Ch. 2 - Instinct
"Greetings!" said a computerized voice, "I can't even begin to imagine how a small group of bipeds found this facility, let alone get inside!"
"Where is that voice coming from?" asked Veca confused as he & the others looked around for the source.
"Why, I'm up here, biped." said the voice. The scout party looked up to where the voice specified, they spot a Monitor.
"An Oracle!" exclaimed Laco.
"'Oracle'? I am no 'Oracle', I am 734 Adjutant Instinct, caretaker of Flood Research Facility Zeta." informed the Monitor, its grey 'eye' blinking with each word.
"Wait, did you just say 'Flood Research Facility', Arbiter, we must leave the building immediately if it contains the Parasite!" said Relos, becoming alarmed.
"Evacuation, nonsense! This Facility has been active for more than 10,000 years. It hasn't even had a single outbreak, the Sentinels make sure of that." explained Adjutant Instinct.
"Oracle, can you be absolutely sure that the Parasite can't get out?" asked Saros curiously, looking at his brother.
"Of course," Instinct said, "the Sentinels inform me of anything that happens each & every quarter hour." He looked at the Arbiter. "I would like to know why you bipeds are here, if you don't mind my asking?"
"We are the Elites, & we where sent down here to investigate this structure." The Arbiter informed 743.
"Investigation, hmm, interesting. Since you are here to learn more of this Facility, allow me to guide you through the entire structure. As long as you don't disturb the Sentinels while they work." The Monitor suggested.
"That would be most appreciated Oracle." Arbiter said.
"Excellent, then follow me, 'Elites'." said Instinct happily.
The Elites followed closely to the Monitor, listening carefully to what it said. Adjutant Instinct showed them a bulge in the wall.
"This is one of the many Sentinel Launchers, it allows for Sentinels to go from one part of the Facility to another rather quickly." the Monitor explained.
"Oracle, what are these little things flying around us?" asked Veca
"Those are Constructors, they inspect all of the things in the Facility & repair anything from ceiling cracks to Sentinel Launchers." informed Instinct. The Monitor lead the group through the structure until they got all the way back to where the Elites met Adjutant Instinct.
"Arbiter, report!" said a familiar voice. The Arbiter turned to see Rtas 'Vadum in the turret of one of the last Shadows.
"Shipmaster, this is a Forerunner facility, it is used to study the Parasite." informed the Arbiter. The rest of the scout party greeted the Shipmaster & introduced him & his guards; Vse 'Wetum, Crae 'Mar, Avo 'Revad (all Spec Ops), Ato 'Yot; Weapon Specialist carrying a Fuel Rod Cannon on his back, & Siya 'Gotum, the Shadow Driver.
"Shipmaster, I've recorded everything the Oracle has told us." said Var.
"Excellent! Great thinking Major!" commended Shipmaster 'Vadum while being handed the recorder."Vse, Avo, escort the Arbiter to the Phantom."
"Yes, Shipmaster!" the Elites said as they followed their orders.
"Wait, you're leaving?" asked 734, "But, we've just begun educating you!"
"Don't worry Oracle, there are many other Elites who would like to listen to your vast knowledge." The Arbiter assured Instinct.
"That is good news. I-" began Adjutant Instinct, but was interrupted by a Sentinel. "Oh my, it seems that there is a little problem, please excuse me."
"Of course." said Rtas. The Monitor followed the Sentinel. The Arbiter, Vse, & Avo entered the Phantom. It had been 2 days since the Abiter had been on the same Phantom with the 6 Elites that were still in the Research Facility.
The Phantom was half way to the Shadow of Intent's hanger when the Pilot came on the intercom.
"Arbiter, we have to return the Forerunner structure."
"What, why?" asked the Arbiter tiredly, as he was dozing.
"The Shipmaster says there was an incident." the Pilot said. The Arbiter could feel the Phantom change direction.
"What kind of 'incident'?" asked the Arbiter, becoming worried.
"The Parasite was released!" exclaimed the Pilot as he pushed the Phantom to its top speed. The Arbiter looked at Vse 'Wetum & he could tell that he was worried about his brother, Tsu. Avo 'Revad put his hand on Vse's shoulder, trying to comfort him. Suddenly the Phantom jerked hard to the left. The 3 Elites nearly fell to the floor of the carrier.
"Pilot, what is happening?" asked the Arbiter.
"Enforcers, 2 of them! I'm trying to get us into the lower atmosphere of the planet so you can you the turrets on the doors." alarmed the Pilot.
"Why are the Enforcers trying to take us down, we're not the Parasite! I thought that Sentinels only fought the Parasite." said Avo confused.
"Something must have happened to the Oracle." said Vse.
"There, we're in the lower atmosphere, Arbiter, you can help me with the Enforcers now!" informed the Pilot. The Phantom's doors lowered & the turrets activated. The Arbiter & Vse got on the turrets as Avo grabbed a Fuel Rod Cannon. All the Elites fired at the Enforcers. Vse took down 1 of their shields & it rushed the Phantom. But, Avo countered it with a cannon blast to the monstrous machine's eye, blinding it, giving Vse time to take it out. Avo reloaded & rushed to help the Arbiter. The Arbiter knocked off 1 of the Enforcer's arms, stunning it for a second, giving Avo ample opportunity to blast it, but the cannon jammed. Vse saw this & he grabbed his Carbine & fired it wildly but accurately at the giant mechanism. Finally, the monster fell out of the sky.
As the Phantom was fixing to leave, 4 other Phantoms came next to it & dropped off more Elites & ammo. The Elite squadron headed straight towards the Forerunner facility, fighting off many Sentinels. They finally made it inside, only to see a few Elite corpses & pieces of Sentinels. The bodies were so badly burned from the Sentinel Beams that only 1 Elite was identified, it was Ato 'Yot, who had an inactive Plasma Grenade in his left hand & in his right was Plasma Rifle completely emptied. The Arbiter ordered the Elites to recover any weapons that could be used, including the downed Sentinels' beams. As the Elites left the room, the Arbiter was seen clenching his Energy Sword hilt. After about an hour of walking, the squad of around 20 found many broken stasis cells & the smoking wreckage of the Shadow. Luckily, the driver, Siya 'Gotum, was alive & was carrying a Sentinel Beam.
"Arbiter," he said after he was calmed down by Avo, "the Oracle, its eye glowed red, then it released the Parasite, & ordered the Sentinels to help the Parasite!"
"This is not good, the Sentinels & the Parasite, working together. Siya, what about the Shipmaster?" asked the Arbiter.
"He, Tsu 'Wetum, Relos & Saros 'Redar escaped," Siya answered. Vse sighed with relief, "but, the others were infected."
"Come, get up," the Arbiter helped him up, "let us find the Shipmaster." he said as he lead the Elites out of the room into a narrow hallway.