Zero Hour
Chapter Four: An Old Friend
4:58, October 20 2552 (Military Calendar),
UNSC Army outpost.
Danny's eyes opened, his vision was blurred, he could hear people screaming, fire extinguishers putting out fires and people trying to free others. He tried to move but he couldn't, he looked down to see a thick steel bar pinning him to the ground. He called out the names of the members of his team but there was no reply. The space around him went dark as he started to lose consciousness.
8:45, October 29 2552 (Military Calendar),
Unknown Location.
Danny's eyes opened again, he could see a monitor beside him. It was showing his vital signs and the results from a Functional MRI scan. He then looked down at his right arm and saw an IV. He heard footsteps coming towards him and looked up to see a nurse.
"Nice to see that you've finally woken up." She said with a smile. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I've been beaten up." Danny said as he slowly sat up. "Where am I?"
"You're at a hospital in Gibraltar."
Danny looked a bit confused.
"Why Gibraltar?" He asked.
"Most of the hospitals in Europe and all in the UK are either destroyed or full." She replied.
"Where's my team?"
"Over there." she pointed to the end of the room, Jessica was lying down, Tom had a bandage on his left leg, Charlie had a large cut on his forehead and James had a bandage on his lower left arm.
"They ok?"
"They just need some rest, so do you." She said as she went to check up on other patients. Danny signalled Charlie over.
"Hey man, what's up?" Charlie said, sitting down beside him.
"What happened? The last thing I can remember is a loud noise." Danny said.
"A building next to the outpost collapsed, it was a big one. Most of the personnel were killed."
"Damn, how long are we going to be in this place?"
"A couple of days max. James and Tom mainly have bruising, Jessica was knocked out, like you, and I just got hit on the head."
"Thanks, I think I'll have a quick nap."
"Ok, see you later." Charlie said as he got up and walked back over to the others while Danny slowly drifted off.
13:04, November 3 2552 (Military Calendar),
A Hospital in Gibraltar.
"Excuse me sir, are you a marine?" A nurse asked him.
"Yeah, why?" Danny replied.
"The Covenant are here."
Danny leapt out of bed and got his BDU and armor on. As he walked down the nearest staircase he thought about the conversations he had overheard. The Elites and Brutes fighting each other in space and on land, the Hunters and most of the Grunts fighting beside the Elites and the Jackals, Drones and a few Grunts fighting beside the Brutes. If he had to choose a side it would be the Elites.
"How far out are the Covenant?" Danny asked a marine that was manning a turret next to the main entrance.
"They're already here sir, check the waiting room." He replied.
Why are they in the waiting room? He thought as he walked into the waiting room. There were 5 Elites, 20 Grunts and 2 pairs of Hunters standing unarmed and unharmed.
"Seems like we can't stay away from each other." An Elite in spec ops armor said.
Danny just stood there, confused as to what was going on.
"Don't you remember me? Halo, the Flood, how I helped you escape?"
"Zan Tukamee." Danny said. "I thought you were…"
"Dead, I almost was." Zan said as he slowly approached Danny. "How have you been?"
"I got smacked by a steel bar, you?"
"Almost got my arm broken by a Brute."
"If you don't mind me asking, why are you here?"
Zan Tukamee took a deep breath.
"I'll start from the beginning. The Master Chief killed the High Prophet of Regret and the High Prophets of Truth and Mercy ordered the Elites to stand down as their protectors. They then gave the duty of guarding them to the Brutes. This and the murders of many high ranking Elites caused an uprising. The Hunters joined the Elites out of respect and most of the grunts did to, the reason some didn't is unknown. A couple of hours ago, we learned the true nature of the Halos and many of us are ashamed about the fact that we believed a lie for so long."
"Wow, there's more than one Halo?"
"Yes. When the High Prophet of Regret fled Earth, he went to another Halo; we have since learned that there were 7 Halos."
"So, why are you here?"
"To help you win this war."
Danny signalled the marines to stand down.
"What weapons you got?"
"12 plasma turrets and a few crates of carbines and plasma rifles."
"How quickly can you deploy all the turrets?"
"About 1 of your hours."
"Ok, let's do this." Danny extended his hand to Zan. Zan started at it for a second and placed his hand in Danny's. Zan turned to the Grunts and Elites and ordered them to deploy turrets a few turrets on 3 floors and to put the rest on the ground floor.
"I don't like this sarge." Jessica said to Danny.
"This Elite saved my life and I'm sure that if any of the others try anything, he will stop them." Danny replied. He then turned towards the other marines in the room. "Alright everybody listen up, if any of these Elites, Grunts or Hunters are harmed, I'll shoot you in the head. You all got that?"
"Yes sir." Everyone shouted.
"Deploy your turrets in co-ordination with the plasma turrets, I don't want a blind spot anywhere and remember, we will defend this hospital at all costs." Danny walked over to the cafeteria to get a drink.
13:56, November 3 2552 (Military Calendar),
A Hospital in Gibraltar.
Zan sat down, helping a Grunt set up a plasma turret.
"Thanks." The Grunt squeaked.
Zan looked up to see a minor domo Elite walking towards him.
"Are you sure we can trust these humans to not harm us?" It asked.
"I'm sure that Staff Sergeant Williams will shoot them if they attempt to." Zan replied. "Now go and help the others set up the turrets."
The Elite nodded and walked away.
"So you're the Elite that saved Danny," Charlie said. "I'm Corporal Charles Ferguson."
"It's an honour to meet you Corporal Ferguson." Zan replied. "I've heard a lot about you"
"Likewise, how come you speak English so well?"
"I learned it from several marines that were taken prisoner."
"Did you free them?"
"I didn't have the opportunity like I did with Staff Sergeant Williams. I wish that I could have."
Charlie nodded and beckoned Zan over.
"What are these Halos? All the info regarding them is classified and Danny wouldn't tell me."
"They are ring shaped devices that when activated, destroy all sentient life in a particular space. If the remaining 6 were activated at the same time, all life would end."
"Wow, Danny has been on one of these things?"
"Yes, he was on the 7th one, which was later destroyed by the one you call Master Chief."
Zan walked over to a window. "I'm afraid that that is all I can tell you at the moment."
"That's fine. Hey if you need anything I'll be in the cafeteria." Charlie said as he walked off.
14:13, November 3 2552 (Military Calendar),
A Hospital in Gibraltar.
A grunt in red armor ran towards Danny screaming something.
"Calm down little guy, what is it?" Danny asked it.
The Grunt gave him a data pad showing the live feed from the motion scanners. It showed a large force moving towards the hospital. Danny ran to the intercom.
"All medical personnel please make your way to the rear of the building. All combat personnel get ready." Danny grabbed his MA5C and turned the safety off. "Here they come."