The evening sun painted the sky and clouds in hues of orange. Rolling thunder off into the distance intermixed with the sounds of burning plasma. A jagged scar tore a mountain in two off into the distance. Its shadow cast over the glassed lands of this world. Alien ships flew over the ruins of the ship yard. Hundreds if not thousands of souls lost in a desperate attempt to flee the dying world littered the landscape. It was all to clear now that all was lost.

Reach had fallen.

Noble Six surveyed it all from the communications platform he was on. Silver visor reflected the hell laid before him. Not a few hours before he was fighting for his life and that of the last ship to leave this world. Now in this calm before the storm he contemplated his life.

All of it started to flash backwards as he recalled each and every moment. The Pillar of Autumn rising to the heavens. The struggle of the defense of Reach. The deaths of Noble. Meeting each and every one of them. The missions he had done for ONI as a Headhunter. Being offered his black Mark V armor. His kidnapping by ONI after the hell that was Operation: TORPEDO that he survive. The pain of his augmentation. His training under Kurt with the rest of Beta Company. His home and family being burned from the glassing. It all finally came down to his earliest memory.

Hazy from the years but he could still feel the warm comfort of the bed. The feeling of the person that sat next to him. Raven hair and emerald eyes looking down at him. She smiled at him before looking down at the book. Her voice was melodic as she spoke. "Okay one more poem."

It all soon gave way to the screaming of the Banshees overhead bringing back the Spartan to reality. The Covenant was now on top of him as Phantoms and Spirits unload their troops in the distance. They had come for the last human on Reach.

Quickly he grabbed his DMR, checked ammo, then slammed back the bolt to chamber a round. Motion tracker soon pinged as several red dots entered on the bottom right. Six sprinted and jumped off the platform. Snapping right as another dot entered the 25 meter field. The all too familiar form of an Elite in the distance. Trigger finger twitched three times in succession, each shot landing as blue shielding shattered before it fell.

This caught the attention of others as more dots moved in on the edges. Six dove into a near by building that was missing part of its wall. Bodies of UNSC troopers that tried to hold out laid out all over. Their weapons left all over with them. Two in particular stood out. He scooped up the Spartan Laser near him that was quickly locked into place on his back. Another weapon he did not expect to see with the UNSC Army garrison laid on the lap of a slumped trooper.

The MA5B was a favorite of his during both training and the assault of the Covenant refinery. DMR soon clattered to the floor as he picked up the other rifle. Ammo counter read full 60 rounds including one in chamber. More ammo was on the dead trooper all loaded to bare. A soft "thank you" left his lips before taking each mag.

Alien voices, all high pitched, chattered by the open entrance way. In swift motion the grenade snapped off from his hip and primed. It sailed in the air in perfect arc through the door landing with a skip on the dirt. Seconds before detonation he had already sprinted from the hole to flank whatever was left.

Bodies of Grunts jumped in the air shredded by shrapnel. One that had landed still breathed. Dazed and confused for only a scant moment before their head popped like a ripe melon. Armored hands tossed the body to the side and patted it down. Two metallic blue orbs clung to its waist before it clamped to Six's side.

More yelling echoed as more of the diminutive creatures moved in. Controlled burst of the rifle hit their marks in the exchange of metal and green light. Round shields of blues and reds flared behind him. Jackles hid behind and charged their pistols in hopes to take down the demons shields. Adrenalin spiked throughout his veins flooding his senses. Timed slowed down as each one fired off green globs.

Spartan Time allowed him to dodge each shot. A black blur to most as it weaved between plasma. A swift punch to one shield sent one flying into the rest. Before it even tried to get up an armored boot slammed down caving in its chest. The Spartan swept the rifle unloading the rest of the magazine into the screaming pile.

He looked beyond the mass of bodies to see more Elites charging down the road. A fresh magazine was slammed into the gun before it fired down range. Energy shields glowed on both sides as metal and plasma impacted. Each shattered in hues of yellow and blue. Six forced himself to move faster as plasma burned his armor in glancing blows.

Elite Minors rushed in a frenzy not caring for their own survival. Swords cracked to life ready to sink into the flesh of the demon. He in turn drew steel ready for melee. In a bloody dance of death alien after alien fell. The last of them managed to slice the knife in half. It roared in triumph thinking it had the upper hand, but paid for his hubris. The demon caught its wrist in a vice. Pained cries left the monster as Six pulled it. Boot slamming into its side forcing it backwards. Sockets popped from its arm causing it to drop its sword. Sizzling of flesh and metal filled the air. Eyes bulged from the Minor as they fell to the floor. The last sight it ever saw was a pair of legs falling away missing its upper body.

With the last one dead the Spartan dumped the sword in the soft case on his side. There was a scant respite as he checked ammo again. Mind wondering back to that time so long ago. Her voice came back and sang.

Do not go gentle into that good night,

Old age should burn and rave at close of day;

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Six was snapped out of it when the all to familiar sound of a plasma mortar sailing in the air. Instantly he sprinted out of the way as the super heated bulb impacted where he was. The explosion leaving nothing but a shallow glass crater.

Looking around he spots the Wraith off in the distance. Eyes narrowed as the Spartan Laser opens up. It had only one last bit of charge but 10% was enough to kill it.

The Wraith fired again as the laser began to charge. Sprinting again out of the way, the laser steadily painted the alien tank. It in turn continued the track him, the pilot hoping to fire off another shot before the Demon could get his off.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,

Six held the trigger down, the world slowed again as the plasma mortar powered up in the distance.

Crimson beam lanced out burning into the alien alloys. It cored through the machine and into the power plant. In a brilliant flash of blue plasma did it fall to the earth.

Because their words had forked no lightning they

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Phantoms surrounded the area. Six dropped the spent heavy weapon and gripped the rifle. None of the ships fired on him. Gunners on each side pointed at him but never fired. The undersides of each one lit up as the belly of the ships opened. Zealots, Field Marshals, and finally a General landed on the ground off in the distance.

The General cried out as the blazing sword was thrust into the air. They all gave a resounding roar as they rushed him. Plasma bolts traced in the air as Six once more dodge and weaved.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,

For every burst of fire took down one of their own. For every 10 bolts he dodged one would hit and flair his shields. They drained way to fast before finally shattered. Golden sparks danced all around as the shield emitters became damaged. Each impact after burned his armor. His visor cracked and H.U.D disrupted.

And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,

He had to pull his helmet off. Warm air hit the cold sweat soaked balaclava that he wore. Green eyes looked on as the blue tide still raged. Teeth gritted picking back up the rifle. More bursts brought down more of them.

Do not go gentle into that good night.

More bolts hit and burned, yet still he fired on. Soon one hand held the rifle as another held the magnum. Shots fired from both fell more and more. The Marshals where left as those below them bled at their feet. Swords cracked to life as each gun ran out.

Dropping both he activated the sword he stole from the fallen. Six cried havoc into the air.

"COME ON! I'M READY! FIGHT ME!"

Two rushed at him swinging. Spartan time slowed their movements as blades blocked and men parried. The head of one was lopped off while brilliant blade sunk into the other. More tried to rush as well. He ripped the sword out of the hands of the headless one. Six never fought with two blades, but faced with the end he had to try.

"COME! COME AT ME YOU BASTARDS!"

Air was soon filled with the crackling of blades. The cries of the fallen. The sizzling of flesh. Arcs of light danced in a fury of death and rage. Emerald eyes blind red. Eyes of fear as the souls of the alien left this world.

In the end there was only two demons left.

Six breath heavily in the center of a field of death. Melted metal and cauterized flesh crossed all over his body. Both hand where white knuckled wrapped on the two plasma blades. An inhuman laugh soon rang as raged filled eyes looked onto the beast.

"You truly are a demon." It said. "One that needs to be purged. The honor left onto me." Another blade activated in the Generals off hand. "An honor I humbly except."

Blood soaked teeth grind. Those words from that monster fueled a fire that burned brighter then a thousand suns.

"Honor?" He spat. "Honor? YOU DARE CALL THIS HONOR!?"

He pointed the two pronged blade at the Sangheili before him.

"Listen to me you honor-less Demon! You slaughter the innocent! You burn the weak! You kill without mercy! YOU DARE TO CALL THAT HONORABLE!?"

Rage filled the eyes of the monster before the man. "Do not lecture me Demon!" It hissed.

Six took a stance ready to fight to the end.

"JUST SHUT THE FUCK UP AND FIGHT ME!"

The General took up a stance themselves. Each of them sizing the other up. To Six the world went quite. For what felt like an eternity they both looked on. Then the silence broke.

"BE PURGE FROM THE GALAXY DEMON!" The General roared. In a flash he lunged at the Spartan.

Its swing was blocked by Six, his blade in turn swung back. Blocks, parries, kicks, and blows hit both as the duel dragged on. Both warriors gave it their all. However the wounds the man endured had took a toll, and that toll was paid.

A blue arc knocked one blade from his hand. Another slashed at his chest. Six cried in pain, the monster took its chance. It kicked him to the ground, air leaving his body from the rough blow. He tried to gasp for breath, but a searing pain into both lungs burned what little breath he had.

Eyes went wide as the face of the monster came close to his. A glee of satisfaction and an alien smile as it watched on the dying man. Time seemed to slow as darkness crept at the edge of his vision.

A sorrowful voice of the mother he lost soon whispered in his ear.

And you, my son, there on the sad height,

Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.

A blood tear ran down his face. Eyes darted all around for a way out. Some way. Any way out of this. The darkness was still clawing at him as his body became cold. A desperate glance to his side for anything now fell on a sphere of dark sapphire.

Like a beacon in darkness it called to him.

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Eyes closed as the last of his strength reached for it. Fingers gripped tightly onto it. The voice in the darkness changed from the sorrowful melody to one of deep fury.

Rage,

Warmth returned to his body.

Rage,

Thumb depressed on the glyph of the plasma grenade.

Rage,

Crimson eyes opened.

Rage,

The monsters glee turned to fear.

Rage,

Gathering the last of his strength Six roared in defiance. Arm swung at the beast before him. The ball of plasma connected to its head. Nanolaminate plating melted and fused with both it and his hand. Eyes shot wide as it screamed not from pain, but from fear.

Rage against the dying of the light.

In his final moments Six smiled. His life had started to fade before a light flashed. He never felt the heat. There was no pain. As he faded into darkness a man spoke.

Do not go gentle into that good night.

You fought with honor. You fought with courage. In the face of your extinction you fought to keep the darkness at bay.

Though your past deeds had stained your soul... In your final hours you saved countless lives.

More then you will ever know, Spartan.

A warrior such as you would have earned his place by my right hand... Only if you have been from my world... However you have earned my favor.

… And I do have to ask a favor myself...

Hardy in her infinite boredom once again opened the gate into my world. And already something had spilled over. Warriors from another time, one that is all too familiar to you, have marched from the hill.

I ask of you to go to the hill of Alnus, meet with them, and make sure no more damage comes from whatever Hardy has planned.

With this I impart onto you new life and the tools you will need.

Go now Spartan...

Eyes shot wide as Six gasped in the cool night air. There was pain with each breath, lips taste of copper that wasn't there. The balaclava still clung on from the sweat that now has dried.

He looked around quickly as eyes adjusted to the darkness. What greeted him was a clear night sky that shone bright. Stars and the galaxy painted the inky blackness. Turning his head he could see that he laid in a clearing in a forest. Tall green blades of grass all around.

Sitting up he quickly checked himself. His armor was intact. No signs of the damage he took during the fight. No wounds, no nothing. Confusion was setting in.

To their side his helmet laid in the dirt. The silver visor practically glowed in the night. On his other side a pile of weapons and ammo. A DMR, the MA5B he picked up, his magnum, and the Spartan Laser.

Carefully he checked each one. They each looked like they where fresh from the factory. Thumbing the side of the MA5B the ammo counter flickered on showing the fresh magazine was at a full 60 rounds. Stowing way on his back checking the next weapon. The DMR was also the same with 15 rounds. That went to the small of his back where he usually stow away a shotgun. Magnum clamped on his thigh.

Next he checked the laser. Screen flickered on but it showed it only had a 10% charge. He frowned at this but stowed that way too. 'Never look a gift horse in the mouth.' he thought. Something one of his old ONI handlers said to him long ago.

Then he noticed something else on the ground by his feet. Looking closely his eyes went wide in surprise. There before him was a kukri knife, one that was all too familiar. Unsheathing it the blade was the same high grade Titanium A as his old knife. He looked at where his knife was usually at on his chest. It was missing, only the old sheath was there. Detaching it and tossing it aside he soon replaced it with the the new blade.

Satisfied by all of it he picked up his helmet. Looking at it a sense of deja vu washed over him. Looking at the up armored Mark V [B] much like he did before meeting NOBLE Team. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then placed it on his head.

Systems soon booted up. Motion tracker active, vitals showed green, compass working. A golden light washed over him and the sound of the shields powering up to full. Everything was set... then the HUD shut off.

Confused he gave his head a few good wacks before everything turned back on. A waypoint activated and a new objective scrolled on his visor.

Objective: Eliminate Hostiles

A timer soon started to count down from 15 minutes.

There was a sense of urgency in him from seeing the timer tick down. Six didn't know why but he felt that he had been given a mission. Head still swimming a bit from what was happening all around. Hazy memories but nothing more.

Still he took out the DMR, pulled the charging handle to cycle the bolt. Took one last deep breath, and finally set off into the unknown. Whatever the hostiles where he was sure to handle it.

Far far from where the Spartan was a figure hummed in the night air. Porcelain skin glowed in the moon light. Long flowing raven hair moved in the breeze. Her black frilly dress was stained in blood. Fingers wrapped around the massive obsidian halberd she used, fresh crimson blood dripped from it.

Red lips parted into a smile as she looked at her handy work. Bodies of bandits littered around her. Most torn in half, a few in pieces. Though her God never minded bastards such as these the Apostle loathed their existence.

Dark crimson eyes closed as she giggled. "My, my, this group put up more of a fight than the others."

That smile soon disappeared as the same thought she had for the past few weeks surfaced again."There's too many." she said to no one.

The wind started to pick up causing the bow on her head to flutter a bit. From the wind a familiar voice whispered to her. A flash of surprised soon turned to one of intrigue. The smile soon returned.

"Find the Man of Black Iron?" She mused. "Oh Lord of Darkness, if it is thy will I shall find this man."

The wind soon blew in another direction. Beyond the forest and into the grasslands she must go. She giggled once more as her God showed the way.