Update: hopefully once or twice a week. I have a very good idea to how I want this to go. Thank you for all the watches and reviews so far! I look forward to actually writing this!


The Signal


Cracks of bullets discharging in the distance made for a drowning background noise as the Chief secured another outpost. The Spartan wiped the orange blood from his visor before looking around the deck plating. He huffed as he kicked another Jiralhanae out of the way, he reloaded his weapon, walking up to the console and allowing the AI in to take over the outpost. He looked around, picking up a data pad as he tapped on the screen, it didn't work. The pair had systematically gone through the Ring and freed up the Forward Operating Bases. The AI helped him at every nook and cranny he was getting stumped on. She was rather helpful- he did have to admit.

"All set, Chief. I'll start sending out coordinates for nearby marines to let them know the area is safe."

"Good work." He said as he opened up a couple of crates. He found more ammunition for the Commando as he stored some for later. "Any news on the Arbiter?" He asked curiously as he watched the small AI go through data in front of her.

"There seems to be some talk on the Battlenet but not much. He is on this Ring." She said confidently as she looked up at him. "I just… don't know where." He wanted to say how that did not help but he just continued to poke around the new base. He took account of the things they had and probably things they needed. He knew the Marines were short on medical supplies and their numbers were barely holding together but the Chief was doing the best he could with the circumstances they were in. He continued down the ramp as he heard his COMs crack to life with coordinates on their short distance transmitters and voiced their location for safety.

Chief?

The dig site and Conservatory offered a bit of direction that they were going but it still left many things unclear besides that Cortana had done irreparable damage to several society's and had made her mark on this Ring. Despondent Pyre gone.

Chief?

Some strange flying creature that had been unleashed within the Ring that the AI had called 'skimmers'. A voice echoed in his ear piece as he stared off towards the distant mountains.

"Chief!" The voice snapped, the Spartan shaking out of his tired daze.

"Go for 117." He replied as he heard the familiar voice of a distressed marine

"Sir! This is Corporal Abbott with Jester Squad! We're pinned down by the Banished! Please hel—!" The COMs cracked loudly before it went silent.

"Time to go?" She asked curiously.

John grit his teeth as he went over to the console as he held his hand over the pedestal to grab the AI who took her rightful place in his armor. "Time to go." He replied as he jogged down the ramp towards a ghost he had been using to get around.

He jumped in and hit the boost hard as he rocketed off the hillside and into a ravine that he followed. John zipped past several patrols- uncaring at their plasma bolts that peppered the side of the ghost. He could hear the sounds of a Phantom overhead, his heart hammering as he pressed the boost- hearing the engines sputter as he came up the shallow hill. Banished roared with their delight at the retreating humans as they pushed forward. The Spartan plowed straight into the group as he launched his grappling hook straight into the top of a tree to take him out right at the last second. He released half way up- landing on the ground like a rock as he fell into the ground. He immediately unholstered his weapon as he sprayed into the back of a Brute firing at the marines behind cover.

The Spartan could hear the excited shouting of the marines at his arrival. He moved through the small battlefield as he gunned down several feisty Grunts that figured they'd try their luck with him.

"Reinforcements!"

John reloaded as he heard the Phantom draw closer, the sound of the plasma cannon scorching the earth having him on alert. He rushed for cover with the remaining marines, stuffed into some rocks as they moved into the crevice. John reloaded his weapon as heard something he did not want to hear; drop pods. And that meant one thing, Berserkers.

"Grenades, who has them?" John rushed, holding his hand out as they immediately pulled out what they had. The Spartan took them, "stay here." He instructed as he slipped back out of the crevice- making his way around the rocks as he heard the roars from the enraged Brutes.

John managed to sneak through the trees as he stepped out into the open. He let out a loud whistle, earning the attention of the Berserkers. They growled as they began to rush him quickly. He tossed the grenade with an arm so accurate- nailing the Brute straight in the head, the plasma pulsing before it detonated. The creature's head exploded across the grass as the other lunged at him. John dodged out of the way as he tucked and rolled, sliding against the dirt as he grabbed a weapon with his grappling hook. He locked and loaded as he fired into the other Berserkers chest. The beast panted and grunted, galloping towards him on his hands and feet.

"Watch out!" The AI squealed in his ear before being slammed against the ground so hard it took the breath out of his lungs. His shields sparked, going down as the Brute slammed on his chest with its fists. Each hit hurt worse than the last. John struggled to keep his arms up. The Spartan groaned as he lifted his legs up wrapping them around the Brute's neck as he squeezed as hard as he could. He let his arms stop the blocking as he reached down for a shotgun on the ground- swinging helplessly from the Brutes neck as it tried desperately to pull him off. John snarled as he finally pumped the shotgun straight into its mouth.

It's eyes went wide as they exploded from the sockets, the skull exploding backwards. John let his body fall to the ground on his back, the beast's body still standing for a moment before it dropped.

"That was close!"

"Was it?" He asked the AI as he rolled to his feet, looking around as he saw that Jester Squad came from the crevice.

"Thanks Chief.. Jesus Christ.." the corporal said as he looked around, happy that the Chief had shown up when he did.

"No problem. FOB Bravo is up the hillside on a lake." He said as he pointed towards the hill. "You should take your Marines there before the Banished come back." He explained.

"Of course sir.." he said as he looked back at the Marines, some being carried, others being checked for extra mags off their deceased bodies. John began to walk away as the. Am really gathered. "Ah sir. Before you go-!" The Corporal said as he ran after him. The Spartan turned, his body towering as he stared straight at the soldier. "We were checking out a Construct, right up there." He said as he pointed up to the mountain, there seemed to be no activity. "We got some strange signal we were trying to track down. We didn't get too far clearly. But it seems to be a Forerunner building," he explained. John nodded as he looked up to the mountain. He could see the tip of the building from there.

"Abbott lets go!" Another marine shouted as they crawled back to their Razorback warthog.

"And… Thank you again." The Corporal said as he rushed back to his squad. John walked back to his Ghost, the thing completely in shambles.

"Looks like we're gunna be hiking, huh?"

"Looks like it." John replied before he started at a steady pace up the base of the mountain.


The 'sun' began to set, darkness covering the Ring. But it seemed that it would never last. Dim light made it easier to move as John crouched through the dense undergrowth. The blue hypnotic lighting buzzed softly from the structure, small glowing bugs danced in the air. All was quiet.

"Chief, the signal is getting stronger." She whispered, afraid to talk too loud in the still night air. The Spartan cleared the front of the building as he raced to the door, turning his back as he swept the area again with his rifle tucked to his shoulder. He held out his hand for the door, hearing it hiss behind him as he stepped inside. Unlike many Forerunner structures, there were no lights that clicked to life as soon as he stepped in. They had been shot out. "Biometric readings are off the charts…." she said softly as he heard his suit scanners blip through the halls.

"What's down there?" He asked curiously as he avoided the broken glass as his helmet's lights clicked on.

"I'm not sure. More than likely the Banished." She huffed some. It was as good an answer as any. John continued through the corridor as he kept his back to the wall, going through the winding halls. It was incredibly dark, and incredibly quiet. The Spartan came to a ramp that led further down, still nothing from the AI he continued. I

The drop off the side was probably the most dangerous thing in here.

As he finally reached the end, the ramp opened up to another long corridor with a door to the end. He approached, his helmet's light shined on the door as he held his hand to the console to open it but, to his surprise, it opened by itself. The room was large with several pillars holding up the ceiling. Several Covenant like crates stacked all around with a console on the back wall that illuminated the walls in an eerie manner in an iridescent purple.

"Chief… the Biometric readings are gone… please be careful."

"Acknowledged."

The super soldier approached the console slowly, most of the room dark until he got close to the console. John kept his rifle to his shoulder as he let the AI step off his hand into the system and disappear.

"Hmmmm…. this is interesting." She said as she popped up, using her hand to scroll through the data, before the Chief could answer her, the sound of shuffled feet was brought to his senses. He swung around- ready to fire as he began to step away. No one was in here…

John began to walk around the pillars, into the darkness of the room with only his flashlight to distinguish him. Out of the corner of his eye he could see a shimmer but as he turned his head- it was gone. With his heightened senses he followed the shimmer. What the hell was that? He melted his body to the wall, unsure if they were alone now.

Hurried, clunky footsteps across the floor didn't startle him as much as the foot in his back. Body slammed to the wall as he dropped his rifle. He had no time to react as he heard the charge of an Energy sword. Large hands grabbed his wrist and forced his face first into the wall; pinning him. The sword was shoved into the wall, directly in front of his visor. The orangish red hue danced against the wall as he heard a familiar, low predatory rumble from his right side into his sound receivers.

"Demon."