CHAPTER 11 - THE PATH OF MASTER CHIEF, HALF JAW, AND GIMLI
Master Chief watched from the plateau as the great army of vehicles left. His mission was apart from that of Rohan's, but the ultimate goal was the same. Before he had left, Elrond told the chief about a facility beneath the mountain which held the monitor of the ring hostage. For ages he had wanted to get out, but it was sealed on all sides and the teleportation grid had been disabled. Thus he and his sentinels were trapped there.
Gimli and Half Jaw took their place beside him, and he turned to them.
"Are you two ready?"
"Ready as we will ever be."
The three of them walked through the empty camp and came to a narrow path that ran along a canyon which divided the mountain in two. This was their objective. Cautiously, they moved onward; hiking over rock and stone on the barren, lifeless road. At length they came to a metal door which, despite all they tried, adamantly refused to open.
Finally Gimli said, "That's it. I've had it. Move it you two."
Master Chief and Half Jaw backed away from the door. When they saw Gimli's fuel rod cannon begin to glow green, they immediately sprinted for cover. They both dove behind a rock and heard the unique sound of an energy beam melting metal. When they dared to peek over the rock, they saw that there was a hole where the door had been. Gimli was standing there, looking with pride on his obstacle removal.
The threesome proceeded through the door and drew their weapons. Master Chief activated his plasma sword, and Half Jaw pulled out his beam rife. Gimli simply kept himself in a combat stance. They proceeded down a dark hallway which came to another door, which opened this time. Here the corridor branched off into opposite directions. They followed the path to the right, which led to a large open room with a bottomless shaft occupying at least one half of it.
"This is where the monitor is imprisoned," said the Chief, looking around.
Above them, they heard the sound of someone humming. It was distorted, however, and sounded electric. The Monitor was apparently the source, as he floated down from the ceiling and introduced himself.
"Hello. I am 343 Guilty Spark. I am the monitor of this installation. I am being held here by a protocol placed on me by Isildur as punishment for not aiding him in the fight against the flood. I would be happy to assist you."
"I'm here to break the protocol," said the Chief.
"Protocol can only be broken under certain conditions, reclaimer. By what means do you intend to release us.?"
"You will come with us to fight for the freedom of those living on the ring."
"I'm afraid that's out of the question. I do not care for your useless quarrels. You shall have to resolve your own problems. My only concern is containing the flood."
"What if I told you that the flood were the ones we are fighting against, and that the index has been... compromised?"
"Then I shall be happy to help you fight. Sentinels, come to me."
An entire army of shielded sentinels came floating into the room. Half Jaw took the Chief aside.
"What are you doing," he asked, "The index is not compromised."
"But it will be if Frodo completes his mission."
The monitor then spoke to the three of them from above, "Please prepare yourselves for transit."
The last thing they saw before blacking out was a shaft of golden light emanating from the floor below them.