Tide: June 28th 2545
Location: Unknown Forerunner Installation
The Didact's Cryptum glided back down to the top of the cliffs where Noble had gathered while the Didact had been chasing off the Covenant. All four of them were in awe of what they had seen lately and were still trying to understand from the Didact how he had survived since the firing of the Halos when Razor's Edge appeared in the skies above them.
Osman's voice came in over the radio, "This is Osman, Noble care to explain why there's a Covenant ship now making best speed away from this planet?"
"Might be easier to show you ma'am." Carter said over the radio. This elicited an irritated huff from Osman but she brought the Prowler down and landed it on the nearest large area of open land just under a mile away.
Deciding not to appear too aggressive the Didact left his Cryptum where it was by the cliffs and walked with Noble back inland, slowing his pace significantly to accommodate for their much shorter legs. As they walked the Didact approached Steven, "You are not of this world are you, human?"
Steven was stunned for a moment and didn't respond, how could the Didact possibly know his origins. "My armour's sensors detected a large quantity of certain subatomic particles coating your body, I know that these particular types of particles are attracted by use of the translocation crystals late on during the war with the Flood."
"You're right Didact, I came here many years ago from my universe, there everything here is based on a set of video games and books, including you." Steven explained.
There was a distinct look of surprise on the Didact's face at this discovery, "I can prove it", Steven replied, "one hundred thousand years ago, after you unearthed the original Didact's Cryptum on Earth you and he went on an adventure to Charum Hakkor, where you discovered the Primordial had been released from its timelock and…"
"Enough!" the Didact commanded. Steven immediately fell silent, "It is not right for you to speak of such things. You have proven your point."
There was an awkward silence between the two as they continued to walk, "Since your knowledge of the world is far greater than my own, tell me why this Covenant seek the destruction of your species."
Taking a deep breath Steven began the sorry tale of how the Covenant had found a fragment of Mendicant Bias aboard the Forerunner Dreadnought, how the Covenant had long worshipped the Forerunners and viewed their disappearance as proof of their transcendence, how they wished to follow their gods on their Great Journey and how following the realization that the humans were the heirs to the Forerunners and therefore proof the Forerunners were not gods the Prophets had ordered the destruction of humanity in the name of the gods.
Throughout all of this Steven could see the Didact's anger slowly building as he heard more and more of the terrible acts which had been wrought in the name of his people. When Steven had finally finished the Didact looked both furious and sad, as well as some other, unreadable and likely inhuman emotion. "I shall speak with your leaders and offer my assistance in this war, the Covenant deserve no mercy for their crimes and I shall do all I can to supplement your technology using the engineering skills of the large number of huragok I shall obtain from our installations."
By this time they had arrived at the Prowler and Osman was waiting for them outside. When she saw the Didact with them her jaw dropped, she didn't even raise her weapon which spoke volumes with her Spartan training.
Carter stepped forward, "Captain Osman, this is the Didact, Didact this is Captain Osman." He stepped back again to let the two converse.
The Didact opened, "Captain Osman, as you now know I am the Didact, possibly the last of the Forerunners and with the knowledge I have gleaned from your warriors I would like to offer my assistance in your war against these meddlers."
"Captain, if it helps I can provide some context as to who this guy is." Steven offered. Osman nodded slightly and the group retreated into the interior of the Prowler, forcing the Didact the stoop to fit inside. Steven and Osman made a beeline for her office and they spent the next several hours discussing the events surrounding the Didact before and after his entry into his Cryptum. When they had finally finished Osman sat back in her chair and rubbed her eyes, "I think we need to get this guy back to Parangosky, now. BB, make a note of these coordinates and then plot a course for Reach for the Admiral to meet us there."
"Yes, Captain, I'll drop her a message." BB replied, his avatar blinking out as he went on his electronic way. Together Steven and Osman left the cabin to join the rest of Noble who were sat in serious discussion in the bunk room.
As they entered Carter turned around to Osman, "Captain, I didn't mention this before with all the excitement but Emile was separated from us when we came here, Prone to Drift has managed to locate him but I need your clearance to pick him up."
Osman put her hands on her hips and raised an eyebrow, "I was wondering when you'd get around to explaining that to me, BB detected his IFF as soon as we arrived in system, what about Maria?" Noble shifted uncomfortably, "I'm sorry", Osman continued, "and I think I understand why Emile got separated, but don't worry I won't say a word."
Osman turned and left the room heading for the bridge, when she arrived she took her seat in the command chair, "BB, take us to Spartan 239's position for extraction, prepare a dose of tranquilizers should they be necessary."
She sat back to reflect on recent events as the ship rose up and began the surprisingly long to journey to where Emile had run off to. This whole mission had begun to spiral rapidly out of control and she could hardly believe she had a real live Forerunner aboard her vessel who was planning to help humanity in their war against the Covenant.
By the time they arrived at Emile's position she could hardly contain her excitement at the technological possibilities but she forced herself to focus on the task at hand.
As the ship settled down less than a mile from his position she opened a channel on the comm, "Noble, move out and locate Emile, you will be equipped with tranquilizer darts capable of piercing his armour if he refuses to come willingly, it's for his own sake, we can't leave him here."
Carter lead the team as they strode out onto the surface leaving Osman and the Didact aboard the Prowler. It was only as they neared the supposed position of Emile's IFF they realised a rather large problem. Set up around the area were a series of Covenant barricades manned by an array of grunts and jackals along with three elites.
Seeing this challenge they moved into their standard combat position, Jun providing overing fire while Carter and Kat engaged the enemy and mid-range while Steven went in for the tidy up kills.
Several grunts charged ahead, waving their plasma pistols at the Spartans and discharging their weapons. They were rapidly torn apart by a hail of bullets from Carter and Kat.
Meanwhile Steven had drawn his knife and pistol and was beginning to deal with the nearest elite. He quickly strode towards it unleashing a spray of rounds from his pistol, each shot hammering the energy shield but not quite enough to collapse it. Recognizing his rapidly worsening position he barreled forwards and slammed into the alien, finally collapsing the shields. With a grunt the elite grabbed his shoulders and swung him over so that the elite sat over him and it pulled out its plasma dagger. However, just as it brought the dagger down Steven slammed his knife into the rear of the elite's skull piercing through and into its brain.
The body slumped and threw it off with a quick shove. Jumping to his feet Steven looked up to see the towering form of another elite stood over him, energy sword raised. However, it was to slow to strike as a high velocity sniper round tore across the battlefield and blew its head off in a a spatter of gore.
Nodding in Jun's direction he leapt back into the fray, unslinging his rifle and unleashing a spray of lead into the nearest group of grunts and jackals. With this group felled he looked around and saw that no enemies remained. He sighed slightly and reslung his rifle.
He listened in over the comm as Carter called out to Emile. When there was no reply he began walking towards what was supposed to be his location.
It was only when he arrived that he discovered why Emile had not been responding, lying on the ground before him was the source of the signal, Emile's helmet.
Author's Note: This story is really starting to flow now, apologies if the chapters aren't as long as they usually are but I'm trying to churn them out a little shorter and more often. Thanks for all your thoughts and support on this story so far and as ever please read and review this story and my others.