Chapter Twenty- Cloak and Dagger

February 1, 2553

1109 Hours

UNSC Death's End

Spartan G-002 propelled his armored mass up and over a barricade of hardened steel cargo containers. Two clenched his side; the SPI armor's side plates were completely melted and charred, as was the exposed flesh that flowed rivulets of dark crimson blood. With his firing arm still clutched onto an MA5D, Two hastily spun to meet his assailant. The vessels auxiliary lighting abruptly shut off, but with his augmented eyesight the Spartan could clearly make out a shadowy silhouette charging down the cramped hall. Two unleashed the assault rifle's barrage of AP rounds, using his arm's increased muscle mass to keep the weapon steady and true. The Spartan fired until an unsettling clank! sounded from the assault rifle, and the weapon's ammunition counter read 00. The massive shadowy form, however didn't seem fazed, and before Two could drop his body weight to meet it's charge the figure slammed into him full at full velocity, and Two could feel each individual rib snap before being propelled straight through the bulkhead behind him and into the ship's engineering deck.

"Just kill him already, we don't have all day here."

Before Two could determine the source of this new threat, the distinct strength of a titanium-alloy boot slammed into the small of his armored back, sending shocks of pure fire throughout his body. "AHHH!"

Another, half-blurred figure leapt down from an above deck and landed with a thud not ten feet from his prone position. "Well," this new enemy took deliberately slow steps towards him, "I guess we could have a little fun, right?"

A metallic gauntlet from his attacker behind latched a massive hand onto his SPI helmet, and viciously ripped it off, revealing Two's horribly bruised and bloodied countenance. "You have to admit Drei, killing Spartans is the best entertainment in the world, don't you think? I just get... that sensation, you know?"

The boot planted on his back increased it's pressure, and the Spartan could actually hear more snaps until he began seeing stars. Maybe if he went into shock soon...

The now obvious female in front of him made a disturbing clicking noise then sighed, "seriously Drei, you have to be careful, these Three's become... agitated the closer to shock they get. I know you're having fun, but let's just be cautious about, okay? Trust me, I can't wait to make this little Spartan here wish he was never born."

As his vision came into focus on the figure standing above him, his heart sank. No, no, no no! It can't be possible. She's... she's a Spartan! Two clenched his bloody teeth together and stared with tenacity into the golden visor of her MJOLNIR helmet. "What are you doing!? Aren't... aren't you Spartans? Why? Why are you do-"

Another boot smashed the front of his face in, then an armored fist before being flung into the far bulkhead with enough force to leave an ugly gash in the titanium-alloy wall. Get up Spartan... get up! Two willed his broken body to rise, his once pristine SPI suit irreversibly damaged. He could actually feel his adrenal system attempt to pump adrenaline in a desperate bid to keep his body standing, and his mind began to fill with a mental fog of bestial-like instincts. Two forced himself to survey his surroundings; the engineering deck was tiered with at least a half-dozen decks above his own. The large room was lit by huge coolant tubes running the length of the deck, but otherwise not much else occupied the space between him and the two MJOLNIR wearing humans directly in front of him. The taller of the two he assumed was "Drei", easily seven feet tall and the one that hounded him throughout the Death's End. And... he was powerful. Strong enough to toss Two like he was no heavier than paper. The smaller one was the female, who looked as deadly as Drei encased in the black MJOLNIR power armor. Both had rifles strapped to their backs, but neither one actually wielded a firearm. "Look," the female pointed at Two and chuckled deviously, "he's trying to stand! Don't you know Drei shattered the vertebrae in your spine. That means, YOU SHOULDN'T BE STANDING!"

Two only saw her move, but that was it. After that, her unnatural speed, even for a Spartan, was too much for the bewildered Two. Still, before she was upon him he managed to track a lightning-fast fist, swiftly dodge it and strike back. Unfortunately, his fist only met air. Oh shit... An impossibly fast straight kick impacted his already beaten chestplate and pulverizing what was left of his ribcage. Then another to the abdomen, crushing the bones in the Spartan's reinforced pelvis. Before Two could collapse she launched a vicious plated knee into his beaten and charred side, destroying what remained of his kidney before the Spartan slammed in the deck, bloodied and broken. "You know," Drei appeared by her side, "I kinda like this one. Do you think..."

Drei cocked his head at his companion and shrugged, his voice deep and unwavering, "whatever you think is best, Zwei."

German numerals... who the hell are these Spartans? Zwei suddenly took a knee beside Two's motionless body, and ran her hand across the dented, bloody plates of his SPI armor. "I'm Zwei, if you didn't hear Drei here. You know," her gauntlet traced his jawline, "I think you're playing for the wrong team."

Two coughed and a sick mixture of blood and spittle dribbled it's way down his mouth. "It... it was you who slaughtered the entire crew, then nearly killed me. Playing for the wrong team? Are you two insane? You're Spartans, you he-"

Zwei let out a mischievous giggle, "now, who ever said we're Spartans? I think you," her finger ran across his lips, "are jumping to conclusions Mr. Spartan."

Even if he wanted to, he couldn't stop Zwei from caressing his face. He literally couldn't will the muscles in his arm, or any muscles for that matter. He was defeated, and she knew it. "We do, however share a lot in common Spartan G-002. Its like this encounter was fated to happen, number Two, don't you think?"

"You...you are ins-"

Before he knew it, what he assumed were Zwei's lips were upon his own, her tongue fought to enter his mouth. When it came down to it, not even the muscles in his mouth could force his lips to stay shut. In a split second, Zwei's face appeared above his own. She was surprisingly beautiful, small yet powerful piercing hazel eyes, full lips and soft white skin. Strands of brown hair hung over and rested on Two's nose, nearly making him sneeze. What the fuck? Her MJOLNIR helmet sat adjacent to them, he realized, before she once more ran her hand along the shapes of his face. "Hmmm... he tastes good Drei. I say we keep this one."

Drei took three steps backwards, swiveled on his heels and began to stride, "do whatever makes you contented Zwei. Do you need any he-"

"I'm fine Drei, prepare this vessel for departure, upload Phoenix into the mainframe, she'll take it from there. I'll be in the medbay, our newest member needs to be put back together after you so crudelythrashed him around."

Drei's imposing bulk exited the deck and Zwei's eyes followed him out, before gazing upon Two's semi-conscious face. She playfully nestled her head against the pocket of Two's shoulder and whispered into his ear, "you know, I'm surprised you're still awake. Don't you know when to take a nap sleepyhead?"

"F...fuck you bitch."

Two cringed at the sound of her giggling, "my my aren't we feisty? You have much more spirit than the others. They were absolutely terrible! No fun at all, boring boring! But you, you have something I like, and I'm going to keep you around. Resist all you want, you will belong to me soon enough, and when you do finally break," the Spartan watched helplessly as she caressed his face more, "we're going to find more Spartans to have some fun with, okay?"

Zwei took firm hold of his chin and sighed, "you're going to take longer than Drei did, I can see it already and I thought he'd be the last I'd take as my own. And yet here I am with Mr. Spartan G-002, my new servant. You know," Zwei began to drag her lips across Two's beaten face, "Drei was just like you once. He thought he'd never break, never betray his Spartans. Yet," her lips stopped at his nose, "I broke him and now look at him. He enjoys killing Spartans more than anybody. You'd be surprised how willing, how far you'd go. He's personally eliminated his entire team, one by one. So tell me Spartan G-002, who exactly was on Gold Team?"

Two managed a throaty laugh, "there's nothing you can do to me that would make me compromise my team, Zwei."

Zwei lips steadily worked their way down to Two's before planting a long kiss upon his lips. "The more you struggle now, the faster you will become mine."

The last thing Spartan G-002 saw were the hauntingly beautiful eyes of Zwei gazing back into his own, before darkness took over and his consciousness faded into dreams.