Chapter Two

Descending

Note: I was asked by a reviewer if the Spartans would show up in my story, as they did in the Halo novels. Well…I'LL NEVER TELL! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Just kidding, you'll just have to keep reading.

"Well, tinkerbell?" Sgt. Johnson pressed. "Where is the Ark?" "Well…um…this is most interesting." The Monitor stuttered, this being one of those few times that he was at a loss for words. "Where is it, Oracle?" Arbiter repeated his inquiry. "It is…well, none of the monitors were told exactly where the Ark is located." The Monitor answered at length. "What?" Miranda Keyes broke in, crossing her arms over her chest. "You mean you doing know?" "My creators only tasked me with the protection and eventual activation of Installation 04." The Monitor chirped happily. "Damn it," Johnson said, slamming his fist against the control panel.

"Although..." The A.I. continued, "I think I may know of a way to find the exact location of the Ark." "We're listening," Miranda said, focused entirely on the Monitor. "We could use the Main Cartographer." The Monitor suggested. "The Main Cartographer?" Johnson asked. "Like the Silent Cartographer on the first Halo?"

"Again, you meddlers and your inaccurate verbiage! I have never heard such…"

"Shut up, lightbulb boy."

"Why? I never!"

"Shut up!"

"Well, we're going to need a ship before we can get anywhere!" Miranda broke-in, eager to stop the confrontation. "Yeah, that's right." Johnson nodded. "I believe a cruiser is still in orbit near High Charity. It is called Descending Valor, I believe." Arbiter reported dutifully. "Right, so we need to commandeer that cruiser." Miranda said. She turned to Johnson, "Start gathering some troops." Johnson nodded and stuck his lit cigar back into his mouth. "Give me a hand, Arbiter?" He asked the Elite. Arbiter thought it over for a long moment, and then gave a nod.

Groups of Sangheili, Unggoy, Lekgolo, and Marines had set up a small camp in the main area of the Control Room. The Arbiter looked over the scene, knowing that the news of the Prophets lies about the Sacred Rings had spread like wild fire. He sighed, knowing that his troops would most likely ask him for the truth. As he predicted, they asked. And, as he had predicted, he told them the truth. The troops, albeit the Marines (who already knew), were shocked and eager to fight back against their own decimation. Arbiter was pleased as "Half-Jaw", the Special-Ops Commander, was the first to offer his energy blade into the Arbiter's army.

Soon, the first Human-Covenant alliance was formed. They had the remains of the battlenet up and running and had already begun an operation to capture Descending Valor. The five available Phantoms were soon filled to the brim with Elites, Hunters, Grunts, and Marines. It was decided that Arbiter would lead the Elites and Hunters, while Miranda took the Grunts and Johnson took the Marines. As the Phantoms lifted off, the pilot of the Elite ship spoke. "Arbiter, we have a signal up. It is one of the human's." "We picked it up too," came Miranda's voice over the battlenet, "My group are going to intercept it, it could be the Master Chief and Cortana." "The demon…" Arbiter said under his breath. "Arbiter, you and Sgt. Johnson should remain with the mission. Get aboard Descending Valor and take control of it." "Aye-Aye, ma'am." Johnson said. "Understood," Arbiter said reluctantly.

Around a half-hour later, High Charity was in sight, having been decimated by the Flood invasion. Now the place was eerily and the three Phantoms came in on it. Miranda and her group broke formation and headed to their vector. "Good luck, Johnson. Good luck, Arbiter." "Same to you, ma'am." Johnson said. "Good luck…Commander…" Arbiter said, thinking that might be the first good thing he'd ever said to a human.

Johnson was sitting down in the pilot's seat as the two Phantoms descended onto the platform. "You ready, Arbiter?" He spoke into his commlink. He heard the Elite leader give an affirmative grunt. "Glad to have you on the team." Johnson smirked as he heard and felt the gravimetric lock slide into place. "Alright, men. Saddle up, lock and load!" He heard the repetitive cocking of assault rifles and the loading of SMGs. They filed out of the Phantom and joined up with the Arbiter's group.

Meanwhile, Miranda and her Grunts were headed toward the signal. Miranda was cautious around her new troops, even though Arbiter had made them swear not to hurt her, and made sure to keep a bit of distance. She had even sort of become friends with one, who was called Linglin, and was a formed squad commander. He followed by her side, determined to carry out the Arbiter's orders that no harm should come to her.

The small troops slipped down the hall, following the UNSC signal. "We're close," Miranda told Linglin. Linglin nodded and then ordered a troop ahead. The Grunt moved forward slowly, shuddering all the way. When he turned to tell them he was okay, as door burst open and dozens of Flood infection forms leapt down onto him. This was followed by several screams of "Parasite! The Parasite!" and "Run away!" It took all of Linglin's courage to stand firm and toss a grenade into the mayhem. A bunch of random 'pops' followed as the infection forms exploded. "Stop being sissies!" Linglin yelled back to his troops, who were cowering in fear in the corner…

The trip to Descending Valor was shorter and easier than either Arbiter or Johnson believed it would be. Within thirty minutes of landing on High Charity, they were inside the ship, which was as eerily quiet as the city. Within another thirty minutes they were on the bridge. Johnson had a few of his Marines start to hotwire the ship, as none of the Elite's access codes worked. Not even Half-Jaw, who knew practically every military code in the Covenant, couldn't get control of the ship.

"Perhaps we need a prophetic override," Half-Jaw suggested. "A what?" Johnson asked. "A prophetic override," The Special-Ops Leader said, "an override code only the Prophets know. It is one of the most secret passcodes." "So do we give 'em a phone call for one?" Johnson snorted. "A…phone call?" Arbiter inquired.

"I'll explain later," Johnson said. He tapped his commlink. "Ma'am, we have a problem." "What's that, Sergeant?" came Miranda Keyes' voice came over the channel. "We can't take control of Descending Valor. It needs a prophetic override…a password only the Prophets know." Johnson reported. There was a long pause. "Alright, regroup with us, you know where. If the Master Chief is still here, he'll have Cortana with him. She can get us access." "Roger that." Johnson said. "Let's go Marines…and Elites…change of plans."

"What is this place?" Miranda asked Linglin. "Power supply." Linglin whispered, "The whole city gets power from here. But power all gone." "All gone?" Miranda asked. "Gone where?" Linglin shrugged, "Power gone. Ship flew away." "Ship? Your city's power supply is a ship?" Miranda asked. Linglin nodded. "But the ship is gone." "Gone…" Miranda mused. Suddenly, there was a sound like metal slamming against metal. Clunk…Clunk…Clunk…Clunk… Then, Miranda heard a high-pitched, feminine scream. "Cortana!" The Commander yelled out, running for a blue-image she saw ahead on a holo-pedestal.

Johnson, Arbiter, and there group heard the scream, as Miranda had forgotten to turn off her commlink, and they ran toward Miranda's life sign. They were closing in and came to the landing. They saw Miranda and her group hanging upside down, held in place by Flood-like tentacles. Johnson, though he'd seen many grim things in the war, nearly passed into unconsciousness as he saw the tentacles wrap around Miranda and the Grunts. They swayed above the platform and – although they were clearly alive – they looked dead. Very dead.

Ahead, they saw Cortana on a holo-pedestal. "Hello, ma'am," Johnson said, tipping his hat to the image, "mind helping our comrades down." "What do I look like, a serving wench?" The A.I. replied calmly. Johnson was struck dumb. "Do not disobey, construct," Half-Jaw said, "obey your creator." "No, don't…" Johnson began. Cortana, however, had apparently had it. "No! I am not some tool that can be used to your heart's content! I am my own being!" "Cortana, please…" Johnson began, but again he was cut off. "Do you think you can control me? I, who have defied gods and demons? You are wrong!" Arbiter moved forward, wanting to slice his energy sword through the holo-pedestal.

The tentacles tightened around Miranda and the Grunts. "We'll kill them," Cortana said through gritted teeth. "We? What do you mean we?" Arbiter asked. To everyone's surprise, the A.I. laughed. "Oh, I didn't mention my new friend, did I? I've been making new friends galore…of course, I always do…" More tentacles shot up from over the ledge and grabbed the Marines and Elites, leaving only Johnson and Arbiter standing on the platform. Soon, the soldiers too were in a dead sleep. Johnson and Arbiter, in horror, looked back to Cortana who smiled devilishly at them.

"Feeling lucky?"