Me: Yes! I'm just so happy today, I had to write this chapter! I can't help myself!

Master Chief: I have a feeling we don't want to know…

Me: I passed my ServSafe Exam for Culinary Arts! I can learn to bake finally!

Thel: That is not so bad…

Me: Maybe I'll cook your heads, first.

Master Chief and Thel: Nevermind. It's bad.

Me: I do not own Halo!

Chapter Thirteen

Rose fired her stolen plasma rifle at a brute, killing it with a shot to the head. Just a few feet away, the Spartan shot down two more of the brutes, and the marines were trying to push back a number of grunts and jackals that were steadily approaching from the group's rear. Gilc fired his own plasma rifle from just behind Rose, getting a lucky shot in a jackal's eye as it let its head around the shield for a moment.

"They just keep coming," Gilc muttered in his accented English. "I see no end to these foes."

"Just try to make a path," Master Chief said calmly, despite the raging battle. He put a needle through another brute as it started to rampage. "If we can get to the hangar, the rest of you can get out of here while I deal with the Prophets."

The Sangheili murmured in his natural language, and even with a basic understanding from so much time around the covenant, Rose didn't understand a thing he said. A green bolt of plasma struck her arm, and she cried out as the cloth was burned through, scorching her arm. With her good arm, she shot a bolt back at the grunt that hit her. The bolt hit its methane tank, and the grunt shouted before it exploded, taking down a good portion of its comrades.

The path was large enough to get through, and the group took a chance, racing past a jackal that was dazed from the blast. The Spartan noticed Rose holding her left arm, wincing as she ran.

"Sergeant, are you injured?"

"Nothing that will kill, chief," Rose said, gritting her teeth.

"I think I see an exit," one of the marines shouted from the head of the group, just a moment before a plasma cannon went straight through his chest, killing him instantly. A hunter let out one of its soundless roars, charging up its built in weapon and firing again.

Master Chief pushed some of the remaining marines out of the way, rushing up to the hunter with immense speed that only the Sangheili could match. Rose grunted as her back hit the wall, and her thoughts travelled to Hyak. If the chief was alive, then was Hyak gone? The only woman marine shook her head to clear it.

Gilc held an arm across her breast to keep her flat to the wall, his stature straight and protective. Rose looked up to him, and, for a moment, it was like he was an older brother. The movement Gilc made next was a blur. He pulled a small blue device off of his armor, touched it with what served as his thumb, and threw the device. It stuck to the hunter on the gut, and exploded.

Master Chief covered his helmeted face as bits of the monstrosity flew in every direction. He wiped a bit of organ off his shoulder and turned to the rest of his group, nodding to Gilc.

"Thanks to our friend here, you all can get out of here." The doors opened automatically, and Rose walked over, her burnt arm hurting more by the second. The marines filed out before her with Gilc at their lead, and the sergeant stood by the Spartan, holding her arm.

"Chief, what happened to Hyak?"

John eyed the young woman through his visor. If only Cortana was able to help with this, he thought. He sighed, turning to Rose completely.

"He was well when we separated. I do not know if anything has happened to him, but he's a, durable kid. I have a feeling he'll meet us soon."

Rose nodded, but a frown persisted. She headed outside, and John stood there for a few moments before he followed. Even through the armor, a deathly chill caused him to shiver slightly, but it went unnoticed by any of those ahead.

Gilc had stopped about ten feet forward and a foot to the right, sniffing the air. His pupils narrowed as his jaws splayed out, as if in anger. "It's here," the Sangheili hissed.

"What's here," a marine asked, his grip on his plasma rifle so tight that his hands shook.

"The parasite. The infestation that you humans call the Phlood." The F sound was awkward for the elite's mouth, but the message was clear. John raised his needler, looking around for any signs of the undead infestation.

Out the corner of his eye, Master Chief noticed Rose moving in the direction of a number of grounded Phantoms; the hangar, apparently. Her teeth were gritted, and the seared flesh on her arm was visible from even a distance, but she used both hands to hold her gun, never the less.

A scratching sound echoed across the near empty hangar. On instinct, John turned, ready to fire his weapon, and a small, insect-like creature came into view. He pulled the trigger, and a needle turned the creature to dust particles. Another sound made itself known, but it was quieter; it was the rasping breath of someone dying.

John held up a hand to keep the marines and Gilc in position as he followed the sound. Rose, apparently, did not see the need to follow an order, and kept a few steps to his left as they progressed.

They rounded a Phantom, and the young woman let out a gasp that must have been held in for a while, dropping her weapon. Two bodies were lying upon the ground by the Phantom. One belonged to a Prophet, barely breathing with a flood form tearing at its chest, trying to take control. The other was Hyak, unmoving, and without breath. A small pool of blood was by his head, dripping from a trail that led from his mouth and down his right cheek. His armor was dented and shattered at the abdomen, and some blood was visible where the shards had cut into him.

John stayed silent as Rose collapsed, staring at the boy's body. It made sense, since they were the same age, and he had taken her hostage rather than killed her. Moving around, so as not to disturb the body, the Spartan approached the body of the Prophet.

Looking up, the prophet let out a wheeze. "Human," it muttered, clinging to life. "Stop, the Great, Journey." It gasped for air before saying more. "All shall die, should Truth, activate Halo."

"I figured that much on my own, but thanks." John watched the head fall back, the breaths shortening and closer together. Not wishing to deal with an undead version of the Covenant leader, he pulled off the infestation form, crushing it as he did. The Prophet of Mercy let out a strangled cry of pain until his breathing stopped, and the second Prophet was dead.

John turned his head to look over at Rose and see how she was doing. The sergeant was lightly wiping blood from Hyak's cheek, on the verge of tears. Sighing inwardly, the Spartan stood.

"Sergeant, I'm sending you back to Earth with the others. Take the body with you. Even though he was part of the Covenant, he is still human, and deserves a proper funeral, or something." Rose didn't look up, and John left her there, moving back to the group. They were huddled tightly together, looking around for any enemies. The marines saluted John as he approached, but he didn't return the gesture. "Get on the Phantom. Help the sergeant with her friend. I have some business to take care of."

"I'll keep them safe as we travel," Gilc said, knowing exactly who the friend was without seeing the body. Receiving a nod, the Sangheili climbed into the Phantom and fired it up, waiting. Master Chief waited until all of the marines were on the craft, along with Rose and Hyak's body, before running off to get to a panel to speak with Cortana.

Me: NO! That's just awful! How can Hyak be dead!?

Master Chief: That almost brought a tear to my eye. Sadly, I had tear sacks removed as a child, so I can't cry.

Thel: I am too proud to weep for the fallen.

Me: I'M NOT! But, wait, should we continue the story then? I think so! Because, I've got a bit of a surprise for all you readers! But I can't spoil it! SO just wait!