Aliens Vs The Flood

by Flashryan

With the invasion upon Earth stopped, the Covenant set their sights on the other rings. Now at the 7th Halo, Aliens arrive into the mix. And of course, Earth forces and the Covenant are caught betweem them. What will Master Chief do? WARNING: LONG STORY!

9. Winding Down

Disclaimer: Well, if I owned Halo, I'd be so freaking awesome. I don't own anything of Aliens or Predator. If I did, I'd sooooo be making this into a movie. Well. Bye. I do, however own some of the Spartan's numbers unless they actually show up in later games. Otherwise, it's Bungie's. See ya.

Aliens Vs. The Flood

Chapter Nine – Winding Down

Queen's Hive

Gonama'ee walked into her chamber, and the Queen seemed to smile at the pain he had to go through to kill his friend.

"You will die." Gonama'ee said slowly.

The Queen's tail lashed out and Gonama'ee jumped over it. The tail stuck to the wall and Gonama'ee jumped on it and ran on her tail and slashed at her face. He cut her. The Queen screeched in pain and Gonama'ee jumped off, dodging her now free tail. The Queen summoned two Ravagers as she began to let herself free from the egg sac. One Ravager threw itself at Gonama'ee and Gonama'ee rolled under it. The other Ravager brought it's tail up and grabbed Gonama'ee's leg. Gonama'ee was lifted high into the air, but he just shouted and grabbed the tail with his mechanical arm and crushed it. The Ravager let go with a screech and Gonama'ee lunged at it. The other Ravager came behind Gonama'ee and chased him, lifting it's wrist blades high into the air. The other Ravager came at Gonama'ee as well. Gonama'ee stopped right in front of the Ravager in front of him and dodged a clawed hand that got stuck in the Hive Web. The other Ravager brought it's wrist blades down on the other's stuck arm and cut it off. The Ravager fell back and shrieked as blood sprayed. Gonama'ee ran behind the armless Ravager and cut off it's head. The other Ravager ran to him and Gonama'ee cut a hole in the Ravager's armor, placed a plasma grenade in the spot, and rolled out of the way in one quick movement. The Ravager exploded and Gonama'ee shields dropped slightly. Then he was hit in the back with the Queen's clawed hand. He felt her claws scrape his back. He rolled with the blow and only stared at the Queen, despite the blood flowing down his back.

"I will defeat you." Gonama'ee said softly.

The Queen roared with anger and charged him; he ducked under her claws and rolled under her tail as she passed by. The Queen turned and came for another charge. She grabbed his wrist and threw him as he tried to roll. Gonama'ee got up and heard the other Aliens heading their way to the chamber. The Queen was pleased.

"You won't leave here alive!"

Gonama'ee looked and saw Aliens coming from four different corridors. Then he saw some shimmers. The Aliens who made it to the door were pushed back and killed. The Blazer, Hydra, Vanguard, and Stalker Predators showed themselves. They pushed back the intruders and began fighting them. Gonama'ee knew they had it under control, and it was still just him and the Queen.

"Looks like your young ran into some trouble."

The Queen charged and Gonama'ee rolled out of the way and found the hilt of another energy sword by a dead Elite's body. He realized it still worked and activated it. Two swords, two hands.

"Your really going down now." Gonama'ee said.

The Queen charged and Gonama'ee ducked under her legs and cut them as she went by. She fell to the ground, and got up. Gonama'ee jumped up, twirling both blades and cut one of her small arms. The Queen clawed his arm, and he ignored the pain. Gonama'ee charged and ran up to the walls, dodging the Queen's tail. He ran to her and was swiped by her tail. Gonama'ee flew into the wall, and quickly got up and jumped out of the way of her tail.

'That tail has to go!' Gonama'ee thought.

Gonama'ee looked up and threw a grenade onto the ceiling behind her. It and debris landed on her tail. It was pulled tight and Gonama'ee struck with both swords. The tail was sliced off. The Queen was enraged and didn't find Gonama'ee anywhere. Gonama'ee was hiding behind a pillar and she only seemed amused.

"Since on this Hive Web, any damage sustained to me is healed, thanks to my Hive Web. You cannot defeat me."

Gonama'ee jumped out behind her and climbed her back, slicing it with his swords as he went he jumped off and began to run on the ground with the swords slicing the ground. Hive Web was cut and so was the metal. Before she could react, Gonama'ee had cut a hole in the floor and she fell through. She grabbed him with her tail, and he plummeted with her.

"Ahh!" Was all he could say as he fell, still in the Queen's grasp.

Covenant Base

Master Chief was on the verge of crying. Odd for a Spartan warrior. He felt only one tear trickle down his cheek, however, and realized he hit a snag he created. He would never do it again.

Master Chief heard Flood approaching on his six and seven. So much noise and garbled tone that was the Flood's voice was ringing in his ears and he couldn't do a thing about it.

'Cortana? You ok?' he thought.

No response.

'She might be unconscious. I'll have to figure a way out of this one myself.'

"Kelly? Harry? Respond." he asked slowly.

Kelly's acknowledgement light winked on after a few seconds. But no response in the COM from Harry. Master Chief presumed him unconscious.

Master Chief needed more time, and his prayers were answered. Sniper shots rang out and from the clear parts of his helmet, he saw Flood rush towards what he assumed was as the base. Master Chief made an attempt to move again, but no avail. Then all went quiet. No Flood were heard, and Master Chief heard far off mumbling, then footsteps. He closed his eyes and fell unconscious.

Cliffside

Nek'ttir awoke, but could hardly breathe. He gasped and couldn't move. His body, save his shoulders up, were covered in small rocks. He couldn't move, and coughed. He tasted blood and hated the taste. Nek'ttir then winced as a light engulfed his vision. He heard two poles extend and felt him being lifted up. He saw the lights of a Predator ship. He was being taken into the ship. He grunted with all his might, though it hurt him.

"Elder! He is still alive!" one carrying him said.

"Take him to the chamber so he can heal." the Elder replied.

Nek'ttir was pulled up some stairs and thrown in a vat of liquid and he began to glow. His mask was taken off and a smaller mask that only fit his mouth replaced his. His armor was removed, and only a cloth covered his body over his crotch. His eyes opened slightly to reveal that he was healing slowly. He felt energy return, but he was far from being full again.

Then the Elder stepped in front of the tube.

"From the look of your armor and number of skulls, you've been through a lot. You shall be known as Nek'ttir the Honored."

Nek'ttir seemed to smile a Predator smile. Then he fell asleep, to recover his strength.

Below the Hive ship

Gonama'ee struggled against the Queen's grasp, and couldn't escape. One of the swords was gone from his grasp and the Queen's claws scraped against his still bleeding back. Gonama'ee grunted in pain and looked up as the world around him was spinning this way and that, and saw the Queen screeching. Gonama'ee found a way to push away and free himself when he decided to cut her. Gonama'ee extended his arms and legs in a spread eagle position which slowed his fall. But not by much. The Queen seemed to grow distant and she didn't want to go. The valley shook as the Queen grasped onto the cliffside with her feet and hands. The Queen slowed herself only moments before she hit the ground and she screeched. Gonama'ee fell into a cloud of dust and hit the ground. Before he supposedly hit the ground, he rolled into a ball and hit the ground, literally, rolling and hit the cliffside. But as he hit the side, he heard some bones crack.

Gonama'ee sat there, partially resting and partially having to on account of the pain of the broken bones. Gonama'ee stared at the Queen, suddenly realizing she was bleeding heavily. Some of her blood hit his shields and they went down to nothing. One spritz of blood hit his front piece of armor. It was burning through and Gonama'ee couldn't move. He slowly felt the heat of the acid burn through and some touched his skin. At the moment it did, he let out a roar of pain and found renewed strength to roll and wipe the acid on the ground. The acid burned through to his skin and partially through his sternum. Gonama'ee clutched his chest and felt pain he had never felt before. He laid there, the Queen hardly moving either. The Queen grunted every once in a while, but never got up. She attempted once, but fell back. Gonama'ee looked up the cliffside, and heard a thunder clasp that echoed into the valley. Gonama'ee felt a rain drop on his face. Gonama'ee then saw a flash, presuming it lightning, and felt the rain come in on the two. When the rain hit the blood of the Queen, however, it seemed to hurt her.

'The acid must not mix with the rain.' Gonama'ee thought.

Steam began to rise from the Queen, and a small fog began to shroud them. The smell, to Gonama'ee, was unbearable. As he looked up, he saw silhouettes of creatures climbing down the side of the cliff.

The Queen roared a gargled roar and that only seemed to increase her young's speed.

"Damn." Gonama'ee suddenly said to himself at the realization.

Covenant Base

Master Chief awoke and found himself healing in a laboratory. His senses heightened and jumped up, startling Dr. Halsey. John found, however, his suit was taken off and he was wearing the UNSC uniform.

"John! Your up!"

John only winced at the pain, but ignored most of it.

"What happened? What about Kelly and Harry?" John asked quickly.

"It's not looking to good. Kelly is in serious medical care." but she spoke no more, a sad expression filled her face.

"And Harry?" Master Chief asked slowly, making sure the answer wasn't the one he wanted to hear.

"He's….KIA." she responded.

John's mouth hung open. He couldn't believe it. He had killed one of his own because of his mistake. On thing was for certain, he would never do it again.

John got up and found Kelly in another room, strapped to the teeth with wires and IV tubes attached everywhere. Her armor was taken off as well. Life signs show her heartbeat at only 19 beats per minute. If she were anything less than a Spartan, Master Chief thought she would be dead by now.

John looked on to Kelly, sleeping soundly.

Master Chief was about to go talk to Doctor Halsey when Kelly called to him. He returned to her side. She extended her hand out to him and he took it in his own. Her hands were rough, but smooth in a sense. Same as his. She smiled at him and he gripped her hand tighter.

"John. I'm sorry." she said to him.

John was puzzled at this.

"What do you mean? It wasn't your fault because of my mistake."

"I should've stopped you. I had doubts that this would work. I should've done something."

She coughed at the last word and John put a finger on her mouth.

"Sleep, that's an order."

Kelly nodded the best she could and soon fell asleep. John let her hand go and turned to go away, but he turned back to her and leaned down. He placed a kiss on her forehead and left.

Kelly seemed to smile a little before falling totally asleep.

John didn't know why he did it exactly. It was against code and policy to fall in love or even break rules in that section of code. So why did he do it? He only could come up with the fact that it was a comforter for a friend and ally. One whom he didn't mind to show feelings for. He soon put that in the back of his mind as he entered Dr. Halsey's makeshift lab. As it turns out, the lab was actually the inside of one of the Phantoms.

"Dr. Halsey, why did I make a mistake? It shouldn't have happened." John asked, with a hurt look on his face.

"Simple physics of probability. Although you've gained years of experience and the fact that you're enhanced, you are human. I regret the fact that you are human, yet revel in the fact that even with all the upgrades and decades of fighting and war, you will make mistakes. Albeit very few at the least."

Master Chief found very little comfort at this realization.

"How's Cortana?"

"She is fine, her COM was taken offline and I was able to repair, so get the suit on ASAP. She has much to discuss with you."

"Knowing Cortana, it won't be good."

Master Chief donned his suit and felt his skin meld with the armor, and soon felt a cold presence enter his mind. He then heard Cortana's voice.

"What the heck happened to you! I was trying to make contact with you, but I was shut out. Didn't you know about the Wraith! Why did you do it?" she scolded.

Master Chief frowned inside his helmet.

"Yet….I'm glad to see you're alright." Cortana said cheerfully.

John looked around for the other Spartans, each were around the makeshift base, loading weapons in guns or checking their systems. John was now alone with new Spartans, and no Kelly to console with on mission specs. . Of course, he had Cortana.

John stepped to the others and Brian saw him. Brian motioned the other Spartan's attention and they lined up. Master Chief looked at them.

"What happened out there is never to be repeated. Take note; never ever do anything like that unless you are 100 percent sure it will work without snags."

"It was my misfortune, to have put a Spartan's life on the line and without proper console. I will never do anything to put you in danger ever again. I will keep you safe, no matter what. Now here is the plan. We will infiltrate 16807's headquarters and disable him somehow. Lance, you'll head in first to check out the situation. If things get hot, abort. When reconnaissance gets back, successful or not, we'll storm in and take over the Control Room."

The Spartans nodded.

"Good, let's move out!"

The Spartans loaded into Warthogs that weren't destroyed, which they only needed three. The others were kept at the base. The Covenant had access to a Scorpion, two other Warthogs and a Wraith, along with several Ghosts and a Spectre.

Master Chief and the others drove onward to face the monitor.

Natus'ii looked onto the Covenant that was left. Only a handful of each race was left and Natus'ii told a group of Elites to go look for Gonama'ee, while the others prepped in case of another attack.

Cliff bottom

Gonama'ee couldn't tell what was going on. The mist from the acid mixed rain was burning his eyes. He moved a finger, then two, knowing full well that he would have to attack the incoming horde. He was able to move his leg from side to side, even bend it. He got on one leg. His shields recharged, but very slowly. He got on both knees and grabbed for his plasma rifles, but only found that they were gone. He rose to his feet, stumbling and grabbing the side of the cliff. He looked at the Queen, who seemed to stir. Then, in a burst of unimaginable strength, she was on her feet. Yet, from the loss of blood, she too faltered and seemed to only get up. Gonama'ee saw one of her young leap at him and he jumped off the wall and sliced the creature with his only remaining energy blade.

But, with that bit of force, he could only fall on his hands and knees, not finding hidden strength. Another jumped at him, and he rolled, slicing an arm off the attacker and watched it writhe and scrabble on the ground. Gonama'ee ended it's misery by slicing it's skull in half. Gonama'ee found the Queen's hand meet his stomach, and her claws scratched his skin and broke through. He bled on both sides now, most of his blood gone on his back. He could hardly move, and his vision blurred. He fell, only to see a purple nose of a vehicle on the cliff top. Shots were fired, and all the Aliens on the wall stopped, and then looked at the Queen as some unlucky Aliens who were shot were falling towards the ground. The Queen roared and her young began to climb the wall at the attackers.

Gonama'ee recognized the vehicle as a Spectre and realized his friends must have found him. He was grateful. Gonama'ee searched deep inside of himself and found renewed strength and got up, sword in hand. He sliced another attacker and ran up to the Queen and sliced her for good measure. He knew he wanted to not die here. So, he began to climb the wall, but was soon attacked by the raging Queen. He was dragged down and he fell to the ground, renewed strength drained a bit. He got up and dodged her stubby tail and she swiped at him. He dodged and ran to another edge of cliff and realized that they hit a cliff within a cliff. He prepared for the worse, and she…missed.

The Queen tumbled out of his way and fell down the deep chasm, and the echo was heard from the pit. Her rage had blinded her, enough for Gonama'ee to trick her without him knowing. He looked over the ledge, into the dark that was the abyss. But he heard a sound coming from the cavern floor.

"She must've hit bottom." Gonama'ee said to himself.

Gonama'ee heard a roar and looked back down the cliff. Minutes passed by in seconds, Gonama'ee felt like. And he heard her roar echo throughout the chasm. He looked down to see a green light. The Queen was climbing the cliffside!

"Why won't you die!" Gonama'ee shouted.

The Queen only continued to climb and her headpiece was glowing bright green. Her young came from all direction down the cliff, and ignored Gonama'ee. In a way, he was happy to see he had a chance of escape when none of her young attacked, but he could only stay there and not move, but watch the sight before him.

The Queen's young gathered themselves by her side, and she roared at them and they all turned to stare at Gonama'ee.

"Damn!" Gonama'ee said as he turned to run up the cliff.

She had ordered her young to attack all at once. Gonama'ee didn't know how he knew that, but he wanted out of their. Already climbing the cliffside, he dodged a few attacks from her young that were now in a frenzy. He could only climb and pray that they wouldn't catch up, but his prayers were not answered. The Queen's young didn't slow down, but seemed to speed up. Gonama'ee watched as one lunged at him, only to be stopped by plasma fire. The Spectre had driven off it's attackers, and now seemed to be giving cover fire to Gonama'ee. Gonama'ee rushed up the side of the cliff, only to have a rock dislodge itself. The Aliens, which seemed to have had their attention on the threat of the Spectre, now realized that the threat was the Arbiter, and they quickly resumed chase with him. Gonama'ee activated a plasma grenade and tossed it down, and it stuck to the head of an Alien Drone. But other Aliens, who had seen the destructive capabilities of these weapons, backed off. While others, died in the blast radius while a chunk of cliff was taken off. Unfortunately, Gonama'ee's part of cliff came loose, and collapsed. He jumped to the other side of the cliff and hung on. The Aliens that avoided the blast did the same and ran after him, clawing the way, craving his fresh meat. Gonama'ee realized that he was under the Spectre, and they couldn't defend him anymore, and he jumped to the side higher on the original side. But, right as he got there, acid hit his back.

Gonama'ee let go of the cliff.

Things weren't going as well as planned, and he knew it as he plummeted into a horde of hungry Aliens. Then it hit Gonama'ee.

Arbiters never live long.

Control Room

Master Chief had broken through several defenses leading up to the Control Room, and Master Chief opened the door that led into the corridors that led to the Control Room.

"Go ahead Lance." Master Chief said.

Lance, without a word, slipped into the shadows of the night and headed inside. As Lance made his way inside, Master Chief then looked into the sky, as if searching for something.

"Cortana, give me a visual on what Lance is seeing."

"Affirmative." she replied.

A small screen appeared in Master Chief's right lower corner of his HUD. Lance was in the main chamber, but found no sign of 16807 or any sentries. Lance saw a glowing light in the bottom of the Control Room chasm, and made precise jumps and fell into a hole and ramp-like slide. He landed on his feet and found himself in a chamber that was really quiet, with lights beaming the way. He slowly walked down a corridor and found several of the small engineers that shoot lasers to repair machines fixing a column. Then Lance heard humming. As soon as he did, he melted into the shadows. 16807, in a small robot form like the Sentinels, hovered by, not noticing Lance. When he disappeared around the corner, Lance came out of hiding and continued down the corridor. Lance then ran into a dark room, where he continued onward. Suddenly, as if a bad cliché just happened, the door behind Lance just closed and the room lit up. In front of Lance, stood one OverGuard, but this one was much bigger and had what seemed to be electricity glowing from it's hands.

"Did you honestly not think I knew you were coming, seeing as you only have thirty-four hours remaining on the clock? Tsk tsk, I am shocked." 16807 said over the COM.

The OverGuard activated and that's all the Master Chief needed before saying he was coming to get Lance. They were stopped however, and began to open fire on the bigger cousins of the Sentinels. The Enforcers, with their shields, opened fire. Master Chief dodged and ordered the others to dodge and fire. Lance, back inside, had his hands full. He had pulled out a frag and hit it directly, and damaged it's body. However, the small Sentinel Engineers flew to it and repaired it. Lance cursed himself and ran to the corner of a room and opened fire while jumping over a bolt of electricity that the OverGuard shot. Lance attacked the OverGuard by jumping on the creature and shot directly with the shotgun in the thing's head. The OverGuard shuddered, sparked, and fell forward while Lance jumped to the side, landing on his feet. Several Sentinel Engineers flew to the fallen creature, but Lance starting shooting the little Sentinels. But, as he did this, an Enforcer with several small Sentinels following it, shooting their heat beams. Lance took cover, realizing that the OverGuard was being repaired.

"John, get down here fast!" Lance almost shouted, checking himself.

Master Chief heard the call, and doubled his speed. The others following suite. Master Chief reached the door that had shut behind Lance, and immediately shot it with the shotgun. Nothing. Master Chief drew a frag and activated it, telling the others to move back. It did nothing. Master Chief gathered everyone's grenades and put them against the door, and everyone ducked for cover. Master Chief shot the grenades and was blown back, his shields dropped to nothing; everyone else's went down as well. The door stood firm. Then Master Chief reached for his trump card.

"Cortana." he said quickly.

And with as just as much quickness, she replied.

"I'm on it."

She melded with the mainframe, and immediately went for the security door channels, floating through the endless data that clouded her vision, and she made her way to the control panel, only to be stopped by a figure similar to her own. This was an A.I., similar to her, and she was being blocked by it. This A.I. took the form of an ancient Egyptian god, Ra. The form was a man's body with the head of an eagle, with armor covering the body.

"I cannot let you pass, I am 16807 Alpha Omega! I am all powerful, and I will not let you into that room!"

Cortana charged him. Even though she was merely an A.I., she had spunk, and didn't go down without a fight. Literal or otherwise. Ra fell back on his back as she punched him, but it didn't seem to do anything. Ra only chuckled and pushed her off with lightning. Cortana flew into a wall of data, and she got up. Ra shot again, but Cortana snapped her fingers and a fire wall came up.

"Clever, how about this?" Ra said calmly.

Ra's hands began to glow and he shot a red beam at Cortana. She put up another fire wall and it easily broke through and entered her.

"A virus!" Cortana said, her voice straining.

She began to turn a violet color as the virus moved throughout her body, and she fell to the floor, clutching her body and seemed to be in pain. Ra stood over her and then she looked up and smirked.

"Gotcha." she said.

She shot up and in a burst of light, the virus dissipated.

"What the hell?" Ra said.

"Latest anti-virus software, and besides the fact that I'm an A.I., I tapped into your own program to find an antidote."

"You can hack right under my nose!" Ra shouted.

"More than that, I can upload things too."

Ra suddenly fell to the ground, paralyzed by his own virus.

"But how?"

"After I had found the antidote, I did a little background check on your virus, and found that your makers had failed to install the anti-virus program into your own being. In those few nanoseconds, I superseded the upload into your mainframe."

16807 shouted as he was destroyed by his own virus. Then Cortana was pushed back and she felt cold and got back up, feeling alive again.

Cortana ran to the controls and found the switch. She turned it on and the door lifted. In reality, the whole fight between her and 16807 lasted less than three seconds.

"What took you so long?" John asked.

"Met opposition."

Master Chief smiled and realized it was 16807. She must've destroyed him, and that was proof to the fact that Lance reported in moments later and said the OverGuard and Sentinels were all deactivated. The timer had stopped at 23:09. Good enough time to spare for Master Chief. But, like all his battles previously, he felt that this was won too easily. Yet he felt nothing.

"Cortana, you see anything?"

"Nothing Chief, all I see is what you see. I've got that feeling too, though."

Master Chief turned to head back to the Covenant Base, happy that everything went as plan, but kept an eye open.

Predator ship

"No! Nek'ttir watch out!"

"The kainde amehda are infesting within our men, honor will not be won easily!"

"You took the human's sacred relic!"

"Never got your name."

"Nek'ttir."

"You shall be known as Nek'ttir the Honored."

Nek'ttir awoke with a start inside the canister. These visions, why were they being forced into his mind? They were his own memories, yet he didn't go searching for them. They just appeared.

Nek'ttir closed his eyes, and suddenly realized that his eyes were open. Or so he thought. His eyes were closed, yet saw in front of him clear as day. The liquid, the canister, the various medical supplies surrounding him. He even saw the dials on the canister on the outside on the other side of his vision.

"What the hell?" Nek'ttir realized.

Then Nek'ttir envisioned the bottle of liquid on the table outside his canister were floating and shattered in his "mind's eye".

And a noise was heard. Nek'ttir awoke, realizing that he was asleep. A bottle was now on the ground, and it was broken. He looked around, and noticed no one was in the room, other than him. Then the realization hit him.

He was psionic.

Psionic Predators were rare. Very rare. The most a race would see is about five or six, and every 100 years. Most were born psionic, but the others had been Predators of extraordinary Will and intelligence. Out of as many as there were recorded in their history, only one recorded instance was where a psionic Predator was born of injury. And apparently he was it. Or, he didn't know how he became psionic. He didn't care, because a huge pain began to throb in his head, and his heart beat faster. Now fully awake, he grasped his head and started breathing heavily. He couldn't fathom the pain, and he cried a war cry. Other Predators walked in and noticed this.

"He's one of them!" one doctor shouted.

Nek'ttir shouted in their heads as his words found their thoughts.

"Get back!"

They obeyed and found cover. In a final shriek of pain, a psionic wave was shot out, and it shattered the breathing apparatus and the canister, spilling the liquid on the floor, and destroying several containers full of medicine, chemicals, and other liquids. Nek'ttir was now on his hands and knees in front of the canister, breathing heavily as some liquid found his mouth, dripping. Nek'ttir fell to the ground, exhausted.

"Why am I this way…" Nek'ttir asked himself almost inaudibly.

Cliffside

All Gonama'ee could do was fall, no where to go, and hundreds of Aliens begging for his flesh like it was their last meal. He could only watch and hit a net.

'Hit a net!' he thought.

Gonama'ee was pulled up by something; it was the Predators, who now were providing cover as he was being pulled up. The Aliens pulled back and went to their Queen, and Gonama'ee got out of the net.

"Thanks guys, we need to destroy this ship, and escape off the ring. Do you know where the engine room is?"

They looked at each other and looked back at Gonama'ee, and shook their heads.

"Then we'll have to find it the old fashioned way."

Gonama'ee saw Aliens climbing up the cliff, and the Predators stood their ground, shooting the creatures, while standing still, signaling that they would provide cover as he made his way into the ship. Gonama'ee silently thanked them and ran to the ship. He heard one the Predators cry out and turned to see what happened. One of the Predators was skewered and tossed into the cliffside. Gonama'ee didn't wait anymore. As he reached the hole he originally fell out of, several Aliens attacked. He attacked with his mechanical arm and crushed their bones and skulls. Gonama'ee was speckled with the acid, and only felt it melt away when the rain hit it. He ran inside and pulled himself into the Queen's chamber. There they were, the eggs. Gonama'ee saw one egg open up and a facehugger jumped at him. Gonama'ee ducked and grabbed the thing's tail and threw it into a pillar then stomped on it. Gonama'ee saw several dozen more and dodged while running around. He found a plasma grenade and attached it to a fuel line in the room. He jumped out of the blast radius and the room went up in smoke. Several facehugger cries echoed throughout the room, and Gonama'ee heard static in his COM.

"..biter. C..yo…hear me?"

It was Natus'ii, trying to make contact with him.

Covenant Base

"Come in, Arbiter. Can you hear me?"

No response. Natus'ii was alone with his troops now. No Gonama'ee or Pokun'aa. Well, he had Turaga'uu, so he didn't think all was lost. He needed Turaga'uu to get off the planet in an emergency. Of course, where could they go?

"Natus'ii, we have found Gonama'ee, he's at the serpent ship. He is currently under attack, assisting now."

Natus'ii brightened. Good. This was good. Natus'ii ordered what men were left and they were going to defend this ring at all costs.

"Natus'ii, serpents approach from the south." one Elite called out.

"Set up two sniper positions. Grunt, you'll handle anti-armor positions with your Fuel Rod Cannons. We'll need several grenade barrages so set up grenade positions. Move!" Natus'ii shouted.

The small group did as told, and waited for the serpents.

"Snipers, when you get a good shot, fire. Only fire one hit kills, we're running out of munitions. Only shoot when you know you'll kill them in one shot."

"We see them!" one sniper called out.

"Attack only when you can kill them instantly."

A shot was fired. Natus'ii looked at the Elite that fired, and the Elite kept staring into his magnification scope.

"One down."

Natus'ii smiled. This was going to be fun.

Predator ship

Nek'ttir rose, but he used his thoughts to lift himself up. Then, without thinking, he ran. HE ran out of the ship and onto the ground of the ring. Once again breathing the air of the ring world.

"I will use this to defeat the Queen."

He ran to the edge of a cliff and jumped off, willing himself to glide himself over to the other side. Realizing how heavy and hard it was to lift himself, he figured he only needed to jump high and not try to fly. He jumped over several chasms. How did these valleys open up? He didn't care that much to find out, he was already at the edge where he saw the Alien ship on the horizon.

Inside the Hive ship

Gonama'ee continued on through the ship, figuring there were probably more eggs. He needed to find the bridge. He had to blow up this ship, then he'd have to get rid of this ring. He ran into a room, only to find several Aliens guarding eggs. There were only three drones, so Gonama'ee activated his energy sword and soon cut all three down. He then opened one egg and grabbed a facehugger and crushed it in his mechanical hand. The others opened up and Gonama'ee cut those down. Gonama'ee continued on and then he screeches. They weren't Alien screeches however. Gonama'ee was struck in the back and he fell to the ground. He turned around to find Flood attacking him. Gonama'ee couldn't believe they were still around. They began to attack him, but they all died almost instantly. Gonama'ee found a window overlooking the chasm that the Queen and him were in moments before to find now all the Aliens and Flood attacking each other. But Gonama'ee didn't see the Queen. Where was the Queen? He soon found out, because he was grabbed from behind and then thrown into the wall of the ship and broke through into another room. Gonama'ee was about to get up when the Queen screeched and grabbed him again. Gonama'ee struggled in her grasp, and he dropped his sword. She held both his arms in place by his side, and he was lifted right in her face. She seemed to smile at him. A wicked evil smile, but one none the less. She then opened her mouth to reveal her own second set of jaws. They were huge. Almost as big as the first. Gonama'ee then was released when several Flood jumped her and she was startled. Gonama'ee fell and grabbed his sword. He was looking for a way out, but couldn't find any. He was attacked by the Flood then, and he cut them down. He ran into another room that he found when he cut Hive Web. He heard the Queen and looked back. She had thrown off her attackers and charged after him. She hit the door and sprayed acid on it. Gonama'ee ran and found some stairs. He didn't know where to find the bridge so he assumed it must be at the top. He was attacked by a sleeping Alien and cut it, but it regenerated with nearby Hive Web He sliced it to ribbons, and continued on. The creature soon regenerated and he blew it up with his energy blade hitting a fuel line. But it still didn't kill it, so Gonama'ee was chased throughout the ship but this unrelenting creature. What the hell? Gonama'ee realized he forgot to cut the Hive Web. He slashed it then the creature, and it died.

"Got to remember that."

Finding some solitude from the attackers, he found a room to rest in. He then found a medkit in storage and used it to heal some of the serious wounds. He moved on and found some Elite blood and weapons. He stocked up and got two plasma rifles, and grabbed some grenades. He was ready to find the bridge, but something rocked the ship and he heard an explosion, followed by several screeches.

"They sound like they are getting closer. I'll be glad when this is all finally over. Time to head out."

Gonama'ee ran through some more corridors and headed into several different rooms, each containing some Aliens. He ran through some more until he hit a map room.

"Bingo."

He sliced the terminal and brought up a map. He found the bridge. But then wondered something. He typed in more and several dots, possible thousands, and he realized he found that the dots represented the serpents. Gonama'ee then saw a dot appear right in the map room. He looked around, but no sign. He just decided to leave, but was blocked by the drone that hung from the ceiling, but was now attacking. He cut it down, and he got out of there.

'Ok, I need to get up two more floors and make my way to the bridge.' he thought.

Then he thought of something.

"Alone against all these serpents," he grunted. "They don't stand a chance."

Covenant Base

"Natus'ii, more are still coming!"

Natus'ii grimaced.

The group of snipers had fended off the attack so far for ten straight minutes, and he was glad the others didn't have to attack yet, but he knew that the snipers would run dry eventually.

"Sniper one is out."

"Sniper two is out."

Natus'ii heard enough.

"All right men, get ready to attack them, full force. Whatever men we don't have overlooking the creatures, we'll use to attack while the men up top will provide cover. I of course will be leading the ground attack."

Natus'ii knew he wouldn't likely live, then he'd leave the battle for someone else to finish. He then rethought that. No. He didn't want to die. The shame it would bring to him and his fellow brothers was unbearable. He then heard the cry of the serpents and ordered the men to open the gate.

A shot was fired into the incoming horde from the Grunt with the Fuel Rod Cannon, and the two remaining Hunters fired theirs. The hit was then followed by Natus'ii and his men running out to engage in combat.

This was to be their last stand.

From inside, Dr. Halsey could here everything. She wanted to leave. But she couldn't. Not without John, Kelly, or any other of her Spartans. She grabbed the pistol she carried with her and loaded it full. She didn't want to use it.

Desert Region

As it turns out, for however long Nek'ttir was out, the ship had moved on and was about to take off, because he was nowhere near where he originally was. He was trying to get their faster, but couldn't go any faster than he did. Nek'ttir then thought of the ship in his mind, and found himself on the edge of the cliff overlooking a fight between the kainde amehda and the other host species in an all out brawl. Nek'ttir decided to not disturb and headed inside to find the Queen, but he was stopped by some Drones attacking him. He forgot to grab his armor and everything, so he attacked with his mind. He willed them to attack their friends, and they obeyed. He quickly ran inside. He ran through the corridors, and he clicked his mandibles in anticipation. Wait. He might be able to get armor and weapons from his mind. He's been able to do so so far. Nek'ttir concentrated and willed armor and weapons to appear on him, but nothing happened. He then heard an egg open behind him, and he jumped back and turned around towards the egg. A facehugger jumped out at him and he held his hands up, and the thing froze in mid-air, a strange purple glow surrounding it. Nek'ttir walked around it and looked at it. It was frozen in place.

"I like this."

Nek'ttir ran through other corridors and found a PredAlien. It jumped on him and clawed at him. Nek'ttir attacked with a spear that formed in his head when he willed it. Then he imagined armor and felt armor attach itself to him. He wondered why it wouldn't work before, but now he loved it. He pushed the carcass off of him and he changed visor modes and found a heat signature. He headed towards it and ran into the other host gathering species. What did the Arbiter call it? Flood. Nek'ttir stabbed the Flood and was glad that the blood wasn't acidic. So he threw it with his hand and several others attacked. He sent both hands out and he made them slow down. He rolled out of the way as they collided in slow motion, then he cut them all down in rapid succession. A rocket was shot from a nearby Flood as time returned to normal, and Nek'ttir reflected it off of a shield he created with his mind, and it hit the Flood and exploded. Nek'ttir continued onwards into the ship.

Covenant Base

"Natus'ii! More are coming!"

Natus'ii cursed his luck, this was the fourth wave. A couple Grunts, an Elite, and a Hunter's bond brother were dead. They couldn't last against another attack. As the wave approached, a shot rang out, but it wasn't from them. Then Natus'ii was relieved to hear the voice over the COM.

"This is Master Chief, here to assist. Where do you want us Natus'ii?"

Natus'ii almost jumped up and down.

"Over here is fine. We'll need you for us to live."

Natus'ii saw the Master Chief walk into the Phantom, and then Natus'ii went back to checking ammunition.

Master Chief walked into the lab and said hi to Dr. Halsey, and went to check on Kelly. He removed his helmet and looked at her through sad eyes. She had awoken when he stroked her hair back out of her face, and she looked at him.

"How are you?" he asked calmly.

"Better." she said slowly.

"Keep getting rest, ok? We will need you out there."

Out of either insanity or comfort, he placed another kiss on her forehead before he left. Dr. Halsey seemed to smile a little as she returned to her work.

It was undeniable. Master Chief couldn't avoid the feelings he had for Kelly. He even noticed Halsey behind him when she thought he didn't know. John had to get his feeling under control. Even though he had broken rules, he didn't care. But he needed to focus on the matters at hand. But, there were none at the moment. As he turned to leave realizing this, he sat back down on her bed at her side. He didn't want to move.

Outside, Natus'ii conferred with his troops.

"Damage report?" he asked calmly.

Turaga'uu came up to his side.

"Sir, we've lost some men and we're out of ammo for the Fuel Rod Cannons save for the Hunter that is left." he said swiftly.

"That's not good. What else?"

"Nothing."

"That's good. We will let the Spartans handle most attacks if any were to happen. Otherwise, I'll need to speak to Master Chief."

Natus'ii dispersed them and headed for the door to the makeshift lab, sweating a little bit from the fights.

Hive ship

Gonama'ee traversed several dozen rooms, and finally found some stairs. He was one the bridge now, and could sense serpents in the room. He didn't know how, but then he noticed the cut on his arm from the Queen. It was glowing, and he sensed that the serpents in this room felt it too. Then he didn't know how, but he could see the shimmer of a green glow emanating from several points in the room. Gonama'ee figured it was the serpents. So he attacked and killed a serpent. Then the others attacked and they were cut down. One jumped away from Gonama'ee's attack.

"Hold still you vile creature!"

Gonama'ee began to get violent. He attacked recklessly, and the Drone grabbed his arm and twisted it so the sword flew out of his hands. Gonama'ee reacted uneasily, and let out a war cry of anger. Gonama'ee jumped all over the creature and tackled it, and threw it across the room. Gonama'ee's eyes filled with a red tint and he attacked. Gonama'ee dropped down on his feet and hands, and howled. He ran on all fours straight at the helpless Drone. He bit down on the shell and cracked it. He bit through, and his face was covered in the Alien blood. Gonama'ee drew back and clutched his face. But it suddenly didn't hurt anymore. He felt the acid trickle off. He looked at his hands and his feet. He was covered in blood, yet it didn't hurt. Why!

Gonama'ee didn't think too much more on the subject as the thought of prey turned him back into attack mode. The struggling Drone's leg was bitten and broken, and it pulled itself near some Hive Web. But Gonama'ee didn't give it a chance. He grabbed the thing's tail and chunked it into the wall. Gonama'ee was struck in the shoulder with the creature's tail, but instead of the purple-blue color of the blood, now shot out greenish blood. But what scared Gonama'ee the most was what happened when it hit the floor. The floor melted.

Gonama'ee killed the creature, and then he looked up at the ceiling.

"NO!"

His cry was soon garbled into a screech. His cry was no longer that of Sangheili. Gonama'ee watched as his middle and index joined together, and his ring and pinky finger did the same. He noticed his skin began to harden, and it turned blackish-blue. He was becoming one of them.

'No! No! No! No! No!" he screamed in his head.

Gonama'ee couldn't control it anymore. He transformed fully into a Covenant Alien and grew a long spiny tail. All he could feel now was a rush of hunger and a lust for hosts. Then he got one.

Nek'ttir had heard Gonama'ee's cries inside his mind, and he rushed to help. But when he got there, Gonama'ee was already transformed.

'Arbiter!' he thought in his head.

Gonama'ee could only hear it but not respond. This large creature in front of him seemed friendly, but it seemed that it was a host for the Hive was all that the being amounted to.

Yes. The Hive. Gonama'ee could hear the Queen's mind clawing her way into his.

"My child. Gather hosts for our cause. My dearest child, come to me. Aid me. I need you. I love you. Your mother is here. I've come to take you away from all this."

Gonama'ee couldn't believe what he was hearing. Loving words from the Queen of these serpents. But, the voice sounded so loving. What's worse, it sounded like it was a siren, calling to him. He couldn't ignore it. He ran off in the direction of the calling. Nek'ttir ran after him, wondering what the hell was going on. He had to save his friend.

Queen's chamber

The remaining Predators were now on the wall, with facehuggers on their faces. The Queen was now laying eggs again. She was calling Gonama'ee, for she knew what had finally happened. The cut she gave him transferred her blood into his, therefore creating another way to propagate the species. She knew that he was tortured inside and couldn't do a thing about it. She then saw him, coming in through the door entrance.

"My Queen." he said, bowing his head.

"My child, you have done well. I'm glad that you finally are ours."

"I'm glad as well."

She motioned for him to come by her side. He did and she placed a hand lovingly on his cheek.

"There is an intruder in the base. This Predator is giving us so much trouble. He kills your brothers and sisters for fun, and mounts their heads on his wall as trophies. Kill him for me."

Gonama'ee snorted.

"It will be done with the swiftness you can offer me…mother."

Gonama'ee ran off into the ship and the Queen only chuckled. Just then, several newly formed Flood Aliens came up to her.

"My Queen, we seem to have several of the other host gathering species residing in our hull. Orders?"

"Kill them. Don't bother with hosts. They have interrupted us for the last time."

She called several Ravagers in and told them to go to the ship's lower hull. They made their way to the room and found several dozen Flood in the room. The seven Ravagers were no match against hundreds of the things, and they soon began to swarm the ship. Flood immersed themselves which way and that, and several dozen found the Queen. They attacked her and she had to get free of her egg sac to kill the intruders. Bodies flew this way and that, the Queen never stopping. The intruders were killed, and Gonama'ee was running through the ship, searching for the Predator intruder. Then he hit something hard and fell back.

Gonama'ee looked up to see that it was the intruder that the Queen spoke of, and Gonama'ee jumped at it.

Nek'ttir backed up and held up a clawed hand. Gonama'ee stopped right in his tracks.

'This can't be the Arbiter, what happened to him? He's one of them!' Nek'ttir thought.

Gonama'ee was trying to break free of Nek'ttir's spell when Nek'ttir probed his mind.

'Gonama'ee? Gonama'ee?' he heard in his head.

'What has happened to you?'

Gonama'ee didn't respond, and Nek'ttir looked at the ground in sadness, his friend was gone.

"Nek'ttir…"

Nek'ttir looked up and Gonama'ee asked to be let down. Gonama'ee was freed and he sat on his back legs and tail. Gonama'ee thought spoke to Nek'ttir and he explained everything. Then Gonama'ee felt something claw at his mind, and he let out a shriek, and he was clutching his head.

"Nek'ttir, it's her. She is trying to get me to listen to her, I can't block her for long, get moving! I will be forced to kill you when she takes over again. I won't be able to hold back."

That's all Nek'ttir needed to hear, he ran off and soon he heard a screech of a Covenant Alien behind him.

"Be strong, Arbiter…"

End Chapter Nine

A/N: I like this story, and apparently you five reviewers do too. But honestly, five? Come on, I'm gonna need like 20 to keep this story going. Plz review so I can finish this story. Thx.