Chapter 4: An Unexpected Meeting
I must be dead.
It was completely black. I seemed to be floating through the darkness.
Where was I? Where was Spartan?
Spartan...
Why had I cared so much about him. I knew he hated me, but I still couldn't let him die.
I pictured in my mind, the first time I saw his face in the Marine's ship that morning. His blonde hair cut short, but had small curls in it. His warm smile. His blue eyes that held hurt in them.
My memories of him were all that was left.
Suddenly, a blue light seemed to come from nowhere. It drifted towards me slowly.
A voice in my mind said to follow it. So I did.
I slowly floated towards it. Then it seemed to start moving away from me.
Wait...my thoughts yelled out
It stopped and turned, shining me with its bright blue light.
Help me...I tried to say, but nothing came out.
Suddenly, there was an explosion of white light . I covered my eyes as I was engulfed in it.
I opened my eyes slowly.
I was in a room filled with large computer screens. They showed Alien text on them and something else...
A gentle humming filled the room. Someone was here.
I sat up and reached into my backpack for my gun, when I realized that my bag was missing.
I looked up to hear the humming stop and light laughing sound.
The sounds came from what looked like a big floating ball with a flashing blue lightbulb at the front.
"You're awake at last. Finally, someone with more questions," it said gleefully.
I stood up and looked at it.
"Who are you?" I asked looking at the lightbulb which was probably its eye.
"Why, I am the Oracle. It has been quite some time you took to get here from the second Halo, but I knew you would've figured it out eventually," it replied, making light of the subject.
"Wait. The second Halo? But I have never even seen any of the Halo's," I told the Oracle.
It looked at me for a moment before replying," You are correct. Your genetic makeup is different to the one they call 'Chief'."
"Spartan..." I said aloud.
It ignored my musings and continued talking.
"Well did you wish to know where the Ark is. I can show you if you like," it asked in a know-it-all voice.
"The Ark? What's this Ark?" I asked urgently, remembering the Alien prophecy.
The Oracle turned to the largest computer screen to my right and brought up a rotating 3D image of a large floating structure.
"It has the ability to activate all Halos, itself also a device to destroy within a 3 galacti radius. It has a timer set on it also so to ensure that if The Covenant didn't activate the Halo's, the Ark will," It said joyfully.
I looked at it. "Who would make such a thing?" I asked slightly terrified now.
"Why, the Ancestors, of course," it replied looking at me.
"The Ancestors? Were they Aliens aswell?" I asked thoughtfully.
"I am unable to answer that question. For you see, it was the Ancestors that created myself also and have wiped any knowledge of them from my system," it said slightly annoyed at the fact it couldn't answer my question.
"Well I need to stop it anyway. How do I get there?" I asked.
Suddenly, there was low growling coming from outside the stone walls of the room.
"It seems The Flood have tracked your whereabouts. How facininating..." the Oracle drawled.
"The Flood?" I asked a little bit more shakily.
"Yes, the reason the Halo's were made was to destroy all sentient life, which is what the Flood feed on," it replied casually.
"Sentient life wouldn't be...humans. Would it?" I asked listening to the creatures starting to break into the room.
"Of course," it replied, "As well as all other living things."
The pounding grew louder.
"Get me to Ark now!" I yelled, now absolutely petrified.
The Oracle lazily looked at the computer screen, when there was a green glow behind me.
I looked to find a large tank, glowing green.
"I have placed in the co-ordinates into the transporter, so it will take you to the Ark," the Oracle told me.
I didn't take a second look at it. I quickly opened the door to the tank and got in. The door closed behind me.
Suddenly the wall where the banging came from, fell apart. It revealed a disgusting creature with whip-like arms and no defined head. It seemed to be made up of different decaying creatures.
I stiffled a scream as it lunged for the tank.
Suddenly, there was an almighty pressure that felt like every cell of my body was tearing apart. The pain was indescribable. My armor shattered around me as I disappeared into a white light.
I hit the ground with a thud. My head smacked against thick glass as I fell to my hands and knees. I panted for breath with pain and fear.
It took me several minutes to find the strength to open my eyes. When I did, I could see a dimly lit room. Similiar to the one I was just in with the Oracle, but colder.
It was freezing in this room. I leaned on the glass for support to stand up, when it swung open. I toppled out out of the tank onto a cold hard floor.
"Ow..." I murmered trying again to get up. I succeeded this time.
That's when I noticed my armor was missing. No wonder I felt cold. All I was dressed in was a tank top and 3/4 pants.
I felt vulnerable. No gun. No shield. No armor. No Spartan.
My body shook as I leaned back onto the tank.
Why had I been so stupid? Why hadn't I listened to Spartan in the first place? We probably would've found the Marines and gotten off that planet while we still could.
Thoughts of the Hunter incident rolled over in my head. Why did I go back? He is a lot stronger than me and would've of easily killed it. But I had to help him. It was literelly on top of him when I had ran out of the Ruins. In saving his life, I've doomed my own.
A little flicker of light caught my attention. I looked up to see a window to my left. I walked over to it and looked out.
It was a star. A blue giant. It was more than a million times larger than our Sun. We seemed to be orbiting it. But it was so cold in this room. And the heat from star should at least been felt from here.
I heard a swift noise behind me, then some hissing. I turned around to look for the sound, but found nothing.
I walked through the room listening to different hissing sounds.
"Hello?" I called, "Is anyone there?"
The hissing stopped.
I looked to my left to see a large computer screen. I walked over to it and studied the buttons intently.
After a couple of minutes, I had worked out how to switch it on.
The computer screen fizzled to life. I then began to get in contact with the General.
The General sat in his chair on the bridge of the space station looking at his fourth glass of whisky. Spartan and Rhea's team of Marines had returned, but had no idea how they did. Although Spartan and Rhea hadn't.
But he knew where Spartan was. The Arbiter, a rogue Elite and a small army of loyal aliens, that had joined forces with the human's, had found him on the planet they were searching and was now taking him to the Ark on board their vessel. But the Arbiter had said there was no sign of anyone else on the planet.
Major Rhea's armor had a small tracking device in it. But until about an hour ago, it stopped. Which meant her armor, and possibly her, were destroyed.
BEEP BEEP
The largest computer screen lit up revealing an alien code.
"Incoming transition from unknown co-ordinates," said one of the men working on the computer, "Do we wish to accept?"
The General nodded.
The screen lit up to reveal a woman's face. She had bright blue eyes and her brown hair had fallen out of its plait, making ringlets around her face. She seemed pained and exhausted.
"General! Thank god I got through to you," she said putting a weak smile on her face.
"Major? Where in heaven's name are you? Everyone thinks you're dead!" he replied standing up and putting his glass down.
"I'm on something called the Ark, sir. This piece of advanced technology, that called itself the "Oracle", sent me here. This technology is far beyond human comprehension," she replied bringing up some detailed pictures of certain alien devices.
She continued, "I never realised how much power was stored in this one structure. I have been trying to override it, but it seems to be written in a languages used and not used by us. Ancient Latin, Ancient Greek and Ancient Egypt seem to be the most prominent languages I can see, but there is a language I am not familiar with..."
"Major, will you need any assistance. If so, I will send the Master Chief to help," The General replied looking intently at something over Rhea's left shoulder.
The object seemed to act like smoke, but had a unusual shape to it. It seemed alive somehow.
"No sir, all I need is someway of getting off this Ark," she replied, oblivious to what was behind her.
"Then I will send a team to come retrieve you, just give me your co-ordinates and..." the General asked but stopped when the transmission started to falter.
"Major Rhea, do you respond. Repeat," he asked urgently.
Her voice crackled through.
"I'm here...sir...faulty...don't know why...wait...what are these...no... back...dont send...general...don't...
The transmission cut out.
" Transmission ended. Try to regain contact sir?" asked the man operating the computer.
The General thought deeply for one moment, then replied," No. Patch me through to the Master Chief, now."