Halo-Year 2557, Quarantine Zone

Phantoon grimaced slightly. Ridley narrowed his pure yellow eyes. "You get away from the Index! The ring is fine where it is!" he screeched.

"But it is not..." Phantoon said. He said it loudly in his ghastly voice. Ridley did a staring contest with Phantoon. Ridley looked pissed-Phantoon looked calm. Slowly, thoughts ran in Ridley's mind. Disturbing thoughts. The kind of thoughts that put you to sleep and you wake up an our later and you realize you just had a nightmare. Ridley gave no freaking care. He was used to this kind of fear-mostly from the haunting thoughts of Shaun Kiva, Samus...and now, Phantoon.

"Don't you see, Ridley? I am being generous merely, and finishing the Elite's Great Journey..." one of the thoughts were. Phantoon was using telepathy, obviously. Phantoon, Phantoon...heheh, don't you know? Being generous is not in the Space Pirate Codebook, and Arbiter here knows better... Ridley thought. Phantoon read his mind, and mentally frowned. He had known this, but Ridley didn't realize one thing-Phantoon didn't give a crap. He was going to do it anyway. "Enjoy the Quarantine Zone, Ridley. It is where you belong..." Phantoon transferred the thought. Since Ridley was obviously deep in thought, Phantoon started to have his one eye glow in a rainbow color. Once Samus had noticed what Phantoon was doing, she shoved Ridley as hard as she could. He budged just a bit, but got the message, and ducked immediately. Out of Phantoon's eye, a rainbow colored shot flew out through the air, and barely missed Ridley. It hit the door behind the protagonists, and the door exploded into, like, five pieces. The area about ten feet from the beam's previous path was lit by a blue, harsh fire. Luckily, everyone dodged it. Phantoon waved a tentacle, as if saying good-bye, and started to float away. Out of rage, Ridley extended his wings and shot after Phantoon, who was just floating slowly towards the structure that held the Index. About halfway through the area, Ridley realized something: he could just teleport, but he was floating there. What was going on? A trap? Ridley halted and let Phantoon continue. Now, to continue himself. Phantoon waited for Ridley-the annoying little bugger. Ridley ignored Phantoon and crash down a door. Once Ridley walked through, he was in shock. Ahead of him was a phazon pit-worse yet, a new enhanced version of an old enemy sat it front of Ridley. The Omega Pirate, V2.0, Ridley thought. Crap. Metroid Prime junkies, this scene will add to your fair share of this cross-over. Enjoy it as much as possible.

Samus, MC, and the Elites were already running past the freaking scary little inhabitants of the wasteland. Without a care in the world but to catch up to Ridley and Phantoon. Samus reached the door first and opened it. After she ran in, the others followed. Jeez, the look on the Elites faces and maybe even MC and Samus's would make you crack up. They saw the Omega Pirate V2.0 as well. Ridley was looking at it, astonished as well. He didn't give a single care that his temporary allies were behind him, equally astonished. Except Ridley had one more feeling inside of him: rage. Yes, rage. But of course, if a traitor stole your creations, wouldn't you be pissed? I know I would. A warning to those people who are thinking of spamming me right now. Which is unlikely. I hope.

"I have to protect myself as much as possible," Phantoon said. "Get them!" The gargantuan body that was nearly completely corrupted by phazon raised its two arms, and a blue electric current linked the arms plasmatically. Ridley rocketed into the air, and Phantoon was washed over with sudden fury because he forgot Ridley could do that. Phantoon unleashed a powerful brain wave that hit the Omega Pirate V2.0. It wobbled a bit, and faced Ridley. It was going to zap Ridley out of the sky. Ridley, slightly startled and thinking fast, started zooming in unpredicted directions. The Omega Pirate followed every last move.

"This is our chance," Samus whispered. The others nodded and started to sneak past the preoccupied phazonide gargantuan. They slipped past its legs with not a sound, but they were absent-minded about one thing-Phantoon was still there.

"You're not going anywhere," he said demandingly, as if speaking to the Arbiter. The Arbiter started to dash towards the other side of the room, but was suddenly picked off the ground.

"By the Prophets," the Arbiter said, startled at the levitation. He was struggling to get loose, but who can escape a telepathic grip?

"Put him down you fiend!" Samus called, and started shooting at Phantoon. The Omega Pirate stopped a moment and looked at Phantoon, who signaled for him to continue on zapping Ridley. The Omega Pirate looked back at Ridley, still charged. Which was a big mistake. Ridley zipped into the Omega Pirate at jetspeed, and it trembled harshly. The Omega Pirate hit the floor, and large clouds of dust rose. The others were trying to fire Phantoon down, but were stopped by the clouds of dust. After a few seconds, the dust subsided, and nothing was there, except an unconscious Omega Pirate and Ridley hovering above it.

"That went well," he said, and Samus scowled at him.

"The Arbiter is gone," she said.

"I know. I also knew that Phantoon would take him because of his corruption and the fact he is the leader of the race that Phantoon is trying to finish's Great Journey."

"You knew that?"

"It's common sense, Samus," Ridley said assuringly. They heard an annoying roar behind them with hundreds of buzzing noises. Guilty Spark. "We should get going."

Halo-Year 2557, The Library Dungeon Quarters

The Arbiter lay on the floor inside his cell, unconscious. This sucked. Maybe Phantoon will make the Arbiter his puppet. Once the Arbiter had awaken, he felt more corrupted. And pain. Lots of pain. The corruption was reaching its fullest. Not good.

"I see you've seen your new room, heheh," the Arbiter heard a voice say. He looked up and saw Phantoon, floating, past the blue forcefield shield. The Arbiter got up and punched the shield, only to zap himself.

"Why?" he said lowly. Phantoon sighed.

"Why do you keep asking that? The answer is as simple as I am trying to finish what your Prophets were never truly able to finish," Phantoon retorted, somewhat angry.

"The Prophets...were frauds. The Great Journey is a lie," the Arbiter said.

"And that is where you are wrong," Phantoon whispered. The Arbiter huffed threateningly. "You see, your Prophets were merely...trying to put you out of your misery, and kill the humans as well."

"But you are going to do it for selfish reasons. You are going to wipe half the universe clean with phazon, and the other half will bow to you," the Arbiter said.

"That's the plan. But, you know, think of it this way-your friends will all be dead, and you...heheh, you will be my highest slave in our hierarchy," Phantoon replied. The Arbiter flinched. Phantoon's minion? I'd rather be slit on the throat by the Prophets, the Arbiter thought.

"And why is that?" Phantoon asked. He'd read the Arbiter's mind. "Because they tried to destroy the whole galaxy? You don't get it, do you? You, Aribiter. You were selected to be one of the few survivors. Do you understand? The Great Journey was meant for you and you only to travel!" The Arbiter thought of his corruption. Phazon was immune to any kind of explosion except of its homeworld, Phaaze. He would survive the Halos being fired. He would become top slave. He would help Phantoon rule the galaxy. But was it really worth it?

"Why me?" the Arbiter asked, lowly.

"Because you have gone through enough trouble. You failed to stop the first Halo from exploding, as the result of Master Chief. The Prophets punished you by searing your chest. They decided to truly punish you by giving you the role of the Arbiter and sent you on missions nearly no one can survive. But you did. You learn they betrayed you, and you kill Tartarus and start an alliance with humans."

"How do you know all that?"

"Telepathy," Phantoon replied. "I am helping you, Arbiter. Without the corruption, you would die along with all of your allies. This will make you have eternal life."

"But, there's a problem with that plan. I wouldn't have any friends once the rings are fired..." the Arbiter said.

"But you would. The other phazonide minions-"

"Would be my slaves as well as yours. Phantoon, have you ever thought about the difference between friendship and slavery? Friends are people who are always there for you, no matter what. They'll fight by your side, and risk their own life to save you. Slaves are people who you force to do these things, and they will always hate you, no matter how many miniature gems you give them for a holiday bonus. And you know what, Phantoon? I wish not to be your slave," the Arbiter interrupted. Phantoon stuttered, struggling to say something, but didn't. He just hmped, and disappeared. The Arbiter felt a sudden pain surge through his brain. He clenched his hands into fists.

Obey...

The thoughts were haunting. He had a sudden impulse to listen to Phantoon...and follow what he says. But the Arbiter's heart demanded control. I will not obey, Phantoon.

Obey...

No, I will not follow your treacherous commands.

Obey!

The Arbiter looked over to one side, and the other, and the other side again. Phantoon was nowhere.

You know you wish to.

The Arbiter knew it was Phantoon. Or...maybe, he only thought that? What if...oh, no.

I am your conscience, Arbiter. You will do as I say, or suffer the consequence that is insanity.

The Arbiter had to fight it. He knew he could. But how can you fight your own conscience? The Arbiter hit the laser shield that jailed him. Useless. What was happening to him? Was it the corruption? Or was it just Phantoon, pulling strings again? The Arbiter felt something-it felt like a parasite, crawling directly underneath his skin. He felt a wave of warmth overcome him, then he grew cold. Suddenly, everything went black.

Is this what death feels like...?

Halo-Year 2557, Quarantine Zone

"Well, let's face it. We're screwed," Ridley said.

"Ridley, we haven't even gotten that far," Cortana replied.

"I know. But I also know that in the end, we're screwed. It's like...my instinct is telling me this," Ridley said. You could hear Cortana sigh faintly. They were on their way towards the center, where they'd find the Index. 347 Guilty Spark wasn't far behind, but wasn't close, either. Which is why the protagonists were moving, not stopping. Ever.

The bunch nearly made it outside again, and everyone could tell that Ridley was exhausted and wanted to simply fly towards this Index. Then he was almost depressed hearing Tura say it's within a cavern, and the technology rests inside. This was going to be a long time before reaching the Index.

Finally, they made it outside. Unfortunately, Metroids were floating everywhere, Common Metroids, Hunter Metroids, Fission Metroids, Young Metroids...and to top that, Taridian larvae lurked everywhere as well as Space Pirates. The Metroids ate the Taridians. The Taridians posessed the Space Pirates. The Space Pirates rid of Metroids using brute force. It sort of felt like the whole freaking life-cycle in one field. A battlescarred field, I might add. Despite Ridley was with her, the Space Pirates were bound to attempt to kill Samus and Master Chief, since MC looks like a Galactic Federation troop. Honestly, folks, nothing too interesting happens here. I might as well skip on ahead.

The Arbiter woke, and felt odd. He looked at his surroundings, noticing there was just blackness in all directions. Puzzled, he saw something unnerving-he didn't have a body.

Where am I? What is going on? He asked, hoping Phantoon would respond.

That is unimportant, a voice replied.

But I wish to know!

If I told you where you are, you wouldn't believe me, it replied.

Fine, then. Who are you?

Arbiter, have you ever heard anyone say there is a good conscience and a bad conscience within everyone?

Yes.

Well, I am your bad conscience. Your evil conscience. I am the thoughts you think when you are angry, or merely seek revenge. I am not good in any way. You, however, are your good conscience. But now, your good conscience has no control over your body. Only I do.

What do you mean?...

I mean your consciences are separate now. Where are you? You are in your own mind, Arbiter. But you have no control over your body. You cannot even see what your body's eyes see. That is how much control you lack. I control you, now. I can see through your eyes...

How did this happen?

You are too stupid to learn that? The phazon. It has finally taken control of you, 100. Now, your good conscience is only a mere voice, your only voice, I might add, that exists solely within your own brain. You can think, but I can flush out thoughts. Your good side is useless. Now, you are useless. I am...replacing you, if you wish to call it that, though your body remains, and I control it.

The Arbiter was stumped. How strange...

As we speak, I am walking with Phantoon, ready to blast the Halos...and, basically, there is nothing you can do to stop us.

Phantoon...betrayed me?

Correct. I now suggest you stop thinking. You're giving me a headache.

Well, this was confusing. The phazon took control of the Arbiter totally, and his own brain has locked him away? This barely makes sense, I know, but you'll get used to it. And...Phantoon betrayed the Arbiter, too? The Arbiter must have it tough, since he had so many betrayals in his life.

Halo-Year 2557, Quarantine Zone

"Damn. We're close, and I smell Phantoon," Ridley said metaphorically. They had just made it into the main chamber where the Index would be placed. But they had been beaten to it. Phantoon was hiding in invisibility like always, but Ridley knew he was hiding. He knows Phantoon too well.

"Show yourself!" Ridley yelled. Nothing happened as the sound echoed off the walls of the large corridor.

"Ridley, Phantoon isn't in here. We beat him to it," Samus said.

"No. No we hadn't. That's exactly what he wants you to think. You humans and your under-developed instincts believe you can detect everything when you can't even hear what I hear, see what I see, and smell what I smell. I know he's hiding. He knows he will be beaten as soon as he reveals himself. I will bet that he has a different plan than using his own strength, which is typical for himself. Phantoon is stupid," Ridley spoke.

Phantoon heard the speech and grew angry.

"Let's go, Minuosa!" he whispered. Ridley flinched.

"He speaks," Ridley said lowly, and readied his battlehammer. Suddenly, a dark blue figure jumped out from behind a pillar and started swinging at Ridley with an Energy Sword. Ridley took a few blows and fell back, bleeding. "What the hell?"

"Oh my God. It's the Arbiter!" Cortana said. The dark figure turned to look at Master Chief and snarled.

"Gaah!" it roared.

"I am not the Arbiter. I am Minuosa!" it barked. It attempted to leap towards Master Chief, but Ridley quickly slammed it into the wall.

"Go! Go to the Index slot!" Ridley screeched. The others quickly ran past the conflict zone and at the Index slot.

"Where's the Index?" Samus asked, nervous.

"I have it," a calm voice replied. The protagonists looked at the air in different directions, eventually seeing Phantoon appear out of nowhere.

"Hand it over!" Samus said.

"Why should I?" Phantoon quickly slipped past the protagonists and inserted the Index. "Hahahah, imbeciles! The rings shall be fired!" Phantoon pressed a button, and the machinery fired up. Samus shot Phantoon's eye with a Missle, which led to Phantoon starting to flail around. Ridley jumped at the vulnerable ghost and held him down.

"You're too late, Ridley," Phantoon said. The machinery stopped. "What the-?"

"You need one more item to fire this ring, Phantoon," Samus said. "And it's on a different planet."

"Curses!" Phantoon barked. Ridley quickly shoved his claws into Phantoon's eye, and Phantoon flinched. "Gaah!"

WARNING: SELF-DESTRUCTION OF THE LIBRARY INITIATED

"Oh, crap!" Samus said. "Take the Index out!"

"Not so fast," Phantoon disappeared from Ridley's grasp and snatched the Index. "This belongs to me." Samus attempted to jump at Phantoon, but Ridley pulled her back to keep her from even trying an attempt that was bound to fail. "Good-bye. Come, Minuosa!" The Dark Arbiter followed Phantoon's command and left out the opening where a ceiling would be.

"We will get it back. Manually," Ridley said. "We must return to the Stinger. Everyone, get on!" The protagonists jumped onto Ridley's back, and Ridley took off. He left out the ceiling, and went over the Quarantine Zone to where they landed the Stinger. Samus went in, and fired it up. They took off from the Halo.