Chapter 8: Ghosts, Dust, and Echoes

I Don't Own Halo or Red Vs. Blue. All rights go to Bungie, 343 Industries and Rooster Teeth.

A/N: Starting this chapter, the story is going to take over multiple POV's. But, the story will remain on the Chief, and his quest to get Cortana's chip back. So, with that in mind, enjoy the chapter.

"That's what I'm saying man," Sergeant Fowler said to his partner. "These UNSC guys just brought us this chip, and told us to put it into storage. His partner, Private Dean, laughed. "Whatever," he said, pushing the cart towards the door. "Let's just get the job done." Sergeant Fowler grunted. "What is so secret about this place?" he asked. "We shouldn't delve on the secrets of this facility." Private Dean said. "Yeah, you're right." he said. They stopped, and walked to the door. The two took out their keycards. "On three," his partner said. "Ok, one, two, three." The two soldiers inserted their keycards into the slots, opening the door.

They walked into the storage room, and wheeled the cart to the back of the room. "So," Private Dean said. "What's the deal with this chip?" Sergeant Fowler shrugged. "I don't know," he said. "I just want to get my shift over with." Private Dean raised his eyebrow, putting the chip into the storage slot. "Why?" he asked. "What do you have planned?" The sergeant smiled a smile full of mischief. "I'm going to go home and bone my wife." The private laughed. "Cool," he said. "Have fun with that." The sergeant smiled, and opened his mouth to say something, when his head exploded. Literally exploded.

...

NS

The Spartan in light brown armor fired his Sniper Rifle, blowing the soldier's head apart. The other soldier took evasive action, and dodged the other three shots that the Spartan fired. The Spartan cursed himself for not being quick enough, and flipped over to the left, and reloaded his Sniper Rifle. "Go ahead in," he said. "And finish the job." He heard the two golden Elites behind decloak themselves, and jump down from the ledge. He heard the other soldier start to scream, and open fire on the Elites. Two seconds later, nothing. Just silence.

He jumped down from the ledge, and put the Sniper Rifle on his back. "Good job, my friends," he said. "You guys did good." The two Elites turned to the Spartan. "We still don't appreciate you killing our comrades in the war." The Spartan laughed. "Oh, suck it!" he grunted. "You're lucky I don't kill you right now!" The Spartan known as "NS", looked around the room. "Is this the data chip?" he asked, pointing to the storage unit. "Yes, No-" The Spartan interrupted him. "Don't say my name!" he shouted. "I'm already dead! I should be dead!" The Elite activated his Energy Sword. "Well, if you like, I could kill you right now." The Spartan laughed. "Nope, I'm already dead, bitch! I'm just possessed! Guess the joke's on you!"

"Stop fighting, you two!" the other Elite said. "I'm in charge here!" he said to the Elite. "Whatever, boss." he said. "Ok, looks like the data chip is locked in." the Spartan said. "We'll come back tomorrow. Let's get out of here, before security comes."

John-117

John shoveled a mouthful of the soup into his mouth. "So," Grif said. "How do you feel?" The Chief looked up at Grif. "Like I told Cassie and Doctor Halsey," he said. "I feel fine. I just hurt from the procedure. How's Church, and the others?" he asked. "Their around," Grif said. "They're walking around fine by themselves now." The Chief nodded. It was his second day in the hospital, and he was guessing that the others back at Blood Gulch didn't know where they were. "So, was the operation on the Spirit of Fire successful?" Grif asked. "By my terms?" he asked. "Not at all. But at least we survived." Grif nodded. "Well, there is that."

Cassie was somewhere else on the ship, and he assumed that she was always with Dr. Halsey. "So, what happened to your armor, Chief?" he asked. "Dr. Halsey said it had been put up." he said. "Assuming I know what that means, it's somewhere on the ship." The UNSC Infinity was currently orbiting Earth, and the staff wasn't about to let them off the ship. The Chief could relate to that, considering they were wounded. "When did you wake up?" he asked Grif. "Just yesterday." he said. "I asked the doctors if I could go see you, but they declined. Said you were resting, and you wouldn't want to be disturbed."

"They were right," he said. "Yesterday was a stressful day." Grif nodded. "No doubt about that." John continued eating his soup, and listening to the rhythmic tune of his heartbeat. "Are you ok, Sir?" he asked. "Of course I'm ok," he said. "Why do you ask?" Grif looked at him. "You just look really calm." John looked up at him, and put his spoon down. "Grif," he said. "This is the first time in days that I've had time to just sit and think. Of course I'm calm." Grif nodded. He took another spoonful of soup, and swallowed. To be honest with himself, he was enjoying himself. Minus the fact knowing that they took Cortana's chip away from him. Why am I feeling like this? She was just an AI!

He banished the thought from his mind, just as Dr. Halsey entered the room. "How is my patient doing this morning? Or evening, I don't know what time it is." The Spartan shrugged. "I feel fine, Dr. Halsey," he said. The doctor looked at Grif. "Church, right?" she asked. The Spartan shook his head. "It's Grif actually," he said. "Hello doctor." She nodded. "Um, John would you mind coming with me?" she asked him. "I have something to show you." The Spartan looked up at the doctor. "Um, sure... I guess?" he said, finishing his soup. "Can I come?" Grif asked. "I don't see why not." Doctor Halsey said. He threw back his covers, and got out of bed.

He stretched, and put on a pair of boots on that were by his hospital bed. "Well?" he asked. "Let's go." Doctor Halsey, John, and Grif left the hospital room, and started walking down the corridor. "So, where is it that we're going exactly?" John asked. "My lab." the doctor said. "Why?" he asked, impatiently. "Are you always impatient?" Doctor Halsey asked, irritated. "You'll just have to wait and see." The Spartan rolled his eyes, and continued to follow. He walked past a door, and he snuck a glance into it. Inside, he saw a middle-aged man, hooked up to a dozen of needles, an IV and other stuff. It was Mendez.

He felt a hand on his shoulder. "He's hanging on, John," Doctor Halsey said. "He'll probably be fine." He nodded, and continued following the doctor. They finally reached a door, and she turned around to face John. "Listen," she said. "I want you to know that this is only the first stage of development, and you will be the first to use it." The Spartan raised his eyebrow. "Use what?" he asked. "Find out." she said, as she opened the door. The group walked in, and John snuck a glance to his left, and saw Cassie at work at a computer. "Why is Cassie here?" he whispered. "Not that I have anything against her, but..." His voice trailed off. "Oh, you're curious about that?" she asked. "Cassie has mad computer skills. The best I've ever seen, actually."

"It's true." Cassie said, as she typed away on the keyboard. "Who's that?" Grif asked. "She's the girl that found us in the desert." he told Grif. "Thank her for finding you, otherwise you'd be dead." He nodded. Doctor Halsey walked over to Cassie's computer station. "is everything ready, dear?" she asked. "Yes, Doctor." Cassie said. "Very good." Doctor Halsey said. She walked over to a wall, that John could barely see a electric panel on it. She placed her hand on it, and a computer voice said, "Welcome, Catherine Halsey." The wall then opened up, revealing a cabinet of some sort. The cabinet turned around, revealing a MJOLNIR armored suit. "This is what you wanted to show me?" John asked. "This," Doctor Halsey said. "Is the Mark VII MJOLNIR Armor."

"You're beautiful." John whispered. "Um, thanks?" Doctor Halsey said. "I was talking to the armor." he said. "Anyway," she said. "After the fall of Reach, I began working on a future prototype for the MJOLNIR Armor, and this is when this idea was conceived." He stared at the armor, in awe. "So, the armor comes complete with a doubled energy shield, two armor ability slots, and total "seating" for two AI units." He took a breath of awe, and stared up at the armor. "When do I wear it?" he said. "When we go to retrieve Cortana's data chip." John turned to the doctor. "You were serious about your promise?" he asked. "Of course I was." she said.

"Then when can we go out there?" he asked. "Whenever you feel up to it." she said. "Ok, then a week from today?" he asked. She nodded. "That's fine with me." she said. He nodded. "Good." Grif cleared his throat. "We're are you guys going?" The Chief looked at him. "To Earth," he said. "To Antarctica." Grif just stared at me. "Why would you go to Antarctica?" he asked. "It's cold as hell!" He nodded. "Yes, we know," he said. "But I have a mission to accomplish there." Grif continued to stare. "Why?" he asked. "The UNSC took possession of my AI data chip, and I'm getting it back." He nodded. "Ok," he said. "I guess that makes sense."

...

NS

The light brown Spartan watched the soldier through the Sniper scope. A gurgled, slurred voice came to his brain. "No," he said. "I don't think they're aware of my, excuse me, our plan. Everthing is going according to the plan." He held his breath as he looked through the scope. "Cover me." he said to his allies. He pressed a button on his suit, and the Active Camoflauge turned on. He dropped down from the ledge. "Who's there?!" the soldier called out. Damn it, the Spartan cursed himself. He heard me. "Nothing," the soldier said. "Just cold air messing with me. Stupid cold air!"

The soldier activated his radio as the cloaked Spartan stalked him. "Yes Sir," he said. "Oh thank God! I'll be there as soon as I can!" The soldier turned off his radio, and turned around, and the Spartan turned off the Active Camo. "Hello, Mate!" he said, as he knocked the soldier out with his Sniper Rifle. The Spartan dragged the body into the corner, and waited while he cleaned his Rifle. Finally he came to. "Ah! What happened?" he asked. The Spartan got up, and got his Rifle ready. "Ok," he said. "So this is how this is going to work. I'm going to give you a question, you're going to give me an answer. One question, one answer. If I don't get the answer I don't like, we have a problem. And if we have a problem, then you have a problem. Understand?"

"What?" he asked. "Why does your voice sound so weird?" The Spartan took out his handgun, and shot the soldier in the knee. "I told you that I'm giving the question! Not you, me!" he said, as the soldier screamed out in pain. "Now how do I open the-" He started to speak when his radio buzzed. "Right," he continued, looking back at him. "How do I open the storage unit?" His radio buzzed, and he sighed. "Yes, hello?" he said. "Yes, this is him." he said. "Spartan-117? The Master Chief? You want me to assassinate the Chief? Yes, I think I can do that." His radio clicked off. "Ok, well I don't have time to torture you, so I'm going to kill you." The soldier looked up. "Wait wh-" The Spartan raised his Pistol as he spoke, and blew his head apart.

...

John-117

"You okay, Church?" the Master Chief asked. "Yeah," he said. "After they moved me to a new robot body, I was fully functional." he said. "Good, because for my next mission," he started. "I'll need all the help I can get." Church cocked his head in the Chief's direction. "Why?" he asked. "Where are we going?" The Chief cleared his throat. "Antarctica." he said. "Fuck that!" Church said. "What did you say?" the Master Chief asked. "I said fuck that!" Church said. "I've been stationed at Sidewinder before. A, it's really fuckin' cold. B, everyone there except for me died."

The Chief sighed. "Fine," he said. "We'll find some one else to replace you." Church let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you!" he said. "Whatever." John said. "Well, hello dirtbags!" The Chief turned around to see Sarge run into the room. "And a fine hello to you, madam." Donut, who had just woken up, looked at Sarge. "Screw you!" he said. "It's light red!" The Chief decided to play along. "Are you referring to your pink armor?" he asked. "It's lightish red!" he screamed. His heartbeat started to rise. "Okay, Donut." he said. "Calm down. Sarge, stop screwing with him." The sergeant just nodded. "Thank you." the Chief said. "Look, I'm going to go rest. Try not to kill each other!" The Chief ran out of the room, and back to his room. He threw back his covers, and got in the bed. He placed his head on the pillow, and fell asleep.

A/N: So, what did you guys think of that chapter? What do you think about our mysterious new character, the light brown Spartan dubbed "NS"? Any opinions? Well, anyway, I hoped you enjoyed this chapter, so stay tuned for more.