Michigan's Hideaway, 3 weeks after the theft of the Beta AI
Michigan sat on his bed deep at the core of the Forerunner structure, when all of the sudden, an alarm went off.
"VW, what's going on!?" he demanded.
"Sir, it would appear that someone is trying to breach the structure. Projecting security footage now," Vindictive Watcher replied.
The Monitor projected footage of a two fire-teams of UNSC Marines spraying their Assault Rifles at the facility's auto turrets. One of the turrets began to smoke before bursting into flames. Three turrets remained, and 5 of the original 8 soldiers were left standing. The former Freelancer watched with little alarm as another Marine fell to the turrets. Michigan nodded at Vindictive Watcher, signaling that the Forerunner AI was dismissed. The hovering machine floated out of the room.
Several minutes later, Michigan was greeted by the familiar cold pressure of a gun barrel at the back of his head. He let out a deep sigh, turning his head to the right to get a look at the gun's owner. They were a soldier clad in the armor of a SPARTAN, sporting an Air Assault helmet with a light blue visor. Upon seeing the side of their target's head , the armor-clad soldier gasped. They clearly recognized his face, the black hair, the dark brown eyes, the diagonal Y-shaped scar that stretched from the middle of his temple, stopping at the bridge of his nose. Michigan knew of only one person capable of sneaking up on him like this.
"Alaska?" he said, a hint of disbelief in his voice.
"Michigan?" she replied, her tone one of surprise as she lowered her weapon.
"They didn't tell you who you were after, did they?" Michigan asked, voicing his suspicions.
"I just held you at gunpoint. Do you think they told me who I was after!?" she replied, confirming Michigan's thoughts.
Just then, Vindictive Watcher floated into the room, his laser charged and aimed for Alaska. Michigan stood up quickly and waved his hand at the hovering orb.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, VW, it's ok. This is Agent Alaska, everything is fine," he said, warding off any violent intentions his little friend may have had.
"I see, allow me to introduce myself, I am Vindictive Watcher, sole companion to your friend here, though previous information tells me that you two may have been more than friends back in the days of the United Nations Space Command Project codenamed 'Project Freelancer'." the Forerunner machine said.
"Quite the talker, aren't ya?" Alaska remarked.
The little ball looked to its master.
"It appears there is a problem. This structure contained Prometheans that have been reactivated by the fight. They are hostile and heading toward us. Immediate action is suggested if you wish to have the highest chance of making it out alive," VW informed them.
"That's just fucking great..." Michigan said, his voice revealing that he was obviously frustrated with the circumstances described by his floating companion.
"Grab your armor, I'll get the door," Alaska ordered.
Michigan went to work, slipping the black bodysuit on and putting on the armor plates for the back of his hand, followed by his forearm and bicep plates, and finally the shoulder pads and chest plate. Next, he slipped on the lower body protector and the rear protection plates, then the thigh plates, shin guards, knee pads, and last but not least, the shoe-like assembly of foot plates. Mitch proceeded to grab a magnum and strap it to his thigh, picking up his already loaded DMR. Finally, the red-and-white-armored warrior took his place by Alaska at the door, firing upon their attackers.
Alaska hit a Knight directly in the head with her Sniper Rifle, causing it's immediate disintegration. She brought down a Crawler with another shot, then pulling out her shotgun to down yet another Crawler that had gotten too close for comfort. Michigan took out a Crawler with three rounds from his DMR. Another three shots were used to eliminate one of its identical allies. After using five bullets to take out the shields of a Promethean Knight, the foe got a little too close, causing Michigan to unsheath his knife and throw it at the machine, hitting it in the forehead to finally finish it off. After a few more Prometheans were downed, there seemed to be a lull in the fighting.
Noticing the pause, Michigan and Alaska looked at each other and nodded, then began to sprint through the rooms of the lathe structure. Alaska left Michigan slightly ahead, as he knew where he was going, and Watcher was not far behind. They stopped at a room with a holographic computer built by the Forerunners.
"Mind watching the entrance while I adjust some settings?" Michigan asked his female companion.
"Do what you need to do, I got you covered, Cupcake," she replied.
Michigan rolled his eyes inside his helmet. So she still remembers that nickname, he thought, adjusting the controls he need to on the holographic computer. Alaska easily dispatched the few Crawlers that found the room they were in. Michigan finished setting what he needed to and turned to his friend.
"We've got five minutes until this place explodes and takes all of these bots with it. Think we can make it out in time?" he asked her.
Alaska snickered and replied, "We'd better."
The two started sprinting, Michigan once again leading, the two followed by Vindictive Watcher. When they finally came to the exit, their path was blocked by three Knight Battlewagons. Michigan cursed under his breath, familiar with the weapons they wielded. Incineration Cannons.
Suddenly, Beta awakened for the first time inside Michigan's mind. She realized she was in danger and lashed out at the AIs that controlled the bodies of the Prometheans. All of the machines lost their illuminating glow and clanked to the ground.
"I don't know what you just did, Allison, but that helped a lot..." muttered Michigan.
"Sir! Thirty seconds until detonation!" warned VW.
Michigan and Alaska quickly darted out of the exit, more Prometheans teleporting in and shooting at them. As they hastily ran down the 300 stairs leading up to the structure, it explodes behind them, throwing bits of white-hot metal everywhere. The head of a Promethean flew out of the wreckage and smacked Michigan in the back of the head, causing him to tumble down the remaining 233 stairs.
"Oh dear..." remarked Vindictive Watcher.
When VW and Alaska arrived at the bottom of the stairs they found Michigan sitting up with his helmet off, rubbing the back of his head and groaning.
"BioScans show no fractures bones or other injuries, Master," Watcher reported.
"You ok?" Alaska asked, unsure whether to be amused or concerned at what had happened to her friend.
"I will be," he replied, slowly getting up with the other former Freelancer's help and putting his red-visored helmet back on.
The two slowly walked into the tall, rocky canyon that the stairs had led down to. They had two miles to go, but it was almost dusk and the pair did not have the energy to go on. They leaned a large rock against a wall of the canyon for a makeshift tent and managed to gather some wood for a fire.
The two former Freelancers had she's their armor for normal clothing. Even at night, this dreadful Forerunner world was hot. Michigan deactivated VW. The two old friends sat on a rock next to the fire. After they had the disgusting ration packs of the UNSC, Alaska fell asleep, laying her head on Michigan's leg. Michigan stayed up through the night, keeping watch.
Seven hours later...
Michigan and Alaska donned their armor, reactivated VW, and began their trek to the elevator at the end of the canyon. After an hour and a half, they finally reached the Forerunner-built lift. The two stepped on to the elevator and let it carry them to the top of the canyon. To Michigan's horror, ten fire-teams of UNSC Marines led by a SPARTAN-IV we're waiting for them at the top. The SPARTAN was clad in Scout armor with a Magnum strapped on to each of her thighs.
"Greetings, Agent Michigan. You've caused quite a bit of trouble for the UNSC. You're to be transported to a prison for war criminals immediately. The courts have already decided your sentence will be life in prison. As for you Agent Alaska, when the second Pelican has arrived you will be transported to Earth or a colony world of your choice," declared the SPARTAN.
As he sighed, Michigan smiled under his helmet, for he realized Vindictive Watcher had disappeared.
TO BE CONTINUED...