Chapter 3: Defeated
Terra II, Hydracordatus system, Covenant Kill zone, Enemy engagement in progress…
The hum of the Covenant drop ship steadily grew louder, for a while it sounded like it turned around but it was just circling the kill zone before it came roaring over the Master Chief strafing the Longsword carcasses and the Helljumpers inside them. Jumping up the Master Chief hurried down towards the drop ship that was to his left. He grabbed a fragmentation grenade from his belt and primed it. In the heavy snow he could still see the pulsating lights along the holding compartments and tri- barreled turret under the main cockpit. The Spartan got within fifteen feet when the doors opened up revealing creatures that he feared. Brutes. But these weren't in the normal purple armor that he'd seen them in. These were in a metallic black that shimmered even in the horrible conditions. Once all of the Brutes were unloaded he tossed the frag grenade into the middle of the group. It landed right were he wanted it to. Three…two…one… He counted to himself. Then there was a teeth-rattling explosion. He jumped up and saw that two had been blown in half, their purple entrails everywhere, one had lost its arm and the others had been hit with shrapnel.
"Tough bastards," whispered John. But before he could throw another grenade the Brutes started to rush towards the marines, unemotional about there fallen brethren. There were about ten Brutes left after the grenade and every single one of them rushed past the crouched Spartan with their grenade launchers and large scythes. But one didn't miss the hidden human. He let out a few barks and turned around. The Brute didn't shoot but instead charged with his scythe. He moved with a speed that still astonished the Master Chief. The Hunter sized creatures could run almost as fast as the Spartan and that made him nervous. But he didn't have time for that. The Brute was playing games with him; right as he was about to slice the Chief's head off he lowered his shoulder and plowed into the confused human. His shields immediately flared up and were blown off. The alarm in his helmet immediately started to blare as he crashed into the ground ten feet away from his previous spot. He tried to get up but the Brute was already over him. The creature grabbed his neck, picked him up with one hand, and threw the weakened Spartan another ten feet to his left. He knew that he could gain the upper hand by weakening the Brute but he didn't have the chance to prepare a plan. Turning his head he was startled to be looking down the barrel of the Brute's grenade launcher. In a final moment of victory the Brute let out an earsplitting roar. That was his chance! The Chief grabbed his serrated combat knife as fast as he could and slashed the Brute's right arm, the one holding his weapon. His attack landed perfectly where he wanted it, purple blood poured onto the snow as the Brute lost all control of his hand. The tendons had been cut. He instantaneously dropped his weapon, his hand numb and weak, and kicked the Chief in his ribs, throwing him another five feet.
"Chief, you're shields are malfunctioning. You're defenseless." He was wondering why they weren't coming back. Desperation was overcoming the weary human, he knew that he couldn't tire the monster out, he needed to wound it severely enough so that he could kill it. But the time hadn't come yet; even though he was losing he would still fight back. The Brute came rushing forward for another kick, but milliseconds before impact the Chief got up and dodged the huge foot instead tripping the Brute as his inertia kept him moving. Seizing the chance to take the upper hand the Master Chief jumped up and ran over to the huge beast lying on the ground slowly getting up. He jumped onto it's back and positioned his knife so that he could slit the Brutes throat. Right as he was about to cut the Brute's neck, it stood up and started to thrash around. Even with the heavy armor of the Master Chief the Brute seemed to not even notice. It was becoming desperate, the Helljumpers needed a relief but with the Brute attacking him he couldn't help yet. The Brute was still thrashing as the Chief tried to cling to his back in a desperate attempt to slit his throat, but right before he got his chance the Brute got a hold of his arm and threw him off to the side. This time he wouldn't be getting back up. The Chief slammed into the snow and slid another few feet. His visor was shattered and he couldn't feel his right arm. The Brute slowly came up to him knowing he had won.
"Cortana, start the self-destruct sequence along with your deletion."
Master Chief, I have to be fully active to start the sequence. I can't be deleting myself at the same time." He was surprised at how little emotion she showed at the idea of her own demise. Right as the Brute came up to the Chief there was another humming. But it was different, deeper and louder. Something different was arriving at the kill zone.