"Well, those guys are, um…well, they're probes. Cortana designed them using Guilty Spark 343's technology. They carry information. Right now, they're carrying A.I.'s. We sent away for them while you were inside. I'm going to read out an A.I.'s name and what it specializes in, you guys step forward to choose who gets it." Chief said.

"Got it," The Spartans said at once.

"Rivera, specializing in tactics regarding covenant technologies and vehicular transport. Also good with calculating structural integrity and determining force's next moves."

Andrew stepped forward and grabbed Rivera, saying, "I could use that info if I needed to know which spot to hit to bring a building down quicktime."

"Alright. Next up is Vibez. He's a specialist in determining strengths and weaknesses. He's got the ability to track movements and has great training in covenant vehicles."

"MINE!" Albert said.

"Next up, Sonic. He's got a bit of training in everything…but isn't too great at covenant intel."

"I got him, I don like covy weapons anyway." Dan said.

"Lastly, I guess you'll get this one, Nick. It's Bishop. He was copied from Cortana and has basic training in all of her programs."

"Sweet."

"Now, I want you to press the red button on the probe containing your A.I. It'll upload your A.I. and also give you a new program called concussion mayhem. It'll send out a concussion blast to the surrounding area, knocking everything and everyone down. It might come in handy."

The Spartans did as asked and then headed towards where the Arbiter's message had come from. Entering a room, they were horrified. Scattered along the room were the bodies of elite, grunts and hunters seemingly with their skins ripped off. Their armor was in one pile at one side of the room and their skins on the other. Nick pulled out his shotgun and walked into the room. He checked his heat and motion scanners, then had Bishop double-check, sensing nothing, he waved the others in.

A group of shadows started to pass back and forth across them and his scanners went haywire. They were suddenly detecting movement everywhere, and his heat sensors were acting as if they were in a volcano. A large blast flew towards them and struck Andrew in the chest. He flew back and slumped to the ground, unconscious. The shadows stopped and his sensors went back to normal, so he checked Andrew's body, he was alive, and seemed to be in perfect condition, but he was…sleeping.

The shadows appeared again and this time, struck Dan, they then left and the body was checked—same condition. Again, the blast hit Nick. One came at Albert but he managed to convert his entire shield supply into one concentrated burst straight where the blast would hit him. His shields flickered then died. The shadows, surprised that a creature had blocked their attack, lingered, just long enough to get dropped by a shotgun shell. The blasts were loud enough to wake up the other Spartans, who awoke groggily.

"That was so weird, while I was out, I dreamt about this huge monster, it was like a pink blob and it was moving the shadows. I got so scared!" The three Spartans who had been knocked out said together. Albert didn't even notice, though, as he spotted a large pink blob moving towards an unconscious Arbiter.

PLEASE PAUSE WHILE ALBERT GOES UNDER SERIOUS PERSONAL REFLECTION

If I save him, I get glory, and an ally.

If I let him die, I get closer to becoming king of the covenant.

If I let him die, people won't help me become king of the covenant.

If I save him, I can kill him later…I'll save him!

Matrix bullet-time!

Albert pulled out two shotguns and jumped into a cartwheel, shooting a mass of bullets at the pink creature. The shots hadn't even hit before he landed and pulled out two rocket launchers, firing all the shots and then throwing the actual launchers. The pink blob got hit by everything and—(end matrix bullet time) kept moving. Albert ran, picked up the Arbiter and chucked him to Nick yelling, "CATCH!" The Arbiter flew to Nick and green stuff flew through the air behind him. The pink blob jumped, revealing a stinger and flew at Albert.

Acting quickly, Dan grabbed Andy's rocket launcher and shot the stinger. The blob exploded, shrieking. "There's always a weak spot," Dan said.

Andrew picked up the Arbiter and they all left. Outside, Master Chief threw the Arbiter into a side seat of a warthog, hopped in the driver, motioned for Albert to get in the gunner and for the other three to jump in the other one. They all drove back to their headquarters and talked about their successes and losses.

WOW I AM SO SORRY IT'S BEEN SO LONG! I'm sorry to desert my loyal fans (if there still are any) but for about two weeks, I hit a major writers block and only had different stories come to mind. Then, my uncle and I were at the mall and we were mugged, he got shot in the arm and I got a broken leg and collar-bone. I'm ok now and I promise I'll get more chapters up soon.