Ch. 5 The Golden Warrior

He stopped several yards from the Hunter. They stared at each other for several seconds as each warrior attempted to gauge up the other. Just when the Master Chief had gotten bored of staring, the huge beast took a huge leap that carried it several feet and began to sprint.

The Spartan calmly began to hit the alien with 3-burst rounds from his battle rifle. His other hand began to throw frag grenades that exploded near the Hunter and peppered it with shrapnel. Just when the beast was close enough to ram over the Spartan, Master Chief rolled to the side. However, just as he finished his leap a huge plasma ball fired at him from the fuel rod gun. With all his strength he leaped away from the point of impact and felt his energy shield crash as the splash damage washed over him.

The Hunter had used his charge as a diversion to load his gun and had purposely waited for the Spartan to give it an opening. But the momentum that the beast had been using made it keep going for several seconds. The Spartan immediately took out his dual-wielding pistols and began to fire the rounds into the back and other orange parts of the beast.

The Hunter howled in anger and began to sprint again towards the Chief. Still firing, the Spartan leaped over the charge and continued to fire the heavy rounds into the Hunter's back. It seemed that with his speed the Master Chief would eventually be able to wear down the creature and eventually kill it with enough bullets.

With surprising agility, the Hunter swung his shield behind him. The Spartan's reflexes saved him from being smashed by the heavy blow by arching his stomach back. Even so, the shield's long edges cut through his shields and scratched through his armor, giving him a feeling like his stomach was on fire. The magnetic gel-like shield that protected him bounced against the armored weapon, producing a force that flew him several feet before he crashed heavily to the ground. A searing pain flashed across his chest and stomach as he attempted to rise.

Without hesitation, the Hunter unleashed another plasma bolt that aimed directly for the Master Chief. He nimbly rolled, but his already weakened shield took the brunt from the plasma and his shields broke down completely. Then the Hunter began to charge again.

The Master Chief knew that his attempts to dodge the Hunter's attacks only worsened his condition and brought him closer to death. He had to counter-attack before the Hunter used the same combination of charge and fire tactics to destroy him. He decided upon the most daring and possibly the most stupid strategy that he had ever conceived.

" If Cortana saw what I was about to do," he thought, " She definitely would take me off the People-I-admire list."

To the surprise of the Hunter and the marines, the Spartan did the one thing that no one had ever tried on a Hunter. He began to sprint towards it.

" Is it possible for a Spartan to get his circuits fried from that plasma and lose it?" exclaimed Sergeant Hanson. " Cause I think he's redefining the definition of suicide in my dictionary."

" Jeez, Sergeant!" whined Bob. " Give him a chance! I bet he's come up with the best plan that will beat down the Hunter in style. I have absolute faith in him!"

" Robert," growled Chris " Grow up. The Spartan's probably figured he's lost so he wants to look like a hero before he goes down. Just like his other freak comrades."

" Can it, Helljumper," barked the Admiral. " Let's see what this soldier can pull."

The Hunter was only stunned for a second by the Master Chief's charge. It immediately began to charge it's fuel rod cannon and set its stance. Without giving the Hunter the opportunity to relax, the Spartan took out his Battle Rifle and began to fire 3-burst rounds directly at the Hunter's head.

The Hunter, blinded by the shots, was forced to lift its shield to deflect the shots. Drying out his ammo clip, he discarded the rifle and took out his pistols. With only 3 bullets left in each gun he had to gamble that his accuracy was enough to hit the right spot.

Seeing the Spartan nearing it, the Hunter lifted its shield, ready to crush the Spartan in one deft blow. Without even slowing down, the Master Chief shot both his feet forward and slid right underneath the Hunter. The position that the Hunter had formed rendered it unable to follow the Spartan's path for several seconds. That was all he needed.

Sliding out from underneath the beast, he immediately spotted the small orange patch that covered a small portion of the Hunter's back. His pistols barked as six bullets submerged into the flesh of the Hunter. It howled in agony, temporarily paralyzed by the amount of pain that had been inflicted on its Achilles heel.

The Master Chief was surprised. One shot in that spot was enough to bring the Hunter to its demise. Without even pausing, the Master Chief swung his fist back, and slammed it into the open wound that his pistols had produced. Blood gushed from the open wound as his fist crushed the tendons and tissues. Thinking as a killing machine, he grabbed all the muscle and tendons and began to squeeze with all his strength. The Hunter let out a large roar as it squirmed to pull its wound away from the Chief. It swung its elbow back in an attempt to knock out the Spartan.

The incoming elbow slammed into the Master Chief's midsection and left him temporarily dazed. Yet, still using every ounce of willpower and focus he continued to literally squeeze the life out of the Hunter. Black began to etch the edges of his vision as he slowly began to lose consciousness.

Suddenly, the Armored opponent collapsed on its knees. A small earthquake rumbled across the ground as the Hunter fell forward. The victor stood up, blood and gore glistening on his hands and armor.

" Holy shit, I've seriously got to write that maneuver in my manual," said the Sergeant. "Or in my book of How to Suicide."

Just as marines and some of the Hell-jumpers were about to congratulate the Master Chief, the Hunter suddenly rose from its feet. The Spartan quickly grabbed out his pistols. He reloaded both as quickly as possible and quickly pointed them towards it. What happened next surprised the Master Chief and the marines beyond belief.

The Hunter bowed.

It dropped to its knees and slowly bent its head as its Fuel rod gun and shield lay dormant. The Master Chief was completely dumbstruck. What the hell was going on?

The Hunter began to emit blinding flashes as it started to glow. The beautiful golden armor that it had once donned slowly began to slide off its body. The gold accumulated into a small pool, leaving a small scrawny orange being that limped slowly back to group. Its body seemed to be made of thin muscle and vine-like tissue that snaked up its body. Though tall, it was a thin sickly creature and the Master Chief almost felt sorry for it. Almost.

The losing Hunter began to growl incoherent sounds as it began to gesture towards the golden pool. The A.I Toto immediately used his knowledge of the beast to translate.

" It seems to be gesturing towards the gold as though it wants you to wear it. From it's tone and movements I think you've just been given a great honor. How ironic that the beings that you have always had trouble killing suddenly are at your command."

The Spartan slowly walked towards the shining pool. It glistened and the organisms inside seemed to bubble and float in the liquid. Keeping his SMG aimed on the pool, he reached his hand forward and touched the gold.

The gold life forms suddenly grabbed the finger that had penetrated its surfaces and slowly began to move across his arm. His body was slowly covered by the mass as it secreted itself in every little nook and cranny. The mass covered every part of his body but his visor. He surprisingly didn't feel the weight that he thought would accompany this transformation. After the organisms had finished getting themselves associated with the Master Chief, he examined his body.

Unlike the Hunters, who seemed to increase in mass ten-fold when enveloped by the gold mass, the Spartan did not seem to have changed in dimensions what-so-ever. His body felt just the same and he movements were as quick as ever. The one change that was noticeable was the state of his armor. It had thickened to a few centimeters and was a brilliant gold. The Spartan also felt a mental bond develop between him and the bipedal organisms.

" Master Chief," said Toto " These organisms are amazing! They seem to have developed a mutual relationship with you. Through (&()&( they will constantly regenerate by reproducing new cells that will replace any that have been injured. You only have to feed them by placing food on them. Master Chief, you have developed an organic shield that has tripled your defense. Your only vulnerable spot I'm afraid is your head, specifically at the visor. But that's covered by your MJOLNIR shields."

" Wow," commented the Master Chief. " I feel like a new man."

" And I thought the Master Chief couldn't look any hotter," muttered Sergeant Hanson. " Though I do recall that green is still the new fad back on our planet."

" OMG!" cried Bob. " I didn't think the Master Chief could look any cooler. But he is! Mr. Spartan, can I please have a piece of your armor?"

" Goddamn Robert," scowled Chris " Can you ever grow up?"

" If I could become a Spartan than you've got a 'yes,'"grinned the happy marine.

The Spartan had been growing quite fond of the boy's admiration for his existence. He could say less for others though, as he eyed Chris, who stared back with cold eyes.

Just as he was about to comply with Bob's wishes and give him a part of his new "skin" something in his mind cried out. Something

The admiral and sergeant were near one of the Scorpions talking and laughing heartily. The Master Chief headed towards both of them, intending to ask how they should proceed. They both looked up and gave him wide grins.

" Master Chief, "chuckled the Admiral. " The sergeant and I have been wondering about something that most scientists back home would wet themselves over."

" Yea, about that Hunter you fought today Spartan," the Sergeant grinned. " Did you notice any genital parts, you know, any reproductive organs or stuff?"

" Yo Chief!" yelled Jacob. " I think the sergeant is trying to politely say ' Did the bastard have a hot dog?"

All the marines began to crack up at this statement and even the hell-jumpers were smiling. Robert was giggling so hard that he almost fell off the Scorpion that he had been standing on.

The Spartans face remained passive ( well, it's always passive anyway)

" It was dark when I was sliding through but I saw a stump. I'm sure though that it doesn't match in size to the sergeant's though."

This time the marines started to roll on the ground, laughing at the top of their lungs. The Hell-jumpers began to chuckle and one was actually laughing hard, tears pouring down his face. Robert had tripped during his burst of laughter and had gotten stuck in the cockpit.

Just as the fun was starting a low humming sound was heard from the distance as a deep rumbling shook the ground. All the marines looked up in curiousity at the sounds but the Master Chief gritted his teeth. He had heard this sound many times though out his battles and knew that he would never rid himself of it.

" Covenant," he muttered.