Hey guys, this is going to be updated with chapters that are fixed to replace the poorly written installments. XD So please, enjoy. And I might as well say this now: All of my stories are on here just for reader's delight, if you want to review them, go ahead, but I'm barely able to get on here as it is.
The Covenant got what they wanted from her. Professor Ellen Anders lay still hearing the monster that carried her here shout something about Forerunners, and being charged with the destruction of her race. Her neck protested from the bruises she obtained by the alien's harsh grip as he pulled her towards the gravity-lift of the Drop ship and they were beamed inside. And there she passed out soon after the ship left the planet's atmosphere. Struggling in the alien's already firm grip wasn't the smartest thing to do.
With blurred vision, she glanced up at the ornate silver-clad Elite, he and the others were occupied with the events unfolding before them, she only wanted out. Her view changed to the platform she was once held captive over.
It seemed to listen to any command given, it was Forerunner technology, and maybe it'd listen to her. Everything else Forerunner had done so to this point—much to her dismay is some situations—why would it not work now?
Taking the chance while it was still open, she gathered her strength and jogged upon the platform, looking skyward briefly. She sighed glancing down to the platform. "Nothing ventured... Surface!" Anders ordered, a flash of light surrounded her form, a second after she vanished.
"Arbiter, the Human female, if she escapes she'll go for aid!" A young red armored guard cried, pointing to the platform having noticed the female but had no time to stop her.
Ripa 'Moramee looked back, his aged face creasing with a snarl. "She will not live to get that far." He entered the platform. "Surface!" He shouted gruffly, his body was lit aglow and was transported away soon after.
Anders materialized a few feet from the jungle floor, her knees bending at the impact with a light gasp. Brushing her soft black hair from her face with a finger, she looked about. "Hmm," She huffed, feeling a mild wave of relief. "That worked out pretty well."
She took a few steps forward, the plants crunching beneath her feet, another metallic hum sounded from behind her. She spun on her heel, the feeling of dread washed over her at the site. "... Maybe not." The silver clad Elite that had dragged her to her own personal hell flickered to reality in front of her, his hooves slammed the vegetation, he lifted his head and straightened out of the hunching position he ended up in.
Anders backed away slowly mumbling something aloud to herself. She observed the impressive crooked rows of teeth within his mouth. He ignored her comment and pulled the deactivated hilt from his belt. A wet scratching and gibbering noise came from behind the two, cutting his grip on the sword short.
Anders gasped and the Alien turned, grunting as a strange bulbous parasitic form leapt at his face. He batted it away with his hand quickly; it popped sending a splatter of green foul-smelling liquid all over his face and chest. With another bark of aggravation he stomped a second and slapped aside a third.
Ellen took the time to make her escape, dashing for the sticky, steaming thick foliage before her.
Shaking the parasite blood from his face with a displeased growl, his head swiveled to where the Human female was previous and hissed. He looked further out to see her back growing smaller as she made for the shrouding jungle surrounding them. Without further hesitation he gave chase, activating his sword in his hand.
The Professor rounded a large tree; she gave a quiet yelp as a low-hanging branch adorned with a spiked vine brushed her face, leaving a thin cut along her cheek. Her muscles ached, her bladder was burning, her neck was pulsing with dull pain, and sweat dribbled down from her hairline, it passed over the thin cut, stinging. She hissed but didn't bother to wipe it away, least she falter.
She had no doubt the Elite would catch her, leaping over a rotted log she glanced back to see her progress and unfortunately, she caught the sight of a cloaked shimmer as it passed under a stream of sunlight peeking through the canopy. Despite her body's heavy protesting she forced herself to run faster, her boots slamming the damp ground. The loud incoming droning of a weapon caused her to duck. She let a yell as it sliced into the tree she was passing, missing her head by only a few inches.
The female Human slipped on the wet grass and slid on her side from where she fell, coming to a halt not far from his feet. Ripa 'Moramee snarled attempting to yank his hand-weapon from the tree, but to no avail. He instead reached for his other; it crackled and gave a sharp hiss to life with a good squeeze. The Human growled in defeat, looking up at him with her small teeth bared, her face covered in specks of mud and greens. He reached down, easily gripping her neck even as she pulled back away from him. Her hands wrapped around his larger one, feebly attempting to pry it open. She gave a partly anguished and frustrated whimper, kicking her legs out at his mid-section, her feet never reaching their mark. Again she locked eyes with him, the Human never faltered her glare at him, which surprised him, only slightly however.
She winced at his foul breath as he spoke, bringing her closer to his face, so close that she could see the pale lines of flesh between his aged patchy gray scales.
"My face will be the last thing your pathetic eyes ever see." He raised his blade, still glaring at the Human's face defiantly, her curled lip and bared teeth left her face, he wondered if she had accepted her fate. But he noticed she was no longer looking directly at him, rather behind him. He halted his hand, her face drew pale, and she quickly looked horrified.
Anders then spoke up, her voice still firm with confidence. "Even if you do kill me... You won't be alive long after."
"Is that so--" Ripa was cut in his reply as a loud gurgle interrupted him. "The parasite." He murmured, dropping the Human to the canopy floor. In a blur he lashed out, slicing the infected Sangheili soldier in half, his rotted, possessed corpse hissed and fell, convulsing. As it stopped and finally lay still, Ripa looked up, his dull red eyes widening at the sight.
Masses of the Parasite began to appear from behind the trees, their fowl stench carrying to his nose, making his sinuses burn. He saw larger, hulking forms behind three lines of the infected Covenant and Human mix. He only stood in pure awe, bringing his sword to bear. "Come! I do not fear you Parasite!" He shouted with saliva flying from his maw, roaring a challenge.
The Alien was a fool, she heard him roar at the incoming creatures. His occupancy on her was abandoned; perhaps she would make it after all, that is, if she didn't die to the Alien Parasite first. Entering a clearing, she rested, her chest heaving. Her throat was dry, and itching, so were her lungs. With her hands on her knees she panted aloud, then went to taking in her ware bouts. More screeches were heard from within the jungle, blended with that crazed Elite's roars.
"Come on Ellen... The sooner you get to the Sergeant... The better...." Weakly, she rose, searching for a clear path, she knew she didn't have much time, the sounds of those creatures was growing closer. Something tall lay hidden in the trees beyond the field she was standing in, pale gray Alien stone and a small peep of ghostly blue glyphs was all she needed to know that before her stood a Forerunner structure. She'd be safer inside, if she could find a way in.
Her head felt cold as a thudding sound approached from behind. Her heart skipped a beat once, she glanced over her shoulder at the sight of the massive Elite charging her, scraping through the brush as if it was nothing. She stepped to the left, then to the right, it didn't matter which direction, he was locked onto her. "Ugh… Hell." She murmured and turned, tiredly running for the structure hoping to god there was some sort of entry.
How could he have let that damned female out of his sight? Let alone fall from his priorities.
He lengthened his strides, closing in on her within seconds as he entered the grassy field. Just as his shadow fell upon her, his chase was cut short as an infected, blubbery, thick arm slammed into his mid-section, sweeping the 9'1" Sangheili aside.
Hearing his chest plate whine under the impact and dent, he barked in pain and surprise, rolling into the grass his sword cast from his hand to be lost in the field. With a shake of his head, he sat up, taking no time to look at his enemy and rolled to his knees, taking a crouching position. In front of him hulked a massive parasitic form.
It's head was small, almost sunken into it's grotesque neck, which wriggled with long pale stems tipped with red bristled feelers, and pale green boils adorned it's rotting husk. It's "mouth" was hidden with three long fleshy tendrils, they moved in a snake-like manner around the opening in it's face. The creature's arms were uneven, like that of a Lekgolo. One arm was rather sizable, thick tusks growing out of it's flesh, the other merely a stump with flailing cords of ridged meat.
The creature made the Sangheili a young child in height comparison. This was a creature even Ripa 'Moramee himself could not handle. He cared not for the parasite, only to end that girl's miserable existence. Afterward he would return to end the lives of the rest of those disgusting creatures, including this useless race if he could help it. He stood quickly as the parasite form charged, lowering it's small head, revealing a deadly tusk from under a thick flap of yellowish skin. The Arbiter leapt from the creature's path, narrowly escaping it's charge, he heard it trumpet and the ground thundered as the creature turned, preparing for another pass. As Ripa landed in the grass, the back of his hand smacked something hard.
Looking down, he discovered it was his missing hilt; he grabbed it with haste as the ground rumbled and jumped away just as the massive creature rushed by him again.
Anders felt the structure's cool smooth surface with a panic stricken face. She was running on pure adrenaline now. "Please…" Her hand passed over an outlined square under a thin shade of vines, the alien lighting around it flickered and a faint bleep came from the panel as it sank into the building's wall. She backed away her eyes scaling the building, hearing the machinery creaking and hissing as it opened the large doors. Bits of vines, dirt, and small trees that had been there for ages crumbled and tore away as they were disturbed.
As Anders impatiently waited for the doors to draw open, a loud roar came from the field, alarmed she turned to the charging silver clad Elite. He was coming her way, and fast, but he didn't seem to pay her any heed. He was making for the opening in the structure. Her gaze shifted behind him and she felt her skin prickle. Hundreds, no, thousands of the parasite-infected soldiers poured out of the thick jungle, all rushing for him and her. With renewed energy she spun on her heel and dashed for the doors. They revealed a black abyss, but she would have rather taken her chances in there then become one of those rotting walking corpses. The moment she passed the doors premises they whined loudly, the gears turning to seal them shut. The women gasped, feeling her knee give out and she slid down onto her hands then laid flat on her stomach.
Ripa's hearts pounded in his chest, watching the Human run inside, she had obviously seen the mass following him and himself as well. To his dismay they began to close, he let out a breathy bark of frustration and picked himself up to speed, afraid he wasn't going to make it as the gap drew more thin. His hooves clapped the broken stone pathway and he leapt, narrowly passing through the opening, so close in fact that he felt his right shoulder guard scrape the stone door. It clinked with the removal of one of it's decorative spikes. With the sunlight drawing thin, he caught a glimpse of the female's horrified face looking up at him, horrified that he made it before slamming back-first to the floor stirring a dust cloud.
The doors creaked shut, letting one final hollow bang to the sealing of the gears. They now sat alone in the dark, Anders sat up, and coughing the dust the Elite had stirred from her lungs she blinked, looking in the direction of the Elite's loud snorts and breathing. As her eyes settled, she realized she could see his outline, it was faint and glowed purple. Above them, square pits of light were engraved into the corners joining the wall and the ceiling. She tore her eyes from him and warily looked down the giant isle. Although it was dark, she could get some considerable distance between him and her if she ran now.
Or not…. Hot breath spilled against the back of her neck, she'd forgotten Elites were fast to recover. Biting her lower lip, Anders closed her eyes hearing the energy sword crackle. Her body tensed and she ducked as the Elite grunted swinging the sword at her head. The only thing cut was her decorative chopstick pinned in her hair.
Ripa heard the girl yelp, yet he could not smell blood, nor did he feel blood spray his arm and blade. He had missed, he blinked his inictating lenses, clearing his eyes he searched for her silhouette in the dim light. Her feminine scent caught his nose and the faint scraping of boots came from the far left wall. With the gritting of crooked teeth, he exhaled a low growl and approached where the noise was coming from raising his sword, using it as a light.
He heard her gasp as she finally noticed the floating sword. He watched her illuminated form fall back as she tripped on an engraved design on the floor. With another step she was fully exposed in the glow of the Energy Sword. Her eyes looking possessed as they stared up at him. He noted her defiance and lack of fear as she drilled his eyes with her own. He had seen that since the moment he took her from the male Human. She was not like any other Human he'd encountered, the male had arrogance in his eyes, but even he had a considerable hint of fear. "What are you waiting for? Do you want me to stand so it'll give you some sort of honor when you cut me down?" He snorted at the attitude displayed in her voice. "I have no need for you to stand to bring myself the pleasure to kill you. I will cut you where you lay."
Think fast Ellen…… Anders felt sweat drizzle down the side of her face, the air was musty, filled with mold, and hot from the heat being absorbed by the structure, it no longer had any insulation. "And what are you going to do once I'm dead? Your alien hands can't activate Forerunner technology. Otherwise you wouldn't have needed me to activate those ships."
Her words, although only mildly, were taken into consideration. True, the female was needed for the activation of the Forerunner Ships. As the hands of the Covenant seemed to be prohibited to carry the privilege, even the almighty Hierarchs were not allowed. This confused him, why would these wretched creatures have the gift, The Touch to activate Forerunner technology in ways the Covenant could not? There was only so much the Covenant could interface with, outside of High Charity. He recalled the Astrological Map she brought forth on the console.
"And your point is Human?"
"You can either stray in the darkness for eternity, with gods only know what resides down here, or I can lead us both out." She said as she stood. Ellen was being careful on how she rolled her dice, if she played the game right, she'd escape this bloodthirsty alien unharmed, but the hardest parts were going to be convincing him, and afterward, gaining his trust as it went along. He remained silent, and with each ticking second he seemed more and more unconvinced. And Anders was beginning to have her doubts; mentally she began to say her prayers.
"You do realize I will not allow you to live, you are only aiding me."
"I'm fully aware of what I'm doing Elite. I'm sure you're willing to die for the Covenant on account of one Human's death."
"And what if I am able to free myself?"
"What if you can't? I'm not afraid of dying, nor am I afraid of you."
There was another pause, everything was silent, so much in fact that Anders could hear her own pulse. He spoke again after the sword was raised above his head. "I will take my chances!" She dove away as he sliced through where she was standing a moment ago. She growled, annoyed it failed and ran blindly down the sloped hall. "You will not escape!!!" He snarled, darting after her, barely making out her curved frame in the darkness. She screamed and dove to the floor, escaping another brutal blow. The Elite's foot struck the side of her leg, sending him down to the carved metal ground. Anders rolled, gripping the cut on her shin that came from his tipped boots hissing through her teeth. The Elite was beginning to rise and barked lowering his head as the Human jumped his neck, he looked back up quickly to see her running into the abyss, a slight limp in her gate highlighted by his sword which lay a few feet from him.
Ellen's leg burned stronger with each step, her pants growing damp around the cut with blood. She didn't care if she fell into a hole and dropped forever, she much rather that then die to that Elite. The thudding of armored hooves grew louder, he was catching up to her and fast. A golden glow was coming from the floor ahead of her, it soon became a chasm and she stopped at the edge. "Please tell me there's a bridge…" She said breathily. She squinted and felt the air in front of her for a control module, being aware of her distance from the ledge, dim blue lights caught her attention and she limped for them in haste. Slapping her hand to the holo-pad she heard the machine react to her touch, hissing and beeping, flickering. The clamps of the holo-projectors released, extending them out over the abyss. She licked her lips, watching the light bridge materialize at her feet. She took no time getting across, save her progressing limp. The Elite arrived not but seconds after her crossing. She turned back to see him charging, the hard lines in his face creasing, looking demonic in the pale blue light.
"This is where you die damn it." She sneered, gimping for the panel to her right. She pressed her hand to the console and it clicked and chinked. She heard the Elite yell as the light bridge faded beneath him. She looked up and to her disbelief the damned creature had jumped before the bridge fully disappeared. He banged the floor side-first, the sword flying from his hand and pinging against the console, deactivating, his armor wailed at the weight and he rolled clumsily to his feet. Cursing the woman turned to flee, her form leaving his sight around the massive console. She was trapped now, it did not matter how many times he would chase her in circles. She would eventually wear out and fail to escape. He gathered his weapon and a small white spark from the console caught his eye, but he paid it no heed and slid on the smooth surface pursuing her.
Anders found a small indentation under a power console, she began to squat down attempting to hide when a light flashed in front of her. Causing her to shout and fall back on her haunches. The Elite rounded the corner, stopping briefly to calculate where she was. He took a step forward to charge her, he jerked to a halt when another light sparked from the console. It had caught their attention both. He again dismissed it and advanced upon her. She looked at him with her mouth open panting and he hissed. His mandibles rattling, he raised his Holy Blade and just as he was about to take her life a deep metallic voice spoke, threatening and astonished.
"Stop!"
Ripa gasped, as his blade was countered by another. The weapon was curved upward, but only slightly and it's edge jagged. It was see-through, and glowing a magnificent white. Strange Forerunner glyphs ran through it's holo-graphic frame. He followed the weapon to it's barer and a sight fell upon his eyes he thought he would never be graced with. Before him stood a creature with indescribable beauty, it had to be a Forerunner… Nothing more, could it? …. But this was no more than an A.I? A touchable, giant Artificial Intelligence, or some Forerunner phantom?
A smooth-skinned long face stared back, and long white locks flowed over a pair of massive, dark blue eyes which were oval in shape and down the sides of a long neck. They burned with grace and intelligence gained from only eras of trial and error. "By the Gods…." He whispered.