A/N: I hate inspiration right now. Should be working on other things. Writing things, but I really want to write this. Meh, whatever.
Disclaimer: look on muh profile.
The Last Tale of John-117
Infinity/Arrival
Year 2560. Month 11. Day 27.
Ship: UNSC Infinity.
Stationed in high orbit over human planet.
Local inhabitants unaware of UNSC presence. Exceptions: leaders of the Fire Nation, Earth Kingdom, and Northern Water Tribe. Connection with Northern Water Tribe lost three months ago.
Local year: 99 ASC.
"That's the entire report, Chief." John didn't look at Chakas. He still missed Cortana, yet he had to remind himself that she had been lost in battle against the Didact. Halsey had decided to get him a new AI, one they named after a Forerunner-era human.
"Can you get me any ground reports?" he asked.
"I wish I could, Chief," Chakas said. "It's doubtful that they're keeping digital records of what happens on the surface. It's not like they sent down the best diplomats ONI has." The AI appeared on a pedestal to John's left. "They're doing a terrific job of keeping me out. You should've gotten Cortana's tricks thrown into my neural net. They would let me scour the entire UNSC BattleNet."
"Prepare to be yanked. I'm going to talk with Captain Lasky." Chakas nodded before disappearing. John pulled a data chip out of the computer and inserted it into his helmet.
"Nice to be back," Chakas commented. Chief said nothing as he left the room. A SPARTAN-IV had been stationed outside his room.
"I'm heading to the Command Deck, Lieutenant," the Master Chief said. He nodded and John continued down the corridor, heading to the closest elevator. The Command Deck was at the ship's top, overlooking the city length craft. It only took ten minutes to get there, having to travel up thirty decks and walk twenty meters to and from the elevator.
"Welcome to Sigma Ophelius IV. I bet you've been wondering why you're being deployed onto this planet, Chief," Lasky said upon John's arrival. "It turns out that this planet has been embroiled in a civil war for almost a century. This morning it was confirmed that the Avatar, a person of tremendous magical ability, has returned."
"Magic? Did I hear you correctly sir?" Lasky nodded, looking at the Chief.
"A number of the locals can manipulate different elements. Four in fact, although airbending is considered dead. The most prevalent forms are firebending and earthbending." He paused, looking out at the planet. "Bending is what they call their, magic. Think of it like telekinesis." John remained quiet, so Lasky continued. "It is the position of the UNSC to back the Avatar in his mission to defeat the Fire Lord Ozai."
"How do I fit in, Captain?"
"We're sending you down to aid the Avatar in his mission. Directly. The Fire Nation is similar to the Covenant, burning whatever they can to defeat the enemy." John turned away. He still remembered the glassed Reach he had returned to after the first Halo.
"When do I leave?"
"Once the sky bison we're tracking stops, we'll send you down in a HEV, Chief. Your first goal is to join with the Avatar's group. Spies within the Fire Navy have confirmed he's traveling with two Water Tribe members."
"Sky bison?"
Lasky shook his head. "They have the strangest animals down there. The report says it's a white bison with a platypus tail. It also flies. Our scientists were able to petition for a secondary mission: study and analyze local planet life and geography. There's also hopes you can get us good information on bending."
"That's fine, Captain. What does the Avatar look like?" John asked. "Can't ask every single person I see if they're this person."
"Reports say he's a twelve year old boy with no hair, orange clothes, and Air Nomad tattoos. They're blue, with arrows on his hands and head. His companions are older, the female by one year and the male by two. Their clothes are blue, and probably heavier than they should be."
"I'll get going, Captain," John said. "I'm sure Chakas can get me to the HEV." As Chief left, a technician handed a small pad to him.
"This is what we did to your armor on the way here," he said. John nodded, looking at it as he turned into the corridor. He read through the list, but only one caught his eye. Forerunner Armor Augmentation, Class III. Armor collapsing system based off of tech puled from Promethean corpses on Requiem and their weaponry.
"Chakas, access the Forerunner augmentation done to my armor." John watched as his helmet pulled pack, the visor separating from the lower section. He felt it retract in between the boosters on his back. The armor then glowed, turned into flakes, and formed cotton clothing. A five-foot version of Chakas appeared, looking like a person and not like an AI.
"This is going to be very useful, Chief. It's nice to see that they even have localized clothes for you," Chakas said, looking at John's armor-less body.
"Return the armor," John said. The clothing glowed and turned into flakes that reformed his MJOLRIN Powered Assault Armor. "And when you say localized, what do you mean?"
"Your clothing beneath the armor is fashioned off of ancient Asian cultures, many that share characteristics with the people of Ophelius IV. It was also blue, which matches that of both the Avatar's companions, and of Kyoshi Island."
"So they're on Kyoshi Island. How long will they be there?"
"Unknown. Oh, we're at the HEV site." John stopped at the elevator he was about to pass. It was a transit elevator used for moving heavy objects, such as the Mantis, or HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL Mark IX Armor Defense System."
"They're using this to send me down?"
"Guess so," Chakas said as he opened the door from Chief's helmet. "Ready?" John walked up to the HEV and looked inside, spotting a MA5D assault rifle and a M6H pistol.
"Yes I am," John said, climbing into the pod. He closed the hatch and buckled in. Lasky's face appeared on a screen.
"We're in position to drop you, Chief. Chakas will be able to translate the local writing. Their speech happens to be English, which is good news. You'll be able to use the armor augmentation we gave you, which will prolong the period in which the Fire Nation doesn't know we're providing support to their enemy."
"I hope you know what you're doing, Lasky," John said. "I'll contact you if anything major occurs." He leaned back. "Drop me."
Lasky disappeared from the monitor and the HEV trudged down, falling in sudden bursts. This continued for twenty decks before the guides broke off, dropping the pod into a free fall through the other 875 decks of the Infinity. John listened to the wind grow louder until the pod broke through the underbelly shield, entering space. The engine turned on, reaching the entry projection for Kyoshi Island. The exterior lit up, piercing the atmosphere. It rocked until the flames went out.
Chief looked out to see a giant stretch of blue with a haphazard coastline. He couldn't spot the island far below. It was when the HEV splashed through the first cloud layer that a parachute was deployed. The pod slowed down and released the fabric when the final cloud layer was passed.
From there it was a straight fall onto the island. The pod smashed through the mountainside. John grabbed the assault rifle as he kicked the HEV open. Nothing. He holstered the pistol, climbing out. Snow crunched under his boots and he looked at the bare trees.
"Chakas, find the biggest village and set a waypoint," John said, walking away from the HEV. "That's where we'll find the Avatar."
"Done Chief. It's only a kilometer downhill, near the beach." Master Chief just nodded as he started for the village.
Sokka was watching something fall from the sky as he helped Aang to his feet. Katara noticed his gaze and looked in the same direction.
"What is that?" she asked. It released a large cloud when it hit the mountain.
"Let's go find out!" Aang said, taking off. Sokka yelled at him to stop, but he was ignored. Katara and her brother ran after the Avatar, catching him in the woods.
"We need to hit the road, Aang," Sokka said. "We don't have the time for this." With impeccable timing, a group of men descended upon them, all dressed in green kimonos. They nabbed them before they could fight back, tying them up. "Or maybe we'll stay."
Their leader looked down at them. "Take them to the village. We have a mountain to check."
A/N: what a great first draft. I would use a beta…if I had one! (And wasn't so lazy and actually found one)