Halo – Katerina Duran - "Make It Last: Of Trust and Friendship"
Location: Sentinel Wall, Installation 05
November 3rd, 2552
"Well, now that the threat has been neutralized for now… What are you doing here, Katerina?"
Katerina took a second to catch her breath, and wipe away a small trail of blood on her neck. "The Inde- I mean, Sacred Icon. I have been sent to retrieve it where others have failed. It is… critical to the Great Journey so I must do what I can to find it."
Rtas Vadumee nodded in comprehension. "Then you are not alone," Turning his back to Katerina, he began to address the remaining Elites from the last battle. "We shall cut into the heart of this infestation, retrieve the Icon, and burn any Flood that stand in our way!"
His Elites roared in agreement, save for Darius Duran, who was eyeing his mother.
Satisfied with his unit's declaration, the Commander turned back to Katerina. "The parasite is not to be trifled with, Arbiter. I hope you know what you are doing."
A faint smile played on her thin lips. "Oh, but I do, Commander. Not to worry." I know exactly what to do. And it involves me running off with your precious 'Icon'.
"Proceed, then. I will follow when reinforcements arrive." So saying, he headed back to his Phantom, prompting Darius to walk over to his mother, and give her the overdue hug.
"Change of plans, I presume?"
"So it seems, dear boy," She was just overjoyed to see her firstborn. Pulling back, Darius handed her his Energy Sword to replace one of her two which had ran out of battery. "Retrieving the Index is still my duty. However, since you are here with me, we would not have to meet up or have you escape High Charity. Let us stay close and do this together, alright?"
"Of course, mother," He said with what she knew would have been a little smile as he lifted her chin up higher. "Together."
Inside the structure…
"What?! The parasite controls our vehicles?!"
"No matter! They will die all the same!"
It was a rather horrifying sight: seeing Flood Combat Forms take control of vehicles, be they Human or Covenant. Katerina suddenly felt like breaking a cold sweat, seeing as how she and Darius were on foot. However, the Elites using Ghosts and a lone Spectre were taking care of it; Katerina and Darius could focus on the Sentinels high above them.
Paying close attention, Katerina found a Flood-controlled Ghost attempt to run her over. Moving fast, she instead timed it perfectly and rolled out of the way, when the Ghosts used its boost and was thrown over the ledge, into the abyss. Not very smart, are we?
Sticking close together, the unit moved forward to find an unmanned Warthog. At the lower level, there a Scorpion Tank, more Ghosts, and another Warthog, all of which are controlled by the Flood.
"Darius! The Warthog!" Katerina pointed to it. "Take control of the turret!"
Warthogs: a favorite of Katerina's, next to the Scorpion Tanks. She liked how much damage a Tank could do. A Wraith was a little useless to her, considering how slow it was and its lack in accuracy. It took a while, but her years in the Covenant allowed her to come across Human vehicles and even learn to operate them. Her size was just right to fit into the driver's seat.
"Take down every Flood bastard you see, Dar,"
"Keep it steady for me then, mother!"
At the Gondolas…
She had no idea Flood-controlled vehicles could be so intimidating, especially when it was valley full of Flood-controlled Wraiths. By the time Katerina and Darius were done with all those Wraiths, their Warthog was beat up. She and Darius and their unit had to travel on foot when it came to the Sentinel Construct factory. Once they had bypassed it, a fully-operational tank was waiting for them, much to Katerina's joy.
Now, what was left of the unit was taking the Gondola to the Library. Tartarus finally joined up, his Phantom flying above the Gondola. "I see that coward did not join you. I will do what I can to keep the Flood away from you."
Somehow, I do not count on it…
The entrance the Library was in the shape of circle. As the Gondola proceed forward, the circular entrance rotated and then opened up in four-quarters. The Forerunners had quite the design, but it was not impressing Katerina, once she had met their not-so-fun tunnels.
"We are getting close," Katerina nudged at her son, taking in a slow breath.
"Nervous, mother?"
"We are about to escape with an instrument that very well determines the fate of the Universe, and when we do, the Covenant are not going to be happy about it. So yes… I am nervous," She said. "We will be hunted. This was a stupid plan. What was I even thinking?!"
"Mother," Darius gripped her upper arms to calm her. "We will figure it out. But rigt now, it is important that we do not let the Index fall into their hands. We will do what we must. The future? We will figure that out later."
Katerina was unknowingly cupping both sides of his face. Panic was just flowing through her like a flood. "Yes. Yes, you are right. We can do this."
"We cannot let the humans capture the Icon!" Tartarus' bellow over the COM channels interrupted the moment. "The Hierarchs do not look kindly on failure!"
The Humans had already taken a Gondola and were ahead of Katerina. Perhaps that was a good thing. It meant that she and her son would just have to protect them from these Covenant forces as they leave with the Index, right?
"But we would not have to do much," She turned her head to him again. "The Humans have advanced. They know of Halo's true purpose. They will be taking the Index only to keep it safe. All we need to do is ensure that they take off with it, right?"
"Right…"She caught the realization in his apple-green eyes. "They do not pose as a threat. They hope to stop the Prophets from firing Halo."
So Katerina grinned. "We now have a plan: protect the Humans."
Location: The Library (at last!)
"The humans are already inside, Arbiter! After them! The Elites and I will watch the perimeter."
Katerina stepped off the Gondola with one Energy Sword and two Magnums in her possession. She straightened her shawl (amazed that it was still in perfect condition after everything that had transpired; perhaps not letting the Flood get close to her was a reason) and turned to her son. "As we have discussed, Dar."
Darius nodded. "I will be right here. Do not worry – Tartarus is not going anywhere."
She returned the nod. "Alright then. Wish me luck, my boy."
The short walk to the Index's resting place – the ground was decorated with bodies of Humans and Flood Combat Forms. One heck of a battle went on in here, leaving next to no survivors. This highly worried Katerina.
"Did anyone survive?" She questioned, unable to take her eyes of the carnage. "Only one way to find out."
Soon…
"McKenzie, Perez, how's our exit? You hear me, Marines?!"
"Humans! I come in peace!"
A sudden cry with no one in sight caused Commander Miranda Keyes and Sergeant Jonson to freeze and exchange a look of major confusion. They never took their fingers of the trigger as they waited for the mysterious person to reveal themselves.
They were greeted with an unusual sight – a being they had never seen before. However, if the Master Chief's encounter aboard the infested Pillar of Autumn said anything, the two Humans were looking at a rare female Elite.
"Johnson, do not take your finger off that trigger!"
"I don't intend to!"
"Please, wait!" Katerina had her hands up in the air, trying her best to show that she was not a threat. "I do not mean any harm whatsoever! You must listen to me!" She took the smallest of steps towards them.
"Hold it right there," Miranda almost growled, to which Katerina obeyed, keeping her hands in the air. "Johnson? Isn't this what the Chief encountered back on the Pillar of Autumn?"
"Suuuure is," Johnson tightened his grip on his Battle Rifle. "Matches Cortana's rendering of her. This Elite did not take a swing at the Chief whatsoever. She protected him."
"If you are referring to the Spartan and his A.I. companion, then yes. I have met them aboard your ship!" Katerina said, then eyeing the Index hooked to Miranda's belt. "But you must hear me out! I request that you take the Index and leave this place with it!"
"Say what?" A mere whisper came from Johnson.
"The Covenant had arrived at the Library. You must leave with the Index now!" Her pleas were only drawing more confusion and she knew that. "I know of Halo's purpose! I know what it does upon firing it! Please, I do not wish for the destruction of all sentient life in this galaxy! I am begging you - please leave with the Index immediately!"
The two Humans were unsure and she could tell from their facial expressions. Just as she was about to say something else, they both began to tremor uncontrollably, like they were hit by a wave of electricity.
"No!" She hurried to them, but they both had already fallen to the ground. She was about to reach for Miranda to wake her when…
"Turn, Katerina."
Oh no… It can't be… Fear had a strong grip on her as she got to her feet and turned around in a slow manner.
Tartarus, his Fist of Rukt and two of his ugly Brutes.
As if she had no control, she began to gradually back away from them as they advanced towards her. Katerina needed to be careful – behind her, was a very large hole into some kind of abyss; in the center of it was the Index's resting place.
"Tartarus… it is not what it seems…" Her own voice was trembling with absolute terror.
She caught sight of a sick smile on his face. "Excellent work, Katerina. The Hierarches will be pleased."
Her forehead creased with mystification at that. She never stopped taking those small steps. "O-oh?"
It was then she saw how his two Brutes, armed with Brute Shots, were aiming those things at her. Her eyes darted to each Brutes repeatedly. "What is the meaning of this, Tartarus?"
Immediately, his smile turned into a grimace. "You never changed your views, did you now, little Kate? Still refusing to believe in the Covenant religion? Even after all these years? Well… your actions sent many from the State of Duran to their deaths… now I will send you to yours."
"Three against one? That hardly seems fair, you ugly bastard." She growled, realizing the current situation.
"No, it is not," Tartarus nodded. "We could have your son here to sort of even it out, but I am afraid he will not be joining us."
Panic. Again. "What have you done with my son?!" A sudden yell emerged from her throat.
"No matter, little Kate. You will join him soon,"
No! Not- not Darius too! It cannot be! A part of her suddenly died at that statement.
"And as will the rest of your incompetent race!"
"You BASTARD!"
Katerina attempted to reach for her Magnums attached to the side of her thighs when a jerk of his Fist of Rukt created a shockwave that struck her tremendously. All she could manage was a pained cry. She tumbled backward, missing that ledge and ultimately falling, her back against the void below her.