Chapter Nine
Estimated 2341 hours, October 31, 2552 (Military Calendar) \
Food Nipple, Sector Huarang, High Charity \
near Halo 05, Orbiting planet Substance
Bits of bone and slime flew as Johnson's shotgun blast met its mark.
The unlikely trio had stealthily made it through to their current position, but the Flood were beginning to increase the pressure.
"We must hurry," said the Arbiter, "I have encountered the Parasite before, they seem to have a telepathic link of some sort; they shall alert each other of our whereabouts."
"Yeah, you want a cookie? I've fought them before too; don't act like you're the only one. Let's move," barked Johnson.
Commander Miranda Keyes remained silent and bug-eyed. She had not encountered the hideous creatures, and they were far more horrific than she had imagined. She was also a ship commander, not a Marine. Although she had been through basic training like everyone else, she was never quite prepared to take on something like the Flood.
Johnson was smart enough to realize this, so he made sure she stayed between the Arbiter and himself. He covered the rear as the Arbiter pushed forward towards Cortana's proscribed position.
They were close, which meant big trouble. If there was anything Johnson learned in his experience it was that things never got easier when he was close to an objective.
His gut feeling was right.
Just as they were about to make it to the next door, the side wall burst open and flood infection forms poured into the room.
The trio was able to successfully ward off combat forms, but infection forms would prove to be a much bigger problem. The Arbiter had shielding and Johnson was immune, but Commander Keyes was extremely prone to infection. They had to take care of her.
Johnson pulled out his plasma rifles and fired at the incoming buggers. He then realized he had an even bigger problem.
Keyes had frozen.
She eyed a lone infection form that had broken away from the pack. It danced and wobbled on the ceiling as it headed straight for her neck. It dropped from the ceiling less than a meter in front of the commander. Her assault rifle was empty, and she had failed to reload in her horrified state.
The infection lunged, sensing it would finally eat. It landed on Keyes' face as she screamed. The parasite bore into Keyes' neck and began to dig, when suddenly its life was snuffed out. Slime splashed on Keyes' face as the Arbiter had grabbed the infection form and squeezed just in time. The commander kneeled and frantically removed the twitching leg from her neck.
The episode would have scared any other Marine into a corner. Miranda Keyes, however, came from a much tougher pedigree. She shook off the horror and slammed a fresh clip into her rifle.
"Let's go!" screamed Johnson.
The battle group pushed through another series of corridors until it came into what looked like lavish living quarters.
"This was the High Prophet's private sanctuary," said the Elite.
"Great," muttered Johnson, "That damned computer sent us to get zombified in the lap of luxury. Remind me to thank her."
"Not quite, Sergeant," replied Cortana. "Hold your position, I believe I have our escape."
That was not the easiest request to honor. Flood forms crashed the only door in the room, cornering the group. The trio exhausted their ammunition and battery charges, mowing down wave after wave of combat and infection forms until the room's air became a suffocating mix of lead, plasma, and burning flesh.
Just then, a wall slid up behind them.
"Jump in!" Cortana exclaimed.
They jumped in and the door slammed back shut. They were in a corridor that was secret even to the Arbiter. The group took a moment to catch their breath and reload.
"This leads to the Prophet's private escape pod. It's got slipspace capability and it's ready for us. You'll just have to uplink me to your datapad, Commander. Here are your new coordinates. It's not far."
The trio moved toward its new objective. They rounded the corner, just fifty meters away. They were almost there; Johnson's instinct kicked in once more.
The ceiling caved in. The group thought it was another set of Flood combat forms. Their countenances fell when they saw their new foe.
The hulking monster was the size of a Lekgolo. The similarities ended there. Tiny arm-like protrusions shone where there should have been a face. Its back was disgustingly bulbous, and its legs were devoid of muscle. The creature carried a massive appendage that it quickly utilized as a whip.
"What the hell is –"
Johnson disappeared from Miranda's side as the juggernaut smashed him into the wall behind them. He slumped over, dead. The Elite was her only hope–
Where the fuck is the Arbiter?!
Miranda had been so terrified and preoccupied with Johnson that she had lost sight of the alien. Had he abandoned them?
The horrific beast turned toward Miranda. It brought its whip-like arm back toward itself, only this time the appendage was used to help propel the monster into the air. It leaped ten meters in the air and landed with a loud crash, right in front of Miranda. She emptied her assault rifle clip into it, to no avail. The monster's tentacles inched toward Miranda's face as she fumbled with another clip. It raised its whip one last time to finish her off.
She mouthed a prayer.
Just then, the Arbiter materialized from thin air and pulsed on his energy-depleted plasma sword. The air sizzled as he delivered a vicious swipe that severed the juggernaut's weapon. With one more swoop the Arbiter cut the monster out from under its knees. He had just enough charge left to eviscerate the beast and finish it off. The sword sparked and shorted out from the slime and flesh.
Keyes ran to Johnson.
"Wha…What happened?" he sluggishly asked.
By all common sense, Johnson should have been dead. Miranda was stunned.
"What are you looking at?" he asked. "Haven't you ever seen a black man before?"
"Sorry, Sergeant," she replied, "But you should be dead."
"Yeah, that's what they always say. Guess they just can't get this old Spartan down."
