Chapter 8

Unbroken resolve

July 6th, 2552

Slipspace

1159 hours

(Zack's POV)

It's been almost seven years since I returned to my war. Seven years of bloodshed and unparalleled danger. I took Kurt's offer and joined the Headhunters, but I chose to do my missions alone. ONI kept insisting I be paired with a partner for better efficiency and suitability, I bluntly told them no every time. I work much better alone now, plus I like the time alone to think. They give me a target, I take out said target, I go back and request a new target. Rinse and repeat that cycle since I joined. Some missions were borderline suicide, but I always find a way back. Usually in a smoldering titanium shell of a ship that by no means should even move let alone make a slipspace jump. Surprised the hell out of a battle group when I returned with a Covenant corvette I kind of 'borrowed' from a shipyard before I blew said shipyard to hell with a personal Fury nuke. Triple checked everywhere I can squeeze for any form of trackers. Even then I requested a jump to a glassed outer colony for pick up to be on the safe side. I forget what exactly ONI did with the corvette, I think they are still tearing it apart and studying it's technology. Heard rumor around the grape vine they might use it for something called Operation: RED FLAG. I didn't get details nor am I interested in details. My job involves killing as many covenant or insurrectionists as I can get my hands on, rip all their skulls off their spines to mount on a spike, then blow stuff up. Yet even with all the missions, all the assassinations, all the high ranking Sangheili or minor prophets I captured, not a single day goes by that I don't think of Elizabeth. Wondering what could have happened if I stayed.

My armor was more on the stealthy side compared to other Headhunters. Shielding can only take a couple of plasma rounds before popping, but much more energy is dedicated to keeping the semi-active camouflage up. That was tricky to figure out but I managed to do it. Tinkered with my armor during my free time on the rides to and from missions. For starters my left gauntlet has a Kig-Yar shield integrated into it, took forever to install but I managed to get it to recharge on it's own using my armor's reactor as a power source. Sadly it takes at least an hour or two on it's own before it can be used again after being depleted. Right one was a grappling hook capable of holding my weight. I heard someone in ONI talking about making some of my modifications standard for future SPI armor variants. Most notably the shield and grappling hook. My helmet is swapped out for a scout helmet similar to the Spartan II armor variant. Armor color was black with blue accents, I like it plus it is stealthier in night time environments. Everything else was more or less the same. Main thing that caught people's eye was the emblem I painted on my chest plate, just a simple grey cage over a blue bird. ONI questioned why that, I told them it was to honor a friend.

Right now I walked though the hull of a Charon Class frigate 'Mother of Invention', home of one of ONI's many top secret projects. This was my ride to my next mission since they were not going to be far from my next mission. Theirs is about as top secret as mine, but I managed to get a idea of their mission. Something about raiding an Insurrectionist skyscraper for information and some type of high value equipment. Mine was not too different, only mine involved explosives and destroying a stronghold next system over. It was a high enough priority that ONI thought about sending in a Spartan II instead to take care of it. I won the coin toss because I was close by and the II's are too valuable against the Covenant. Weird thing about these people, a good portion look like they are wearing full Mojnir armor but I know for a fact they are not Spartans. None of them have the discipline we do, or the skill. Well the white and brown one with EVA helmet maybe augmented by his strength alone but he relies too much on brute force, the teal one looks to be their leader when the ship's commander is not around but she has a long way to go. Most notably she needs to keep her emotions in check before they get someone killed. If the Sparing match between teal one named 'Carolina' was anything to go by, they are better trained than an standard ODST but not nearly enough to the level of my brothers and sisters. Their 'Director' was a mystery even to me. He shows up just enough to give orders and leaves, the three weeks here I've only seen the man twice. Both times were to give orders to his 'agents'. I'm concerned about this project but at the same time I can't get off this ship fast enough.

I stopped by the drop pod bay for the ODST tubes. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly as I ran my hand over one of the pods, memories of Beta Company flooded my mind as my fingers brushed against the shell of the pod. These were not ordinary drop pods. These were Long Range Stealth Orbital Insertion Pods, same type I was in on my way to TORPEDO. While they are better at getting to my target undetected, they can be my coffin if I am not careful in my landing strategy. Looks like I'm going to be shot out from slipspace to my target. Good, I need off this ship ASAP before I catch these people's lack of intelligence and discipline. Good most of which I would undeniably classify as pure idiots. What kind of a medic treats a gunshot wound to the head with CPR?! What kind of idiots use live rounds during a training exercise in a pressurized ship in space?! They trying to kill us all viva explosive decompression?! Note to self, file a long complaint to ONI on the status of this 'Project Freelancer' when I get back.

I pushed a button on the side of the Pod to open it up. Interior was cramp but held just enough room for me to have two weapons and a small satchel of explosives. For this mission I was going with C7 foaming explosives with a few two cubic inch squared bricks of C-10 explosives. The C-7 about as big as a flashbang grenade, the C-10 looked more like bricks of wet clay. I have a total of 14 canisters and three bricks with remote detonators for all, should be plenty for my mission. I secured my personal suppressed DMR to the right side of my seat, as well as put the satchel of explosives on the left. Satisfied I began to climb into the Pod.

"Hello Zachary." A monotone female voice said from behind me. I turned on the heel of my foot and drew my pistol. Barrel of the pistol laid flat against the head of a familiar yet unknown woman before me. She looked almost ageless yet wore an outfit more common in the 1920's, red well done hair with blue eyes looking right into my visor as she just looked at me with a blank expression. She couldn't be more than five one, late thirties max. tan coat with a brown skirt of some sorts. She looks familiar but I can't quite place where I saw her. What I want to know is how did she manage to sneak up on me without showing up on my motion tracker. "Good to see you again as well. It's been a while since you left Columbia."

"Almost seven years, but who's keeping track. I'm sure your new profession has kept you busy." A unknown male voice replied pretty much showing up out of nowhere out of my peripheral vision walking up beside the woman. Same look and everything as the woman, only except her has pants and was more masculine. No more than five nine, also late thirties max. Twins perhaps.

"What do you two know about Columbia?" I asked keeping my pistol against the girl's head, who didn't seem to care in the slightest. My voice has gotten deeper, but more graveled from the lack of use. Outside interrogations and relaying information, I rarely talk to anyone. These two have my attention now. Outside ONI and Ambrosa, I told very few people about Columbia. While the information Comstock gave me did help the Navy with prepare better Skopje. We still lost the battle but more civilians escaped the planet's destruction. From what I'm seeing, we're going to need one hell of a miracle to survive this war. Nothing short of that or an all out civil war among the Covenant will be enough for us to survive. Even then it will be reliant on a lot of luck. Luck we do not have.

"That answer entirely depends on how much you're willing to listen." The man replied.

"Preferably in a more civilized manner. How would Elizabeth react to your brutish mannerisms. Threatening to blow someone's head off is no way to treat a lady." The woman continued almost in sync with each other, putting her finger on my firearm and pushing it away from her head.

"Of course it wouldn't do much except waste your ammo. Ammo you are going to need in the near future." The man replied. I put my pistol by my side as I gave the two before me a death glare. Ask questions first, shoot them if they don't give me what I want to know. Plus they do have a point, I am going to need my ammo for later.

"Who are you, and what do you want?" I asked. Now I know who these two are, they are the people who sent me back home from Columbia. If they are here to talk, it's obvious they want something.

"Who we are doesn't matter. ."The woman replied.

". . But what we want is a entirely different matter. For example, I want a puppy. . ." The man continued

"And I want a kitten. But neither one of us are going to get it in our current state." The woman continued. This is giving me a headache with the two continuing and finishing each other's sentences like they share a brain. I've had just about as much stupidity as I can take aboard this ship.

"Of course we could but they wouldn't be able to join us in our unique existence. . ." The man answered.

"What do you want with me?" I interrupted trying to get these two to give me a straight answer.

"Wanting to get right to the point, as expected from a soldier like yourself." the woman answered. "What we want with you is quite simple, an easy task for someone of your caliber. We want to help you on your mission."

"More specifically one you set for yourself almost seven years ago." The man replied.

"One that involves a certain woman you may or may not have grown fond of. . ."

"Which judging by the emblem on your armor, I'd say you have not forgotten about her, nor has she forgotten about you." The woman continued.

"Quite right. She often looked up the the stars holding your dog tags by her heart wishing for you to come back. . ." the man answered

"Which by natural means would be impossible but we can arrange for your return should you so choose." the woman continued.

"Let me get this straight." I said holding my hand up for them to stop. This is giving me a headache. "You guys want to bring me back to Columbia. Completely abandon my current mission and go back to try to free Elizabeth once more?" I asked. Both of them nodded their heads. "And why should I believe you two. Memory serves, you're the reason why I was able to get back here in the first place. Why would you want to bring me back to Columbia after all the trouble stopping me from freeing her the first time and sending me back to my universe?"

"To save time on the complete explanation, let's just say that Comstock arranged for our . . . untimely demise as it were. Only for it to now blow up in his face, forcing us into our current state of existence." The woman explained.

"Simply put, we want to break a cycle that has been going on for far, far too long. Several centuries too long perhaps. While your universe keeps going, ours stays in a constant cycle. A cycle of pain and misery for everyone involved. . ." the man replied.

"One we tried to break about 122 time with the same subject over and over with little variation, about 90 others with various other subjects from all across the multiverse. . ." The woman continued.

"Yet none have appeared to be too successful for too long. You're the only one who has meet and interacted with our world prior to the main events of this cycle. So you may be our only hope in breaking this never ending cycle for good." The man continued.

"So basically, you want revenge and are using me to get it?" I asked. Their explanation is borderline insanity and I won't even begin to try to understand that they mean by a cycle. Time doesn't work that way . . . can it? Different universe, different set of rules. But that still doesn't explain much, what did Comstock do to them to want revenge? And how does Elizabeth tie into all this?

"In extreme layman's terms, you would be correct. However there is more than revenge we wish to acquire by your intervention. . ." The woman said.

"Rather we hope to set things right with Elizabeth. You see she is not entirely from there, much like yourself." The man continued cryptically.

"If you wish to learn more and to pay off a debt you owe, I highly suggest you take our offer. You will not get another opportunity to see her again without our help." the woman answered. These two are beginning to creep me out but they do seem like the only hope I have in clearing my debt with Elizabeth. Still not entirely sure if I can trust them or not, but they do have a point. I may never get another chance to free Elizabeth again, only this time I'd be going in more heavily armed. Why do I get the feeling that I'm going to regret this later.

"What do I need to do?" I asked.

"Just climb back into your pod and let us handle the rest. When you land, you'll find yourself back in Columbia. All though it will be quite the trip to Monument Island." The woman answered. That was it, that was all I have to do for them to get back to Columbia! Screw it, I was already about to get inside the pod before they interrupted. At least this will be a good cover up for my sudden disappearance from the ship. I brought my fingers to my helmet and clicked a button on the side.

"Headhunter B160 to the Director. My mission has changed, going to hunt and pick up a priority one target. I'll find my own way back. Launch pod at my command." I ordered taking my finger off the button as I turned to the pair before me. "If I find out you two are lying to me, I'll kill you both as slowly and in ways you can never imagine."

"You're more than welcome to try." The man said as I climbed into my pod as I turned around to get a final look at the two just as they disappeared basically into thin air. The hatch closed down leaving me alone with my thought in a metal coffin. I'm not sure what these two are going to do to get me to Columbia, but right now I don't have very many options in terms of getting back. Once I'm in Columbia, Elizabeth may be my only way back here. Assuming the two mystery people are not messing with me. I took a deep breath as I am now putting my fate in the hands of complete and possibly insane strangers. I brought my finger back to my helmet and pushed the button once more.

"Launch." I ordered, no sooner than the words leave my mouth did I feel a sudden jolt as my pod shot straight down into the realm of Slipspace. Visual screen before me showed only darkness as my pod jolted all over the place. I can't see the frigate anymore as my pod was about to leave Slipspace. Before it could a familiar black and white 'tear' formed almost instantly under my pod, replacing the darkness of slipspace with blue skies and a familiar impossible city below me and growing larger fast. From what I can tell some sort of festival was going on if the fireworks and floats were anything to go by. Using the limited control I have I maneuvered my pod toward a potential landing zone. A simple area with a marble statue of Comstock on a large pedestal near the edge overlooking the entire plaza. Not too many people near by from what I can see. My pod jolted as the drag shoot shot open, slowing my fall as people began to look up at the sky toward me. A firework slammed into the side of my pod forcing it to jolt to the side and toward a bunch of store like buildings. This is either going to hurt like hell or kill me.

Elizabeth's POV

Monument Island

12:05AM

I sat by the window in the library as I looked out at the city. It's been over seven years since Zack left. Of course Comstock barely kept his end of their deal. As far as I know, no one has been observing me like before and barely anyone comes to visit aside from Songbird. Since coming back to my tower I've been keeping a careful eye on all the 'mirrors'; never changing in front of them for any reason, sticking to the closet to change where I know no one can spy on me. I wore a simple white blouse with blue accents, a blue skirt and choker. My hair was done up in a pony tail. Around my neck was Zack's dog tags. Barely hanging down to my breasts. I wore them nearly every day since he left, I often find myself looking out at his home star wondering if he's still alive or even if he is trying to find a way back. In my lap was the book Songbird brought me all those years ago, the book about his people, his fight. I read it at least nine times. If his war is truly as bad as that book describes it, I don't see any hope of him surviving it. From what I can gather. His people are massively at a disadvantage due to the sheer technology gap between the two factions. It's be like a fight between an English galleon and a French Danton battleship in the open ocean. I'm no military expert, but I got a good idea who will win between a large portion of the time. I tired numerous times to open a tear back to his world, but it can't. When ever I try, it's like someone strapped a hundred pound weight to my arms and I can't. So I'm stuck sitting here, waiting for him to find a way to me. . . if he's still alive.

I looked out at the city as a festival was going on. I haven't been allowed out of my tower, Comstock said it was for my own good as the Vox Populi would kill me if they could. My hand went flat against the cool glass as I watched confetti shoot out into the street. A loud boom broke me from my thought as I tried to find what happened. Something egg shaped and black slammed though a clock tower, making said tower collapse and fall to the land below. I don't know what that was, but my gut is telling me is might be something or someone familiar.

"Zack?" I asked out loud hopeful as more fireworks went off in the distance.

Booker's POV

New Eden square

12:08pm

Not even ten minutes after being dropped off at a remote rocky island in the middle of nowhere during a downpour, blasted off into an impossible city in the sky, nearly drowned by an idiot for a priest, was I nearly splattered against the cobblestone roadway by some giant black egg thing from the sky. The damn thing smashed it's way though a clock tower, completely destroyed a statue in the middle of the plaza, almost flattened me as it skid across the ground only to go flying into what I assume are houses and disappear. Longer I'm on this job, the more I am beginning to think it might be a suicide mission. What's next, a giant bird thing going to try to rip me in half? I stood by the edge of a railing by a flower shop I think, trying to steady my heart beat. Simple grey pants and shirt, leather jacket with a holster for a pistol and some ammo. Everyone around me was looking at where the egg thing went in shock, some saying it might be a new type of attack from the 'Vox Populi' or a meteorite from space. I wiped the sweat from my brown hair as I looked to where the thing landed. What ever that thing was, it is gone now. And i hope to never see it again. This is a little too much for one day.

"Telegram Mr. Dewitt." A young boy said forcing me to look down as a young news paper boy help up a yellow card wit ha smile on his face. "Telegram for you sir." He said handing me the card before running off. Okay, not even in the city for a full half hour and I am already getting pestered by mail boys. I flipped the card over and began to read.

"Dewitt, STOP. You must get to Monument Island quickly. STOP. The Spartan is on his way. STOP. You NEED to meet him there or else you'll be chasing the two all day. STOP. He will assist you as long as you don't shoot him first. STOP. He is unlike anything you've ever heard about. STOP. What ever you do, do not pick number 77. STOP. Lutece." I read putting the card in my back pocket. I have no idea what they mean by a Spartan. Far as I know they all died back in ancient times. I'm guessing I have to somehow make my way to Monument Island before this Spartan gets there. Should be a piece of cake, I am looking at the angle right now. All I have to do is find a way there. Maybe there is a way though the raffle square?

Zack's POV

Unknown location

1210 hours

I was right, that landing hurt. It's nothing short of a miracle I'm still alive. I should have died after crashing though that clock tower, skidding across the ground, and slamming into someone's house though the roof at a horrible angle. My pod was on it's side with the hatch facing toward what I assume was a door. Current residents of the building scattered around me the second I stopped moving. I held my head and groaned in agony as I tried to move around in the tiny space I am in. Focus Spartan, focus on your mission. Get out of this pod first, find my way back to Elizabeth, and put a bullet between Comstock's eyes, then find a way home. Preferably in that order. I put my feet up against the door and pushed against it with all my strength. The door went flying open, narrowly slamming into what I assume is the resident's maid if the outfit was anything to go by, and out the door.

I rolled out and had my pistol at the ready just as the residents decided now was a good time to run. Screaming that the Demon has returned, and that the prophet has warned them he would come back. I didn't have to fire a single shot, it would raise more questions if I killed them all. I got to do this as stealthy as possible, only kill if shot at first, save my ammo. I went over to my pod and picked up the satchel of explosives and my DMR. I pulled the bolt back on the DMR to check for any damage, still in operational condition. Good, I'm going to need it. I released the bolt and went to the window to try and figure out how far from my target am I? If memory serves correctly, Elizabeth would be in the Angel shaped tower. I didn't get any form of a good look at Columbia from inside the tower, so I'm playing this by ear till I can get to her. I can see part of the wing in the distance, as well as a police airship heading this way to investigate. I activated my camo an climbed out the window, looking down I couldn't have been more than a story up. I jumped from Higher before. I pushed myself out and jumped down, rolling across the ground to disperse my momentum as I bolted toward the gate connecting this 'island' to the next. Sticking to the shadows of the gate as a group of police ran though the gate almost a meter away from me. As soon as they passed I took off running for the nearest ally way and deactivated my camo once I made sure no one was around.

Time to asses my situation. I got several advantaged here. I got superior technology and superior skill. Biggest disadvantages is I am heavily outnumbered, I have to assume they know I'm coming, I know very little about where I am going or how to get there. Far as I can see, the place is crawling with police and knowing from past experience here, the military will not be too far behind. If I'm going to make it to Elizabeth without fighting a one man war, I'm going to need a distraction. Something big, something to divert their attention away from me and Elizabeth. But what would be enough? An explosion maybe but I rather not waste my explosives on distractions if I don't need to.

I need a vantage point. Somewhere high enough that I can look around. I looked up at the nearest low hanging roof. That should hold my weight enough for me to get up there. I climbed up on the ledge of a near by window and jumped to the roof, using my upper strength to push myself up on the tile. I crouched down as I began walking to the peak to get a better look. Using my helmet's zoom to look at a distant poster. Showed a clawed hand with a AD on the back. Word saying 'You shall know the false shepherd by his mark'. Several other posters around the square basically say the same thing. I'm assuming that this 'false shepherd' is this place's version of the devil. I can use this information later. I deactivated my zoom and began looking around for anything. Some type of fair going on at the next island over. Now I just have to find a way over as undetected as possible. As someone divine saw my predicament, a police airship lowered to the house I crashed into. I laid flat against the tile and listened to the cops talk below me.

"I'm not sure what that thing was. But it sure scared the hell out of the Scarlet family staff. Swearing up and down that 'the demon has returned' and 'He's going to kill us all'. Always were the paranoid bunch. Always saying that someone kidnapped those missing children to turn into perfect killers. Big load of bull if you ask me. Comstock would never do something that vile." One said below me. So children have gone missing since I left, that can't be a coincidence.

"You're probably right. Let's wrap this up and get going. Raffle is almost beginning, and I don't want to miss it. I say we chalk it up as as a meteor and ship it to the Shanty town depo. Let them take a look at it." The second one said. They found my pod and are discussing what to do with it out in the open where anyone with ears can hear. I see that the average intelligence of the local security hasn't changed all that much. I looked over the edge as said idiots were walking by my ally, one picking their nose while the other was talking about some type of new skyhook their division got to help keep 'the Vox' off the skylines as they walked to their parked airship. That could be useful. Skylines and zeplines seem to be the primary method of transportation from 'island' to 'island'. Looks like I'm hitching a ride with these guys for now. As soon as the airship began to take off I got up and made a dash for it just as it's tail end passed by my roof. I jumped and rolled onto the tail of the flat top airship right behind the control tower, making said ship lean back a bit before it reoriented itself. "You feel that Dexter?" one of the cops said, forcing me to activate my semi-active camo just as the one looked though the glass panel of the back window. They would have been looking right at me were it not for my camo.

"We probably just clipped the roof by mistake Richard." the tall one. I crouched down and deactivated my camo, watching as rays of sunlight shine over the railing of the airship, a small flock of doves flew over head as I looked around at the new world around me. Hold on Elizabeth, I'm coming. After all, I still owe you those self defense lessons.

Chapter 8 is done. Zack is back in Columbia, deadlier than ever. Little foreshadowing at future events I have in mind. Let's just say that Infinite run won't be as one sided as one would think with a Headhunter running it with Booker and Elizabeth. After all, the tears showed Fink a lot of stuff about Rapture, who's to say he didn't get a few from say the Halo universe in this run. Since I already established that the two are more or less conjoined somewhat. Perhaps a Scarab will show up? Perhaps Zack and Booker might get along and work together, or perhaps not. We shall see. Safe to say you're author is evil and insane. I'll go back and edit Elizabeth and Booker's perspectives at a later date. Those three are going to be the established points of view for this story. A lesson I learned while writing my previous stories with their constant jumping view points. Feel free to leave me some of your ideas on what could happen. I got a few involving the Reach due to accidental tear misplacement and to give our heroes some harder choices. Until next time.

~Dgreen20