Chapter Seven: The Way War is Fought

Blade's POV

I handed John and Zephyr a special armor ability I came up with. "What's this?" asked John. "It's an armor ability I came up with for this kind of mission. It can change our look to make us look like simple Marines, fearsome elites or even change our armor." I explained. "I see, so when you said you found extra marines on The Pillar of Autumn, you were referring to us in disguise." deduced John. "Exactly, now let's move out." I said.

Zephyr and I left the pelican and started making our way towards the beginning of the level. We walked in silence, which I could tell made Zephyr uncomfortable. She was used to talking but recent developments made her silent. I couldn't blame her though, but she has to learn that in war, you have to make sacrifices. I saw something on my motion tracker and stopped immediately. I raised my gun and looked around. I saw three elites charge at us, energy swords swinging. I put away my gun and pulled out my own sword. Zephyr saw them too and opened fire with her needler.

The first one died by Zephyr's hand. The second one was quickly killed by my sword and I finished the third one by taking the second one's sword and shoving it into its chest. I hoped that they were just stray AI enemies, but as soon as I saw an emblem that looks like a dream catcher behind a skull and two shotguns, I realized that WitchDoctor had found us. "Damn it! How does he keep finding me?" I asked to no one in particular. Just then, a bullet whizzed past my head. I turned around to see another attack consisting of marines. They were quickly dispatched. I heard a sound that I dreaded. A scorpion tank. I yelled "RETREAT!"

We ran like no tomorrow, which was likely for us at the moment. A tank shell exploded to close for comfort, which made us run even faster. We found some cover and hid behind it. "So what's your ingenious plan Blade?" asked Zephyr. "I have a tendency to make things up as I go along. Don't worry, I'll think of something." Running was pointless, we were lucky so far. "Wait a minute, that tank has the accuracy and AI's are decent shots, so why aren't we dead yet?" "Because I knew you would run, and I have other plans for you."

We turned around to face WitchDoctor with a battalion of marines and covenant, all armed to the teeth. "I see you brought the welcome wagon." I commented. "Still defiant I see. Surrender now and we won't have to hurt you." ordered WitchDoctor. I was about to grab my sword and charge at WitchDoctor when something came up behind me and knocked me out. As my vision blurred, I heard Zephyr ask "What do you want with us?" "I would tell you, but it's more fun for me to see you to find out." said WitchDoctor.

And with that, all I saw was black.

Zephyr's POV

I was ready to provide any support he needed. But I watched helplessly as Blade was knocked out. I turned to see who it was, and was shocked. It was

John. "John, you work for WitchDoctor!?" I asked angrily. "Of coarse. He is the true inventor, I am just his assassin program." John said darkly. "I am going to kill you." I said. "Unlikely, seeing how you will soon be processed." stated John, right before he was shot. "Now I have no more use for you. And this is what happens to those who I have no use for." said WitchDoctor, who shot John. "I-I-I'll s-see you in h-hell." stuttered John who threw up a drop shield to save himself.

"Hmm, quick thinking. Maybe you can be of some use to me after all. Are you willing to let bygones be bygones?" asked WitchDoctor. "You just shot me, and now your going to offer me my job back? Go jump off a cliff." said John. "Very well, then I'll just wipe your memory and then offer you your job." said WitchDoctor.

WitchDoctor had two guards armed with shotguns lead us to a phantom. I was half expecting him to kill Blade, but he didn't. Instead he had him dragged him to a different phantom. I was beginning to lose hope. There was no way I could fight these guys alone and Blade isn't here with an ingenious escape plan. But he always had a wildcard, unexpected or otherwise. I just hope his card comes to me. When we boarded the phantom, I saw it was empty other than for one pilot. Maybe if we took out the two soldiers, I could 'convince' the pilot to fly me towards Blade's phantom.

"Zephyr, I'm sorry. My primary programming is to survive, and then serve WitchDoctor. But now, I don't know." whispered John. "It's Blade you should be worried about. He might cut you up and throw you off a cliff." I whispered back, "For now, help me take out the guards, then let's 'convince' the pilot to work for us." John nodded.

We were about to make my move when the pilot shot the two guards. "Need a lift?" asked the pilot in a very familiar tone. "Soric? WitchDoctor got to you?" I asked. "Yeah, not cause I beat him, but because I was helping Blade. John turned me in, sent the Meta after me, but I managed to kill him." explained Soric. "How?" asked John. "I hit him with a overcharged plasma shot, which strangely shorted out his time distortion unit again, then I gave him a few shotgun shells to the head, followed by three laser blasts and a mass driver blast." "What's a mass driver?" I asked. "A very, very big gun used in anti-air." I shuddered at the thought of what happened to the Meta. "So how'd you even get here?" I asked.

"Blade's special armor ability came in handy. All I had to do was figure it out." explained Soric. "Great, now how do we save Blade?" Soric laughed, then said "My way. We take out their guns, and then shoot up any hostile inside with the turret." It sounded sane. "What if we're boarded?" I asked. "We give 'em the shotgun to the face contingency plan." said Soric imitating Sarge. I laughed; I was going to like this guy.

We got near Blade's phantom and Soric used the main cannon to get their attention and destroy their cannon. Then he opened the doors so I could shoot any targets with a turret. "Is he there?" asked Soric. "Yeah, awake to, and

already killing stuff." I answered. "Well help him!" "With what? The guards are already dead! Blade! Jump!" Blade saw me and leaped over to our phantom. Soric then destroyed the hostile phantom. Blade then said "Next time if you want to help, get here sooner. John piloting?" "Err, no, Soric is." answered John. "WHAT?!" yelled Blade.

"Blade, I can explain. WitchDoctor created John to gain our trust and help kill us. But in order to make it convincing, he gave John his own memories and subroutines to turn us in." explained Soric. "Alright, I guess it's not your fault John." said Blade. "By the way, how'd you get past WitchDoctor?" I asked. "I 'borrowed' the armor ability John had." said Soric. "So when did you learn how to fly an alien dropship?" asked Blade. "An hour ago. The neural chip in my head helped." said Soric. "Great, now set a course for my pelican. We'll use her to the Autumn the hard way."

"You got it." replied Soric. I just hoped this would all be over soon. The fighting, the betrayals, all of this. But I also hoped that we all made it out in one piece.