LORC Act 3 Pt 4

Note: This chapter is no longer fully correct to the story line, but relax, an update is on the way

Ryau watched as the UNSC moved their surviving Tanks to be picked up by a few inbound Pelicans. There was still no sign of D'rok. The only conformation that they were still alive was a quick radio message where Ryau heard D'rok had been redeployed elsewhere. After a seeming long time of thinking, Ryau decided that D'rok was right when he had shot the Pilot. His injuries were far beyond what could have been treated with the field med-kit. The Chief went over to a door followed by the Arbiter and two Marines. Ryau looked up to see the Chief wave them over. Ryau and Naki got up and followed them inside. The door behind them closed and locked, Spark was working on fixing the other door when the looked up,
"It seems I've...crossed a circuit."

One of the Marines stepped foreword and asked, "Well, let me have a look." As he advanced on the door control Guilty Spark sent a burst of his repair beam in to the Marines shoulder. He jumped back and shouted, "Ow- Little bastard stung me!"

Spark just continued to work as he said "I did not want you to come to any harm."

"You've got a funny way of showing it-" The Marine mumbled.

Ryau let out a chuckle and the Marine glared at him.

"Excellent! This way." Spark said as the doors silently slid open.

"Slothful runts. Kill them as they sleep." The Arbiter muttered.

The other Marine whispered, "Chief, tap 'em out."

They silently entered the room and started to assassinate the Grunts. At the end of the room a Brute stood in the corner relieving himself. The Chief pulled out a knife and slit the Brutes neck. The Brutes body crumpled to the ground and a pool of blood was already forming. Ryau and Naki followed the party through the Cartographer. Down about three more levels they came to the map room. Ryau checked his Carbine and found he only had half a clip left, and only two reloads remaining. His Plasma rifle was at only a quarter charge and he had one Plasma grenade. He looked over to Naki and asked, "How much ammo do you have left?"

"Less than half for the Needler and my Plasma rifles out," she responded, standing up holding a few Plasma grenades and a Spike grenade. "Want one?" She asked.

Ryau took the Spike grenade and a Plasma. He looked over another body and found a Spike Rifle, he tossed it to Naki and she looked it over.

"Its better than nothing. There are a lot of them lying around, so plenty of ammo." Ryau said, finding one for himself. He looked over to see the others doing the same.

Naki jogged over to the window and looked out. The Chief had just activated the map and Spark was hovering over it looking at a glowing bump. Suddenly a Loyalist Phantom came around and opened fire on the Chief. The Chief ducked and the Arbiter fired on the Grunt. The Chief popped up and started to fire as well. The Chief tossed a Plasma grenade onto the Phantoms foreword gun and blew it off. The Arbiter put a Carbine round through the Grunts head with a pop and the Phantom pulled off. Gunfire behind Naki caused her to jump. She and Ryau turned and saw a squad of Brutes enter the room. Immediately Ryau tossed his Spike grenade and dove for cover. The grenade stuck the back or a Brute Minor and detonated. The resulting explosion sent a wave of spikes in all directions. Most hit the others armor and bounced off, but one lucky spike found an opening in the Chieftain's armor and went through its brain. The Chieftain's body crumpled to the floor. Ryau did an arm pump and tossed another grenade. They finished off the rest of the Brutes as the Arbiter and Chief entered the room.

Ryau looked over to Naki to make sure she was alright and saw her toss her needler into her pack and pick up a Plasma Pistol. off a dead Grunt. The door they had come in from was locked so they headed lower into the facility. At the bottom of the ramp they encountered a Grunt Patrol, which was quickly eliminated. The landing zone, just outside the door, was occupied by a group of Jump-pack Brutes and another Chieftain giver a religious sermon over a holographic projection of The Prophet of Truth. The group entered the final room before they encountered the Brute pack. There were twp doors, the Chief and the Arbiter got ready at the left one, and Ryau, Naki and the Marines checked their armor at the right. Spark flew up to the ceiling and went to work on the door controls. The doors opened and they charged out. Ryau fired the Spiker into the back of a jump-pack. The pack exploded and sent the Brute flying off the edge. Naki unloaded a Plasma pistol overcharge and blew out a Major's shields. Ryau continued to fire his Spiker and caught a Brute in the back of the head.

The Brutes finally started to respond. Ryau ducked behind a pillar as a Spike grenade went off sending spikes in all directions. A few struck his shields but they held. The Arbiter charged the Chieftain and speared it through the gut with his Energy sword. Ryau tossed a Plasma grenade and stuck the head of a Jump-pack Brute. But before it could explode the Chief had already gunned him down. Naki and the Marines popped up behind a barrier and fired into the group of Brutes. Once the final Brute fell, Naki went over to the holographic Truth and kicked the pedestal over.

"ETA: damn quick! Standby for pickup!" Johnson said over the radio.

Commander Keyes piloted her Pelican over and prepared to pick them up. Just then, hundreds of Sentinels hovered up from bellow. Commander Keyes flipped the Pelican around and Johnson spun up the turret.

"Johnson- look sharp." She ordered.

"On it ma'am" Johnson replied as he eased on the triggers.

"No, don't shoot! They mean us no harm! Those units have a priority task." Guilty Spark shouted.

One of the Sentinels hovered in front of and extended its arms. Another one of the Sentinels came over and flew close to Ryau's arm. It extended its manipulators and pressed the Device. It made a chirp and a few more Sentinels came over as well. He shook his arm and shooed them away. They left and joined the mass and proceeded to jump away. As Keyes rotated the Pelican, as soon as the back ramp was close enough the Chief stepped aboard. The entire Pelican lowered as he walked on. The others also hopped on and they accelerated away.

X X X

The Foreword Unto Dawn was docked again with the Shadow of Intent. Ryau replenished his Carbine and recharged his Plasma rifle. He picked at the blue stain on the stock as he waited for his meal to heat. Naki walked over and grabbed a tray next to him. She tossed it into the oven and looked down at the Carbine.

"You know, D'rok has a custom Carbine. Why don't you get the rest of your stock painted?" She asked.

"I haven't really thought about that... Where would I have that done?"

"The Weapons Master in the armory we went to on the Shadow of Intent could probably do it for you."

"Alright- after my food heats up- whatever this stuff is..." Ryau said opening the oven and smelling it.

Naki just laughed and pulled her tray out. She walked over to to where D'rok and his group were sitting. Ryau sighed and pulled his tray out too. He sat across from D'rok and K'an. He turned and looked at D'rok.

"Where did you guys go earlier, I thought I told you to cover the Marines?" He asked.

D`rok looked up at Ryau. "We did, my friend. We did however, get lost within the Forerunner Structure." D`rok paused for a moment. A few seconds later he leaned in closer to Ryau and got quiet. "We found something, brother." D`rok spoke in a whisper.

"What kind of something?" Ryau curiously asked.

"I have no idea, Ryau, but it was not without a price to obtain." D`rok paused again, "Gegoy was lost."

"What?"

"It was at the hand of a Sangheili"

"Who killed him?" Ryau asked.

"I am not certain... but I could swear upon my life that it was Zaranha Talakee."

"Who?" Ryau was confused.

"A Sangheili I have had a previous confrontations, with both him and his father."

"And I am presuming he is not part of the Separatist Fleet?"

Just then, Sar`Jek, who was at the end of the group, quickly asked
"Sir? Did you just say Zaranha?"

"Yes I did" D`rok assured her.

"By the Gods, how did he traverse here without being detected?" Sar`Jek questioned in surprise.

"Who is this, Zaranha?" Ryau asked.

"He was the sons of one of the Leaders for the Heretic group, Reform and Prosper... his father, along with M`ran 'Casemee. were second, and third in command. I killed Zaranha's father" D`rok informed Ryau.

"Well I, hmm. Wait, wouldn't the fact that he was a Heretic to the Covenant make him on our side now?"

"That would not be the case, Ryau. Both M'ran and Zaranha want me dead" D`rok informed further.

"But in the long run would they be fighting for us or are they Loyalist now?"

"They are... neither"

"That is not good. Well what of the item you found, what is it?" Ryau asked changing the subject.

"I... do not know. I will show it to you, if you like?" D`rok sounded like he was nervous.

"If it is safe then I would like to see it."

D`rok looks around. "Bring Naki"

"Of course, she is our closest Forerunner expert."

"I do not think we are dealing with Forerunner technology with this object." D`rok quickly informed Ryau.

"Well she is still the best we have, right Naki?"

"Yes" she said.

"You might be out of your field in this one, Naki." D`rok reasoned.

On the way up Ryau dropped off his Carbine to be painted they then continued through the ship. D`rok turned and led the two towards his quarters. D`rok opened the door, and as soon as they were all in, he closed and locked the door.

"You must promise to never speak of this to anyone." D`rok demanded.

"We promise." Ryau and Naki both said at the same time.

"Alright" D`rok said as he went over to his bed. After kneeling down, he pulled out his M6D case. Ryau was shocked, and Naki was thinking about the other things D'rok had done earlier.

"Why do you have a human weapon hidden under your bed?" Ryau asked.

"Everyone prefers different things, my brother. please do not judge me for this act." D`rok defended himself as he carefully set it on the table.

"I will not."

D`rok unlatched the case and pulled out a M6D. "Here!" D`rok got Ryau's attention as he tossed the handgun to Ryau. "Careful... she bites"

"What do you want me to do with this?" Ryau said catching it.

"Hold it."

As D`rok was going through the case, Ryau was tempted to look over the human weapon so he does. Ryau was left stunned at the craftsmanship of the M6. It was not the same finish as the UNSC had for their firearms. it was almost bright silver, it was like a perfect polish. Ryau looked over the weapon, more interested than before. the handle was a custom fit for a Sangheili, and the most strange was that, carved down the left side of the M6, was the word "DONEGAN". Ryau then cured himself of distraction, and looked back up at D`rok, who was taking the protective foam out of the case. Once all the foam had been removed, in the back of the case was a very strange artifact. It was the strangest thing he had ever seen. It was the size of what would be a football scaled up for a Sangheili.

"Is that the thing you found?" Ryau asked.

"Yes... I don't know what to make of it." D`rok announced, seemingly baffled as he rubbed the back of his neck.

It was far more complex than Forerunner technology. the glyphs themselves were not Forerunner

"What do you think Naki?" D`rok asked her.

"Well you're right, its defiantly not Forerunner, it's something much, much older." She said looking it over.

"That is what I thought." D`rok announced. "I do not trust the "light bulb" with this artifact." D`rok looked up. "Do not trust 343 Guilty... he is nothing but trouble... trust me"

"It's a little late; Spark is the one who fixed the device." Ryau said.

"What device?" D`rok asked, unsure.

"This one." Ryau held up his right arm and with his left, pointed to his wrist. "You know, the one that turned me into a female?"

"How does it work? May I see it?"

Suddenly the Intercom buzzed and announced that the assault on the Citadel was about to begin.

"Sorry D`rok. Naki and I need to get to our stations." Ryau said.

"I do not have the pleasure of joining you, brother." D`rok stated.

"Very well." Ryau and Naki left. On the way back they stopped off and Ryau picked up his Carbine.

X X X

Ryau got aboard the Pelican and surveyed the crew. The Chief was on the other side. Ryau nodded and the Chief nodded back. He took his seat and Naki sat next to him. Johnson came out of the cockpit and said.

"You two," he pointed to Ryau and Naki. "When we drop the Chief, provide cover fire and then get back on."

Ryau was slightly confused why they would get back on but then he remembered the third dower and his heart skipped a beat.

"Naki," He whispered. "I guess we're going to the third tower."

"What is wrong with tha... oh." She realized what he was talking about. "Maybe we will escape capture."

"I hope so."

The Pelican lifted off and accelerated. After flying across the ocean, the five Pelicans and two Separatist Phantoms flew onto formation towards the Covenant held beach. Commander Keyes came over the radio. "We hit these three generators, and the barrier will fall?" She asked 343 Guilty Spark

"A small section, yes." He responded.

"Good enough. Johnson, drop the Chief at the first generator, then head to the third. The Arbiter will punch right down the middle."

"Roger that."

The vehicles broke formation and headed to their targets. Hocus weaved through the anti- aircraft fire and shouted.
"Charlie Foxtrot! Tower One approach has active Triple-A!"

Just then their wing-man was hit and it flew in to the Pelican. It knocked their Warthog loose and spun out of control.
"Mayday! I can't control her!" The Pilot shouted as he fell out of the sky.

"Pelican down! Pelican down!" Hocus called.

"Brace yourselves; we're going in a little hot!" Johnson said back into the troop bay.

The Pelican came in and landed on the beach, Ryau and Naki hopped out and fired at the Covenant forces by the rocks. Behind them the Chief grabbed a Spartan Laser and hopped down. As the ODSTs also got off, Ryau and Naki backed up and got aboard. The Pelican lifted off again. Over the radio Ryau hard Hocus again.
"Commander, this is Kilo two-three. Lost my Wingman and our only Hog. Over."

"Roger that, Hocus. Get out of there!"

The Pelican lifted off and headed for the third tower. When they arrived The Brutes had set up two Anti-Air Wraiths. Hocus fired her Pelicans missiles at it and the Brutes' Wraith exploded and fell off the steep cliff edge. The Pelican rotated and the rear hatch opened. Sargent Johnson fired the rear turret and cut down any Covenant still standing in the landing zone. The Marines hopped out of the Pelicans and opened fire on the Covenant forces coming down the ramp. Ryau and Naki were the last ones out and the outside defence groups were already being pushed back. However the Humans had already suffered light casualties. Johnson radioed the Commander.
"Ma'am, we're on the ground. Third Tower in sight."

"Good. The Arbiter and the Elites have touched down in number two."

Ryau opened up with his Carbine. The new blue stock glistened as a grenade exploded close by. Naki also fired her Carbine at the Brutes. Up on the ramp a Grunt was coming down caring a deploy-able cover, but before it could set it up, the Grunts methane tank erupted in flame. He dropped the cover and squirmed around as he caught fire. Ryau grabbed the deploy-able cover and put a round through the charred Grunts skull. He tossed it down and the energy shield snapped to life just as a burst of spikes flew in Ryau's direction. Up on top of the ramp the Chieftain was firing down with Plasma turret. There was a sharp crack of a Sniper Rifle split through the air. The Chieftain's helmet flew off as the bullet was deflected in to the Forerunner alloy above. The Brute held his fire for a moment and seemed shocked. Another crack and the Chieftain's head was obliterated. The other Pelican flew by strafing the Brutes. After a few more passes the Covenant line was crushed. Ryau and the Marines rushed the tower and executed any survivors.

They broke off into two groups and headed into the u-shaped tunnel. One of the Marines on Ryau's side ran at the Brutes using part a Wraith as a shield. He threw a Satchel charge around the corner radioed the other team to stay back. The Marine retreated back and moved the shield to cover his legs as Spikes struck the sheet of metal. He got back behind the group and yelled.

"Fire on the hole!" He pulled the trigger.

The entire tunnel lit up as the brutes were vaporized. The fire ball slammed into the wall and started to expand. There were several smaller explosions as the Covenant grenades detonated. The fire and smoke cleared and they moved up. The area was scorched and there were only parts of the Covenant forces that had once been standing there a moment earlier. Ryau walked into the main room and was met with emptiness. The elevator came down the shaft and stopped. The Marines searched the structure and headed to the elevator. Ryau and Naki were sent up with the first group of Marines. As the elevator reached the first set of windows, but was still fully in the shaft, Spike grenades fell from above. They tried to toss them back up. Ryau and Naki were able to reach the grenades near them up in enough time, but the Marines were not so lucky. As one of them lifted a Spike grenade it detonated and blew him apart. The explosion also took out the other Marines around him. The lift reached the final set of windows and Ryau slapped the button for down and jumped out. He kicked the head of a Jackal and landed on its back. He grabbed his Needler and hit the nearest Brute. Then he noticed the sheer number of Loyalist troops, the room was full of them. The elevator came back up with Sergeant Johnson and the rest of the Marines, many of them held makeshift shields. They tossed Frag grenades and blew apart masses of Grunts. Ryau paused just long enough to switch to his Carbine, but when he looked up he saw a Gravity-Hammer. It smacked across his side and sent him into a wall. An explosion went off near him and his ears started to ring. As he looked around he saw the Marines getting slaughtered. Naki ran over to him but something grabbed her neck and she was pulled away. His vision clouded and he passed out.

X X X

Ryau opened his eyes and found himself looking up into Naki's mouth. His arms were restrained below him and she was kneeling with her arms behind her. He opened his mouth to say something, but Naki shook her head and nodded foreword. He saw Truth. To his left Johnson was being held be a Brute. Ryau sat up and saw Truth pace back and forth in front of the controls. Truth looked up and hovered toward him.

"Ah, the Demon turned meager Sangheili; It is a pleasure to finally see the result of a successful experiment." Truth stated.

Ryau just growled and struggled to stand, but then a Brute behind him pushed him down harder.

"I will be sure to make your death most painful before the rings ignite." He turned to Naki. "Any you Science Major Naki 'Cimutee, I had high expectations for you, but alas they are no longer needed. Because soon the Great Journey shall begin and you will be left behind." Truth got closer to the control platform and addressed a Forerunner camera. "My faithful...stand firm! Though our enemies crowd around us, we tread the blessed path. In a moment, I will light the rings! And all who believe...shall be saved!"

The camera shut down and Johnson punched the Brute in the face but to no effect. He was thrown to the ground but Johnson only coughed and said, "That the best you got?"

The Brute Chieftain just huffed and stated to strangle Johnson.

"Oh, come on. Impress me."

Truth turned around and shouted at the Chieftain. "Stop, you imbecile! He wants you to kill him!" He turned back to the console. "I'd prefer that you did not."

The Chieftain slammed Johnson down."What's the matter, big shot? Can't start your own party?" Johnson said painfully.

"I admit, I need your help. But that secret dies with all the rest."

Suddenly Ryau became aware of a whine. He looked over to Naki and saw her watching something outside the window. He glanced over and saw a Pelican seconds from crashing through the glass. Ryau went off instinct and dove foreword; next to him Naki did the same. Seconds later the Pelican crashed right where they had been. The Brutes that had been over them were knocked off the edge. Commander Keyes jumped out of the back with a Shotgun. She fired point blank in to a Brute Captain and blew open his chest.

"Johnson!-Sound off!" She shouted.

"Get out of here!" Johnson coughed.

"Not without you!"

A group of Brutes surround them and Keyes fired at them. However the close-range weapon did little damage.

"You delay the inevitable. One of you will light the rings. You cannot hope to kill them all!"

Commander Keyes lowered her pistol and looked it over. "You're right..." She lifted the pistol and aimed at Johnson.

"Do it. Me...then you..." Johnson said.

Keyes hesitated and lowered her pistol slightly. Suddenly seven Spikes flew through the air and lodged in Keyes's back.

"No!" Yelled Johnson as he was picked up by a Brute Captain.

"Your forefathers wisely set aside their compassion..." Truth tossed a Spiker away. "...Steeled themselves for what needed to be done. I see now why they left you behind. You were weak...and gods must be strong. Even one of your strongest soldiers was turned against you."

Ryau had moved back to try to get away from the Brutes, then he backed into something solid. He spun around and found himself at the controls. He was suddenly shoved down. Truth stood next to him and set Johnson's hand on the switch. He pressed down on Johnson's hand and there was a loud, deep, click. The individual holographic rings lit up and Truth raised his hands in praise. Ryau was pulled from the console and he was again restrained with Naki. Naki reared her head back and a strong smell of rotting flesh filled Ryau's nostrils. A Flood screech came from the back of the structure and they could hear weapons being fired. Truth had found his throne and again addressed the Covenant in the structure.

"How could I have known the Parasite would follow? Undoubtedly this is the Heretics' doing! A final, bitter curse. Clear evidence of treachery long hidden!" He turned away and listened to the approaching gunfire and when back for a final message. "So far are we along the path, that I must strain to hear the clumsy patter of their pursuit. Know this my brothers, they may foul the way with their charred and broken bones, but they will not stop the Journey."

As he finished that final speech a wave a Flood infection forms came from bellow the platform. The Brutes rushed to protect Truth. They dropped Johnson and he ran over to Commander Keyes's body. Ryau and Naki scooted back near the Pelican while the Brutes were massacred. After a few minutes the Flood moved down the bridge and when after the remaining Covenant forces. When it was clear Ryau got up and when over to the console. He picked a Carbine off a Brute body and found that it was his own. He set his hand on the button and pressed down. It did not move. There was a buzz and the system continued to build. Ryau tried again and got the same response.

"Naki, why can't I shut it down?" He asked puzzled.

"Well it's keyed to human DNA." She responded.

"But I thought you said I still had human DNA in me..."

"Hmm, you're right, I'm going to run some tests next time we have enough time."

The Master Chief and Arbiter came around the corner and stopped when they saw Keyes. The Chief dropped his Assault rifle and stared. The Arbiter came to the platform and approached the dieing Truth. The Arbiter grabbed Truth's robe and pulled.

"Can you see, Arbiter? The moment of salvation is at hand." Truth said weakly.

The Arbiter clutched Truth by the throat. "It will not last!"

"Your kind... never believed in the promise of the sacred rings."

A Flood tendril grew out of the side of Truth's head and Gravemind took control for a brief moment. "Lies for the weak. Beacons for the deluded."

The Arbiter activated his Energy sword. "I will have my revenge. On a Prophet, not a plague!"

"My feet tread the path. I shall become a god!" Truth painfully shouted as the Flood took control.

"You will be food - nothing more."

The Chief approached the console and set his hand above the the switch. He pressed down and the system shut down.

"No! I...am...Truth! The voice of the Covenant!" Truth let out one last desperate cry.

"And so, you must be silenced." The Arbiter simply said and pushed the Energy sword through Truth's back.

Ryau had been watching and as soon as the Arbiter let out his triumphant roar, the Brute Flood combat forms started to twitch. Suddenly the ground started to tremble and the Gravemind's deep maniacal laughter filled the cavernous space. Massive tentacles flew up all around the platform; Ryau picked up Naki and threw her over his shoulder. He made it into the Pelican just as Johnson started it up.

"Now the gate has been unlatched, headstones pushed aside...corpses shift and offer room, a fate you must abide!"

The Pelican lifted off and the Chief jumped on the Pelicans landing gear. The Arbiter grabbed the Chief's hand and the Pelican pulled up. Just as they were about to head out the hole in the glass, one of the tentacles slammed the side of the Pelican. The Arbiter and Chief were knocked free and they fell back to the platform.

Johnson fought for control as the Pelican spiraled in the sky."I can barely keep hold of her, Chief! No way I could pick you up! Head back to the lift... find a way down!" He said over the radio.

Finally they became stabilized. But then there was a sound of something clicking, it was deep and it echoed everywhere. Then out of the clouds came the edge of a Halo Ring. Even from that distance Naki and Ryau could see massive Sentinels working on its superstructure. Johnson lowered the Pelican and they found the Arbiter and Chief on an observation platform. They picked up the Arbiter and the Chief took a Banshee. The Chief flew toward the crash site of High Charity and they headed up to the Shadow of Intent. As they got closers Ryau could see the hole that part of High Charity had made. Repair teams were already sealing up the exterior holes. They were cleared to enter the ship through the upper hangar. Then Johnson had to get clearance to enter the Foreword Unto Dawn. Once they landed there they went through a medical examination to check for Flood infection. They were cleared and Ryau, Naki and the Arbiter left the Dawn and headed to the armory to replenish their ammo. Ryau stopped off at the Commons and got a snack and found Naki in the Dawn's hangar. He walked over to her and tapped her left shoulder and went to her right.

"You were hoping to go with the Arbiter I presume?" He asked.

"Yes, I was but I can't seem to find him." She replied.

"Well why don't we ask someone if they have seen him." Ryau suggested.

Together they walked over to one of the members of the deck crew and asked whether or not she had seen the Arbiter recently. She then pointed to a Pelican and told them that Sergeant Johnson had authorized the Arbiter to take it. Ryau and Naki jogged over to the Pelican as its jets flared up. Before the Arbiter could figure out how to close the rear hatch, they jumped aboard. The troop bay was full of Flamethrowers and Energy swords; it was obvious the Arbiter was going to encounter close combat. The Arbiter was in the cockpit trying to figure out how the Pelican works.

"Arbiter" Ryau said as he entered.

The Arbiter turned around. "Oh Ryau. Tell me brother, do you know how to fly this human drop ship?"

"Yes I do, Arbiter." Ryau replied.

The Arbiter got out of the small human pilot seat and Ryau sat in his place. Ryau pressed some buttons and pulled the Pelican out of the Dawn.

X X X

Ryau piloted the Pelican over the wreckage of the former Covenant Holy City of High Charity. The dome was punctured in various places so Ryau entered through a large broken window. As they entered the city area, it was apparent High Charity had crashed on one of the Ark's oceans; the entire area was flooded up to the top of the buildings. They continued foreword and Ryau saw the platform that the Pelican was found in the game. He settled the Pelican on the edge so that they could get out. He shut down the engines and opened the rear hatch. As soon as he did that the smell of rotting flesh filled the Pelican. The Arbiter hopped out first with a Flamethrower. Ryau took two Energy swords and a bunch of Firebomb grenades. Naki took a SPNKr and a Flamethrower as well. Strangely the Flood where nowhere to be found. But it was clear the Chief has been through recently, the areas where Firebombs had gone off were still smoldering. Ryau and Naki went off on patrol and walked single file along the wall. Naki was on point. As Ryau passed a fissure, fell slipped inside. Naki turned around.

"Ryau? Where'd you go?" All she got was silence in return.

She backtracked to the fissure and looked down, it was steep and there were scrapes on the ground that looked like someone slipped. "Ryau!" She called. Still silence. She tried the radio and continued to get nothing. The Arbiter had stayed behind with the Pelican, so she carefully headed down by herself. Around halfway down, Naki squeezed through a narrow opening between two fallen beams.

"Gods, I wish I had a smaller chest." She joked to herself.

She pulled the strap tight shouldered the Flamethrower. She stood and called for Ryau again. Still nothing. Naki started down the corridor and kicked something. She turned her flashlight downward and saw Ryau's helmet. She was on the right track. Hiking down a little further, she stopped to call for him for the last time.

"Ryau!" She was about to turn back when she heard him, faintly at first.

"Naki! Wait up. I'm on my way back."

Final he showed up, Ryau was covered in slime and rotten flesh.

"I think I passed a broken water line on the way down. You can clean up there." She said.

"Good, this really smells."

They headed back up and came to the broken water line. Ryau stepped under and washed the flesh and slime away. Suddenly there was an explosion and the ground shook.

"There went the first reactor pylon," Naki commented.

But then there were two more and an alarm started to sound throughout the wreak.

"Uhh, I don't think that was the first... We need to get back to the Pelican." Ryau said.

He grabbed the Energy sword off his thigh and headed up the pathway. Naki came behind, and brought her Flamethrower up. Small explosions went off along the passage way. When they reached the beams Ryau jumped through followed by Naki. As Naki ran a Flood combat form came out of a side passage and slammed her into the wall. She shoved the Flamethrower into the Combat form's stomach and pulled the trigger. The Flood form burst into flames and the Infection form popped in its chest. It screeched and burned. Ryau ran back and kicked the Flood away.

"We got to move." Ryau said as he ignited both his Energy swords.

They ran up the path and came to the open room. Ryau skewered two Brute combat forms and saw the Chief and Arbiter board the Pelican. They were getting swarmed so Ryau radioed, "Chief, Arbiter get going. We'll take that Banshee."

"Very well brother, see you on the other side." The Arbiter radioed back.

Naki fired a rocket in to the Flood mob and came up next to him. She fired another rocket and blew a Tank form across the room. Ryau and Naki ran as fast as they could through the mass of Flood. Ryau sliced anything in their way. Naki got to the Banshee first and started up the system. Ryau tossed his remaining Firebombs and hopped onto Naki's back. She took off and the top hatch closed on top of them.

"Arbiter we are on our way." Naki said.