Chapter 2: Of Jolly Voices and Imminent Destruction
"One single Flood spore can destroy a species."
Rtas Vadum
I groaned as my senses rebooted. The first thing I felt was that the all-consuming, raging pain had been replaced with a stinging ache. Beyond that was almost a pillow-like comfort that surrounded my entire body though the stone feeling that lined my back distracted that from me.
Then hearing came with a annoying, constant ring I would get from explosions. Not surprising since the Elites got grenade happy and spammed me. However, a cheerful babble and cooing filled my ears as well, giving some respite from the ringing. I heard it somewhere before, certainly wasn't a cat. It was similar to those floating alien things that looked like a worm-squid-turtle hybrid. Engineers I believed they were called. For some reason they liked to explode when I cleared out their Covie allies.
I could still smell death, decay, and dust now mixed with extra rot. Nothing new there.
Finally, I opened my eyes and the first thing I noticed was the lack of light. There was a concerning fact though, the light that did exist was a hovering mass of blue that looked awfully similar to a Engineer.
I immediately tensed up and my eyes darted around in fear of being captured by the Covenant. I wasn't sure what one of those floating aliens were capable of, but it likely was not pretty though as I took in my surroundings, there were no Elites or Grunts or anyone else other than a few pieces of Drones or a corpse. Also, a lot of rock had formed to create a cave and looking up, I saw a gaping hole in the ceiling. The skies still had that sickly appearance and the distant roar of a ship Glassing the surface echoed.
This was the cave system me and Emile took to get to the shipbreaking yard. Why was I back here?
Whatever the case, the Engineer had pulled me out from the brink of death so I owed it. Being saved by a Covie was going to make ONI lose their shit if they ever heard about this.
I rose up with surprising ease. Aside from the ringing, ache, and the stench, I felt fully rested.
"Recl-"
A voice spoke through my comms, but the static that came with it made the ringing intensify tenfold.
"Gah!" I held the sides of my helmet. Wait, helmet, no cracks. What?
"I apologize, Reclaimer! It seems your auditory functions have yet to completely optimize!"
"Who's this?" I asked wearily. It called me 'Reclaimer' and used computer talk that A.I.s were fond of. While it could have been one, I've never been called Reclaimer. The nicest thing I've ever been called by a A.I. was meatbag.
"Oh, I am Watchful Seer, monitor of the Forerunner base located on this world!" It replied happily.
Yep, it was a A.I. The tone was too jolly for it to be concerned with the world being brunt to cinder. It also said Forerunner.
"Forerunner?"
"Yes Reclaimer! I had honestly hoped that you would have the appropriate knowledge, but calculation proved otherwise. However, we are in imminent danger!"
"So I've noticed."
"Then you have seen the Flood!"
"The what?"
"The Flood! A parasitic organism capable of rapid metamorphosis after infecting a adequate host!"
"I'm sure the Covenant can handle it."
Can't believe I'm putting faith in those bastards.
"Those buffoons?!"
I flinched at the anger in his voice.
"THEY UNDERSTAND NOTHING! They care little for proper protocol and procedure instead unleashing the Flood with reckless abandon! Now I have a planetary-wide outbreak to contend with! So they can SUCK A DICK!"
"That's, uh, some colorful words," I stated awkwardly. I never had to deal with a angry A.I. before.
"I am sorry, Reclaimer. I sometimes succumbed to my rampancy."
"Oh great, I got genocidal aliens, parasites, and a insane A.I. that keeps calling me Reclaimer."
"Genocidal aliens?"
"The Covenant. They've been exterminating us because their 'gods' say we're heretics."
A moment of silence past.
"WHAT?!"
Followed by my ears popping at a roar equal to that of a Hunter.
"THEY ARE ELIMINATING RECLAIMERS?! Your kind are not 'heretics', but rather the Inheritors of the Forerunners! Complete disregard for my Creators' plans AND releasing the Flood from containment! If I had a foot, I would shove it up their asses! "
It was scary how fast Watchful Seer switched from a happy person to a cussing, rage-filled voice in seconds. Its mention of rampancy was not comforting either.
"Alright, calm down. Is there a way in containing the Flood?"
"Yes Reclaimer. However, my calculations have a below ten percent chance of this current outbreak reaching sufficient severity for a Halo fire in all scenarios, but we cannot take any chances and therefore must warn the nearest Halo array!"
"Fine," Six replied. Now he had a objective," where are you located?"
"There is a Forerunner facility underneath the mountain known to you as 'Malachite'. One of your own facilities is also located here, but heavy Flood and Covenant activity has made entry difficult."
"I'm sure we'll think of something. I'll snatch a Covie aircraft and head towards Malachite."
"I highly recommend you make use of Huragok I dispatched to retrieve you!"
I looked back to see the 'Huragok' wave one of its tentacles. Well, I now had a Engineer that somehow dragged me to the caves by itself.
"So there's no one else?"
"Unfortunately, all other surviving Reclaimer life readings have flatlined since your recovery. Scans have yet to reveal any hiding Reclaimers, but there is a one hundred percent possibility that there are others and every minute that percent goes down by point-five percent. If you should come across any injured Reclaimer, Light as Feather should be able to treat their wounds. In addition, it should also be able to repair or improve any technology it can access much like you and your armor."
I blinked. To have such a asset was immensely beneficial. No wonder why they exploded. Damn Covenant wanted to make sure we didn't get our hands on them so they strapped bombs on them!
"I have also deployed a Promethean Knight to your location."
"Promethean Knight?"
The next thing I knew, I heard a swooshing sound and a large, metal creature metalized in front of me. I fell onto my back in surprise when it opened its 'helmet' to reveal a very human-like blue skull and roared(that also had human undertones, yay). From the ground, my eyes soaked in the detail and my brain tried to figure out how the detached limbs stayed afloat. The Promethean's body resembled much like that of a beetle and its blue lines that ran along it illuminated the cave.
"Your question has been answered Reclaimer."
"Why did it roar at me?" I asked as I got up.
"Unknown. The Prometheans were created in the last years of the Forerunner-Flood war in a effort to eradicate them, but by then, the Flood had grown beyond all means of conventional contaminant and despite my authorization to deploy them on combat missions, I do not have access to their data They are immune to the Flood, however. This particular Promethean has been dispatched to specifically defend you Reclaimer. All one hundred others are needed to defend this Forerunner structure and sterilize the Flood presence."
"Got it. So I'm their commander then?"
"Yes, but I can still override your command."
"Ok then, let's go," I ordered and proceeded to walk in the way I remembered where a opening would led us to the road," also, Seer, I noticed that I have no weapons other than my Energy Sword."
"Ah, yes. Light as Feather has upgraded your equipment with Forerunner technology. Your reactor has been replaced with a Forerunner crystal which has a near complete efficiency rate. Now you can recharge any compatible weapons with your combat skeleton!"
"That's useful. What's the-"
I was about to ask what was the Flood infection in the area like when I heard a wet, rapidly repeating smack. That was the same sound I heard when that eyebrow Elite was thrashing on the ground.
I think I was about to meet the Flood.
"Reclaimer?"
"Possible contact, maintain radio silence."
I didn't want to give away my position with unnecessary chatter. I crouched, pulling out Elite Slayer, and hugged the right wall of the tunnel we were in. I could hear the clanking of the Promethean and the constant burbling of the Engineer bounce off the cave's surface. That would break stealth so I put two fingers together and pointed at each one before pointing to the ground telling them to stay put. Hopefully they could understand.
I resumed and thankfully they stayed put. I continued till I saw a bulky form in the shape of a human. However, the outline of what looked to be three long 'claws' led to a massive bump on its left shoulder. The head was also bent so far back that its neck and bone support had to be broken.
The rest of its features were shrouded by the dark, forcing me to turn on my night vision to get a better look and… shit, Emile.
There was no mistaking that skull ensketched EVE helmet.
Emile limped away from me and parts of his armor were missing such as the left shoulder plate. His steel and brick-red colored suit had been charred to black as night. His head disturbingly dangled on his back, seemingly keeping watch on his rear. Emile still had the shotgun, though he was now holding it with only one hand. I pictured him wielding it with both hands, tentacle arm on the bump and regular on the trigger. Other than the flesh growths and disfigurement, there was nothing else to suggest that he had been turned into a zombie.
Oh, jeez, I'm in a zombie apocalypse. I know some Marines that would be thrilled for this.
Too bad they're all dead.
Or maybe they are alive, hiding someplace?
If there were others alive, I needed to find them and get the hell off this planet.
Weighing my steps carefully to avoid any unneeded noise, I snuck up behind Emile and activated the sword. The snap-hiss as blue energy formed the duel blades caused Emile to turn around, lifting its shotgun. Briefly, I saw a trio of tentacles with what I could only describe as roots attached to the ends. Said tentacles led back to the former SPARTAN's upper chest where the skin and armor had been ripped apart. In its place was a mass of decayed, squirming flesh.
I stuck the blades in its lower abdomen and got no response. No flinch or scream of pain. Just nothing.
Well, aside from getting whacked by its claw-arm alongside the head.
The force sent me flying into a wall and alarms blared, bleeding my ears and indicating my shields were near depletion.
Heh, upgrades. Sure.
I looked at Emile as he pumped his shotgun, somehow, and squared it at my face. A metallic roar echoed throughout the cave, however, followed by a swooshing and the mineralization of the Promethean. I noticed one new thing. It had a blue sword.
It swung and hit.
I let out a groan of baffled annoyance when Emile's shields flared up.
"How the hell-
Questions later, kill Zombie-Emile now!"
Before he could retaliate, I jumped up with both arms outstretched and grappled him. Emile let out a startled, distorted oaf as we fell to the ground. I held on tightly, braving the horrid scent of rot and slimly wetness of his flesh, but it was all in vain as Emile threw himself back up with me still attached. The Flood must have increased his strength because even a SPARTAN having a extra thousand pounds on it should have brought anyone down.
Then Emile showed me how he dealt with clingy, former friends, by running headlong into the stone. I heard the Promethean's roar and figured it must have been trying to line up a shot.
I hastily detected myself, allowing Emile to hit the rock. Then there was a piercing-like sound as a hail of orange comet-shaped projectiles peppered him. Once again the shields appeared, absorbing them all, but dissipating at the same time.
Unfazed, Emile then jumped the distance that could easily fit two of me between him and the Promethean with its claws drawn back. When it was close enough, it swung midair and a audible thud emitted from the robot's head as it snapped to the side. Emile brought up his claws once again, but by then I had gotten up and launched myself towards him, grabbing him.
"Now!" I shouted as Emile shook with all of his might to throw me off.
The Promethean obeyed, swinging its blade yet in a surprising act of intelligence, Emile bent over which allowed me to kiss it.
I growled as the force ricocheted in my helmet, but I held on.
By then Emile had decided enough of me piggy-riding on his back and dropped down onto his back. I let out a gasp as his own thousand pounds plus whatever else he weighed crushed me.
It was also a stupid move, as evidenced by the fact that the Promethean leaping onto Emile and thrusting its sword into the upper chest. I heard a pop and the body went limp, still ontop of me.
To say I was irritated and angry that Emile's corpse had not only rested on top of me, but also turned into a meat puppet was a understatement. The Flood was now on my list to kill, burn, and maim.
Damn them all to Hell!
If there is one.
If not, then every living moment shall be like Hell!
No, I cannot afford to become like the Covenant.
From my downed positing, I saw the Promethean twist its blade and the snap and crack of bone followed. A moment later, I felt Emile being lifted off of me and I watched as he was thrown like garbage. I growled at it. Sure Emile may have been a sociopath, but he still deserved to be treated like a human and he was my friend despite our differences.
The robot didn't respond. Of course.
"Reclaimer, are you alright?!" Watchful Seer's worried voice crackled over the radio.
"Yes," I replied as I got up," it wasn't the worst fight I've been in, but seeing a old friend turned into some kind of zombie-puppet… it doesn't bid well."
"Ah yes, Flood are masters in psychological warfare by utilizing descended or living allies. They can also reuse bodies if sufficient damage has not been dealt so we must dispose of the corpse! Thankfully the Promethean has been equipped for such measures!"
I sighed. I was hoping to give Emile a quick burial yet if the Flood were able to reanimate the dead again and again then destroying his body might be the only way of giving him peace.
"Just give me a few moments."
"Of course, Reclaimer, but remember, time is of the essence!"
I knelt down next to Emile's upright corpse and placed a hand on his chest or what was left of it. The tentacle-roots along with the flesh it was attached too had disappeared leaving a sizeable hole where it once was. I then moved about, putting Emile's hands over his chest and legs together. I also tried to fix his head as best as I could though in the end it was bent.
I stood over the body, trying to think of something to say. Something meaningful, not like those generic bullshit ones from the few movies I watched. For several minutes this went on and my two companions seemed to be getting restless, if their clanking and cooing were anything to go by.
With nothing, I just stayed silent as I replayed a memory.
I stood inside the darken bunker, worryingly eyeing Carter cradle Kat. Damned sniper saw a opportunity and took it. How she heard it and reacted fast enough was beyond me. I owe her, but I'll never be able to repay it.
The rest of NOBLE had dispersed to wait till it was safe. The civilians whispered fearfully or tried to give comfort that everything was going to be fine. I chuckled. I knew that their survival chances were low and even if they did survive, they had nothing. By the time this invasion was over, Reach would be nothing more than a molten space ball.
I took a deep breath and sighed. Such a pessimist I am.
Looking around, I spotted Emile sitting in a corner grinding that Kukri of his against his gauntlet. I wondered what he meant by honoring Jorge 'in his own way'. Knowing him, he'll probably snap a few Covie's necks and joke about how Jorge should have been there to see it. I still couldn't get over his trust over me though.
When I offered Jorge's dogtags, he refused. I had thought that, despite their bitter relationship, he would have taken them as he knew him longer than I did. Instead, I got to keep them. Was it a sign of trust? Or did Emile not want to appear soft in front of everyone?
While I thought, I had unknowingly walked over to Emile.
"Well, isn't it Six?" Emile stated, breaking me away from my thoughts.
"Yes I am," I replied. A scoff followed.
"I sometimes wonder if you're either a SPARTAN or a machine."
"Hm?" I raised a eyebrow. What did he mean by that?
"Everything you say seems to be automated, like a robot."
"This coming from a man who likes to murder things."
The knife stopped grinding.
"Who are you Six?"
That question caught me off guard. No one, not even Carter, had asked who I truly was. What did I tell him? A Lone Wolf assassin dispatched by ONI to silence terrorist cells? Or a SPARTAN made to be Cannon Fodder only saved because he was 'special'. Why was he even asking?
"Why ask?"
The grinding resumed.
"Because you never take off your helmet!" He laughed.
"Not like you do either."
"Har-har-har, but seriously Six, I've never seen you without your helmet off. Never to eat or drink. Hell, you might even sleep in it. Scared a Grunt will catch you without your pants?"
"Neither have you."
Emile stopped grinding his blade and sheathed it. He then did something I didn't expect. He removed his helmet.
My eyes widened at seeing his brown skin for the first time and the tears that ran down from his eyes.
"I wonder, do you wear your helmet to cover your emotions?"
My shoulders slumped and I looked down.
"Then I guess we're more alike than what I like to believe," he said and then looked at my right leg." Six, it seems you have your own fan!"
"Huh?" I turned my head to see a girl, no more than the age of eight, wrapped around my leg. I could feel her trembling and yet I stared dumbly. This was new.
"What, big man can take on giant aliens, but can't handle a little kid?" Emile's mocking question burrowed its way into my mind. I never had to deal with children before.
"Can you get off?" I asked. She just clung tighter.
I sighed.
I put my hands on her and ripped her away from my leg. The girl let out a terrified squeak as I put her on the ground and placed my hands on her shoulders. I could feel Emile's eyes on me, waiting what I would do.
I had no idea.
"What's wrong?" I asked. That was the first thing that came to my mind.
"M-my mo-mom and da-dad, we go-got separated," her stutter reminded me of Kelly.
"Don't worry, I'm sure they're fine," I lied. The state of New Alexandra was as if Hell's legions marched through the city and burnt it to a crisp. They couldn't be alive.
"Really?"
The stutter was gone and she stopped quivering. Her voice was filled with hope and eyes sparkled. Too bad they were going to be crushed.
"Yes. In the mean time, I'll watch you till they get here."
"OK!"
I sat down next to Emile and the girl crawled next to me and snuggled against my arm before falling asleep.
"Heh, he rubbed off of you, didn't he?" Emile chuckled as he playfully punched me in the shoulder.
I nodded.
We later found the kid's parents. Hopefully they all got off of Reach or at least died together.
"I'm ready," I said.
"Reclaimer, stand back!"
I took a few steps back as the Promethean brought up its weapon and fired it point blank in the chest cavity. I watched as Emile disintegrated into golden ash. It was oddly similar to a pyre of old civilizations.
"Let's go," I ordered and we walked out of the cave's darkness into the scorching light.
A/N: Well that was interesting to write. Tell me how I did with the flashback! Also, I got done waaay earlier than I thought so I may move it to one week or even a few days if I keep this up. Anyways, thanks for reading!
Also noticed that the name isn't fully on there so from here on out the chapter's names are going to be on top while the selection will just have the generic chapter 1,2,3 stuff.
