Homeward Bound

Requiem

October 24, 2557

The Mammoth pulled up alongside the Pelican's crash site, and the burning skeleton could be seen at the edge of a pool of strange liquid.

"I'll get to them and get the Target Designator," Chief said, taking a running leap off the side of the massive vehicle. A moment later, his jet pack activated, slowing his descent. He hit the ground right as an elite attempt to pick him off with his beam rifle. Chief dodged the shot and raised his assault rifle, only for the elite to be blown to shreds by the rocket turrents.

Grunts ran out of cover at the sight of the leader, screaming as they panicked. Chief let out short controlled burst, nailing each one in the head and wiping them out.

A moment later, his empty clip hit the dusty ground. "You know," Cortana said, breaking the silence, "there's been something that's bother me."

"That is...?"

"That marine. He seemed to know exactly what you were feeling," she said. "As if he could read your mind."

Chief shrugged, and slammed another clip into his Assault Rifle. "It's nothing. Probably just some kook that thinks he's better than he actually is."

Cortana shook her head on the comm screen. "There's something about him," she insisted. A second later, a replay from a Marine's HUD began replaying on Chief's HUD. "This happened several minutes ago."

There were two Marines on the screen. One Chief didn't recognize, and the other was the one in question. His helmet was the one recording the scene, and was floating in mid-air.

"The dark side. It moves in mysterious ways, like the light side. What if it made itself a contingency plan incase the light side ever won over it?"

"What are you getting at?"

The helmet fell to the ground, and one of the Mammoth's wheels rolled over it, ending the feed. "So, what does that prove? That they're into some religeon?"

Once again, Cortana shook her head. "I've done research, and none of any current religeons make any mention of something like that. There's something strange here...And there's the helmet cam. It appears that the helmet it floating..."

"Can it wait?" Chief asked, ducking under a plasma grenade and unleashing another wave of bullets into the oncoming Elite. "I'm kinda busy here."

"Right, sorry." Cortana faded from the screen, leaving Chief to his job.

Rockets streaked overhead, blasting a Ghost into a pile of rubble. Chief swapped to his BR85 and drilled away at an Elite, bringing it down with several well aimed headshots. The smoking remains of the Pelican was just a dash across an exposed area. Easy place for snipers to pick you off.

Figuring that his clip was full enough, Chief sucked in some air, and ran out into the open. Plasma bolts hit the ground around him as he made the blind run, and Chief dove to the right as a Wraith morter hit the gound.

He rolled and stood back up in a single motion, and continued running. The Target Designator was on the ground just a few feet away, and he stooped down to grab it as he passed. "Commander, I've got the designator," he said into the comms. "I'm on my way back now."

"Copy," Lasky replied. "I'm sending in some Warthogs to provide some cover. We've got some Phantoms coming in, but you can target them with the designator, and take them out before they drop reinforcements."

"Yes sir," Chief said, "But it's still a little crowded out here, and the Wraith's pinning me down."

There was a sigh on the line. "The Master Chief left some enemies alive?" Someone asked, "I guess he's getting old."

"Oh can it, Wallace," Lasky snapped. "Yeah, we'll get a Hog on that Wraith. Over and out."

Chief grunted at the insult, and poked out of cover to pop some Grunts. The Wraith levitated into view, and the gunner unleashed a large wave of plasma at him, forcing the Spartan into cover. The distinicive hum of Phantoms phased into hearing, and Chief readied the designator.

He leaned out from behind his rock just enought to lock onto one of the Phantoms, and then quickly retreated back into his crouching position. There was the sound of the MAC charging, then a deafening roar as the round tore through the Phantom.

Elites roared in rage while Grunts screamed in terror. The roar of a Warthog was getting close, and soon Chief heard the turrent firing. The Wraith's gunner returned fire, and Chief made his move. He dashed out toward an empty Ghost, and climbed onboard. Taking a few seconds to get the thing started, he boosted forward, steering with one hand and shooting his BR85 with the other, taking out hapless Grunts that happened to be in the demon's path.

The Ghost went to the back of the Mammoth, and Chief took aim at the Forerunner AA gun with the designator. Once target locked was achived, Chief abandoned the vehicle and ran up the opened back hatch into the vehicle bay.

Anakin breifly looked up at the Spartan as he entered, and then went back to inspecting the Warthogs engine. It was in perfect condition, but Anakin planned to make some modifications to the motor. Or, at least he wanted to. Most of the things he would need weren't on the Mammoth.

Despite the fact that there was a skirmish outside, there was a relative peace in the Mammoth. Marines stood at terminals, checking the massive vehicle's systems and fuctions, and tightening the grips on the railings as the MAC fired again, shaking the whole vehicle.

Mace was at a worktable, updating his SRS with whatever improvements he could find.

The Spartan had moved silently up behind Anakin, but the Jedi had sensed his presence. "What do you want?" Anakin asked, not looking up from the engine.

"How?" Chief simply asked. "How did you know?"

Anakin shrugged. "Just a hunch."

"Some hunch," Cortana replied, appearing on a screen built into the wall. "You almost gave a word for word description of his emotions."

"Cortana," Chief said sternly, giving her a sharp glare. "I can handle this."

"If you have to know," Anakin said, as the Mammoth began moving again, "I'm a Jedi." Instantly, Anakin felt Chief's mind thinking, trying to decipher what he'd said. And, it ended exactly where Anakin expected it to. Not understanding. Few people in this realm had ever heard of a Jedi.

"I don't care what religion you are," Chief replied, lowering his head at Anakin to stare him in the eyes, that is if he was to turn around. "I only want to know how you knew."

"Jedi are the peacekeepers of the galaxy," Anakin explained. Since no one would likely believe him, why not just go ahead and give an explanation? "They get their power from the Force, which binds us, creates us, controls us."

Chief remained quiet for several seconds. "What?"

"Long story short, I'm easily the most powerful person on this metal planet," Anakin said, taking a bit of an arrogant tone.

Mace sighed. "Got a bit of an ego there?"

Chief looked over at him, and back to the back of Anakin's head. "You obviously not met the Didact," he retorted, shifting his rifle in his hands.

"Eh, I could probably take him," Anakin replied, slamming the hood of the Warthog down and turning to face Chief.

Cortana tried to intervene. "I'm not sure exactly what this is, but don't start a fight." She turned to Anakin and folded her arms. "The Didact wouldn't be that easy to beat," she told him. "It's not going to be that easy."

"You underestimate me," Anakin said bluntly. Mace rolled his eyes and shook his head, and went back to working on his gun. "After all, I was able to read you mind."

Chief's fisted tightened on his gun, and he was about to say something when Lasky came on over the comms. "Chief, we've got some shields up ahead, and we need them taken out."

"I'm on it, Commander," Chief replied, looking over at the Warthog.

"Feel free to take as many reinforcements as you need," Lasky continued, "if you even need any."

"Copy. Over and out," Chief cut the comms and climbed into the driver's seat of the Warthog. "Well, Mr. Jedi. If you're as powerful as you say, why not show us." He guestered to the gun on the back.

Anakin shook his head. "Thanks for the offer, but Jedi are not soldiers. We're peacekeepers."

A Spartan IV pushed him aside and climbed into the turrent. "I've gotcha, Chief," she said. "I guess you're all talk and no show, huh?" she remarked snobbily to Anakin.

The Warthog pulled away, and Anakin smirked. He'd used the Force to connect the brakes to the horn. Classic.

"I know what you did, Skywalker," Mace said, looking his rifle. "That's not funny. That might get them killed."

Anakin shrugged. "Well..." His train of thought was cut off when he heard the blaring horn of the Warthog. A smile crossed his face as he heard smaller shorter burst of the horn. "Oh come on, that's funny."

"No, it's not," Mace replied.

"You two." They looked up to see Lasky pointing at them. "Palmer's coming to pick up wounded and casulities, and I want you two to go with them." He stared at Anakin. "Del Rio wants a word with the two of you." He walked off, back up the metal stairs.

"What's that all about?" Mace asked. "And why'd you go blabbing about the Jedi?"

"Why would you care?" Anakin countered. "You said yourself that the Jedi's days are up."

Mace shrugged. "Fine. You do what you want. Just leave me out of it. I don't want anyone to know about me."

"Fine."

A Pelican flew overhead, and landed behind the Mammoth. "This is Alpha 914," the pilot said over the comms. "I'm here to pick up the wounded and those other two."

Some medics ran from the Pelican to the Mammoth, and began escorting the wounded to the transport. Anakin and Mace walked over to the Pelican, and Anakin kicked a rock on the ground as they walked.

The stone was torn from the ground, revealing it to be a white, round stone roughly the size of a golf ball. Reaching down to pick it up, Anakin felt...something. When his hand came into contact with it, there was a feeling of...he couldn't describe it. As if feeling everything all at once.

Shrugging, he pocketed the stone, deciding that it could use some further examination. He and Mace took the two seats closest to the entrance of the Pelican.

Bodies sat in the floor, bloodied white cloths covering them. Some wounded moaned and ground from their seats. Anakin sighed, as he felt their pain and loss.

The Pelican lifted off, and soon they were flying at a high rate of speed. The ground passed below them, and the Mammoth was soon little more than a speck in the distance. The Infinity was growing larger and larger as they got closer and closer, and they finally landed in the hanger.

Medics ran in to assist the ones in the Pelican, and a man wearing a suit with a pyramid on the right breast walked over to Anakin and Mace. "Captain Del Rio is waiting on the bridge," he said simply, and led them away.

Anakin cast a glance at Mace. He wasn't worried about anyone finding out about his Jedi powers, since he was planning to reveal them soon enough. Mace seemed somewhat nervous, but as to why Anakin didn't know.

"Do you feel it?" Mace asked him, in a low voice so the ONI officer couldn't hear him. "I felt a disturbance in the Force. I think Obi-Wan is in trouble."

Anakin shook his head. "I don't feel anything. Are you sure that you felt it? You're kinda out of practice with the Force."

"Positive," Mace replied. "I might be old, but not that old."

The ONI offical walked into the bridge, where several crew members were monitering systems, and commanders giving updates to their operation teams. It was a madhouse.

Del Rio was shouting at some poor young Spartan, who was geniunely frightened by him, despite her being a Spartan. Palmer shot a glance over at him, and sighed, walking over to end the dispute. Another officer screamed in pain as someone bumped against him, causing him to spill his piping hot coffee onto his nice white uniform.

"Captain!" The ONI officer raised his hand, trying to get Del Rio's attention. Del Rio was now shouting at both Palmer and the other Spartan, something about slowing them down. "Captain!"

"What is it now?" Del Rio snapped, turning to the officer. "Did you bring Winders and Walker?"

"Affirmative," the officer pointed over at the two Jedi, "They're right there."

"This will have to wait then," Del Rio told the two Spartans. "I have more urgent matters to attend to." He turned back to the ONI officer. "Take them to the breifing room. We can get some silence in there."

"Right." The officer walked back over to the two Jedi, motioning for them to follow him again. He led them to a room just off the bridge, where there was a table in the middle of the room, with enough seats for at least thirty people. Del Rio was waiting.

"Thank you," the captain said to the officer. "We'll speak in private now." The door shut behing the officer as he left.

"Now then," Del Rio started, looking from Mace to Anakin. "You're probably wondering why I brought you two here, right?"

Anakin shrugged. "Somewhat."

"I see," Del Rio said, staring Anakin in the eyes. He typed something into a holographic terminal, and a video from a Marine's helmet camera began playing. Anakin

"Does this look familar?" Del Rio asked, eyes boring holes into Anakin's.

"Yeah..."

"So you know what happens."

"Yeah..."

"So, then." Del Rio stood up and slowly walked over to Anakin. "You admit that you...hypnotized that Elite?"

Anakin nodded slowly, while Mace released a tense breath.

"How then? How did you do it?"

"It's really a long story, starting in a galaxy far far away."

Del Rio motioned for the two of them to sit down. "I have plenty of time on my hands."

And so, Anakin started at his years on Tatooine, telling the story of the Jedi. Del Rio only stopped him to ask a question or two, but seemed to be believing the story. Mace remained quiet, and Anakin sensed that he wanted not to be assosicated in anyway with the story, so Anakin left him out.

"So," Del Rio said and hour later, as Anakin finished his account. "You still have these Jedi powers, correct?"

Anakin nodded.

"Then, I want you to be reassigned to..." his voice trailed off as a voice called him over the comms. "Well, this will have to wait. Gypsy's taken out the gravity well. We're going home."

Next Time, on From Dark to Light;

Something awesome happens.

Chapter Recap;

Cortana starts to get suspicious about Anakin, while Del Rio gets the full story. The Infinity is heading back to Earth.

Response to Reviews;

Trap3r: Keep that in mind.

gh0st3: I know what the Insurrection is, and it will not be leading into that, fortunately.

mouse: Glad to hear it.

Lostsurvivor: In short, yes, that's exactly what's about to happen.

Well, there's chapter nine. When I finished with this story, I plan on doing another Star Wars crossover, most likely with Fallout. Or I might do something like some characters get trapped in a zombie apocalypse or something.

But yeah.