell inside of the hanger "Holy shit!" He yelled surprised as he tried to regain his balance, as he wobbled on the edge of the hanger bays shield that separated him from the effects of the gravity generator. Stabilizing himself enough so that he didn't fall into the hanger.

He looked down over the blue shield and began walking around it slowly, thinking to himself how easily he could have just ended up as a pancake on the floor of the hanger bay, or worse, still alive on the floor of the hanger bay while the squids closed in to kill him and lay eggs in his body or something. He continued to think about this until he was "Right side up" on the ship.

He entered the eerily purple hanger bay, which appeared to be abandoned right now, a blessing for now as he made his way to the corner of the bay and took off the suit. Thanking god that he was alone he stuffed the suit in an air duct near the corner, taking a mental note in case he might need it again.

He unloaded his pack, putting on his armor to cover the black crew undershirt he's wearing and slinging the shotgun over his shoulder. Putting his olive green helmet on and activating his HUD on his orange colored visor that can be retracted into his helmet. Finally fully prepared with his pistol holstered and his mask hanging from the belt, crawling into the very vent he had stashed the space suit, just as a cleaning grunt came to clean up the hangar bay.

After crawling for what seemed like ages while hampered by a bag, armor, and weapons, Richard decided to lie down in the dark duct work. The most he had to do was either take a nap or remember how today had gone down the shitter so quickly, and wonder what had happened to his mates on the Silver Side after the covenant had been so nice to make them take a nap with their blue smoke grenades. So he decided to look at where it all went wrong.

The Silver Sides, UNSC Destroyer 5:37 AM

Richard rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he walked down the interior hallways of the Silver Sides, heading straight for the mess hall for breakfast. Considering how early it was according to the military calendar and his own sense of time. This was his second month on the ship; a batch of newbs had just arrived yesterday on pelicans.

He walked into the noisy mess hall, greeted by the noise of marines jawing and the smells of cooking food. Smiling hungrily, he made his way into the breakfast line and retrieved an unhealthy amount of bacon sausage, and pancakes, topping off the pancakes and sausages with syrup and to drown it all down with a glass of milk.

A familiar voice rang out of the crowd, belonging to his friend "Hey Richy Rich, Over here!" Jack called from a table that sat near the window

Richard turned over to him and walked, giving him a grin "That's Corporal Richy Rich to you" Sitting down himself and his small mountain of food "…Private"

Jack frowns pretending to be insulted "Sorry sir, want me to kiss your ass too?"

Richard chuckles himself, beginning to dig into his pile of food "Damn right private, I'm now making that an official order" He says in between mouthfuls of food, trying not to choke as he laughs.

"Yeah I bet you would like –"He gets cut off as the ship suddenly shakes violently, causing their breakfasts to slide around on the table and spill his milk, causing marines in the cafeteria to yell out profanity as their food slid off the tables.

"What the hell was that?" some marine yelled as he wiped his breakfast from his black shirt

The intercoms then crackled on to deliver the news "Slip space rupture! The enemies are here boys, everyone to their posts now!" The captain ordered through the PA

In unison, most of the marines got up and instantly departed for the armory, except for a few hungrier ones, who were shoving as much as they could into their stomachs before leaving or just flat out taking their plates with them.

The large group of marines headed down the hall to the armory, grabbing their preferred weapons and their armor before heading to defendable positions across the ship. Richard grabbed his M90A shotgun, along with 54 Shells and 36 Teal tipped incendiary, "Dragons Breath" rounds, which would explode out of the shotgun with massive jet of flame following the pellets which would quite literally melt and tear apart anyone foolish enough to stand in the way along with the rest of his armor and took off to a position down the hallway from the armory.

Jack grabbed his standard assault rifle, the MA5B with 300 rounds of ammunition with 120 red tipped ballistic rounds, not known for penetrating armor but very good at killing a weakly armored target with its fragmenting plastic tipped rounds. He then followed his superior and friend down to a position, hauling a mobile titanium barrier with him; it made sparks from being dragged across the metal flooring.

"Special delivery!" He yelled enthusiastically, dropping the barrier in front of their position. He reared around and sat on a small camping stool next to Richard, who was making sure he had exactly enough rounds for his weapon. Jack chuckled at his superior's version of OCD.

Richard rolled his eyes at the privates chuckling, knowing exactly what he was giggling about. "Yeah yeah, keep laughing, jackass" Pumping the shotgun and checking down the sights to see if its last owner had adjusted them from their normal position. He then turned around to see a group of 3 marines approaching them, one still struggling to put his armor on, and the other two carrying several cases of frag grenades. "Got an order from UPS here" one of them joked, handing the case to Richard "Just sign here, here, and here" He motioned to the imaginary lines, chuckling as the other one set down the explosives behind the barrier.

"The enemy has fired, brace for impact" A deck officer warned. The group of marines held onto the supports, feeling the ship shake violently as the lights flickered out of existence, leaving the group of men alone in the pitch black hallway. Corporal Richard was the first to turn on the flashlight on the end of the shotgun, the other marines did the same with their assault rifles, expect for one who held a flashlight less battle rifle.

One of the marines spoke up, stuttering with fear "H-hey w-were gonna get outa here alive… R-right?" he shakes a little, worried for his own life

Another marine placed a steady hand on the scared marine "Were going to be fine son" He said calmly, trying to calm down the frightened marine.

Suddenly, the secondary power supply came online, illuminating the hall with yellow flashing lights, then the voice of the captain came over the speakers "Covenant drop ships are inbound, All crew members are to commence Cole Protocol immediately!" The speaker's shutdown and the marines flicked their safety's off.

"Alright boys, prepare to give them hell!" The corporal cheered, trying to hide his own fear "Yeah, here we go marines, these squids will regret ever trying to board the Silver Sides!" one of the 3 marineateers yelled.

The Silver Sides then grew eerily quiet, the breathing of the small group of defenders was the only thing heard as they listened to the boarding craft attach to the ship. The marines stared down the hall to the sealed doors. Waiting for what seemed like hours to them as the covenant scurried around behind the metal door, until it came flying off in a blue explosion, sending one of them sliding down the hall to their position, stopping at the titanium shield.

A small group of elites came walking down; seemingly thinking the hall was devoid of life as the smoke clouded their eyes and noses. Only to run to cover as one of their minors was sent flying backwards in a plume of flames and blood, emitting from Richards smoking shotgun.

"HUMANS!" the minor elite yelled surprised as the others opened up, sending a rainstorm of lead down the hall for a few seconds.

"What did you expect to be on a human ship, brother? A load of unggoy children?" The major elite mocked his foolish blue armored comrade.

"Hey split lips, I got a nice, shiny present for you." One of the marines taunted their attackers.

The elite major groped his crimson waist for a grenade, grabbing the small sphere and activating it "Well humans I have a present for YOU!" He lobbed it at them, retreating behind cover as the primitive bullets drained his shielding.

The humans scattered as the grenade fell next to them while Jack screamed horrified "Grenade!" and jumped backwards, only to be surprised as a light blue gas erupted from the sphere enveloping a marine and trapping the other on the elite's side of the hall.

"Oh shit! They got gas! RETREAT!" Richard screamed the order as the 3 remaining marines scrambled into the armory. First closing the door, then Jack unloaded a clip into the panel controlling it.

The first marine, who was enveloped by the gas quickly loss consciousness, the second marine looked up to an angry Elite major. "YOU WILL PAY HUMAN!" He yelled angrily at the loss of his minor, kicking the soldier's helmet with his hoof in a rage, knocking him back into the gas as his helm flew off to the side. More elites arrived to back the two up.

The remaining 3 moved the barriers in the armory into an effective wall, with firing holes for the 3 of them as the scrambled around. Jack began pulling a crate that held a heavy MG "Guys help me haul this!" He asked the others as he struggled with the encased gun "Its not light as a cloud". They came and hauled it behind their makeshift wall. Setting up the tripod and placing it on top, with a nice field of fire on the door. They quickly grabbed the gasmasks and put them on. Now prepared for their attackers, who are assaulting the door.

The banging continued for a minute as the elites slammed their fists against in, trying to force the jammed door, until finally giving in and placing a charge on the door. Right as they were about to blow it, two marines scrambled out of the vents behind them, trying to escape other elites but only to find themselves surrounded by even more. But like any cornered animal they fought back hard, kicking the tar out of several elites before they were overwhelmed. The then resumed their work, preparing to blow the door and toss gas on the defenders.

The door blew and immediately heavy MG fire came bursting out. A few gas grenades were tossed in to hopefully end the fight before it started, fortunately the humans now knew what the elites were using and had prepared themselves with a few of the armories masks.

They stopped firing for a moment, and the elites simply assumed they were all out like a sack of potatoes, one walked in arrogantly making a huge mistake as the humans proved they were very much awake and turned the elite into Swiss cheese. Forcing a dead elite major back into the hallway as his blood seeped out through multiple wounds.

"What?! how are they still awake?!"One elite yelled over the gunfire as multiple bullet holes appeared near his cover.

One stuck his head out, seeing the humans wearing protection on their faces "They have protection from the ga-" Was all he managed to say before a 3 round burst slammed into his head, splattering the wall behind him purple.

Thye Beltanee, angered at friends death was filled with rage, he ran out into the firing ling with bullets draining his shields until they were no more, jumped over the barrier and onto Jack, who was operating the weapon.

Jack gasped as the elite jumped onto him, knocking the air out of him, then his mask was knocked off, his lungs filling with blue gas as he fumbled for his pistol "Oh fuck…"he gasped sure he could get to it as the darkness clouded his vision, still sure he could…

Richard blew the elite off of Jacks form, the shielding was down causing the minor to take a 8 gauge incendiary round without the burnt of it to be lessened by the shielding, as flaming bit of the elite hit the wall, Richard ran back with the other marine who was still there, who suddenly fell down as a carbine round went right through the filter part of the mask, allowing him to take a deep breath of the sleeping agent.

Cursing the elites, himself, and god, the poor corporal sprinted down the hallway to the airlock. The angry howl of elite's right behind him, he fired backwards desperately without looking and hit a minor in the chest who was really close to him. "STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM ME YOU FUCKING MONSTERS!" he screamed angrily in fear as he reached the airlock, turning around and firing the remaining 2 shells down the hall at the elites rushing towards him.

Oh god they're going to get me He unloaded a clip from his pistol down the hall, thinking fast he aimed the final shot at the door's switch. With his last bullet, he shut the door just as the elites reached it.

Richard quickly formulated a half brained desperate escape plan. Putting on a space suit from the airlock's locker, he depressurized the airlock and walked to a boarding craft that was still attached. He walked onto it and waited. A few hours later, the ship detached and started heading back to the covenant cruiser. As it got really close Richard turned off his magnetic boots and floated onto the ship. Getting there farther than expected on the hull of the ship, he slowly began making his way to the hanger the ships had returned to.

Unyielding Triumph Covenant Cruiser 8/4/2540 2: 41 PM

Richard woke up looking around frantically, wondering where he was. He tried to sit up but then hit his head really hard on the ventilation duct, giving him a starry reminder where he was "Oh right…" He mumbled unhappily to himself, thinking about the loss of the ship and his friends.

He turned himself back onto his stomach and began crawling again. The surprisingly clean ductwork helped how his clothes looked at least that was a positive, the only positive.

After crawling a while, he found a grate like the one he entered from in the hanger and looked through it. What's this? He wondered and peered through it. He was floor level in what appeared to be a bathing chamber, it's empty. He considered going into it and relaxing. He was tired and sweaty, not to mention that he could surprise whoever entered and then get some information out of them, before getting his revenge.

Using the butt of his shotgun, he smashed the weak vent cover open, letting him gratefully get out of the steamy vent. Sighing gratefully, he moved himself into the corner so he could relax and ambush anyone that could enter.

After a while, still no elite or sign of any covenant had entered and Richard had decided it would be useless to stay longer as he was rested from the crawl on his poor elbows and knees. Getting up, he proceeded back into the vent, replacing the cover. But if anyone were to pull on the cover, they would discover it loose. Let's hope no one touches this for now…

Meanwhile…

Jack slowly blinked his eyes open, seeing a purplish blur above him until his vision cleared and he realized in horror that he was inside a covenant ship. Trying to stay cool he looked to his sides, seeing a hallway through a light blue plasma shield. To his right was a girl, He recognized her. She was Velvet, one of the marines who was assigned to their squad. Slumping down sadly, he punched himself over getting captured by the religious freaks.

Velvet moved a little in her sleep. Jack looked over at her, wondering if she would wake. The private just adjusted her position and stayed motionless, except for the rising of her chest.

A elite crossed in front of the barrier as, Jack began to sing Bury Me Not In The Lone Prairie softly so he wouldn't wake Velvet. The elite guard regarded the man for a moment, before continuing down his route.

A few minutes later, two elites appeared in front of the cell and deactivated the shielding. The grabbed him and dragged them both, to what he presumed was a torture room.

At first it seemed like he was right, they had them strapped down. The guard kicked him and the other guard did the same to her. She looked up at the elites with disgust and spit at them. The guard paid no heed to the spit and mixed his blood with something. The one in front of him did the same.

"What the fuck are you split lipped homo's doing?" He spat the words at the elite. "Going to torture us to find more planets to glass?"

The elite chuckled "No heathen, the gods have decided a different path for you, one where honor will guide you, and you will join our ranks"

"I'd rather not make out with you religious fags, and I'm not your brother, squid head" he spat with despise at the elite

The elite looked at him angrily "But you will be soon" Injecting the pain reliever into his bloodstream.

"What the fuck was that?" he grimaced from the shot, as the elite ignored him and picked up the shot containing the virus. He approached the man, who was looking up at him and cursing him with everything he could think of under the stars.

"SCILENCE!" The elite bellowed and brought the needle down into Jack's arm, injecting the purple tinged virus into him.

Jack gasped as his arm filled up with pain, which spread with every second. "Whaaat the fuck…" he whispered painfully, as the pain exploded throughout his whole body, fasted by his heart rate which was climbing fast, his veins, bulging from the virus spreading steadily throughout his body. "Aghhh… it hurts…" He moaned like a child who had stubbed his toe, as his hot infected blood began to change him. The almost unbearable pain of his bones breaking, reforming, and elongating was a torture beyond measure, somehow he stayed awake and didn't scream through the process. His fingers began reforming into long claws and reforming into the dual thumbed hands of an sanghelli. His arms bulged beyond human level and his legs snapped backwards, causing him to scream for a moment. He didn't have time to think about his voice as the bones and muscles in his feet reformed into large hooves. The last large change happened to his head, his neck bulged and grew longer, ending as his jaw tore apart, dripping with his blood and human teeth that were expelled as the new fangs grew in. This final pain knocked him out. His body then grew a little as the muscles and organs finished reforming, his eyes now a golden yellow.

The elite administered the memory suppressant just as Velvet was injected.

Unyielding Triumph, Covenant Cruiser 10:02 PM

Richard had been crawling through the vents for hours, even though the screams had long died. He looked through every cover he found for a source of the screams. He had seen through his crawl through the ship; a kitchen, a elite crew room, several hallways, a repair bay, and a room for the lower ranking members of the ship.

He'd been close to being detected a few times by passing covenant but had managed to elude them so far, most brushing the vent noise off as "Cleaning Unggoy". Today seemed to be in his favor, even more so when he found several grunts cleaning an amount of blood off the floor, a lot of it purple but with some red.

The room the grunts were cleaning what appeared to be a medical bay, multiple test tubes and various science looking equipment scattered in the room.

"Hey YipYip, do you think those converted humans will remember anything?" one of the grunts asked his friend who was scrubbing.

"I don't care as long as we don't get beat as a result, 2 days without food nipples last time was bad enough!" The other grunt replied back as he smeared the blood with his brush across the floor, trying to clean the mess.

Richard touched the grate with his hand and it fell over, someone else had already come this way. The 3 grunts in the room instantly turned to see Richard, who was tossing a fragmentation grenade at the surprised grunts, before instantly retreating into the vents to take cover.

"GRENADE!" One screamed and the grunts dived away, but without sufficient space the poor cleaners were splattered on the walls.

Richard instantly walked in and blasted the consoles that weren't already trashed by the frag with his shotgun, sending the remaining consoles into small blue plasma fires and purple scrap metal heaps as the pellets tore them apart. He then in an instant retreated into the ventilation. Covenant soldiers ran down the halls to the origin of the shots, who would only find dead grunts, trashed consoles, and shells lying on the floor.

Authors Note: Thanks to Kool Killer for letting me use his plot and setting. Thanks Kool :D

Anyways I want to hear feedback on how I've done with these 4000 some words and what I should do to improve.

Thanks for reading

~LightningDragoon