Ch. 30: The Prophets' Nightmare
Above Installation 04
High Charity Council Room
Inside the chamber, the two remaining Prophets are speaking to the entire Covenant through a live broadcast. Tartarus stands behind the Prophets, looking around for intruders. Behind the camera is an Unggoy armed with a Needler.
A shimmering golden halo teleports the Master Chief behind the Unggoy cameraman, who turns around to see him. There is an awkward moment of silence between the two aliens. Finally, the Master Chief decides to break the tension.
"Boo"
The Unggoy yelps in surprise, tossing the Needler into the air. The Spartan supersoldier deftly catches the Needler in his hands and aims it at the stunned Prophets. Truth glares at the alien soldier before he issues his orders.
"Protect the Prophets!" he shouts. A pair of Jiralhanae Honor Guards stand in front of the Prophets, brandishing their Brute Shots at the Master Chief. Meanwhile, Tartarus and his personal guards escort the Prophets out of the council room.
The moment the Prophets leave, the room explodes into battle. The Master Chief runs around the room, strafing left and right to avoid the exploding grenades. He jumps toward one Brute and punches him in the jaw, momentarily stunning the wild beast. The Chief pulls the Brute Shot away from its owner and slashes his stomach with the large blade.
The first Brute goes down with a whimper as blood and guts spill from his wound. The second Brute charges at the Chief, recklessly shooting his Spiker. The Chief slides under the Brute Honor Guard and slices the exposed thighs. The Brute falls down, unable to get up. He crawls to a console, his trembling hand hovering above the screen.
A Needler shard pierces its Skull and its hand falls on top of the console. However, the console doesn't activate. The Master Chief looked around and placed his hand on top of a nearby holotank. The slim blue figure of Cortana appears in the holotank, her eyes glowing as she accesses High Charity's computer mainframe.
"That Prophet, Truth… He has the Index! You have to stop him." The sealed door is remotely unlocked by Cortana. He begins to run before he looks back at Cortana.
"I will be fine, Chief. It will be easier for me to track the Prophet this way." She urges the Chief to hurry along.
After several encounters with Covenant infantry, the Chief descended down to the prison cells through a reverse gravity lift. He landed silently to the ground and looked around. On either side of him are prison cells. Muffled yelling can be heard inside in the cells. Leaning against the purple walls was a sleeping Jiralhanae prison guard. A Plasma Rifle lay next to him. Crouching slowly, the Spartan slowly walked over to the sleeping guard and pulled out his combat knife. In one swift motion, he covered the guard's mouth and silted its throat.
The guard falls down, blood trickling out of his throat. The Chief placed his hand on top of the console. The console screen glowed white for a second and unlocked all of the prison cells. The yelling fell into silence as Marine prisoners stumbled out of their cells. The Master Chief tossed the Plasma Rifle to one of the Marines and pointed at the armory down the hall. The Marines quickly ran toward the open armory and grabbed various plasma weapons.
"What's our mission?" a corporal asked meekly.
"We are going to kill a Prophet and the Chief needs your help", Cortana answered.
The Marines grinned and hollered, energized by the fact they were going to kill the Covenant leaders. Without hesitation, they ran toward an open door and scouted ahead for the Chief.
A few Marines lingered around the cells as they were patched by two medics. The Chief looked as a medic applied biofoam to a wounded Marine's leg. The Corporal and two scouts rushed back to the cell, breathless from their run.
"What's the situation?" the Chief asked. The corporal hastily drank from his canteen before he answered.
"Sir, it's absolute chaos. They are fighting each other."
The Chief ran to the door and took a peek. Outside, the once united Covenant forces had dissolved into its respective races fighting each other. A group of Sangheili Ultras had taken cover by hiding behind some dimed alcoves. Across from them was the Jiralhanae, who were ordering the Unggoys and Kig-Yar snipers around. The crossfire between the two factions was intense. Needler shards and purple plasma bolts filled the empty no man's land as the two factions took potshots at each other.
"Any options, Cortana?" the Chief asked.
"Hmm… there are a few we can work with," Cortana said, "Our best option is to wait it out and let them kill each other. But, we're short on time right now. I suggest -" The sound of rockets filled the sky as both sides launched it at each other. The explosions rocked the open courtyard. There was silence as orange flames lingered on the floor.
"Never mind" Cortana said as she disappeared within the deep recesses of the Spartan's mind. The Spartan signaled the surviving Marines to follow him.
Elsewhere near Installation 05
The low humming sounds coming from a handheld scanning device ceased immediately as Rylan turned it off. He paced around the probe, which was sitting on the floor. After picking their captain. Both he and Roscoe carried the probe to the resource compaction room in the ship's rear.
The floor was littered with metal plates, exposing the probe's inner components. Even though it was deactivated, Rylan was cautious about pulling out certain parts. Based on Roscoe's testimony, the probe's power source had exhibited some strange activity.
He pulled the hidden hinge, which revealed a small computer. As he accessed the computer's data, he took notes on a nearby notebook. There were a few words that stood out to him as he wrote them down in the notebook.
An hour later, the Plantagenets' crew assembled in front of the satellite porbe. The Tenno stood on either side of the probe, while Silver Team, Lieutenant Lambert and a handful of other crewmen stood a few feet away.
"First of all, this satellite probe did come from our universe", the Revenant said as he pointed to himself.
"It was launched in 110 OE through the Gateway, a year before the Fall. After it exited the wormhole, it began transmitting data before it collapsed. From there, it drifted in space until it encountered the Halo. Upon discovery, the probe was captured and studied by the Monitor."
"The probe is powered by a Specium Energy containment sphere, which is responsible for almost every major system inside the probe. As for Specium Energy itself, there is not a lot of information on it. It has an atomic number of 133 and was discovered on Mars during the late Void Era. There was no record of its manufacturing process or its potential usage"
"What about the UAE Extraterrestrial Contact Team?" asked Jack.
"According to the data, they were responsible for launching the probe and collecting its data."
"Is there anything we can use to get back home?" asked Pallax.
"It has the coordinates to the Gateway" Rylan said. There was silence as his statement fell on the Tenno's head like a bag of bricks.
"Show it to us, right now!" Pallax shouted as they surged toward the probe like a pack of hungry wolves.
"Wait, wait, wait!" The Revenant protested as he tried to push the overzealous Tenno away from the small computer. The ODSTs hooked their arms under the Tenno's armpits and dragged them away.
He pressed the 'Enter' key and lines of numbers scrolled across the screen. It seemed to scroll forever until it ended with three lines of numbers:
"X-axis: 28.975, Y-axis: 41.011, Z-Axis: 5.250"
Pallax was about to scream in joy until he saw the numbers above the three coordinates.
"Wait, what are those numbers for?" he said, pointing to them.
"That's for accounting the wormhole and spacetime stuff. The only problem is that you need a really advanced AI for calculating that. Ordis would die from calculating the first ten equations." Rylan said sadly.
"At least we have a way to get back home. Now we just need a portal generator or something." Jack said as he attached himself to the pilot console. The Railjack soared through the sky as it made its ascent into space. The trembling stopped as the ship hovered in space.
In the distance, High Charity was surrounded by dozens of Covenant ships firing at each other. The bright explosions around the massive city-starship made it look like a floating Christmas tree. The battlenet was flooded with screams and panic.
"Ordis, Cy, what the hell is happening?" Jack cried out as the Railjack was inundated by the radio traffic. Lambert was at her computer, cycling through the traffic. There was so much screaming that she tossed her headset in frustration.
"It appears they are fighting one other, Operator. According to radio traffic, the Prophets have dismissed the Sangheili as their protectors and replaced them with the Jiralhanae. Naturally, the Sangheili were furious and demanded an explanation. The Jiralhanae refused and opened fire on them," Cy stated.
"Operator, we have a problem." Ordis interrupted
The view screen blurred for a second as Ordis took control. A CRS-class light cruiser flew toward the city-starship, oblivious to the raging civil war. Its rear engines were trailing black smoke as the ship took plasma fire from both sides.
"I don't see anything wrong with it. Unless-" Roscoe paused midway when Ordis brought up another screen, which highlighted the ship in various shades of green and purple.
"Jack, full power to engines now. We got a runaway Infested." ordered Roscoe. The sublight engines roared as the Railjack sped toward the light cruiser.
Numerous plasma lasers and torpedoes slammed against the Railjack's shimmering energy field. The ship shook as it raced toward the Flood-infested cruiser. Hornet missiles flew their launching pods and exploded against the plasma engines.
"Nothing's working, Cap! At this rate, it's going to crash into High Charity." shouted Jack as he narrowly evaded a plasma laser from their starboard side.
"What about the Tungchaka? It should pierce the armor at point-blank range." Roscoe responded as he gripped the command console.
"Hell no! There's no way I'm risking those creeps onto the ship!" Jack shouted back as he unleashed another Hornet missile swarm into the cruiser.
Captain Miranda Keyes was angry. The last thing she remembered was the numbing feeling of being electrocuted by a hammer. When she woke, she found herself in a prison cell. Outside, a Jiralhanae snarled at her and left. For hours, she sat in the poorly lit cell, repeating her service number and other identifying information to herself. Electronic buzzing halted her mantra as the cell door opened. The Brute with the gray mohawk growled at her.
"Get up, human" Tartarus growled at her. She sighed and got up. A pair of heavy manacles slipped over her wrists. She was prodded by a Brute guard and she walked. They stopped at another cell, which revealed the battle-hardened Marine glaring at the Brute. He simply put his hands and gestured at the Brute.
The small entourage left the prison brig through a gravity lift. The group walked across the hall and toward the waiting Prophets. Behind the Prophets were three hovering Phantoms. Miranda kept her eyes in the dark sky. In the distance, she saw a slim pyramid like starship in the center. From the corner of her eyes, a CRS-class light cruiser crashed into the inner walls, half of it was embedded in the wall and only the rear engines could be seen.
However, the Prophets and Brutes were unfazed by the sudden crash. It seemed as if they didn't notice it at all. The Brute strided toward the Prophets and prostrated himself before his leaders.
"O' Holy Ones, I have brought the prisoners before you. What is thy command?" Tartarus said.
Mercy gestured toward the Phantoms behind him. "Secure the prisoners and bring them to the site. One on each transport." Reaching from his inner pocket, he pulled out the Index Key, which shone brightly under the purple lighting.
"I entrust you and your brethren with our future." he said as he placed the small, but important key in Tartarus's open palm. The Brute gripped the key tightly and stared at the Prophet of Mercy. "Your will is my command" he replied.
Truth watched as the humans were shoved into the Phantoms. The chittering sounds of the Flood prompted him to quickly enter the remaining Phantom. As the Brute guards fended off the parasite, one got past them and latched on to Mercy's neck. Mercy futilely scratched at his neck, trying to get it off. Tartarus turned to free his leader, his hand reaching toward the parasite.
Truth raised his hand and softly said "No, Tartarus. He is done for". The Brute chieftain wrinkled his eyebrows, confused at his order. He looked back at the ailing Prophet, unsure of what to do.
Suddenly, a nearby gravity lift powered up and several figures descended from the upper floors. Tartarus's eyes widened as he recognized the figure. He gently pushed Truth into the Phantom in the middle and boarded Miranda's Phantom.
The Chief glanced at the Phantoms and ran full-steam, raising his Needler at them. Unfortunately, they got away. Two of them turned right and disappeared into the dark empty void, while the last one flew straight toward the pyramid-like ship.
There was a rasping gasp on his left. He saw a Prophet choking for air as the Flood wrapped itself around his frail throat. The Spartan stood over the Prophet.
"Your pal. Where's he going" he demanded. The alien Prophet chuckled a little before he answered the Demon.
"Earth.., he will finish what we started. And this time, none of you... will survive." he said weakly
The Chief pulled the Parasite throat and crushed it. The Prophet gasps one final time and dies. A lieutenant shook his head in shame.
"Chief. What the hell is that?" a private shouts as the Flood crawls from the light cruiser's wreckage.
"Behind me, now. Fire at will." The Chief orders. His command is cut short as missiles hit their target. He looks behind him as the Railjack hovers near the platform. Its doors open, revealing Pallax shouting at them.
"Get inside now, people! We don't have time!" he screams at the dumbfounded soldiers.
The Marines jumped into the ship, clearly wanting not to face those nightmarish creatures.
"What are you waiting for, Chief? Get in!" Pallax shouts at the Spartan.
Chief shook his head and pointed at the pyramid-like ship in the distance. "He's aboard that ship. I'm getting on it." he replied
"Then we will drop you off." Pallax exasperated loudly. He draws his Magnus revolver from its holster and fires at the incoming Flood parasites.
"Sir, they took Captain Keyes and Sargent Johnson to the Library. They intend to fire Halo." Cortana interrupted. "Don't worry about us. Just go." she says to the Excalibur.
"Don't die on us" says Pallax. He steps away from the doors and it automatically closes. The spacecraft launches toward the silver ring, leaving the Spartan and his AI companion alone on the platform.
"Any way to get on that ship, Cortana?" the Chief asks. Cortana simply points at a green transparent tube that extends toward the ship.
"That conduit is our only way in, Chief" she says. The Chief reaches to her, ready to bring her into his mind again. Cortana raises her hand in refusal. "Absolutely not, Chief. I have to stay here." she says. She points at the flaming wreckage, its engines on fire. "I can detonate that ship's reactor and blow it and the Flood sky high. I'm not risking a remote activation."
The Spartan sighed inwardly. She was right and he knew it. Without her on board, there was a good chance the Flood could control the ship and head to Earth. He nodded and grabbed the Needler.
"Lead the way" he says as he runs toward a door. Ten minutes later, after avoiding the chaos and Flood-infested Covenant soldiers, they found themselves on a small pedestal facing the ship. Above the Chief's head is the conduit leading to the ship. All he had to do was jump up and he would be swept by the current and into the ship.
"After I'm done with Truth…" Chief says. Cortana smiled at him and crossed her arms. "Don't make a girl a promise, if you can't keep it." she says. The Chief turns around, facing the ship and jumps up. Almost instantly, he is hurled toward the ship. The ship engines ignite and roar to life, with purple clouds emanating from it. As the doors close, the Spartan turns his body sideways and slides across the metal floor, sparks jumping from his metal boots.
Disengaging the final power cables from itself, the ship rises from the city-ship and soars through space. The stormy bluish tunnel of slipspace opens in front of the ship and swallows it whole, sending it to its destination.
Author's Note
It's been a while since the last chapter. I hope everyone is doing well during this unprecedented crisis. I'm doing well myself. Needless to say, one more chapter and Halo 2 arc is finished. (Yay!) There will be one non-canon chapter before the start of Halo 3, which will focus on retrieving the laser designator. Finally, a question for readers and reviewers alike.:
Do you want me to change Halo 4's ending?
From what I heard, its pretty controversial and some may want a 'better' ending than the one offered by 343 Industries
Until the next update - TPT