Master Chief
The wheels on the Warthog came to a sudden stop and the vehicle did the same thing, kicking up dirt as it did. From the driver's seat, the lone occupier of the vehicle turned his head to see what loomed above him. His head tracing upwards, where shining in the reflection of his visor was a tower, long and high like the Forerunners built them. Rising up from the trees that hide it as well as they could, but even the tallest of them could not match the grandiose of the size of the tower. Piercing the sky, it almost looked like it hit the top of the ring that encircled them or even filled in the gap that was there from the broken part. All in all, it was another outpost just as they had last left it. Save for one thing.
It was previously in the hands of the UNSC, courtesy of none other than the one who returned to it now, until suddenly it went off their grid with no lines of communication and no way of telling what went wrong, though they had one guess.
Naturally, the Banished were the culprits, so he rode out to take the outpost back to rid it of the Banished and take it back for the UNSC.
He hopped out of the driver's seat and despite it being only a small step, he landed with a heavy thud you would expect when half a ton hit the ground. Armored green from head to toe, save for his orange tinted visor which reflected all the majesty and terror of Zeta Halo around him. That and the number plastered in white on the left side of his chest.
117.
One of his many names. Master Chief, John, Spartan, Reclaimer, Savior, Demon, Prey. He was all those things and more.
With the assault rifle in his hands and a pistol on his hip and an assortment of grenades, the Master Chief was armed to the teeth and ready for action. Yet these were not his greatest weapon.
"Huh?" a light inquisitive voice let out. Silently, Chief took a hand from the assault rifle to put it forward opening it facing upwards and allowing The Weapon to manifest in his open palm to see the structure with her own eyes. A bright smile on her face as she looked up at it "For a place that fell so recently it seems pretty deserted." she commented aloud looking at it.
"So, it seems." Chief said dryly, not agreeing or disagreeing. There was only one way to know for sure. He took a step forward and put a hand back to his gun as The Weapon faded, going out like light from his once open grip to transfer back into the suit.
Passing through the trees and over the grass Chief approached the construct ready for anything. Shining like silver it stood out amongst the woodlands. Even the fauna of the ring seemed too desolate here. From fear to tread further or something worse, he didn't know..yet. But he remembered his encounter of an old forerunner structure that dug deep into the swamplands on the first Halo ring. And what he encountered there.
Scanning down to look at the base of it, he saw the doors that would normally slide open for him had they been there. Instead, they were torn from the frame and discarded before it. Chief stalled waiting for something to jump out of it, but when it didn't happen, he continued his cautious approach.
"Seems like someone decided to do a little remodeling." The Weapon quipped as he entered. Immediately he was overtaken by darkness as no light remained inside. Instantly the flashlight on his helmet turned on lighting his way, allowing him to see whatever his radar showed him.
Which was nothing. There was nothing here. Nothing on his radar, nothing to be heard, and nothing to be seen.
His footsteps echoed throughout the hollow chambers allowing him to hear beyond what he could see. The thin hallway led him up where it opened up into an angular room like so many others he had seen, on this ring or otherwise. Coming into it, he knew that they had found the control room, but it was devoid of light as the rest of the construct, allowing only its faint edges to be seen save for where his light shined. He scanned the area, gun pointed ahead. Light showed an empty table, squared off in a small room.
"Look." The Weapon said, and Chief set his sights on the center of the room, where there was a small console, fit just for her. Chief approached it, removed his hand from his gun and opened his palm. Sprouting out from his hand standing there, The Weapon appeared bringing light to the room by her mere presence. Chief slowed to a stop before the console, holding his hand and her out over it. Taking two careful but casual steps, she walked off the edge of his palm and then hopped onto the top of the console.
"Alright." she said as she took her place and looked around "Let's see what happened here." she said as she centered herself and looked forward as Chief continued to look around "Aaannd" she held the word raising a hand as she did so "done." she said snapping her fingers completing the routine smiling as she did it. With everything back online more lights came back to the room showing more of its broken, shattered look. An ugly inside to counter its outer beauty, which in Chief's mind matched the Halo rings perfectly. Scratches and blast marks lined the walls, though not from any weapons either were familiar with. Other controls centers were demolished. There were four doors, one for each wall of the room and each one lead elsewhere deeper into the base were broken from their natural position. Whatever happened here was truly a battle to behold "Oh-" she let out suddenly her smile turning to surprise "That's..." she trailed off concerned as her face scrunched up. It was not the state of the room that shocked her, no it was something else as she turned her head down to stare inquisitively at the data that only she could see. Taking note of it, Chief chimed in.
"What?" he turned to her.
In reply she turned up to him "Promise you won't be mad?" she asked unsure of how to say it and what his reaction would be. He faltered into stillness. But slowly he leaned in.
"I Promise." he said with a head nod and a voice full of sincerity, breaking through his usual seriousness. but he was just as serious about that too.
"Well," she began again looking around to look everything over. But whatever she found was as promising a sight as the interior "this spot was taken over..." she paused briefly "but not by Banished. Or UNSC-well it is now thanks to us." she added quickly before getting back on track "But.." she paused "it was something else."
"Something else?" Chief repeated.
"Yes." she said before moving her hands interlocked with the other behind her back. Bringing them forward it revealed an emblem or rather two, one before each of her outstretched hands. One was a skull with a lightning bolt on its forehead with wings sprouting beside it. "This is one is called Shadaloo." she told as Chief focused on it. "The other-" she stopped short when a loud bang was heard behind them echoing up. Chief snapped back pointing his gun back at the location they came from, and she turned with him. "Still here." she said frightened. It seems whatever battle being raged was not over. And now they were involved.
"We'll see." Chief said as he walked off towards the sound of the loud bang. The Weapon had no choice but to stay behind, resolved to watching him leave. But her anxiety grew once she saw him round a corner and disappear behind it.
Silence followed after. She knew for how long, for although it wasn't truly that long it felt longer than anything. She waited six months for him, but even this, in a short span of time, felt excruciating.
A sound then was heard behind her. Not of two metal feet, but two pairs of hoofs stomping on the ground.
"Chief?" she called out nervously as she turned around wondering if he returned from another direction. Yet when she did, she was greeted by a large hulking mass rising on four legs, larger than any Brute she'd seen or in any records. The bottom half of it was a horse with great legs and hoofs, between them was a long, winding silver tail. The top half was that of a man, if it could be called that. Grim and grotesque it had to large, curved horns coming out of its head.
"No.." its deep voice grumbled as he opened his arms widening his stance "It is I! Motaro! The greatest Centaurian alive." he announced raising his arms and head high and his voice carried throughout the Forerunner installation. When the echo of his boast died down, he brought them back down and his head came down to view her. "And you are it."
"Well," she let out with surprising levity "actually my name is-"
"Is this what my lord wanted?" Motaro cut her off stating what his purpose was, but unable to grasp it "What Shao Kahn coveted so that he sent me here?" Motaro spoke aloud to himself "Hm." he scoffed "It matters not. If this is what he requires. I shall give him his prize. Then I will finish my fight here to prove my strength and species worth." he told as he reached a massive hand down towards her. The weapon cowered as the hand came closer snuffing out everything else in the room.
Suddenly the sound of gunfire rang out and echoed, with a hail of bullets firing onto Motaro from his left side. He brought up his arm to protect and brace himself. Turning her head beneath Motaro's massive frame, the Weapon saw Master Chief had returned, his sights onto Motaro as he fired relentlessly at him. Motaro hunkered down where he was shielding himself with his left arm. He then turned to face Chief and as he did a large silver tail crept up from behind his long back. Aiming at Chief like a gun all its own it shot a small red ball at him.
Chief then ran forward sliding on the ground ducking under Motaro's shot as the red ball passed over head and blew up behind him. Striking the other side of the room, the wall erupted into fire behind him as Chief outran the fire engulfing it. Crouching low, he began to slide across the floor quickly closing the gap between the two of them. As he came towards him, Motaro pivoted fully to meet him. Sliding legs first Chief brought his in to plant them on the ground and shoot up right as Motaro slammed his front two legs down to crush him. The mighty slam of metal rang throughout the room reaching farther than his voice had. With that blocked Chief then shot up with a punch that hit his chin knocking Motaro's head up. Coming down Chief then punched him in his ribs, first with his left, then right then left again. His head coming back down Motaro slugged Chief in the face staggering him. He swung forward with his other fist as Chief braced for it, his shoulder glistened gold from his shield taking the damage but diminishing in the process. As Motaro lashed out with his other arm grabbing Chief by the throat. Chief squirmed and moved in the vice grip that tightened every second. Motaro held him up over the ground bringing them face to face as Chief's legs dangled, before Motaro brought his other hand forward to punch him launching him across the room to hit against the wall. Chief fell down with a heavy metal thud that echoed through the entire structure.
Letting out a demic war cry Motaro broke into a galloping over to him ready to finish the job.
"Chief!" The Weapon called. Looking up Chief saw the oncoming threat closing the distance quicker than he could have. Getting to his knees Chief reared one arm back and then threw it forward, flinging something from it allowing it to tap the floor and jump forward again right as Motaro was coming towards it. At the last moment the Centaurian saw the grenade and screeched to a halt. The giant centaur's momentum stopped, and right as he had the grenade exploded before him, rocketing him off his four feet to slam into the ceiling of the room and then to fall to the floor, with pieces of the cracks falling down onto him.
Chief and The Weapon kept their eyes on him, and an audible groan and the faintest of movements showed them that this fight was not yet over.
Chief got back to his feet, and he wasn't going to stop now. Seeing the writhing of Motaro's tail, he jumped forward and landed on top of it, right as Motoro had come back to his senses.
Turning his head, he saw Chief and his tail. He tried to snap and flick him away, but Chief grabbed ahold of it tightly not letting go even as it lashed around in his grip. Then swinging his body, he pulled on the tail and hurled Motaro off his four feet, through the air and down the hallway, knocking him into the ceiling both walls and floor as he tumbled through the narrow hallway.
Not being idle Chief followed him, ready to finish this fight and eliminate the target.
From her perch The Weapon watched as much as she could, but once they went down the hallway and around a corner she could see no more and even the sounds of their battle lessened from where she was. Whether that meant it was over, or they were getting too far for her to hear, she couldn't tell. She tried her best to track the fight with the layout she knew, but was having difficulty doing it given the state they found it in.
Suddenly another set of footsteps approached. The Weapon was weary as to who, give the monstrous nature of the last tenant they saw. So, she was thankful, relieved even to see that though it wasn't Chief who returned, but a human woman appeared from another doorway and come before her.
"Oh... it's a friendly." she said relieved as she eased back into her usual stance. Yet the cold look on this womans face did not change even when it looked at her. "Gotta say, that doesn't look like it's regulation." she said noticing the strange attire. A dark blue leotard, fir with a matching beret and a small yellow tie. On her fists were red gauntlets.
"It is you." she stated in a voice as robotic and static as Chiefs.
"What? Oh!" The Weapon let out and then began to shake her hands "No, you got it all wrong, I'm not Cortana." she insisted despite their many similarities outing hands to her chest "I'm-" her introduction was cut off again.
"Time to complete the mission." Juli said as she reached down for the monitor. And it was here The Weapon saw an emblem on her chest. Not that of the UNSC, but of Shadaloo.
"No!" she cried out.
Right as Juli's hand was about to take ahold of her another green armored one grabbed it stopping her in place. Her arm was the twisted away as the Master Chief came back into the fray, having dealt with Motaro.
"Soldier, stand down!" he barked as she cringed in his grip.
"She's not one of us Chief." The Weapon warned behind him.
"What?" he said, a hint of uncertainty in his otherwise iron voice.
"She's Shadaloo." she admitted shakily Be careful!" she warned.
Chief vision rolled back to Juli as she braced for a fight. He did the same. She lunged at him first with her free hand, but he ducked and landed a punch deep into her gut bringing her off the ground and she fell from his grip to the ground on her knees. He brought his other fist down to her, but she blocked it and punched him back. He hardly faltered and came forward with a knee to her face knocking her back across the room.
Knocking against the wall, she quickly hobbled back upright, but as she rose something rose over her. A purple aura emitting off of her like smoke. She peered up at him with a hateful glare in her eyes. Chief was ready for it, but even he was taken by surprise by what came next.
Juli then erupted forward at a powerful pace, leading with a fist that connected with Chiefs chest. It was harder than before, and this time caused him to stagger taking a step back from the blow. A golden aura overtook him if only to show that the blow was effective, and his shield was damaged.
But he wouldn't again. Juli swiped at him again, but he eased back dodging it before swinging forward with one of his own. She brought an arm up to block the strike and when he followed up with another, she hunkered down low to the ground throwing out and elbow to his gut which hit him diminishing his shield more. Then she slid across it.
She slid down to the podium where The Weapon remained watching on this entire time. She sprung up to her height to grab at her but found just as she was about to do it Chief had appeared on the other side bearing down at her. He jabbed at her, causing The Weapon to duck herself, but Juli jumped out of the way dodging his punch and clearing the distance of the room.
Once she landed, she set her eyes on the two of them. The Weapon came back up watching worriedly and Chief standing staunchly against her.
"Forget it!" she spat "I'll deal with you later!" Juli spat at him but then jumped through the door to the outside. Chief did not pursue her but watched the door like a hawk. Silence overtook the room, and it returned to what it was like before they had entered. Silent and empty save for them.
"Chief?" The Weapon asked into the silence.
"What was that?" he asked turning back to her.
"Human.." she revealed" but not from here." she clarified "The Dolls."
"Dolls?" he repeated.
"They were made for something, like the Spartan program." she rationalized turning up to him.
"Doubtful." he said unconvinced. But he reached up to feel his chest and the blow he took there "That power." as he remained so The Weapon pondered aloud.
"The Dolls." she said again "The Centaurian... Shadaloo.. Shao Kahn..." she rambled off names, and things Chief had never heard of. He looked down to her as she looked up to him "There's no record of any of those. Not currently at least."
"Currently?" he asked. She looked up to him.
"Take me outside for a better look." she requested. Obliging he moved a hand towards her hovering over the control panel she stood on. It was the third one to do it but the only one to take ahold of her. She evaporated into his suit, reappearing into his open palm as he walked outside.
But it was not as he left it. Coming to the balcony higher up on the structure they had a grand sweeping view of the ring. The surface of the ring was still predominantly there, but not entirely. Not because it was blown away but because something else took its place. The dirt road the lead them to it, with trees, grass and hills lining it. But there were other things there too. Along the path, and even on high distant mountains was something visible. Something that was not natural to the ring. Small Slipsace portals that opened up to other worlds. Some as familiar as earth yet others as distant as High Charity or the Ark. One place of molten lava or another dense jungle.
"What is it?" he asked as more and more holed appeared. Worse yet inside of each there seemed to be fighting. Two against two. They were as diverse as all of the lands they could see through the portals.
"Slipspace rupture." she told as she looked with him "Only more numerous and different. Not just the places it reaches but when it reaches." Chief raised a hand to bring her closer to his face.
"Are you saying-"
"Whatever brought those two in there." she nodded back to where he fought Motaro and Juli "Brought them from the past." Chief said nothing but looked ahead to see all that was before him. Chief looked around taking in all these new places. A portal opened after he had defeated the Harbringer. They then appeared three days later. But this? This wasn't anything like that. This was years, centuries apart. And the fighters it brought...
Nearby by mountains and far away FOBS disappeared being overtaken by these portals that brought in these other areas in their place. As different and diverse as the fighters they saw within them. The two of them continued to scan the landscape and the constantly changing sweeping view.
"Hey, man!" a bombastic voice called out breaking their gaze. Alarmed Chief darted his head to his left side where he saw all of a sudden, a Jamaican man sprang towards them, bounding across the railing to appear. He would say it was at random, but judging from his attire, he was not UNSC and judging by what else was going on, he knew how he got here "You seem like one whose got a kinda of classic rhythm to him." Dee Jay proposed as he bounced around next to him "Something like this." he said before he opened his mouth wide and began a Gregorian chant.
"What's his designation?" Chief asked.
"Unclear." The Weapon answered as Dee Jay chanted on "Not with Shadaloo, or Shao Kahn." she mused "Which means-" she said coming to a conclusion before she was stopped.
"So here you are." another voice said, this one hard and strong. Just as alarmed as before Chief and The Weapon turned and Dee Jay looked past the two of them as a new man appeared. Not bounding forward like Dee Jay but sprouting upwards from a puddle. There was no sign of rain or water around yet there it was and strange as it seemed, so was him rising from it.
"That's..." The Weapon trailed off as she leaned on her side to view it more "..different." she eventually settled on.
Appearing before them fully now, the man was draped in purple save for a small slit in his mask that revealed his eyes. He looked angrily with his gaze casts upon them. From the edges of his body water dripped off of him. Strange as he was, from his appearance to how he was revealed, on the other side of Chief, Dee Jay was not as impressed.
"This guy." Dee Jay rolled his shoulders and hopped on his feet "His rhythms as choppy as the water." he said putting his fists up. Rain, however looked to Chief.
"Status?" Chief asked to The Weapon, but he would get his answer.
"I am Prince Rain." the purple clad man declared "son of the God Argus making me one as well."
"Weeell," The Weapon began "Demi-god to be specific." she corrected him and answered Chief all the same. Something Rain did not see, to like as his brow furrowed.
"There are secrets within this place." he said looking around at the vastness of the ring "As old as the Elder Gods themselves. But perhaps its power is even greater" he said before setting his eyes back on them "I shall have them for my own."
"That's not going to happen." Chief warned slowly bringing his gun back up.
"And who are you to stop me?" he said brining his arm up, readying for a fight.
"Haha." Dee Jay laughed from the other side "This is gonna be great fight for the three of us!" he declared clearly seeing where this was going "Three styles all coming together! Let's do this, baby boy!" he cheered.
"There's an awful lot to take in." The Weapon commented looking from one bitter warrior to the next uppity one.
Rain shot his arm out; it would not strike them, but what he unleashed would. Shooting out from his body was a lightning bolt. At the last moment Chief eased back blocking it and instead of hitting him it travelled past him striking and zapping Dee Jay.
"Bumbaclout!" he let out once he was hit by it, zapping him in place and shooting him off the balcony.
Chief eased back up bringing his weapons with them as The Weapon faded, being replaced in his grip. He pointed his gun at Rain but this time he shot his other arm out at him. It was not lightning that was shot at him, but water.
Blasting onto him, he even saw his shields diminish as water splattered over his visor, muddying his vision. In that haze he saw a purple blur jump at him, looking like it was swimming as it was coming towards him. The water dripped down his visor and Chief putting the assault rifle down brought his hands out right as Rain dove at him. Grasping his arms in his own, Chief held him at bay as Rain struggled against him. Stopping him completely Chief then pushed forward knocking Rain back and hitting the railing. Then thrusting forward Chief threw his shoulder into Rain knocking into him and forcing him to fall off the walkway. Turning his head to look over, he saw Rain fall and then disappear into another puddle of water that manifested onto the ground beneath him. Dripping wet himself, Chief continued to down until The Weapon got his attention.
"Chief?..." she called out. At the sound of her voice Chief moved away from the railing.
"Who was that?" he asked as he shot one arm out to grapple his gun back to him as the other opened up for The Weapon to stand.
"A demigod like he said. And a musician judging by the other ones talk." she told happily "Or two more problems as you would classify them." she told chipperly despite his appropriate but bitter assessment.
"Are they in league with Shadaloo? Or Shao Kahn?"
"No." she answered "They got thrust into this, just like we have. Seems they were trying to make their own of it too," she paused briefly "It seems regardless of allegiances, more and more people will be effected by it."
"Then so are we." he stated "How do we stop it?" he asked after a moment's reflection.
"Good question." The Weapon said as she rested an arm on her elbow as the other rubbed her chin "We know two culprits." she then raised two fingers up from that hand "They may have something to do with it." she rationalized uneasily before turning back to him "But they're not the only ones out there...so, what do we do?"
"Fix it." Chief said simply as he turned to walk off along the balcony to find the stairwell that took them down back to level ground.
"I thought we were going to fight the Banished."
"New orders just came in." he stated, informing her as it happened.
The Weapon was silent as she took in the sudden abrupt departure from and change in the mission, but in the end, she found an easy explanation for it.
"Well," she lightened up and put her hands behind her back "it's just like you said." she said chipperly. Chief's head titled over slightly to her.
"What's that?"
"The missions change." she began.
"They always do." he finished before he looked out at the open world before them, now becoming more open yet more fractured at the same time. As other worlds and placed began to pop up.
"Seems everyone traveling in pairs." The Weapon said.
"Then so will I." he said stepping forward assault rifle in hand.
"But whose going with-oh!" she realized halfway through what he meant to do, and who would be going with him.
Mortal Kombat Fight Your Rival! Special Forces Base
They had arrived at perhaps the most familiar looking place on their entire journey so far. A military base, not unlike the ones he was so used to seeing on Earth, Reach or even the Halo rings. As familiar as the setting may seem, it didn't mean they were any closer to ending this. So, the first thing they had to do was find out where to go from here.
Chief entered a room where there was a large control panel. And behind it, whirling blue was a large circular portal. Once it again, there was a semblance of the familiar in it as he regarded it both quietly and warily. It was not unlike the ones he's seen already, or even one that jumped from Slipspace. Only smaller more contained and more controlled. But of course, just as they could use it, so could others. Which meant they would have to do this fast.
As he walked towards the monitor, he quietly reflected all they've come across. It was all old news by this time, but it was new to them. From his radar and senses, no one was around. Edging closer to the monitor he moved a hand from his gun to turn it upwards as The Weapon appeared.
"So, it seems this Gill," The Weapon began aloud "is like a prophet- or so he thinks." she shrugged at the end.
"I've taken down them before." Chief stated the fact, undeterred by whatever his enemies called themselves.
"Then I guess you're not worried?" she turned up to him.
"No." he said flatly "You?"
"Not even about Shao Kahn?" she asked with a bit more intrigue and concern "We've faced his minions already. Only a matter of time till we run into him."
"Just another brute with a hammer." Chief rationalized.
"Well," The Weapon mused" The Tarkatans would have a home in the Banished, I think." she said agreeably. Chief said nothing else, but she took the time to take in and reflect more information "Well, it's not all bad that we've come across- there's that princess who's trying to free her people from them." The Weapon asked tilting her head to one side. Surely not all of them were bad.
"The Arbiter of Outworld." Chief rationalized again. He stopped short of anything else when he came before the monitor. He reached a hand out and The Weapon moved hopping from his hand to the monitor though admittedly she struggled to find a place to stand given its comparatively rudimentary placement of it. Once she was out of his hand, he returned it to his assault rifle.
"Alright," she said easing herself into place and straightening out once she had "what to do from here?" she asked looking around.
"Find out what's going on. Who's behind this." Chief said as he loomed large over her.
"Just give me a second." she said turning around "Oops." she suddenly let out.
"What?" he asked alarmed raising the gun in his hand slightly. The Weapon winced on the platform.
"I accidentally just transferred this to the UNSC like I would a F.O.B." she said squeamishly "But no matter," she said hurriedly as she brought her arms up "I'll just give it back and move on from there." she said with a wave of her hands.
"Stay focused." Chief advised calmly.
"It's alright, it's back." she said with a snap of her fingers and turning back to him "These old systems are so touchy." she said with a small smile and giggle. Chief said nothing and she continued on turning around to do so "Now as for here, well there's a lot to get through." she suddenly stopped from moving her arms as if she was frozen in place "Well, that's certainly interesting."
"What?" Chief stepped up.
"So, the source of this is Shadaloo but the main proponent is the Kamidgous. There's one for each realm" she explained ", but they're not the biggest problem out there even if they're the initial cause of it. That would be the Dragon King." she explained. Chief listened instantly. An old cast down ruler with great power intent on returning to greatness. It sounded like and reminded him too much of the Didact. If this was a new threat, then he would face it.
"What can you find out about him?" he asked.
"Let me show you." she said as she waved her hand and the large monitor beside the portal showed not areas around the world submerged in combat, but this very room. Chief was standing before the monitor, and she glowed on it. She turned around to see "Sorry," she apologized "it's an older system but filled with a lot of information, pretty easy to overlook and get lost in it." she defended herself before looking excitedly at the screen "Oh look! There's you." she pointed to him and his placement on it. A small blue finger was pointing at him, and the same thing was shown in the screen, reflecting the endless dive into the monitors "And me and.." she started giddily but paused and peered into the screen, specifically someone marching across towards them from behind "Chief!" she called as Chief was suddenly taken from behind she turned just as Chief turned around to be struck in the face by a metal fist. The force knocked Chief back, and he fell onto one knee stopping himself from falling as he braced himself with a fist to the ground. He rose slowly back up and turned around to face his attacker.
A soldier stood before him. Bare-chested but with metallic arms stood before him pounding them together.
"Stand down solider." Chief ordered.
"Fraid not." Jax replied brining his fists up "This area required top clearance and I don't remember inviting you to the party." he said before his eyes glanced to the monitor at Chief's side "Security showed a breech in the system. Guess that'll be you." he said as he trailed his eyes over The Weapon who flinched at his gaze "Or more likely you." He then set them back on the Chief.
"Please. We just needed information." The Weapon pleaded, putting her hands up.
"You're not the only ones with an interest in that." Jax replied. "You also won't be getting away with it."
Giving his threat and already acting on it, Jax came forward to swing at him again, but Chief evaded the punch and replied with one of his own. He threw another, but Jax raised a fist to grab it before swinging his other arm forward only for Chief to do the same stopping it by grabbing it. They struggled in each other's grip, but neither one budged nor broke. Then Chief, rearing his head back swung it forward. It knocked into Jax's weakening his attempts to push back at him. Using that Chief pushed him back further as Jax stumbled back out of his grip.
The two were back to squaring off at each other as The Weapon watched from the sidelines on the monitor. Eyeing Chief up, Jax wiped his mouth as the shiny metal had a streak of red dulling it.
"Impressive suit." Jax complemented before putting his fists back up "But everything breaks." he grilled Chief.
"I got this one." Chief said "Just take care of the rest." he said. At that moment Jax came forward swinging at Chief who brought an arm up to block it.
"Chief-oh!" The Weapon winced as he took another hit, but then Chief countered with a knee to Jax's ribs and followed it up by kicking him back. As Jax stumbled Chief advanced and The Weapon cheered him on "Left-no right!" she said as Chief was hit by one fist and then the other, but then caught the third oncoming on and reaching over their intertangled arms punched Jax in the face not once but twice "Yeah!" she cheered.
"Jax!" another voice shouted out. Turning over the Weapon saw a woman appear at the end of the monitor. Seeing as how it was becoming two on one, she felt there was only one thing she could do.
"You get him Chief!" The Weapon said as Jax and Chief fought all around the room. Her voiced caused the woman to look down at her now "I guess I'll take this one." she said unsure of even herself but taking her own fighting stance.
Sonya meanwhile just stared down at The Weapon, unsure of what to make of all of this just yet.
Street Fighter Fight Your Rival! Ring of Galaxy
"Wow!" The Weapon let out in awe as she gazed at the open sky above them. The ceiling was cut open revealing not the sky, but space. And within that blank slate was none other than the planet Earth. The home to humanity and the very one they were designated to protect. It was so blue and clear from here, looking even more beautiful than the holographic memory of it she saw on Zeta Halo. Surrounded by it was the black void of space, lit only by the countless twinkling of stars all around. And if you looked hard enough, she thought you could even see a Halo ring lingering out there.
Amazing as that sight was there was more to see. She turned her head down to bring it level, rotating it around to view the open arena they stood on. The large circular window that allowed them to view space was lined in gold where two great statues were holding their arms up as if they were the ones who held the themselves. Beneath them, lining the circular ceiling was a ring of screens that showed countless other fights happening; some between people they fought themselves and some that were not. But it was still breathtaking all the same.
Continuing on they came to an arena and walking over the engravings in gold of the very planet that was above them. Taking it all in, The Weapon was giddy at the sight of it all. Chief said nothing and continued on.
But the more and more she saw whether the scale of the universe or the screens of fighters beneath them it got her to thinking. And she found it necessary to voice that.
"So, I was thinking," she began chipperly turning around in his palm to view Chief. In reply to her he titled his helmet down ever so slightly, so her blue form could be seen in it. He didn't say anything else, but it was all she needed to know she had his attention "When you use your grapple hook you should say something."
"Say something?" he repeated only slightly confused "Like what?" he asked, his voice returning to its static presentation.
"Something fitting like.." she paused as she rolled her eyes and shoulders bit set them back on him once she came up with something "'Get Over Here!' when you pull someone in. You should try it." she said putting her arms back behind her back.
"The grapple pulls me to the target." he stated in his usual stale tone, refuting her point.
"Well.. doesn't mean it can't be multipurpose right?" she leaned in. At this point Chiefs gaze turned upwards ahead at what they were approaching. And what was approaching them.
"I'll think about it." he said as he turned his eyes up as he saw two men approached from the other side of the ring. One was old and frail with a white beard in a purple gi. The other was dark and smoky, with hair like red fire and a murderous intent in his eyes. Both took notice of Chief and by the looks of them, with great interest.
The darker of the two was a step ahead of the other and put an arm out stopping the old man. He obliged and once he was stopped, the darker of the two stepped forward to come towards Chief.
"You!" he called in a rough, violent voice "Who are you?!"
Naturally when asked who she was The Weapon would respond to tell her newfound name "Well, my name is-" she began but was cut off.
"Spartan 117. Master Chief." Chief cut her off identifying himself.
That seemed to stir a greater fire that already existed in this warrior for his grinned in mad delight "So," the man growled "It is true. You are the one they call 'Demon!'"
"Among other things." Chief replied as dry as a bone.
"Then you are worthy!" he roared and stomped a foot "I am Akuma the Raging Demon. I demand a challenge." his eyes zeroed in on Chief as if he was all there was to see "From one who bears the same mantle of power. Show me!"
Whatever his declarations, they had no time for it. Chief was prepared to walk around him "I have a job to do." he said as he began to move, giving Akuma and his partner a wide berth.
"Hm-mh." The Weapon agreed as they sidestepped him "And by the way!" she called out brining a hand over her mouth to heighten her voice "Escharum gave better speeches." she taunted him from far away as she stuck out her tongue.
But Akuma stomped his foot down again coming before Chief stopping him. "You protect humanity, yet you dare to carry the title of Demon?!" he roared, his voice becoming angrier and more violent with each word he spoke "Shred your weakness. Prove to me you are worthy of that name and my fists!"
Chief was growing impatient with this for he had no time for it.
"Step aside." Chief warned "Disengage."
"Let loose your strength against mine. End my torment and fulfill your purpose!" Akuma raged. From behind him, the older man watched on intrigued. Chief was silent. He was made for fighting, but he had no reason to fight here. When no answer came from him Akuma decided he would force one from him.
Akuma moved, pivoting his body towards Chief and a fist was hurled at him. As it gained traction, it looked like it caught on fire as it burned a purple flame. The second the fist connected with Chief's chest he was forced off his feet and sent hurling through the air. His shields instantly diminished in a flash of gold and the blaring alarm was heard all around as he somersaulted through the air. Blends of golden stages and black space overtook his visor as he was flung around. The only thing that overtook the sound of his alarm was The Weapons cry.
"CHIEF!" she shouted in distress as he landed hard on the ground on the other side of the arena. He stayed there for a while beaten down from the blow. Turning his head up, he saw Akuma rage to the open sky on the other end of the golden earth he stood over.
"Is that it? Is that all that can be mustered against me?" Akuma called "If this is all the future has to offer then what else is there left for me to prove?!" he raged as his fists soared to the air. He stood over the engraving of the earth as if he had conquered it and had nothing left to prove. No great fight to await him.
But behind him Gen had a sly smile as he saw Chief get back to his feet. This caught Akuma's attention as he snapped his head back down to see Chief back on his feet, gun in hand. His declaration was no different.
"You return to the battlefield." he stated.
"It's all I know." Chief replied. Power and rage swelled through Akuma's body as he brought his arms back down before him.
"Fight me!" he demanded. But said nothing again, but this time Chief would oblige.
Chief threw his arm out for a punch only it would not land for he was too far away. But uncoiling from his wrist came the reeling sound of something unwinding. Releasing from the small winch on his arm, his grapple shot out quickly clearing the arena that the two stood over in opposition. Reaching Akuma before he could react, it latched onto him and electrocuted him. He stiffened in place grunting as the blue bolts zapped him where he stood.
Planting his feet and digging his heels in, Chief tugged his arm in violently and Akuma followed the pull of the grapple and came to him.
"Get over here." Chief said though it lacked the enthusiasm he heard from the one who initially said it. Being pulled across the ground once Akuma was close, Chief hit him with an uppercut sending him shooting into the air. Jumping up with him Chief followed him unleashing a kick that send Akuma flying back across the ground to where he initially was, only this time at the feet of Gen who watched on, never losing his grin.
Chief fell back to the ground in a more controlled manner and starred off to Akuma at the feet of Gen. The moment he landed he asked "How was that?" A giggled response of approval came from his helmet.
Groaning on the ground, Akuma put a hand to the ground to punch it shattering it beneath his fist before an amused chuckle escaping a grin above him got his attention. Snapping his head up, he saw Gen laughing at him.
"He may bear the name you do, but he has not forsaken what he was. What he is." Gen concluded slyly above him. In reply Akuma slammed his other fist down and using that propelled himself up. Back on his feet he was face to face with Gen, but he was not the opponent he sought.
"Begone!" Akuma barked back at him. But once he turned his head back to settle back onto Chief, he eased into his fighting stance "He is mine to finish!"
From across from him Chief readied himself. Akuma slid across the ground towards him as Chief ran at him and the two demons collided in battle.
Sub-boss Necalli Hour of Battle!
The battle of the demons was over, so they continued on. The stars twinkled above them, and the golden arena shined with them. Chief wandered forward. His weapons at his side as The Weapon stood in his hand. It was clear of enemies if not sights all around them, but they knew their journey wasn't over. The screens all around them showed that much. The longer it went on, it could almost make you miss the Halo ring which seemed shorter in comparison to these realms. As profound as that was, there was one constant factor that The Weapon was hung up on.
"I just can't believe it." she said aloud astonished.
"Then don't." he advised dryly, not as impressed.
"I mean Magic? Really?" she turned her head up confused "It can't be that. There has to be some other explanation."
"Then we'll go find one." Chief told her. Smiling she nodded to him. But a sudden drastic change came over her. Curiosity turned to concern, even fear as she turned her head over down the path, they were going.
"Chief!" The Weapon said abruptly "Eyes up." she warned and no sooner had she, had Chief pointed his assault rifle ahead, and it was a good thing he did.
Another slipspace portal opened up now, but this one was different than the others. It did not manifest in the air, or over the ground, but instead on the ground itself, opening up like some great endless pit. But like the other portals it brought something to him. Rising from the ground like a corpse come to life was a demonic red figure.
"What do you think it is?" she asked curiously, for it truly seemed unlike anything they had encountered so far. Which had been a lot.
"Another problem." he assessed. From the angry eyes that glared at them The Weapon didn't disagree.
The body landed with a heavy thud on the ground as the portal closed beneath it. Its hair wiggled and writhed like tentacles. A hacking sound came from its mouth as it moved, almost as if it was trying to communicate with them.
"Hero of the futureeeee." Necalli spoke in a voice that writhed, sounding like it was crying out in pain, full of anger and hate. He held onto the last 'e' in future as if dragging out the span of time Chief had crossed to get here. Then it moved towards him looking and sounding like something that was dead but was forced back to life to serve some terrible purpose. To Chief it sounded like the Gravemind from all those years ago, though admittedly Necalli didn't rhyme.
"Oh, it can talk." The Weapon commented. Necalli did not seem to hear it and continued his ramblings.
"You do not belong here-but you are here- Your soul is forfeit." Readying himself Chief kept his gun pointed at him.
"Well, that doesn't sound good." The Weapon chimed in as Chief kept a steady gaze and gun pointed ahead.
Necalli's tongue flapped out of his mouth as he took in and released a deep breath "I will dismantle you!"
"Looks like he would fit right in with the Banished." she said mentioning his blood red color scheme "And he looks-"
"Angry." Chief finished.
"The godsss" Necalli continued "you serve them... but they are called... Forerunner." he growled that last word as if it was painful to speak it "But my new master is the only god... the Reclamation has begun."
"That doesn't sound good." The Weapon's voice warned Chief inside his suit "Getting a readout Chief." The Weapon informed him as information and data scrolled down his visor "Looks like he's a powerful fighter. Calling himself 'The Emissary of the Gods'-whichever ones those are- "she got sidetracked with her comment "but now it seems he's in the service of Onaga. Travelling the planes of existence for Souls of the strongest warriors in what's called 'The Hour of Battle'. Apparently, his service to The Dragon King came at the price of his freedom and the costs of all these warriors."
"Then let's end it here." Chief said.
"Well," The Weapon began "Let's see how your luck holds up." she said confidently.
Master Chief Ending
Chief ran across the ground stomping heavily as the dirt shifted under his immense but swiftly moving weight. Then he heard a splash. Water rushed beneath his boot splattering as he went. Then the water that got kicked up was sand as a desert appeared under his next step leaving the jungle river behind. But what he ran through now wasn't his issue. His only concern was on what was ahead.
The tall forerunner structure where he started this mission. And circling around it was the waving edges of a portal. One so large that it showed off the entire tower and even some of the land surrounding it on Zeta Halo.
But that portal was shrinking and every moment that went by his view of it got smaller and smaller. He saw less of the place where his journey began and more of the world that he was going to be trapped in if he didn't make it through.
He ran into dense leaves of an overbearing jungle. Just another land he travelled to that was being set back into its rightful place. But it was just another one that kept him away from getting back.
Emerging from the jungle at a breakneck pace he saw that the tower had all but disappeared and now only the base of it could be seen.
"The window is closing!" The Weapon said as he now ran across a city street.
"We'll make it." Chief reassured her undeterred by the potential to be stranded yet again. But even as h said that he saw the portal shrink before his very eyes. All around him the different realms and lands he once crossed were being pulled away from each other to be set back in their proper place. But that tower on that ring is where he needed to be.
It would have been easier if he had a Warthog, but by now it likely wouldn't have fit through the portal. The shifting outline continued to shrink and wane even as he approached.
Stampeding forward, he saw it had now begun to close in on itself. Running would not allow him to make it through, so he did the only thing he could.
Using his momentum, he stopped running and rearing forward Chief jumped up, launching himself through the air. The portal had now cut itself off from the ground and only lingered in the air. Looking ahead it was like it simulated a full Halo ring. But as Chief jumped through the air, he saw less of the ringworld on the other side as it closed, making him realize that although he was lining up with the floating ring, he would not be able to pass through it.
Using his thrusters, he shot himself forward closing the distance in the air between himself and the portal, managing to not only come to is but overshoot it so he sped right passed the portal that was closing not in front of but right behind him.
Shooting across the air he began to fall back to the ground below him. His view of what was in the ring changed as he fell. The vision of the ringworld was closer than it was since he left it, the only thing closer was when he landed head first into the ground of it.
Grunting he quickly got back to his feet and looked around. There was the tower dwarfing him like when he first saw it. The grass and rocks that surrounded it remained unchanged. There were no signs of anything else here, other than the ring repairing itself.
"Chief?" The Weapon let out as he turned around to see the portal close and with it the last glimpse of the other worlds. Chief was silent, but the Weapon had more questions "Did we make it?"
"This time." he answered, recalling the last time there was a portal closing, he Cortana and half the ship didn't make it through. But this time with only himself and The Weapon to contend with, they made out much better.
"I wasn't worried for a second. It seems your luck holds up." she said lightly but seemed to walk back on it with her next question "We are back in one piece, right?" she asked somewhat squeamishly.
Chief instinctively looked up to the sky "Almost." he answered as he saw the fractured bits of the rings still floating out from where they had been fractured off of.
"Well," The Weapon began optimistically "at least there's no sign of the NetherRealm or Shadaloo right?"
"Right." Chief acknowledged. Remembering the last time he couldn't make it through that portal, if this time was anything like that then he had left those two defeated foes behind as he did the Ark. But as sure as he was of that, there was something else too. He was right back where he started "But the fights not over."
"It never is, is it?" she asked, but despite the pessimism she sounded optimistic. "Where to now?"
Chief said nothing but turned his head and looked over to the sight of the Warthog he drove here, right where he had left it. It took up the entire view in his visor. With his newest task done, it was back to his old one. Taking the fight to the Banished and winning back this ring. He didn't need to say it since the Weapon already knew what was expected of them.
"Take a girl for a ride." The Weapon suggested as Chief answered by moving towards it. With no words from him The Weapon continued on "You know, say what you want, but I think you'll miss some of it."
"Doubtful." he refuted dismally.
"Come on, you fit in pretty well there, given all the concealed faces we've come across. The ninja's, Satsuki, Q. There was definitely some similarities."
"I don't think so." he dismissed dryly as he closed in on the Warthog.
"If you insist, but there was some pretty wonderous sights we saw." she said as if her breath was taken away "You probably didn't like those any more than this place." she said matter of factly.
"No." he admitted.
Stepping into it, he settled into the driver's seat. Reversing and turning the wheel he set the Warthog on the path and the drove off, to finish the fight "Does this get radio?" The Weapon asked.
"-Hello?!" a frantic voice said through static as if calling hectically to answer her question "Does anyone read me?" it called again through the radio "Chief? Chief is that you?"
"Acknowledged." Chief said dryly as he turned the Warthog onto the open road. Shadows overtook him as trees cast themselves over the road and he rode past them.
"Oh!" the Pilot let out both a sigh and a gasp "It's you! It's really you!"
"And don't forget!" The Weapon chimed in chipperly "I'm here too."
"Thank goodness." the Pilot just sighed in relief this time "I lost track of you guys again. I was worried-your beacon. I lost track of it for a while there. What's happening, where have you been?!"
"Ohh" The Weapon dragged it out "You wouldn't believe it!" she exclaimed.
"Heh." the Pilot laughed smally but tiredly into the radio "Try me."
"Weelll," The Weapon dragged it one just as long as the last one "It all started when we were investigating this Forerunner outpost." The Weapon began, but she didn't get any farther for the Warthog jostled as it sped forward and the smallest of squeals was heard. It was enough to warrant Fernando to cut her off mid-sentence when she spoke about Motaro and Juli.
"Uhh what was that?" he asked concerned and sounded like he dreaded to do so. His answer came from Chief.
"Speed bump." he answered as he drove forward hitting another Grunt and splattering it across the road.