Halo: Killer Angels

by LOWERPOWER

Rating: mature
Tags: Other, Sex, Princess Celestia, Slice of Life, Crossover, Human, Main 6, Princess Luna, Gore, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark
Length: 26516

During a rescue mission on Requiem, Fire-team Hacksaw, Rancor, and Spartan team Lancer disappear without a trace. This is their story as they uncover the secrets of this new found world and find the secret that will change the entire galaxy.

Masterson, J. Franklin Gunnery Sgt. Service # 0129855-9698-FM

->>Begin Personal Log #112

I served the UNSC for 29 years and survived the worst the galaxy has to throw at me. I don't have anything to show for it. Friends and family turned to ash, home-world glassed beyond recognition. My morality, self worth, and soul erased from my existence. Anyway, my fire-team was transferred the largest ship in the damn fleet, the Infinity, three months ago. I got to see some posh Spartan-IV freaks as well. My fire-team and my rampant companion A.I. is all I got left and they're the only things I live for now. They have stories to tell as well. I'm going on a tangent. Anyway, I just got orders from Lasky. we're going planet side for something. Requiem is doomed to self destruct. Smells like another suicide mission for me. Waste of time if you ask me, forerunner shit always turn for the worst. Anyway Masterson signing off.

->>End Personal Log #112

Arthur's Notes: My first try at freestyle writing something, so I don't expect it to be good anyway. Shouldn't have tried a crossover either, but i had an idea, and ideas paves way to greatness. Anyhow I will take constructive criticism where its needed as well. Depending on how I feel the story may or may not contain romance. Beware my readers! I won't hesitate to kill some characters just to tell you. The ponies themselves will take a while for them to appear. The protagonist is psychopathic so don't expect him to be logical. The narration strictly follows the protagonists and his point of view. There might be some inconsistencies in the Halo lore but bear with me. I have no current editors and don't plan to because I write on again, off again so it takes me a while to add on. I really don't want to waste anyone's time on that stuff.

Published 2014-05-21 02:50:04 UTC
Last updated 2014-10-12 01:38:51 UTC

Prologue-Follow Our Brothers

Author's Note

Well this is it...Critques will be greatly appreciated but don't bash me. The ponies will come soon so don't fret. This took me so long to finish the prologue. I got very carried away but I just couldn't stop.

I don't own Hasbro's and 343i's characters and I will not gain any profit from it.

Prologue-Follow Our Brothers

Prologue: Follow Our Brothers

Date: March 1, 2558 [6 months after the New Phoenix incident]
Time: 1300
Location: Aboard UNSC Infinity, orbiting Requiem

Masterson turned away from the terminal. He frowned. Why not me? Why them...my men? He combed through his disheveled brown-black hair while staring at titanium-A floor, deep in thought. He gave a little smile,thinking how damn lucky he was. And how many good men died under his command. He quickly snap out of it. He stood up quickly, dizziness followed, soon after pain. He winced as jointed popped and cracked. "One more Op. One more. then I have a talk with Lasky. He will understand." He muttered in a inaudible frequency.

'I have been on this ship for 3 months and the problem is we have been stuck in the same spot for the past 2 because some stupid scientist had to touch a Forerunner artifact. The less Forerunner tech, the better. All it does is lead to more trouble. ' He concluded.

He stopped, looking through the only window in the crew quarters to see many twinkling stars both young and old and the vast metalloid planet of Requiem. The gaping maw of the opening to the inside. Where the real fun begins. It calmed him down to take in the beauty of the universe. He closed his eyes, reveling in his breathing. Then he saw a face, instantly recognizing it: Kilrain.
He felt his face pale, heartbeat quickened,and stumbled into a nearby chair. He quickly sat in it to cushion his fall. His broken mind taking him to the scene:

The planet Kholo, not a molten ball of slag like it is today but a thriving Human colony worth fight for, also Masterson's homeworld. Well...where he lived during most of his childhood. Masterson was born on the surface of Earth's moon, Luna. On one of the lava plains in the city of Tranquility. The radio crackled alive,
"Sergeant, come in. Masterson do you read." Masterson quickly recognized the voice, McGanon. A total prick.

"Masterson reporting in, sir, he retorted with a slight condescending tone. Plasma bolts streamed from the slight incline, shade turrets dotted the hilltop with jackal snipers using the rubble of collapsed buildings as perfect cover.

'Virtually infallible', he thought. Masterson knew what McGanon wanted, he grimaced with utter desolation in his mind. He glanced over to his men, bright eyed individuals, exchanging suppressive fire with covy marksmen. Shade turrets turning their cover of old scaffolding into molten slag. Kilrain looked on to Masterson giving a excited adrenaline-pumped grin with brilliant green eyes. Willing to die for the cause.

The radio came alive again, "Masterson I need you and your men to take the high ground," pleaded McGanon weariness noticeable through the device. What? Impossible! It's Suicide! McGanon is a damned fool to believe we can take that position. Masterson, then replied with all the malice his voice could carry: "With all due respect sir but that's not possible. We would be cut to ribbons before we even cover first 100 yards. Its practically suicide. I need fire support to make it even possible." A long pause . Several banshees wailed in the air, bombarding a nearby building, killing the sniper team perched up inside, making a charge for a one-way ticket to hell for all inside of said building. Wolverines retaliated in droves of missiles that turned banshees into smoldering wreckage falling out of the polluted, desolate sky. Sun shining through the black clouds, revealing several covenant cruisers moving in to glass the already tortured earth.

'No...not getting out of this alive, that's for sure.'

Transitors clicked, " Listen Sergeant ...I know what I'm asking is not easy but its neccessary". He consoled with anger within his voice " I got civilian shuttles to evac and those shade turrets in that type of concentration will tear them apart! Cole protocol has been enacted as well. Your men know what is right and wrong, and they are willing to die for Humanity as much as you!" He paused; McGanon's blind fury.sent shiviers down Masterson's spine Explosions in the background returned static to Masterson. A livid McGanon returned to continue he tirade. "I will give as much support I can. Now that is a order soldier. Now move it! And if you don't I will castrated your ass!" McGanon cut it off there.

"Yes sir." Masterson said with the malice that most military men would see as insubordination alone. Masterson lost all of his morality and will to sacrifice long ago. But that is a story for another time.

Truth. The truth hurts. Fate has a funny way of making lives expendable.

Masterson got his composure in check. "Alright Charlie squad looks like were taking this fight to the Covies. I want over-watch at that car there." Masterson said with much despair in his voice. Several Marines armed with old model 'confetti makers' some would call them and newly developed Saws, ran straight to the demolished car replying with a multitude of 'yes sirs' in many different tones. Beams of plasma whirring past their heads by mere inches. Masterson glanced out of cover again, then turned back to his men. Remember for humanity...

"Come on boys , do you want to live forever!?" Masterson exclaimed. He always wanted to say that. He spun out of cover, sprinting across the 200 meter desolate no-mans land. Young inspired marines followed, making a shrill charging yell that can intimidate the strongest Elite. Over-watch made suppressive fire. A lowly warthog entered the fray. .50 Cal opening up, shade turrets training their aim to meet the new threat. A hail of plasma streamed down range as hot lead retaliated. The closest shade turret was riddled and exploded in a brilliant blue-purple flames, frying the small Grunt occupant inside. The warthog soon caught flame as well, blue plasma burning through the durable engine block. The driver, dodging and weaving, trying to fulfill the status quo. The gunner screaming for a angle, only for fuel round shells rained down from the rubble opon the hill. They struck the target, rewarding the heavy weapon specialized Grunt squad with a burning wreckage flipping end over end until settling on its chassis. The occupants granted a quick, yet painful death.

McGanon's support, huh? Masterson thought as radioactive shells of carbines landed dangerously close as he sprinted. Finally reaching the incline. Not quite there yet, but a start. Masterson looked back as the shades swiveled to the charging mass of humanity barreling up the hill. Grunt squads and Jackals used their positions wisely and shot at a downward angle. Masterson's mind froze, body running on instinct, continued steepening climb.

He lamented. No force can take this hill, not even fucking Satan's ultimate son of a bitch machine can take this hill. It will be a slaughter, just like the Charge of the Light Brigade or Pickett's Charge. We are all expendable as a puny Grunt. Fleet-Com has as much humanity as the Covenant war machine; a similar disregard of life at a wide scale. Shrapnel dug into his right leg armor, shaking him from his stupor. A aurora of plasma of contrasting colors shot overhead. Screams of his men being massacred by the covies permeated the air. Masterson just wanted to stop and look behind him but that would be suicide in its own accord. In war, there is no rest for the weary. Especially in a war like this.

"Sergeant!" A voice exclaimed, couldn't tell whose, the sounds of war blanketing any coherence.
"Sergeant!" It came closer. The country accent of Kilrain. Masterson glanced over his shoulder, still continuing his ascent, reaching the top that offered glorious cover that is any soldier's dream. A large cobblestone wall. His men followed soon after. They rolled into the cover. The last unlucky man, Vandercoy, was riddled with at least 10 plasma bolts before crumpling into a heap. KIlrain shouted something but wasn't his voice.
"Franklin, Earth to Franklin." A voice of concern and maliciousness washed over his eardrums. The very deep tone, foreign in this place of time but familiar in another...bringing him back into reality.

Masterson shook his head. The spacing out is getting worse, faces of the dead haunting his crippled mind becoming more prevalent. A holographic projection fizzled into existence in revealing a bald shirtless muscular man. A arcing mustache adorning his face. Not a living human being though but a smart A.I. Not only a A.I. but "his" A.I. This A.I. went rampant about 2 years ago. A rampancy that changed it's personality completely, which is not supposed to happen. The A.I. went so far to change it's name. Previously known as Sojourner, taking a form of a Apache chief; now goes by Stephano, it's form of a bald muscular man with a Fu Manchu mustache. Why keep a useless A.I that can get you killed? Masterson can think of the numerous times where the A.I. saved his life. But the A.I. would always instigate trouble with his superiors. Stephano is way too curious. But that's a understatement and a story for another time. Stephano has the best comic relief Masterson has heard in his lifetime. In other words, it is worth the risk, even worth the court marshal to even have a smart A.I. in possession at his rank.

"Don't worry Stephano, just spaced out, that is all." he lied, instantly regretting it.

He read my facial expressions at light speed, proving he is not always incompetent. "Is that so?" He quipped trailing off at the end. He began again, "According to your psychoanalysis, you are going over the deep end at a exponential rate and not so far from being completely insane. In other words, GET YOUR FUCKING HEAD STRAIGHT! Come on, Franklin there is only one man to fill the crazy role and two will get you and I in a lot of trouble." Stephano finished, a stern face showed, only to break into a small grin.

"Alright enough semantics for today, Stephano." Masterson grinned back.

"Just pushing you buttons, Sgt. Anyway, Lasky wants to see you again at 1400 hours." Stephano quickly changed the subject to something with more substance.

"Oh, god what does he want now," Masterson perplexed. Then quickly remembered what he had to say to Lasky in the first place. "Time to kill two birds with one stone, huh?" he muttered.

"I completely agree." Stephano responded.

Masterson quickly got on his standard issue marine mark 1 exoskeleton which magnetically latched into place with ease. He got his helmet fitted, holding one psychopathic A.I. within its port. His illegal neural implant and transponder began booting up, mountains of code circulated in mere seconds. Thanks to Masterson's implant, Stephano usually transfers himself into it. One body, two minds. No the most healthy relationship, also its very risky. In possessing of a rouge A.I. is a capital offense, not to mention a rank of Sargent isn't allowed into have an A.I. in the first place. In the words, the death sentence isn't so far fetched if Franklin is caught. Masterson grabbed his M6D pistol, complete with a chrome finish. Against the rules as well, only allowed to be carried by naval officers. He grabbed it off a dead officer. So it goes.

Masterson activated the door controls. The pressurized doors opened with a hiss. Masterson began to walk at a brisk pace down the metallic hallway. Florescent lighting illuminated the way. Some privates crossed paths with him. They sidestepped and gave him a quick informal salute which Masterson returned. "Why is he in such a rush?" One queried. They shrugged their shoulders, knowing it is not their business.

'They know their place...good' Masterson thought. He was a veteran alright and that gives him A LOT of respect. Masterson glanced around the corner. A couple of MPs and technicians discussing what is happening on the metallic planet-toid below them. Masterson walked by, earning their attention.

"Sergeant" Masterson stopped, turning to see a husky MP standing outside the group.

'Will was his name, I think...'

"Yes Private." Masterson replied with hint of annoyance.

The MP slightly stepped back and paused then asked, "Tell us the story of how you got out of Voi in one piece. Come on....we're dying to know." He pleaded.

It struck a chord. He involuntarily reached for his pistol, his mind losing focus. The screams of his squad echoed within his brain. His vision clouded up with inky blackness. The scar that the parasite's tentacle left seems to explode in pain. He remembered the voice that seem to come out from his darkest corner of his subconscious since the incident. A voice that was deep and was filled with wisdom of the tens of thousands of sentient organisms that it assimilated throughout the years. A voice that always had something new to say but always ended with the same statement.

The same motherfucking thing.

'No. Can't have a episode now' He visibly tensed up and frowned. He face flushed white like a dead man.

The MP took a step back, fearing a stern scolding. Instead Masterson about faced with a smile that is meant to eat shit.

"Sorry Private, that is classified." Ending in giving a hard handshake that nearly broke the MP's unprepared hand.

"With all due respect, Sir. That is complete bullshit" The MP shot back with a small frown decorating his face. He grasped his hand in pain.

"I completely agree. Sorry to disappoint you but Now I must go, Private." Masterson said with short salute and turned to head towards the bridge. Technicians were dashing back and forth to get the ship away from Requiem's hold on the ship. Masterson grinned slightly at the situation of being held in orbit by a tractor beam of some kind.

'Some Star Wars type shit, huh?' Stephano said out of the blue. His voice radiating throughout his mind via his neural implant. The response turned his fading grin into a genuine smile.

"Help me Obiwan Kenobi you are my only hope." Masterson said under his breath. Stephano chuckled.

He rounded a corner to be cut off by a fellow sergeant. A asshole to be exact.

"Hey, old man. Where do you think you're going?" Fuck-face George said. To be more exact Sergeant George Riley from the ODST branch. Plasma scouring made his face scar up painfully. Beforehand, he was a nice young individual. Now he is a insecure, immoral, asshat. Using more adjectives wouldn't due it anymore justice.

Masterson responded, " On the way to see the captain; som-" He was rudely interrupted by George.

" Didn't he just see you though? I mean why does he want to see a asshole like you more than on a daily basis?" George said in a mocking tone. Usually, speaking to a man who out ranks you like that isn't acceptable but Masterson lets these things slide as most servicemen in the field.

"Can it George, don't remind me that I outrank you." Masterson deadpanned with a smug smile. He walked by a livid George Riley. Before, Masterson could have his decisive victory.

George responded with a nonchalant, "Okay see you later, Franklin." Knowing its effect on Masterson's subconscious.

'That bastard would stoop that low.' Masterson angrily thought.

George knew only his closest friends call him Franklin or Frank. Masterson knew most of this was something to break the ice since their first impression didn't go so well. One it resulted in his face being ruined but also a good portion of his supposedly superior ODST squad from being slaughtered by Covies and some Promethean crawlers. My squad saved his ass. It damaged his pride immensely. The moral of the story...is nothing. It came down to the fact that he had no cover for his squad. In the warfare of today, the skill doesn't matter as much anymore but the position and the environment around them as well as the tech. It also involves full cooperation. The most experienced warrior can be defeated by a neophyte because war is sporadic, evil, and chaotic. But it is also ecstasy, mystery, and pure beauty. War is impossible to generalize, anyway because it involves the good and moral; also the grotesque and evil. You get nothing from it: no morals or virtues. War is hell is completely a untrue neither is the saying 'Itis a just war.' It's is just isn't true. War shows our true selves which is never pretty. There have a few stories of heroism from the past war but it never showed the true side. It just wasn't true Masterson has seen countless commanders and their men show cowardice in the face of the enemy. They were never brought to light because it would damage morale. They didn't die like heroes but cowards. Very few heroes were in the war. They sacrificed themselves but died like lambs not wolves. Both heroes and cowards are equally expendable. The fact is a human that is cornered can be just as formidable as a bear. A flight or fight response. That was it. We beat the Covenant because of our basic instincts. Discipline, honor, courage, chivalry, morals, and virtues are only enhancements to that. Masterson desperately clung on to these things. Sure those things help in combat but you lose those things as you fight on. Slowly picking apart your façade until your true base self remains and most people become are just husks afterwards. Some can't deal with that. You only see your primal self and it is ugly, selfish, and evil. This evil builds a new façade that isn't truly you. You are programed to survive and reproduce. We achieve this as Machiavelli once said, "The ends justify the means." Mainly survival comes down to fate and variables we encounter. But Masterson's head was going in circles.

'War is a serious convolute.' Masterson thought as he finally reached the bridge. The titanium alloy door hissed open and a room full of technicians and supercomputers littered the open space of the bridge. A huge window showing Requiem and its star superseded the dark contrast of the room of machines and controls. A holo-table centered the room with blue luminescence.

'Sometimes it doesn't swing our way. Like me...like Henderson.'

'John Walter Henderson....A sad death, indeed.' He pondered within his mind. Long story short, Henderson sank and drowned in shit. He suffocated and became one with the Ancient One or according to the voice inside his subconscious: He saw victory everlasting...

A recognizable cough awoke him from his stupor. Lasky, a very unimpressive man but who is anyway? Masterson did a quick salute; just the bare requirements. Which the Captain returned. The Captain looked into Masterson's hazel eyes and decided the get the show started.

"Listen, sergeant. what I'm about to ask you to do will not be easy. I know your well deserving retirement from the UNSC to due right when we leave this hellhole but I need you to do one more op. All you have to do is make it back alive and you will get your formal discharge."

"Go on." said Masterson in a delighted tone. His dream is coming true, he gestured the captain to go on. The captain did so.

"The operation you is that you and your team are evacuating some ONI scientists from a site on Requiem. The planet itself is starting to be pulled into it's star as we speak. There Now I need your team and George's to-"

"Yeah, that is a bad idea captain. Suicide missions aren't my specialty" Masterson quickly lied. In fact, it is his greatest attribute.

"Sergeant, you two have the only fresh squads left on this ship. The latest raid on our ship has left us with no other option. I'm sorry for putting you in a bad place but you have to do this for those scientist." Lasky finished with a content tone that was mixed with annoyance.

Masterson scratched his scruffy five o'clock shadow. He wasn't a man that believed in duty and protecting others. That part of him died a long time ago. He is in it for himself. Three of his squads were massacred because of suicidal missions made by the brass that sit behind desks and throw away soldiers just to stall the advance of religious alien zealots who think we are the blight of the galaxy. We can't really say that we are so different either. We as the species committed genocide such as the extinction of the Skirmishers. Even in the past we committed genocide on ourselves for just being different like Armenians and the Jews during the 20th century. Masterson had a perplexed look on his face.

"What makes them so important, you know that forerunner tech leads to people getting killed one way or another?" Masterson asked. Usually ship captains try to be moral and have a 'no man left behind' mentality. In reality, he has seen many officers leave squads behind to save the majority that they are in charge of. They say they "chose" to stay behind. Don't get Masterson wrong, there are some who are willing to sacrifice themselves in the war. But in essence, we are all expendable. We are built up just to benefit our species. Advance our race. It is our biology for Christ's sake.

"The orders come from the Spooks themselves. The scientists believe to have found some artifacts that predates the forerunners themselves. ONI wants to know what. You know that I have no influence when it comes to them."
Lasky said as turning up some files on a nearby monitor. Although most of the details were in black ink, the briefings in the files were bare bone just like most ONI issued missions. Lasky frowned at lack of detail while Masterson scoffed at Lasky's reaction. It turned some heads on the bridge because of the borderline disrespect but it went largely unnoticed by the captain. Roland, another A.I. materialized on large touch table in his WW1 pilot apparel and whispered about something on several Spartan teams including Palmer that was on mission. Roland turned towards Masterson and gave him a knowing smile then he proceeded to dematerialize into thin air soon afterward.

"Well....shit. He caught me red-handed. " Stephano chimed inside Masterson's neural implant. Masterson's stomach did a backflip. He then scowled involuntarily at Stephano. This was unnoticed by the captain.

'The fucker knows.' Quickly changing the subject Masterson asked, "So...you failed to keep your dog on a leash?" Masterson barely suppressed a snicker afterward while massaging his left cheek that was stricken by the female Spartan a couple of weeks ago.

"Well, she is always stubborn. She is hunting Halsey down as we speak." Lasky smiled but quickly frowned at the shit situation that we landed in.

"Didn't know we stoop to judge, jury, and executioner."

Lasky chuckled. "Yeah, me either."

A long silence followed.

The conversation was getting awkward and the captain sensed it as well. Lasky gave the orders, "Alright. Get your team ready 1600 hours and by the way, I am promoting you for this task since all the officers are currently on the ground. Given the circumstance that George will most likely be difficult. So the leverage of being a officer will convince him otherwise." Lasky held a box that contained the insignias for a lieutenant.

Masterson froze with a face of bewilderment. "I don't deserve this promotion, Sir. In fact, it isn't even allowed."

"Trust me, Frank. The Brass is responsible. You are going to need it if you are going to make it out alive. Any disagreement with George could be a death sentence for you. You and I already got enough dead soldiers haunting us as is. I want you back alive. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if you die because you of all people, need peace. George does, too. Especially if I hear word that one of you killed the other."

"Does George know about this?" Masterson said while a small smile adorned his face.

"No, he doesn't. I will inform him soon. Anyway, you are dismissed." A face of annoyance after he thought of the backtalk that George will give him.

"Thank you, Lasky." said Masterson and he exited the bridge with a shit eating grin.
Lasky watched him go. Roland materialized out of thin air again and asked, "Hard to see him go huh?"

"ONI asked specifically for him and his squad. Probably to get rid of him. For what I do not know."

"Its because he has a A.I. A rampant one that is decrypting any classified information that it can get its hands on. What A.I., is unclear but it is definitely a smart A.I. Possessing a A.I. of that caliber while being a low rank especially a rampant one...both of which are capital offenses that will lead to the death penalty. ONI wants him eliminated to prevent anymore leakage and to eliminate another loose end." Roland presented Masterson's file and brought up a certain section that referred to Masterson's actions during the uprising at Sangelios but details were blocked out by security clearances.

Lasky became astonished at the new revelations but it made sense. How could Masterson save himself from all the campaigns he participated in especially when his unit were completely wiped out from the plain of existence, not once or twice. But Three times. The A.I.'s decision making got him out of those situations. He sighed. The man is going to die no doubt about it.
"Well at least he can die doing something that benefits humanity right?"

"That is one way to look at it. The scientists are to be picked up when the pelicans arrive. The Covies are bearing on the dig site as we speak." Roland finished with some guilt and sympathy then faded away.

Lasky continued to look out into the void space. 'I'm going to get you out of there Frank if its the last thing I will do.'

Masterson continued to briskly walk to the mess hall to gather up his squad together. A briefing isn't needed in this circumstances. The Infinity is in danger and death approaches in the form of a M-class star. Not enough time for dilly dally because everything is on a need to know basis.

Stephano began to vent angrily before how he has been duped by Roland. "How in the hell did I get caught? I took every single safety precaution. I knew the worm was outdated. Another string of code was needed to prevent that asshole Roland from sensing my de-"

"No, Stephano, you got us in this mess with you ego and curiosity. I told you to stay away from ONI's files and look what happened. ONI probably organized this mission just to kill us." Masterson muttered with intense outrage.

"I promise to get us out of this, Franklin. Just like Koulos." Stephano said in a state of fear and was on the brink of going bi-polar which is never a good thing. Stephano can never be yelled at in a negative way or it leads to Stephano's multiple personalities coming out and they are not pretty.
'In my opinion, ONI can kiss my ass.' Masterson finally pinned on his First Lieutenant insignias and magnetically latched on his ranking symbols on his armor. A couple of Spartan noticed this as he passed by. They looked ready to berate him for they always do since the incident between Palmer and himself. Instead, they nervously shuffled their feet He smiled at this. Girl power has always pissed him off immensely especially when a certain cunt such as Palmer herself decided to push her weight around. He continued walking as he reminisced.

'It was the first week on the Infinity for Masterson. He was recently transferred after the New Phoenix incident. After the fling with Kilo-Five. It's a long story. My squad was chosen to help on a secret ONI operation. The details are extremely classified and could get Masterson executed by any means necessary by Section 0. Anyway, the squad began to settle in. Kayla, one of Masterson's Corporals, approached him in the housing quarters. Masterson was making his bed and then put the multitude of dog tags of his past companions on the bed stand. He looked as if he was muttering to himself. There was at least a count of 40 in Kayla's point of view. She felt a ting of pity as she looked down on the floor and used her toe to make little circles on the titanium while playing her black hair simultaneously. She then quietly walked over and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder where Masterson stiffened slightly upon contact. Masterson stopped fussing with his items and turned around. He was slightly intoxicated by his secret stash of gin. He gave a small smile.

"Corporal, can't you see that I'm busy." He simply said. Masterson was wallowing in self-pity but was good at not showing it.

C'mon sir, you haven't eaten all day. Lets go to the mess hall." Kayla encouraged in a hopeful tone. Masterson always had a huge appetite and his stomach made a growl in anticipation.

Kayla chuckled slightly at this.

Masterson dropped his stuff and agreed with a nod of the head.

They exited the barracks and almost Kayla ran into a trio of Spartan walking briskly to the briefing room. Two had their helmets and armor on. Both were clad in blue. They had different helmets on. Masterson tried to think of the name of the helmets.

'A operator and an enforcer I think.' Masterson thought. Masterson loathed the Spartan-IVs. They were always stuck up and act like they are better than the regulars. Sure they were stronger and more intelligent in combat but he had ten times more of experience than both of them combined. But that doesn't matter anymore. Their fucking genetic modification and armor makes us inferior. Just like a Aztec Jaguar Warrior facing a Spanish Conquistador. Fucking unfair. Of course the Spartans have a huge kill count, they are practically walking tanks. Anyone with a energy shield can get a decent kill count. Just completely forget about cover and just rush the enemy and kill them effortlessly. Unfair all of it. Of course that doesn't mean they are invincible. Like facing a elite, you need to keep one step ahead of them otherwise you receive a energy sword to the gut and become one with the ground with a coat of glass. Masterson seen this before but that a story for another time. The one heading the group was a women Spartan that had no helmet on. She had body armor colored a slight grey and a little red designs here and there. You could say she was pretty. Light red-brown hair in a ponytail. Black eyes and a good tan.

"Whoa, watch it there little lady." one of the blue Spartan quipped as Kayla ran right into his arms. He held her close and gave her sides a quick squeeze. Kayla struggled slightly. The Blue Spartan obliged by letting her go during her time of distress. The woman was watching out of her peripheral vision.

'Great...' Masterson thought.

"Better watch where you are going next time. Ronald doesn't want to hurt pretty ol' you." The other chimed in with a stupid Reachenese accent.

Masterson got in between Kayla and the Blues. He bumped chests with the one named Ronald which caused him to step back and effectively eliminated his flirty demeanor.

"How 'bout you two put your dicks in your pants and keep it that way. That's probably impossible considering those chemicals pumping through your veins, you Spartan freaks. *chuckle* C'mon Kayla, these snobbish fucktards aren't worth our time." Masterson said in confrontationally. He urged Kayla along which she compiled. The blues were livid by the looks of their body posture. The woman though turned quickly and hastily grabbed the back of Masterson's shoulder which caused him to come to a complete stop. Masterson's feet almost slipped out from under him from the sheer force.

'Shit.' Masterson began to turn into to face the woman but she didn't look too happy by the look of her body posture. She was smiling though.

"Maybe she thought the joke was funny. Why don't you introduce yourself? Maybe ask her on a date." Stephano joked into his neural implant.

"Uh. Hi, I'm Gunnery Sergeant Franklin Masterson. Pleased to meet you Ms...." Masterson trailed off as he extended a hand with a smile. He hated to admit that he was intimidated by the woman.

"Palmer. Lieutenant Palmer. I had to admit that was a good one but no one makes my boys look bad especially a old failure of a sergeant like yourself." Palmer said maliciously in a quiet tone as she gave his hand a tight squeeze then proceeded to arm takedown Masterson in one fluid motion. Kayla jumped in surprise and the blues cheered her on. You know cliché stuff like "kick his ass" or "girl power." Masterson expected this and elbowed her in the face which loosened her grip on his arm. He then swiped her legs from under her. She fell to the ground with a heavy thud on the titanium floor. Masterson quickly crawled over and straddled her to repeatedly punch her in the face but to no avail as she threw him off effortlessly after the first two punches that broke her nose despite her genetic altercations. They both got to their feet but Palmer was faster and shoved him into the wall and threw a punch that missed and punctured straight through the titanium.

"Holy shit. Remind me not to fight you on your period!" Masterson exclaimed. He then kicked her in the kneecap which earned him a grunt of pain from her. But instead of loosening her grip she lifted him up to the ceiling by his armor's collar. She threw a punch straight into his gut which easily broke his ribs. Masterson gasped in pain. She then threw him across the hallway. He skidded to a stop and got up to his feet but he wasn't prepared for Palmer's lighting speed and unstoppable momentum as she delivered a swift kick to his straightened arm which caused it to bend the wrong way. His elbow dislocated and every bone in his upper arm shattered into little pieces. He screamed in complete agony.

"My fucking arm... you cunt." Masterson muttered incoherently as his arm hung uselessly to the side. All cognitive thought ceased and he went into survival tactics. Instincts taking over. He almost went into shock right there. Masterson stumbled lightly. Kayla tried to help but was held back by the Blues and the gathering crowd. Bets were being placed. Some of his fire-team was there. McGraw. Bailey. Willis. They tried to break up the fight because it was severely one sided at this point. She picked up Masterson's convulsing body up high by the collar of his armor for everyone to see the broken man in all his shame She smiled smugly her defeated adversary.

"Well Masterson it's been fun. Next time address your superiors correctly. Got anything to say before I put you in your place where you belong?" Palmer asked as she took in the rambunctious crowd to fill her infinite ego. Some were coming to save him from the finishing blow but the Spartans held them back from doing so. The crowd then died down to see what Masterson had to say. Kayla had tears streaming down face feeling extreme guilt for what she inadvertently caused. Palmer brought her fist back, ready to knock him out to Kenosha and back.

"The ends...justifies the means." It was enough to make her pause.

Then, the barely conscious Masterson quickly got out his M6D pistol with a chrome finish that he got from a dead officer and pistol whipped her straight to the temple, knocking her out instantly. The crowd just watched in awe and in dead silence as the 7 foot Palmer keeled over on the now shock-induced Masterson, resulting in a stalemate. Several core men ran in from the crowd and checked on the passed out belligerents. It took three men to push Palmer off of Masterson. Masterson's consciousness then ceased to existence in that moment in time. Well, besides the tormenting voice in his subconscious. But that is a whole other story. Stephano told him what happened after the immediate fight. He said the entire crew went into a uproar. The Spartans were shocked that their great leader be defeated by a lowly marine when she kills Hunter pairs for a living. Well, that's a stretch. If she had the clearance to kill Masterson then Palmer would have done so with ease. She was like a cat, playing with her food. But the food got away. The marines on the other hand regarded Masterson as a legend. The encounter made him a enemy of every Spartan in the UNSC. Anyway Palmer woke within a day with a big black bruise that covered her face for a week. He, himself was in a coma for three days and was out of commission for a month. The medical staff told me that I should have died by shock within minutes after the fight. They went so far to say that he is inhuman to heal that fast. Masterson was diagnosed to be the out for a year . They took a sample of his regenerating tissue and sent it back to Earth to diagnose this abnormality. Masterson never heard back, even the medical staff was just as confused. As for the relationship, Masterson and Palmer had a loathing relationship that involved witty batter and insults between themselves to get into each others skin. The incident itself was kept under wraps even though both were busted down a rank by Lasky so FLEETCOM never found out. Masterson would have been court-marshalled beyond recognition. His memory then became foggy, a inky blackness then shrouded his memory soon after.'

The blackness then attacked his vision. He stopped his stroll and intense mental agony caused him to hold a nearby wall as support. A entity within his mind began to focus on the memory that just transpired. It seemed to study the interaction between Masterson and Palmer. The ancient voice began to rumble with a "hmmmmmmmm" of intrigue. This gave Masterson a painful migraine.

It spoke, "I've never understood human behavior." It had a tone of disgust. It roared sickeningly inside his mind which made Masterson collapse against the bulkhead doors.

"So violent but your kind always had the capacity to change. Which made you so much like our past adversaries. You are their inheritor as well. It then sent a several horrifying pictures through the brainwaves of Masterson. Twisted forms of his past friends, infected by the disease. Henderson...well a twisted form of him spoke in his voice.

"Sergeant! Help Sergeant! I'm sinking...please take my hand...I..I can't breath" He pleaded in a convincing desperate voice. His scream echoed and mangled bodies of Flood combat forms circled around him in mere glimpses. Appearing and reappearing. Coming from the shadows. Charging from placing that didn't appear in his peripheral vision. This put Masterson on edge as he scanned for the monstrosities but they stopped coming.

Masterson was hallucinating and he groveled on the ground to get away from the ghost. Henderson's ghost stood over him and extended a hand for Masterson to take.

Henderson and the Voice synced up and said, "I'm a monument to your sins. Absolve them by taking my hand to see victory everlasting."
Masterson began to reach out. To end the pain. To end it all. For four and a half years he never gave in to the demand of the Voice. He knew it be something that he will regret and not live to talk about. It was tempting though. The Voice never told him what will happen exactly. It also talked in it mumbo-jumbo bullshit language a\sometimes that just sounded like backwards English mixed with evil verses of Satan. Stephano identified some words as Latin. Which he looked up. It usually translated to punishment, creation, and resurrection. You know, religious bullshit. The stuff that leads to wars because of intolerance, bias, and fear of the non-believers. Stuff that the Covies and Humans alike used to believe in without question.

Masterson was mere centimeter from contact. Before Masterson can take the hand though. Stephano gave him a mental shock and saved him from his broken will and spirit.

His neural implant began to scramble Masterson's brainwaves and this seemed to hurt the Voice as the ghosts began to lose shape and became hazy shadows.

"Begone Satan! The power of Christ compels you! The power of Christ compels you! THE POWER OF CHRIST COMPELS YOU" Stephano said as he rematerialized in front of me in a priest outfit. Stephano went on a tirade and kept flashing them the cross that was on his necklace. The Voice tried to fight back but roared in frustration as it lost it's grasp upon Masterson's conscious. It retreated into Masterson's subconscious.

"Sinner! The sins of your forefathers have buried you unparalleled punishment. You shall accept it one way or another. Yield to me or be forever doomed." The voice said threateningly as it disappeared entirely for the time being.

Stephano then turned to faced Masterson on the ground. He reached out his hand.

"Do I always got to bail your ass out? I mean...shit. He used Henderson again. He's running out of material if you ask me." Stephano laughed.

"Please don't patronize me and wipe that shit eating grin off your face before I do it myself." Masterson said with a smile on his face. He then took Stephano by the hand and hoisted himself up. This brought him back to reality. He was on the floor with his head against the wall. He got up and took a while to get his bearings. He had swat on his face and a bloody nose, He broke it a long time ago and every time he reset it, it gets broke the next mission so he decided to keep it broken until he is discharged. Which won't happen because this mission has suicide written all over it. There was no troop deployments for a very long time. Lasky ordered everyone off the planet if on garrison duty. Spartan teams are working on the planet to get us out of here. He continued his walk and found his fire-team all together within the mess hall taking up too It was complete with a bunch of tables filled with security personnel. He did a quick mental head count and counted 24 In all. One missing. Warren.

'Where is that asshole?' Masterson thought. Warren wasn't necessarily a asshole but he was green as shit. He is a private that was transferred over after Big Jeff died on Requiem.

Not the time or place.

He quickly went to his team that was enjoying a meal and having a good time. They all quickly looked up to see Masterson. Masterson put a big smile on his face. It has ben a while to see all of them in one place. Masterson knew there was some bitter rivalries within the group but he decided it will eventually breeze by. They returned the smile. Bailey motioned for Masterson to join them. He did so and sat next to McGraw. Everyone greeted him with reassuring shoulder grabs and high fives. Flores gave her unfinished lunch of pork and refried beans to Masterson. He gave his thanks.

"So. Where is Warren? I told you McGraw to stick to his ass so he won't go after that ODST trooper again." said Masterson.

"Bu- sir...I. Why do I got to look after the Warren? I am not the best cockblocker. I mean Flores is the best at it if you ask me." McGraw stuttered then tried to cover his ass. He was always a more nervous one. He told me about his experience on the Mona Lisa. Crazy shit happened. He survived somehow. But he had to choose the coward's way out by leaving his friends to the Flood without even a goodbye The scene he describes tells a story that it was every man for himself at that point. He found some comfort that someone survived the Flood as well. Most of the squad never knew about the Flood. People who do speak of the Flood aren't taken seriously. ONI did a good job of covering up the Flood's existence. For what reason, I don't know. I mean this is the galaxy's greatest threat.

Masterson never had the courage to tell about his encounter. At least not yet.

"Screw you, McGraw." Flores said in her New Alexandrian accent, similar to the old Californian accent.

"Hey its true." McGraw said with a smirk on his face.

"McGraw so help me I-" Flores was cut off by Masterson.

Alright you two. Listen, McGraw go get Warren. We got assigned to another mission." Masterson said. McGraw kicked the ground slightly in frustration and began searching for the youngster.

Everyone else stiffened. Some let out groans. Some paled. But all listened in and got out of their relaxed position. Xavier put out his cigarette. Then Willis, the ever more vigilant, spotted Masterson's new insignias and fell out of his chair and yelled, "Officer on deck!"

Everyone scrambled and got to their feet and saluted him, not sure if he will become a total hard ass or not because of his newly acquired status.

"Jesus Christ. At ease, you don't have be kiss asses. This is just a result of keep George in check during the mission." Masterson said in a flustered tone. They turned their heads in a questioning way.

"Excuse me, sir. But how can you promoted to a officer if you never been in a military academy ever in your life?" Baxter asked in a as-matter-of-fact tone, earning some chuckles.

"Always the condescending one." Stephano commented within his implant. Masterson smiled at this and turned towards Baxter.

"Even though that is a true statement, Baxter. ONI has it in for us again as for matter of fact." Masterson shot back

Everyone began to argue in protest, most of them already having to still live with the Kilo-Five incident. They had to break little peace remained with the Covenant just to weaken them even further. To gain a advantage. It failed ultimately and rumors were heard that a UNSC battle group were destroyed near a Sangheili colony by a splinter group. Two cruisers and a frigate. All destroyed in a instant. They didn't even had a chance. All smoldering wrecks. No survivors. Conflict born from zealotry and failure to see hypocrisy. Now that we "won" the war. We think we can be the big man of the galaxy now just like the covenant did four years ago.

"I'll wait." Masterson said which earned a few smiles. All fell silent. "Are you done?"

A multitude of 'yes, sir' responded in many tone, good or bad.

"I have a bad feeling on this one, too guys. Anyway the ONI scientists found something down there that very important. Probably even more important than anything we have ever seen." Masterson contemplated.

"That is interesting sir but when is the briefing on this?" Kayla asked. She put her black hair into a bun.

"This is the briefing actually and the spooks need saving now. George's ODST will be helping us as well." Masterson said which earned a large amount of backtalk and complaining.

"Shit, sir. I don't' want to be flaked by those assholes." Baxter joked. It earned a several chuckles. This comment began a memory inside Masterson's head.

"Your such a worrisome prick, aren't you? Xavier said.

"Fuck you, Xavier. You are a pretentious asshole." Baxter retorted with a slight smile. Everything is fun and games until someone takes offence.

"Actually that statement isn't so far fetched. There has been plenty of intentional friendly fire during the war. Sergeants kill off their officers all the time and no one ever tells about it." Masterson said with a distant manner which Hacksaw's mood darkened at a morbid statement like that.

"What? Is it story time already?' McGraw said with Warren tagging behind. They took a seat on the top of the table.

"Glad for you to join us Warren. Did you get some?" Kayla quipped.

"HA HA. Fuck you, too." Warren shot back in a angry tone.

Everyone began to gather around. Masterson never gave stories unless he is sure that they earned it.

"When I was just a corporal in 2526. We were on the former colony of Biko. Fun fact it was one of the first planets to be glassed. The lieutenant of the platoon was a ROTC officer named Derrick. He was straight out of the academy and was very young. About the same age as I was. We had very experienced sergeants who are veterans from the insurgent conflicts across the Outer Colonies. The important one in this story was Trevor. He was a killing machine and takes no shit from anyone. He was known for killing children in the insurrection movement because he was downright evil. Of course, the UNSC never looked into it. But that is whole different story. He and other sergeants have the undying loyalty of the platoon including me. Before Masterson lost his belief in virtues and human dignity.

When he actually cared.

Anyway, we were moving through the streets of the capital of Biko, Mariuach. The capital was barren and the half glassed. It was a ghost town filled with death and the Covies were crawling in and around it and executing civilians. Our objective was to get to a prototype facility and destroy it. But that was mission failure of itself when we got there the Covies were all over it. so we ordered a carpet bomb on the facility. It worked but they got the data. Coordinates of 5 neighboring star systems, meaning that a lot of people were going to die in the matter of months. The planet all itself was being glassed. A superheated typhoon was sweeping across the planet. Only a couple hours away. destroying all in it's wake. We lost a man during a skirmish with a several grunts in the streets and began a search mission for him. Fillmore was his name. My best friend at the time. Derrick was a good soldier to say the least but he already got half of the platoon wasted by a several covenant squads. This caused a complete distrust between the veterans and the inexperienced Fillmore. Long story short, we found Fillmore dead, disemboweled by a energy sword. Fillmore's corpse was hanging from a bar of scaffolding of a collapsed parking structure. It was a ambush. Spec Op bastards. The mean elite kind. They had their stealth cloaks on. The covies had the high ground and they tore through us. But there was only five elites. We had 30 men. We got out of it with heavy losses, only 10 of us remained. I could go into detail but that wasn't important. Derrick led us into a impossible situation and got most of the platoon killed. We were furious with Derrick's incompetence to evaluate the situation. Derrick was hit with a needler round in the gut during the fight. He was in agony He called for a Corpsman. The Corpsman ran to patch him up. But the sergeant held him back and gave him a nod . The young medic nervously obliged.

"Trevor...What the fuck are doing? Get that medic over here. That is a order." Derrick sputtered. Blood dripping from his wound, He was bleeding from the mouth. He was very afraid at this point. Derrick began to crawl away to keep the distance between himself and Trevor. Trevor had wild look in the eye. It spelled no remorse nor mercy. Something veterans learn after fighting the Covenant.

Masterson watched in awe. He knew what was going to happen but still couldn't believe that Trevor was going through with it.

Derrick looked straight at me. Blood beginning to pool under him. Trevor stood over him with the barrel of his XBR55 battle rifle pointed straight down at him. I gripped his assault rifle tight. I wanted to do something.

'Why isn't anyone doing something about this? More importantly, Why am I not doing anything about this? This is immoral, evil. Why would anyone sink this low?' I thought. I silently cursed myself for being a bystander in the face of injustice. Biko, where I lost his moral value in a single day. 16 years of virtues that were built upon one another, crashed down in a instant. I lost my faith in humanity. Even in the end of our existence...we turn against ourselves. Betray one another while others just sit and watch us as bystanders. The rest of our platoon was watching the situation from afar. They dare not interfere in this matter. They were indifferent to this. Whether out of fear or hate. A certain code that soldiers had since the Vietnam War. They keep it as some sort of tradition. I never believed in that shit. I was a individual.

"Masterson...restrain the sergeant before he does anything he regrets." Derrick ordered. I motioned to do so but was stopped by the other sergeant named Bruce and by a private named Holdman. They had their weapons drawn. They aimed for my head."

"Wait. Is it the same Holdman from the last story? Wasn't he one of your best friends?" Warren asked. Everyone gave him an angry look for the interruption. He shrinked back and apologized.

Masterson simply said, "Yes he was and I killed him." Everyone gasped. Then started to asked questions. But Masterson held his hand up and continued.

"Now you know why I don't tell stories..." Masterson said but continued anyway. He had a dark look in his eyes.

"Holdman was one of my best friends but he lost a lot of friends that day and he had enough of Derrick's incompetence. Holdman deserved it because they aren't solving any problem. They were serving injustice with more injustice. A vicious cycle.

"Now Masterson don't do anything that will get you killed. Get back to perimeter while we have a little talk with Derrick like a good boy." Bruce said with a smile on his face.

"Masteron. You better do what he says alright. This bastard deserves what's coming.." Holdman said in conflicted tone but had enough emphasis to get his point across.

"Don't listen to them, Masterson...*cough...get the others an-" Derrick sputtered until Trevor interrupted.

"Shut the fuck up, Derrick. You wasted a lot of men today. Time to pay for your sins. There is only you and us. By majority rule you hereby K.I.A." Trevor said in a dramatic yet sadistic tone. He had a smile that stretched ear to ear.

I began to walk away around the corner to the former entrance of the parking structure. My morality and self-worth dissipated into nothing. I silently cried not for Derrick nor for his dear friends lost in this failure of a mission but for myself. I felt so guilty and selfish. I was disgusted with myself. Anxiety began to make me shake all over and I smoked a cigarette to calm down my nerves and began to watch the scene unfold from afar.

Trevor stood over Derrick with his XBR55, the old prototype albeit, and turned it to fully automatic and put his finger on the trigger.

"Wait, no, noooooooooooooo-" Derrick begged with his outreached hand to try to find the last of Trevor's human compassion that didn't exist in the first place. Unfortunately, the battle rifle began to erupt with bullets. The first bullet blew off his outreached hand clean off, then tore through his armor like tissue paper and borrowed into his abdominal and chest cavity. He gasped in pure pain as his blood sprayed all over the wall. Chunks of flesh were prevalent as well. His ribs were exposed at his point. His body convulsed in pain. Derrick was still screaming but it stopped immediately has a bullet pierced his heart. The heart exploded from the sheer force of the penetration. Derrick was barely alive at his point. He was gurgling blood. I could barely watch but I did. Pure anger began to swell up in me. The muzzle flash still burns my retinas today. This is where with tears in my eyes and with seething breath; began to take aim at Bruce and Holdman with my assault rifle. Trevor had a malicious smile and a inhuman look in his eyes. He laughed maliciously through the entire thing. They looked grey and soulless even though his eyes were dark blue. Like a entity took control of his body. Trevor steady began to rise the blaring barrel in front of him. Bullets tore through Derrick neck that created a bloody pulp as Derrick's body slightly convulsed from his still active nerves. Trevor then systematically finished off with Derrick's head. The last three bullets destroy any semblance of Derrick's face. The first went through his cheek and broke all of his shiny white teeth. The second went through his left eye. It went through his brain and the entry wound that destroyed his eye was star shaped with mangled pieces of tissue flaring out of it. The Coup De Grâce entered through his temple and fractured it completely. Derrick's brain matter spilled out of the hole in his skull. This destroyed the brain effectively; removing Derrick off of this plane of existence. Trevor then stepped back and observed his dastardly deed from another angle. Bruce and Holdman approached him and they both gave him a nod. The look from his eye showed no remorse and regret. It was too much for me. I snapped.

"You motherfuckers! You soulless bastards!" I roared. I squeezed the trigger tightly. My MA37 responded instantly. Bruce and Holdman only had time to turn and shoulder their rifles as they were peppered in the chest. They collapsed like cement blocks. Thump. Nothing more or nothing less. They made no sound in their deaths. They just hit the concrete floor with a heavy thud. No theatrics involved. Trevor dived for cover that took form of a collapsed pillar. My ammo counter reached zero and I took cover behind the corner. I nervously fumbled with my clip, almost dropping it but ended up getting it in anyway. At his point, Trevor began to fire back. Red tracers zipped through the porous concrete cover and exposed the scaffolding underneath. I screamed in fear as my cover was obliterated. A pause of gun fire signaled me to spin out of cover. I pinned him down. Then I saw the rest of my squad sliding down the collapsed crater. Trevor signaled them over and pointed at me. They were confused in want they saw.

"Masterson went rouge people, snuff him out. He killed Holdman and Bruce. I want him dead." Trevor genuinely lied. Well...he wasn't completely lying. They suppressed me soon after. I rotated to an adjacent wall of cover. Hot lead buzzing by me and disintegrated my new cover. They were moving to flank me then I blind fired out of cover. I heard my former comrades scream I was running on basic instinct. My basic humanity retreated back into my subconscious. My soul seemed to disappear at this moment. I tried to hang on to it but it was fruitless. My soul was disgusted my me and my surroundings. I almost went to chase it but it would be suicide. I thought I was hallucinating and I was. The vision of see a white ghost coming out of my body of horrifying. The advancing squad of my former friends seemed to spell out my doom. I was beginning to rain heavenly. The typhoon slowly descended open us. Derrick's blood washed away in the rain. and spilled down a nearby drain. The bullets kept coming. Tracers made beautiful streaks though the air. the rain amplified the effect. Like a prism. A man, Collison, rushed me.

He had a girlfriend at home with two kids back on New Alexanderia. One kid 8, the other 5. I heard they were killed in the Covenant siege years later. So it goes. He had blond hair and blue eyes. Average weight and height. Colorful personality.

A good man that got killed by me.

He ran right into me guns blazing that was meant to kill me but he managed to miss me at point blank range. He was unbalanced by our collision and fell to the ground. I reacted by putting my heavy boot on his chest. He smiled innocently, thinking that it was the same me behind my eyes.

But it wasn't. The heavy rain doused us. Tracers were being flung towards us in a variety of color. Making a rainbow of color.

Vengeance. Retribution. Trust me, it is not worth it. It just makes you more dead inside.

Then the covenant showed up. I turned around to see a several grunts along with 6 elites flanked trevor and the rest of them. I had the sastifaction of seeing Trevor being stabbed in the back. A smile spread across my face. Plasma and needler shards pasted by and added to the light show. A rainbow of color. Lightening and thunder added to that. Perfect bliss. Gust of winds deafening the sounds of the firefight. The only thing left was raw beauty.

Such grace, power, and majesty.

It's so damn beautiful...

The struggling Collision brought me back from admiring this. Genuine fear present in his blue eyes. I put more pressure on his chest. He grunted in response. Tears were streaming down my face but that was made redundant by the hard rain pitter pattering on my face.
I pulled out my standard issue MG6 pistol and aimed for the head. He became still and flashed me a smile. He ripped his dogtags and pulled out his letters to be sent to his wife. I gracious accepted it and tucked it into my rutsack.

"Sorry it has to end this way, Collison. I do this for justice." I said in a solemn tone.

"Frank...listen. Just...do one thing for me...make sure...Cindy knows that I died not as a hero but a villain. Frank. You are a hero. A man who believes in justice. I respect that. I'm glad its you." Collison responded with a weary voice that had authenticity could sadden the toughest soldier. He knew it was the end and he deserved to die after condoning such a deplorable act of vengeance. Collison shuddered as lighting struck overhead. I felt evil and animal. Barbaric . I probably looked like death himself. The shadow casted by me was enormous. I lowered my aim to his heart. I couldn't ruin his face. His blue eyes.

I squeezed the trigger. The colors of warfare permeated the air.

The firing pin struck flawlessly that day. What was actually a instant was an eternity. The muzzle flash was like a blooming flower. The hot lead entered his heart. He shuddered, his face still garnered a smile but faltered a little from the pain. He died instantly and merged with the infinite. He looked peaceful like a angel. The smile was still there. Lighting struck again to add to the drama.

I stepped away from the dead body and looked at the battle. My former platoon was being picked apart. The wind gusts making it a silent movie.

The rest of them fought the intruders but easily succumbed to a storm of plasma and pink crystal. A grunt then appeared around the corner. It yelped jumped in surprise losing its grip on its fuel rod gun. It groveled for its needler pistol but couldn't bring it to bear.

I systematically dispatched the little bastard with three bullets to the chest. He collapsed as cyan blood spilled out of its exoskeleton and it's green armor. This brought to attention of his friends. Instinct told me to run.

I did so. The Covies caught on and tried to pick me off. My detached soul urged me on. I chased it and it dodged and weaved to escape me. It urged me on, to go faster than I'm supposed to my limitations. Green and blue plasma shot past me. One missed by near inches. Giving my shoulder 3rd degree burns under my armor. I didn't feel it because my nerves were fried instantly along with the huge adrenaline rush. I ran to a building with a collapsed wall and scaffolding sticking out in odd places. A Jackal blindsided me from the shadows, knocking me to the ground. it pinned my shoulders but I push its own back to push the feather brain away. It tried to rip out my throat with its beak and sharp teeth. It hissed in frustration but I grabbed a nearby stone and slammed it into his huge yellowish eye which made him stumbled back. I shot it in the wrist. The bullet blew it's entire claw off. It gasped in pain or whatever is the jackal equivalent of gasping and the shield gauntlet reflected the bullet back into its side and severed its spine. It fell unto its side and died. Wind gusts picked up, rocks and pebble were picked up and hit me in the face. I stumbled to pick up the jackal's blue shield gauntlet to delay the inevitable. I had to removed the disfigured claw like hand. It pulsated purple-blue blood. I tried to activate the gauntlet in vain. I heard scuffling nearby. Two elites jumped down from the rubble with energy swords in hand. One in red armor and the other in blue. They were very alien to say the least. They clicked their mandibles in the anticipation of combat. It spoke it's bastard language. All gibberish if you ask me. Like backwards English that repeats itself.

"Come on, bastards do your worse." I said in vain to intimidate them. I drew my pistol while I fumbled with the gauntlet. They read my body language and seem to be amused and laughed menacingly. They easily stood about 9 inches taller than me as well as more muscular. The red one motioned the other to confront me as he deactivated his sword. . The blue one obliged with his energy sword sizzling with water vapor as unfortunate rain drops vaporize when coming in contact with the super heated plasma.

What surprised me is that it one began to speak in English.

"Pathetic wretch. It is time that I end your existence. For the Great Journey commands it, vermin." The blue one boasted as he brought his word to bear and swung down. It was the end but fate had another idea.

I fumbled with the gauntlet and closed my eyes. Miraculously, the gauntlet activated just as the sword struck and deflected the blow. He was knocked off balance. I took the opportunity and used the shield to cut him horizontally but he ducked and kicked me to the ground with his giant alien foot. He roared and swung in anger as plasma hits plasma. Swing after swing. The shield was turning red as it couldn't take much more punishment. I pissed my pants in fear as this could be my end. Then fate had another plan once again.

Lighting struck the top of a the building. the exposed scaffolding acting as a conductor. It EMPed their shields and the gauntlet. Their shields flared in purple electricity and dissipated. This made him pause in his execution and look around at his surroundings. I aimed with pistol in hand for his elongated head and pulled the trigger. It punctured through his helmet and skull as purple blood splattered all over me. He dropped the sword and held his death wound with his three fingered hands. He fell on his ass and collapsed on his back.

"...Grea-...journey..." He muttered as he drew his last breath. His large head lowered until it rested on his large chest.

The red compatriot roared in anger and in solace. He took a knee near his fallen comrade. He closed the blue ones eyes He said something inaudible in his language. I never thought they were capable of showing compassion but I saw it. I simply stood there like a idiot, I was amazed at how damn lucky I was.

"You will pay for this insolence with your life, human." He said in a deep menacing tone.

He approached me quickly as his yellow-orange reptilian eyes. His sword activated with a hiss. I quickly reacted in shooting him in the chest. He stumbled lightly and swiftly swung horizontally, the blow threw me into the wall. The sword cut through my armor like butter and left a huge shallow gash on my chest The dry wall caved in behind men as my back hit against the wall. My chest was in complete pain but the adrenaline kept it at bay. He limped over to me with ragged breath. I drew my pistol to bear and I shot him again, through the knee cap...or whatever that serves as their knee cap in their weird ass leg anatomy. He went down to one knee. He lazily swung again the hot blade got close enough to singe my eyebrows. My nose flared with small blisters from the sheer heat.

"I'm sorry, you were just...very unlucky." I said in a solemn manner. I was scared and pissed myself again. This elite; this thing deserves a much more honorable death. This death doesn't do him justice. I can see it in his eyes.

His mandibles clicked and seemed to smile. "Perhaps your luck made you prevail in your time in strife. It evened the playing field for your pathetic existence. But don't think this is a victory, My sacrifice will be your entire race's undoing. The Great Journey wait for us all, even in death. Until then-sweetness."

I smiled back and pondered at his last words. I pulled the trigger and the hot lead entered through his majestic yellow-orange reptilian eyes. His magnificent left eye disintegrated into his skull. I turned before seeing his fall, my soul stood before me, shaking its head. I began to chase it again as it vied to escape again.

A shrill explosion of air erupted overhead. A slip space rupture...A CCS-class battle cruiser ripped through the atmosphere. Most likely to destroy the capital. It blew a gust of wind as unstable skyscrapers fell from the sudden force. It came to rest in the air above the capital building. A building with a dome decorated in gold leafing. A legistlative building. A building made for pencil pushing.

The Covie's ships were always beautiful. Giant teardrops. A pearly silver with purple lights here and there. The glorious architecture of circular geometry. The storm added to that effect as light struck at it as if God himself hated the foreign object. The ship didn't flinch to say the least.

A spirit drop ship hovered overhead. It's engine whined over head. It is shaped like a purple tuning fork. The turret shot at me but I didn't care...I kept running. It was a eternity. I grabbed my soul...I tried to pull it back in.

It vanished before I could do so. Into thin air. I mean what the fuck, man.

'What was the reason? Why? Why me? Why can't I be human again? To live, love, and laugh. But that part of me died with Derrick. I would learn to be human again several times in my life but time and time again it would be ripped from me as if I was a kid with a candy bar. Someone takes it away before I can enjoy it for myself. But that is a story for another time.

I stopped running and realized my situation. The drop ship was unrelenting in its chase to end my life.

The drop ship loomed overhead trying to get a bearing on me but I sunk into a nook of a nearby alleyway. The turret revolved to my position and bombarded my hiding spot with purple plasma. The alleyway began to melt as 70 bolts rained down into the alleyway. Molten slag dripped down the cement wall.

The storm was picking up. I turned on my radio, fearful of my life.

"This is roughneck 2-0, does anyone copy,? I'm being pinned down by a Spirit in grids 32-55. Please...I'm the only one left." I finished desperately as a nearby wall melted down like lava out of a volcano. Only static responded back, the storm fucking with any transmission. I heard the battle cruiser beginning to charge its energy projector. I screamed as the concrete near me broke away and began to melt. It was becoming incredibly hot. It was unbearable. I couldn't take it. I jumped out of cover and faced the ship. The turret rotated slightly to adjust to my position. It seemed to pause in it's easy kill. Probably thinking as myself as crazy, stupid, or brave. It is fascinated, dumbstruck never the less.

'I'm not afraid...to join my brothers.'

This is the end...I closed my eyes. The hum of the drop ship sounded like a choir. The toasty heat of the slag behind me felt like the reaper was giving me a well deserved warm embrace.

Fate had a another idea...

Then a pelican; a angel, came over the horizon. The drop ship couldn't react, it was admiring my willingness to die. The angel let lose a missile pod and tore into the spirit's port-side passage compartment to burst into blue flame. It listed to the right side and crashed into a neat two story house. The pelican touched down nearby, the back door opened up and a several gun crew men motioned me in.

"C'mon soldier, you are living to fight another day." one of them said. I stood there for a several seconds then complied. I quickly hoped in the troop compartment and strapped myself in. There were several weary civilians and other marines within the troop transport as well. The crew members came in soon after, one manning the .50 Cal in the back. The cruiser began its glassing of the capital. The beautiful congress building becoming one with the ground. I watched this. We sped away. I stared off into space. I was in my own little world.

"Hey buddy. What the hell happened down there?" He asked.

I didn't answer, I was lost in my own mind. I was shell shocked, dehydrated, and most of all soulless.

A soulless bastard, living in a soulless world.

"Hey, c'mon talk to me." He said in a concerned tone.

"You know. Same old, same old. Send the marines in, only one comes out to tell the story." I lied in a emotionless tone but my facial expression told me otherwise. Much more happened down there. I was drowning in my self-pity and guilt. He saw me holding Collison's dog tags. He put his hand on my shoulder. He lifted his hand and saw blood. He suddenly recognized that I have been in serious trauma. He called for a medic. I blacked out from exhaustion and blood loss. I drifted in and out of consciousness from that point on.

I woke up about I sat there and drank there water as we exited the atmosphere. Several frigates were duking it out with a Covie CCS battle cruiser about 3000 kilometers away but that didn't last long. Each one was systematically obliterated by plasma torpedoes. The wreckage glowed red like chestnuts hot out of the fire. They made our escape possible. We reached a marathon-class cruiser filled to capacity with civilians. It quickly jumped system soon after. Biko was lost, no doubt about that. The pelican touched down in the hanger. The hiss of it engines and thruster ceased and the door opened. I was patched with ointment and bio foam. The crew and the other survivors filed out quickly.

"Hey, buddy. You coming." He said.

"Yeah, just give me a minute." I said in return. Still holding Collision's dog tag in my right hand, tightly I might add. What was a minute turned into a hour. I finally got up.

'A lot of new angels today.'

Too many...

But I believed I survived for a reason. But that became redundant. That is a whole other story.

If you believe that there is a moral to be learned; then you are sorely mistaken."

Everyone had a astonished look on their face. What they have just heard was never been told for four years. It was also treason but it was also treason for a ethical cause as well. Masterson had a serious look on his face but almost traces of fear. But he was relaxed for he just cleared his conscious.

"Shit, man you're a traitor. A murderer." Warren joked in a fearful tone. He stepped back a few steps. Then laughed.

"No, he did what was right. The UNSC would have done the same thing anyway if they found out." Willis said in his calculated way.

"That was just a story, right?" Baxter queried.

"It is a story alright. A good story has to have something to make it untrue but interesting. Is it completely true? No. The Covies wiped us out and I survived. So, did you like the story?" Masterson lied with a convincing smile. In reality, he did kill Holdman and Bruce through impulse. He did kill Collison through self defense. But the Covies came in and everything went to hell. He did tell the truth but a partial one. Those men he knew what they wrought. The Elites were hunting them for days on Biko. It wasn't wise to turn on each other at that particular moment but it happened.

'Was it really just?' Masterson thought.

"Sir, you fooled me big time." Warren said in a relieved tone.

Everyone seemed convinced and laughed. In order for a war story to be true is to add in some imagination. Many soldiers know this. The soul part wasn't true but it illustrated my feeling during the ordeal. Also war happens so fast that you miss a lot. Your mind focuses on the most impactful, usually the deaths of your enemies. Your friends.

That's a story for another time....

'Nice save, Frank' Stephano said within his illegal implant.

Masterson smiled at this. Kayla seemed upset though. She has been for a couple weeks.

'She's probably not convinced.' Masterson observed. He was put on edge by this.

"Alright guys, meet in the hanger bay at 1800 alright. Do yourself a favor and go to the armory. Pack extra ammo as well. I have a feeling we are going to need it." Masterson ordered. He stood up walked away to the armory

"Sir, yes, Sir." They compiled and saluted in their own way. They went to the barracks or armory and prepared for this mission, albeit reluctantly. Kayla followed behind unbeknownst of Masterson. She was anxious all right, speed walking to catch him. Masterson was too busy thinking things through.

A soldier is a individual. No doubt about it. If a soldier gets incorporated into the machine, bad things will happen. In the terms of morality and reason. Things turn into a blur. Right and wrong become one. The soldiers lose their humanity. That's what's wrong with the Spartans. They are war machines, nothing else. He was like the Spartans...no humanity present. Not anymore.

'Um, Frank. I sense female pheromones behind us. Six o'clock.' Stephano said. Masterson and Stephano have always been sexist. They don't have respect for them. Besides for Kayla. And Natalya....that's a story for later...much later.

"Shit." Masterson cursed under his breathe but he pretended to not notice the determined Kayla.

"Masterson, wait up will ya?" called out Kayla.

Masterson slowed and turned slightly but Kayla got into his face. Nose to nose. She was shorter but only by 4 inches. She was pissed and worried. Not a good combination for women.

"God damn it. I said wait up." Kayla said with tears in her eyes. She was concerned.

"What's wrong. Kayla? I told you to get ready for the mission.' Masterson said to convince her not to push further.

She did anyway. She was hiding something.

"Don't give me that. You know what is wrong, sir."

"No, there is nothing wrong except that you disobeyed a direct order. Now prep for the mission, Kayla. I'm in no mood for this." Masterson tried to walk around her but she moved in his way.

"Why do you think so pessimistic, Frank? Why...do you torture yourself so? C'mon Frank, I know you. You are more than those moments you describe to me and everyone else." Kayla said as she touched Masterson's chest plate. Masterson stiffened. His façade was seen right through in a instant.

'How does she know...'

'Ohhhhhh. Busted, Frank. I think she might have a thing for you' Stephano joked. Masterson took this in mind.

'Not this shit again'

"Kayla, I appreciate your concern for me but I am a soldier that can take care of myself. Now get to the fucking armory like I told you too! For the record...NO ONE CALLS ME FRANK EITHER!" Masterson said in a angry tone meant to defend his weakening mask.

Kayla always tried to reach out to Masterson but he would always pushes her away. But she is relentless. She cares for Masterson and shows him a distinct affection for him. But in recent weeks it seemed to shift to a more personal affection. A affection that he never felt since...well another story for another time. The more important thing is that she sees through his mask that he uses to protect himself.

A affection he doesn't want to accept. It makes you weak....

'I don't know how to love anymore nor want to love...but I hate to break her heart.' He thought. Masterson can still feel the emotion. The emotion he is feeling is too familiar. He is a sucker for pity.

And she is fucking teary eyed yet she stood there unyielding. She looked away with shame and began to walk away.

'You are a cold-hearted bastard, Frank.' Stephano said.

Masterson sighed.

"Kayla...wait."

"I...I think you got your point across, sir." She said in a crestfallen voice. Her tears made their way down her face.

"Kayla, c'mon I'm sorry. You...just caught me in a bad mood. I am very lucky to have your in my life. Just don't leave." He tried to butter her up.

It worked.

Kayla stopped and looked at Masterson behind her shoulder in a distant yet hopeful manner.

"When we make it out of this alive. I think you have to teach me to enjoy life again. Maybe through a date or..." He trailed off. She perked up to this.

She did something he never thought possible and she ran to Masterson at Mach 3 and gave Masterson a quick hug.

"I guess that meant apology accepted." Masterson said in a smug manner.

She rolled her eyes and playfully punched him in the arm. "Alright smartass, meet you in the hanger."

She walked away and swung her hips to get his attention. It worked but only in the biological manner. Remember, Masterson lost the ability to truly love. Masterson hates his part of himself. He could learn how to but that will lead to being vulnerable again. To be open again means that he will be betrayed. Masterson loathes loss. A common cure...never get too attached. Never love.

'She does smell nice though' He thought dreamily, his sex drive prompting him on.

'Man you managed to salvage that moment somehow. How do you do it?' Stephano said within his implant.

"I honestly don't know how I did that." Masterson replied under his breathe. He continued to walk to the armory.

'I honestly don't understand human emotion.'

"You don't have to...you just need to understand the concept of pity and the manipulation of female emotion. They are so much more intuitive."

'You are wise for a psychopath, Frank.'

"Gee, thanks. Greatly appreciated, man."

'Don't mention it.'

He arrived at the armory. A variety of different weapons were scattered about. He went to his own personal cache that Lasky lets him keep. It contained many things. A spike grenade, dog tags, several flame grenades, more dog tags, a SMG with collapsible stock, and EVEN MORE DOG TAGS OF HIS DEAD COMPANIONS. He stumbled back and seethed in anger at his collection of infamous items that meant something to him, good and bad. The spike grenade was used as a spiked baseball bat to burgeon a brute chieftain on Kholo. He regained his composure and put these things in his rut sack. He piled in some clips to his SMG into there as well. He used his magnetic weapon holster on the thighs to store the SMG. He then collected M6D pistol clips which uses high explosive rounds. They are extremely hard to come by.

Masterson picked up the pistol off a dead officer. So it goes.

He then picked up a MA5D assault rifle and shoved some clips into his ammo belt. Some fragmentation grenades were acquired as well. He likes the rat-tit-tat-tat of a assault rifle more than anything else. It's a instrument of sound, sight, and death. He put the assault rifle on his magnetic holster on his back. He slid in his combat knife and took out his personal bayonet for the MA5D. Primitive, yes but it yields the rifle as a weapon if he runs out of ammo. He knew he would need it, especially since the Prometheans like to get up close and personal. The blade was very large, about 3 inches longer than his combat knife. It was slightly dull from the last time he used it and stained in green fluid from the first time. The blade got him out of Voi. Without the blade, he would be mindless walking flesh bag.

'No.' Masterson thought. That memory always lead to him having a psychotic episode and elicit the Voice to torture him more. What is peculiar is the fact that the Voice never comes out in the worse situations. It comes when it pleases. Never in combat or public. The voice at least had some decency and respect for Masterson. It never reveals it's true intentions though.

"Just take my hand and see victory everlasting. I mean what the fuck does that even mean." Masterson quoted sarcastically in a hushed tone.

He stopped walking, waiting for the Voice to be a smartass. He looked left and right. Every nook and dark contrasting shadow. But luckly it didn't.

'You are really asking for it.' Stephano said.

"I didn't mean to. I thought I jinxed it as well." Masterson whispered. He locked and loaded the assault rifle and holstered it back on it's latch. He was sure he to put on the safety.

Masterson noticed his shoe was untied. He tied it. Then a couple black boots came into his view. A shadow was casted over him. It was a Spartan. But a Spartan that he actually enjoys being around with. The fluorescent white light produced a dark contrasting silhouette of the war machine in front of him. His armor was metallic gray with a yellow stripes here and there. He didn't have his recruit class helmet on so you can see his large crooked nose and his black singed eyebrows. His black hair was standard issue. His eyes were a purplish green. A side effect of the gene-altering chemicals pumped into his veins a several months ago.

"I heard you were promoted Masterson. Good for you, sir." The Spartan said smiling. He was hoping to catch Masterson when he is in a good mood. But at that point Masterson was borderline between a good mood and a bad one. This means he will likely be a snarky asshole.

"Yeah. Lucky me, Matt." Masterson said in a sarcastic tone.

"Come on, Masterson. At least you get shore leave after this." Matt said in a encouraging tone.

"Listen, Matt I appreciate the concern for me." Masterson said to convince him but Matt just raised a eyebrow at him and he tapped his metallic-rubber boot on the floor making a good tap-tap-tap. Matt always cared about him and his well being. Mainly because Matt is Kayla's brother and want to make sure Masterson does any rash decisions out there that will get her killed. Like his past three squads under his control.

"Sir, I mean to ask you a question." Matt said in slightly angered tone.

'Hear we go...'

"You can cut the sir shit for now, Matt. Anyway, what question do you have in mind?" -

"Frank, I have noticed that you have taken a fancy to my sister. Is this true?" Matt asked in a as-a-matter-of-fact tone.

Masterson laughed heartily. "I assure you that my relationship with Kayla is strictly professional *sigh* like it should be. She is a nice girl and I'm lucky to have her as a friend, but she believes otherwise. I guess she does fancies me and I tried to convince her that it cannot happen but as you know she is relentless."

This earned Masterson a scoff that evolved into a laugh from Matt. A small pause. A exchange of smiles. Then Matt broke the silence,

"And?"

"I mention everything that makes us incompatible like our age difference but she doesn't get the point. I never told her outright. I hate to break her heart, man. I came close multiple times but she becomes teary eyed and I can't stand that shit."

"Looks like she manipulated you to get you to say yes..."

"Wait, ho-" Masterson stammered.

She speaks wonders about you, Frank.She is really into you. For what reason, I don't know. She just talked to me on her way to the barracks about your latest...commitment. She was practically skipping. " He point a finger at the shuffling Masterson that is becoming rather uncomfortable at the sudden revelations but Masterson also felt his heart flutter a little. He decided to change the subject. seeing that he called him by his first name.

"Don't call me Frank, Matt." Masterson said. He put him on the defensive and made the sudden awkwardness palpable. Masterson continued, "Anyway are you being sent down planet-side as well?."

"Actually, yes I am Masterson. We are supporting Spartan squad Majestic on a assault on a Covie Harvester."

"That's good that you are being put to good use" Masterson smirked. Sadly, Matt knew Masterson's way of deception.

"Now that small talk is over. I want to inform you that if you do break my little sister's heart, you are not long for this existence."

"I-uhhhhhhhhhh" Masterson is lost for words. He can't believe Matt is siding with Kayla's feeling and want instead of being logical.

"You can't be seriously taking her side, are you? Masterson deadpanned.

"Yes I am, Masterson. I have never seen her this happy in a long time and I will be damned if you ruin this moment for her. Another thing is you two to better come out of his alive. Suicide mission or not."

"IF I make it out this time, Matt." Masterson and Stephano said in unison. The latter inaudible to all but Masterson.

"Always the downer, Frank. Lis-"

"No, Matt! I won't listen. The fucking spooks have it in for me. They want me gone and this is a 'legal' way of doing me in. They will kill most of my squad as well in similar fashion. In a indirect way without getting their hands dirty. Now I order you, my friend, to leave me be." Masterson said in a authorative and malicious way possible. Masterson was paranoid to say the least.

"You are just being delusional, Frank. Just do me a favor and bring back both you and Kayla back in one piece."

"Am I a babysitter now? I will try to Matt but it will be very challenging." Masterson snarked but his eyes softened slightly as he said this. He walked away to the hangar bays.

The Spartan clenched his fists in anger at Masterson's stubbornness. "I swear I will make sure you will, Masterson. Even if it kills me." Matt said as he turned and walked away to the armory.

Masterson walked to the hangar bay. But he had half a mile to go . The Infinity is way too large, it takes a while to get to where you need to be. He let his mind wander for the time being. He reached a burnt out corridor with a charred dead elite. The soot covered the elegant purple armor. the body was beginning to stink but it was minimized by the previous fire that ruined the corridor. A well placed grenade did him in. He touched his thigh, where a spike from a spike grenade punctured straight through his tree trunk thighs. A well placed grenade That almost did him in on Kholo.

Kilrain's face flashed through his vision. He yelped in surprise at his. The memory picked up where he left off about two hour earlier.

"Sergeant, snap out of it." Kilrain The shade turret brought its bearing down on our position the stone wall and it's corresponding housing complex giving the sparse group of marines. Green plasma splashed against the stone walls while needler rounds came centimeters close to scoring a headshot. Everyone was in a prone position. Scared to even take a peak. The Over-watch by the burnt out car gave another spray of suppressive fire which earn the attention of the shade turret about 200 meters away. The bird-brain Kig-Yar marksmen took aim at the machine gunners placed. They hissed and let out shrill noise that is their native tongue. Streams of carbine rounds and pink crystal traded blows with .762mm rounds. Masterson knew he had to do something soon. His men behind him got up and dealt with the grunt squads advancing on their position with ease. They little bastards thought they had them on the run so they completely forgot to stick to cover A private, Gabriel took plasma to his chest and some splashed into his face. It wasn't a mortal wound but it knocked him off of his feet. He rolled around in agony clutching his face as the world went into complete chaos around him. His face ruined for life.

"Lucas, get him a medic now!" Masterson ordered. The medic named Lucas obliged and tended to Gabriel's wounds. A field dressing, some morphine, and bio foam stopped his pain for a short amount of time and he was on his feet. He had a tremendous amount of pain tolerance. This circumstance prove this as he picked up his DMR and took out a Elite who had his shields down and had his leg sticking out of cover. Two shots is all it took. The seven foot monster fell to its knee and the second bullet collided with his neck and died.

Masterson quickly got to his feet, too. The sergeant placed carefully placed shots into a several Jackal marksmen. One collapsed in pain and stumbled off of its sniper nest and died while in free fall for 20 feet. The other winced in pain and got a couple shots off before spinning into nearby cover. Unfortunately, a stray shot connected with Gabriel's shoulder. He grunted in pain but this time had a scornful look on his face instead of pain. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. He let out a roar of fursteration and charged out of the stone cover.

"You are all gonna die, you ugly bastards." He said.

Lucas tried to grab his shoulder but Gabe was just too fast as he leapt out of cover. He swiftly took out a red armored grunt but was struck with a blue plasma bolt into the back that threw him off of his feet. A grey armored elite appeared behind him. I poured every bullet into the hinge head but his shield took the punishment. Masterson tried desperately to reload but he dropped his magazine on the ground. The rest of the squad was dealing with a several Elites flanking the other side. Gabriel stumbled back to his feet and drew his pistol as he only got one shot off but was deflected by the Elite's shield. The Elite swung effortlessly horizontally and cut Gabriel in half at the hip. He died instantly. His legs lifelessly slumped over while his upper body collided with the ground with a large thump.

"No...that crazy bastard. I...could have saved him." Masterson despaired in thought but quickly focused on the subject at hand.

Masterson finally got the magazine home and fired away the grey Elite which spun into cover as it's shields depleted.

'Shit..' Masterson thought. He spun around and found his squad being pinned by a several Elites. They were chewing the marines' cover. Masterson reacted quickly and got out a fragmentation grenade. He primed it and counted to three. Lucas was struck with several needler rounds to the shoulder and exploded with a super-combine. A brilliant pink explosion mixed with bloody mist.. He collapsed as blood poured out incessantly. Masterson threw the grenade with force. It landed in the Elites' cover which was a multitude of pillars both fallen and upright. Some somersaulted out of the blast radius, some were not so lucky. The blast let out a orange flower that killed two of them instantly as their screams echoed through the rubble. The ones who somersaulted out the blast radius were promptly dealt with hot lead.

"Clear!" A private said. Yousef was his name.

"Sir! Behind You!" KIlrain said quickly.

Masterson about faced and found himself in a impossible situation as his grey opponent returned to trade blows with the Humans yet again. Masterson purposely fell on to his back as the blue energy sword sliced through the air above him by a hair. Masterson quickly drew his combat knife and stabbed the Elite in the foot. The elite grunted. The Elite retaliated with a stomp to Masterson's gut. The stab took out his shields as electro static permeated the muscular alien in front of him. The Elite raised it's sword high but a bullet streamed into the grey helm of the Elite. The Elite stumbled lifelessly to the ground. It's mandibles were hung open to it's corresponding corners.

Masterson looked to Kilrain, whose DMR was smoking. He was smiling brightly.

"Well...thanks for saving my ass but don't except anymore praise from me. Now someone collect Lucas' and Gabe's dog tags and let take out that last shade."

"Yes, sir." They all said while trying to suppress their smiles but quickly grimaced at their comrade's corpses and the daunting task ahead of them. The shade was having a blast as it completely turned the car into a pile of slag and Over-watch scrambled to a new piece of cover which took the form of a crash police pelican. A couple of them were torn apart easily by a storm of plasma. Masterson turned to see a couple cowardice grunt make a run for it after witnessing their local commanding officers be bested. His remaining fire team scambled into a nearby house that was destroyed all the way to the foundation offering a good amount of cover along a intact cement wall. It had a excellent view of the shade turret and it's constituents around it.

"Kilrain, get the launcher ready. Everyone else cover their backside." Masterson ordered.

'Got it, sir." Kilrain said. The humorous glint in his green eyes while being in midst death and destruction.

'A child. One that deserves not to be tarnished by war.' Masterson grimaced and then glared that his men. Toiling around to his orders as Over-watch continued to be pummeled by plasma. He clenched his fists tightly. Masterson snapped and snatched the M41 launcher that was assembled out of Kilrain's grasp.

"The hell, sergeant?" Kilrain said angrily.

"Just doing my job, Kilrain. Now be a good boy and call for a pick up. I believe our work is done here." Masterson said to make a point with a anxious yet calm demeanor.

The shade stopped fighting momentarily and let it's grunt crew reload fresh plasma. Jackals in a nearby unstable two story bunkhouse took pock shots at Over-watch who desperately clung to cover. Masterson took aim with the shoulder mounted launcher.

'Don't worry, boys. You are going home...'

He let the first rocket propel itself into the shade turret, its occupant reacted by turning the turret around and see a rapidly accelerating rocket coming forward to end the Unggoy's insignificant existence. The Grunt clumsily tried to pull itself out of the shade but to no avail. The rocket hit it's mark and destroyed the turret in a blaze of purple and orange. The gun crew was incinerated by the plasma equipment nearby the turret. The rocket launcher rotated the second barrel into the firing position. The jackals in their nest caught on and one particularly, armed with a beam rifle, took aim and put a beam of high velocity plasma into Yousef's head. His brain matter splattered all over Masterson. Yousef's corpse collapsed like a bag of cement. Masterson stiffened. Masterson roared and fired the second rocket into the bunkhouse. A gas mane must have exploded because the building was obliterated into splinters and rumble. A large fire emanated from it.

His men cheered and rejoiced in the death's of their adversaries.

"Over-watch. This is Masterson. Great fucking job, today. We saved a lot of people. Get over to my position and call it a day." Masterson said.

The radio buzzed alive. "Masterson, this is McGanon. I heard that you completed your objective. Great job, sergeant. You saved thousands. A pelican should be on it's way shortly. McGanon said in a happy tone.

"Yeah, it took a lot of men to complete it though." Masterson replied as he took Yousef's dog tag off of his mangled corpse.

He heard a sigh from the other side of the radio and it clicked off. The Covenant ship began glassing the nearby city, a red hue of blinding light began destroying human architecture. A several civilian shuttles flew overheard to take the opportunity of a hole in the Covenant vise-like trap on the city. Masterson smiled slightly and his men congratulated each other. A hum came into hearing distance. Masterson recognizes the hum.

A nearby Wraith.

"Over-watch get your ass over here now! We got big trouble coming our way." Masterson said through the radio. His men around him rose a brow at his but quickly caught on. The rubble began to vibrate. Their lactic acid laden legs got a nice massage.

Alas, the dark purple wraith came into view on the hill. Bulbous and enormous It came from the forest. Ancient trees were felled. It hurled up a giant ball of blue plasma into Over-watch's position. Some ran out of the way but most of them didn't have time to react. The plasma killed most them in a blue fireball. The stragglers were finished off by the plasma turret on it's chassis.

'No...The fucking irony.'

Masterson and his squad open fired upon the wraith. They were out of rocket tubes so they shot the wraith with their rifles which did no damage at all. The plasma turret returned fire. Everyone ducked and clung to their meager cover. The main mortar of the wraith began to make it's adjustments.

Masterson quickly clicked on his radio. "McGanon, we need air support right now!. Lieutenant, lieutenant come in! Can you hear me?" Master said but his own pitch of voice change. Hell...it sounded feminine. It wasn't his own.

"Lieutenant, this is Flores. Can you hear me?" The radio in his helmet came alive in reality. Masterson shook his head clear of daydreams.

"This is Masterson. What do you need?"

"I was wondering. Who is flying us on this op?"

"Why is that even important, Flores?"

"I want Victor-22 to fly us there."

"For what reason?"

"The pilot is a close friend of mine....I told him about our situation. He is willing to help us. But he will be on a different mission during our op."

"Good. I will make the arrangements." Masterson was pleased by this.

"But ho-"

"I have my ways. Now get moving, soldier. Over and out." Masterson said with a big grin.

'We might have a chance after all.' Masterson pondered

"Stephano, I want you to reassign Victor-22 mission op now." Masterson said under his breath.

'I thought I can't alter any UNSC files as per your request' Stephano said sarcastically.

Masterson rolled his eyes at this.

"Stephano." Masterson said in a monotone voice.

'Wh-'

"Shut up."

'Alrighty then. I'm on it.'

"Good boy."

Masterson reached the hanger bay 5. There was a lot of dead bodies, Phantom parts, and other war scarp was thrown about from the previous invasion of the ship. Blood soaked the titanium floors and walls. There was some Promethean data fields floating around as well. They almost succeeded. We lost 30% percent of the crew. The ship itself was almost obliterated by set bombs in the engine room. Several pelican were prepping for launch. He spotted George and his ODSTs. They only had a squad of 12. All pretentious bastards. They think they are better. Masterson begs to differ. His team was mingling with some deck hands. His team loathes George's ODSTs like himself. They have a punk attitude. George spotted me and snarled. Masterson rolled his eyes at him. He couldn't hold the shit eating grin developing on his face but he knew he had to diffuse the situation by not being snobbish jerk. Masterson walked towards him as George hastily made up the distance. He half-assed a salute and got into Masterson's face, nose-to-nose.

"YOU! I don't know who the hell thinks you should be a fucking officer but it won't mean sh-" He said furiously. He was flustered. but he was cut off by Masterson.

"Stowe it, George. I won't tend to use my newly appointed position like a asshole but I do agree with you. I don't deserve this position but someone is pulling the strings for a reason." Masterson said in some understanding but some malice.

"Good that we agree with something. Lasky told me about the mission. Barely any details. It's pretty sketchy if you ask me." George clarified with a small smile. Masterson's plan worked and fed George's ego.

"ONI spooks have it in for me." Masterson whispered.

"What?" George questioned. He seemed to look away in thought.

'What is he hiding...' Stephano said but Masterson ignored it.

"I don't intend to get you and your team mixed in this but the spooks want you in their schemes as well."

George broke into a slight sweat and looked around at the people strolling about the hangar bay. Even the clean up crew scarping the grunt chunks off the wall. "The spooks could be everywhere." George said in a worried tone.

"Don't worry I have a plan." Masterson said reassuringly. George scoffed in response.

"A one that doesn't get everyone killed? Gee, there is a first time for everything I guess. I hope this is the first time." George said with discontent.

"You better clean up your act, George. Or I might use my position to make your life. A. LIVING. HELL." Masterson declared with a smug grin. He knew he had the advantage. Was this what the brass wanted?

George seethed in anger and tried to retort back but couldn't. He pointed a finger at Masterson in frustration. "I will prep my team..." George retorted with no emotion in a vain attempt to guise his vast hatred for Masterson. George put on his helmet and polarized his visor.

"I will do the same." Masterson said remotely as they parted ways.

'What a ego, man. You find the best people, Frank.' Stephano said

"Pride is a dangerous thing." Masterson muttered.

McGraw saw him approach and motioned him over while giving a lackadaisical salute. Masterson returned while looking over his men. All formed up, all 25 of them. They were milling around. Now time to select a new sergeant to take Masterson's previous place. There can only be 3 sergeants in a fire team. Their previous lieutenant was there to see us off for he was assigned. His name was Vinny. He approached Masterson from behind and spoke.

"Congrads, on your new promotion, Masterson. Considering the given circumstances." He was proud for Masterson but he was kind of ticked off that he has to see his team off. His body language says it all.

"I wish you can come with us, Vinny." Masterson held out a hand.

Vinny smiled and shook his hand. "Don't worry Frank. I will be directing your mission from here. I will make sure the mission is a success. Funny...the briefing is very vague to say the least. ONI has something up there sleeve again?" Vinny assessed while using his data pad to look over the mission but grimaced at the many unknown variables.

"That is a understatement. Anyway, I have to pick a new sergeant. Got any ideas?" Masterson mentioned quickly to keep a optimistic atmosphere. He didn't want another confrontational dispute.

Vinny smiled slightly. "I think you should follow your heart..."

'What a snide comment.' Masterson thought as he was on the defensive once again. Masterson didn't know if he was being helpful and it was coincidence or he is just a snide ass. Masterson proceeded to roll his eyes.

"Very, well. I will." To be honest, Masterson had no ideal heir to his position. Vinny handed him a box containing sergeant insignias. Vinny stepped back with a smile and left him to his thoughts.

"Just make the choice."

That was a lie though. There was Flores and Xavier. McGraw has a sergeant already. So was Willis.

Willis was at New Carthage when it fell. He held out against a hunter pair before being rescued. So it goes.

McGraw was in the Mona Lisa fiasco mentioned before. He was mentally disturbed but cleared for active duty soon after. He served in the last couple of engagements of the war. McGraw's Mona Lisa story has been eliminated from military records but Stephano pulled it up off the ONI records.

Then there is Kayla....

He hates to play favorites but she is the one that will follow my orders regardless of circumstances. Flores is tough and vicious out on the battlefield but she doesn't have enough experience. She is also a medic. Xavier is amoral but sensible and has plenty experience to be one. He deserves it more than Kayla. But this choice depends on survival and any disagreement on this operation will result in everyone dying.

But jealousy is a very potent poison...

He made a choice.

"Kayla. get over here." Masterson said. Everyone turned to Masterson. Kayla obliged and walked over to the lieutenant. Her lips turned upward into a light smile. He walked out of ear shot and walked to a carcass of a destroyed phantom in the hangar. deck tecnicans were cleaning the hangar and they nodded Masterson can already She followed.

'Are you sure this is a good idea?' Stephano questioned.

"Not sure. Depends on Xavier's reaction." Masterson said under his breath.

'Talk all you want. He will be pissed.'

"I will take your word for it."

"Yes, lieutenant." She responded in a playful manner. Her hands on her hips.

He couldn't help but smile at her. Maybe he could get used to this. To love again makes feel better about life but love during war time only causes heart ache.

"Just take this and shut up. That is an order." Masterson simply said.

Kayla took it out his hand with attitude and huffed indignantly. She opened it and her mouth opened in surprise. Kayla smile brightly.

"Is this your version of a box of chocolates?" Kayla said snidely.

"No." Masterson said in a flustered tone but continued anyway. "I believe you are the most qualified and the person I could trust to be at this position."

Kayla blushed a little but Masterson didn't notice her reaction for being complimented. What he did notice was what she did afterward.

She took his hand without warning and held it tightly She continued to lean her body against his.

'Shit, man. She is twitter patted by you. You have really outdone yourself.' Stephano said.

"Thank you." She said dreamily with a loving smile.

This made him extremely uncomfortable as his heart beat quickened and and he lightly pushed her away. She looked crestfallen by his actions and was about to retort but Masterson held out a hand.

"Now is not the time for that. Maybe after the mission. Now, prep the team." He responded in a monotone voice. He blushed furiously despite his dark tan. She responded positively by grasping his hand again and quickly let it go.

"You promise?" She beamed in a soft tone.

Masterson looked down hesitantly, not knowing what to say. He used a neutral yet cryptic reply.

"Only time will tell, Kayla. But that doesn't mean I won't try to commit." Masterson said while looking away. He frowned and gestured her to return to the rest of Hacksaw.

Her smile faltered but it grew exponentially as she continued to leave.

He was left there to ponder in his thoughts. 'Shit, that could have gone a lot worse....Hell, I don't think I have the capacity break her heart nor love. The fuck is wrong with me.'

"You are a lucky bastard, lieutenant." A voice said behind him. Masterson looked behind him to see a lowly deck chief cleaning up scrap. He was smirking while continuing his line of work.

"You didn't see anything. You got that." Masterson said in a aggravated tone.

"You didn't deny it." He laughed. Masterson felt a sense of embarrassment. Masterson tried to suppress the blush and hid it with a creeping smile. Accepting the latter so he won't be caught showing such emotions that he doesn't believe in anymore.

He doesn't what to be hurt like that again.

Never again...

Another story for another time...

Natalya....

Masterson shook his head and returned his conscious back to reality.

"I...just...don't what to overcommit myself. Making that girl a promise that I know I won't keep." He said.

The deck hand stopped milling around and turned to face Masterson. He laughed at the statement. "Don't worry, I feel you, sir."

"Glad we can reach a consensus." Masterson replied as he walked back to his team.

The deck hand beamed as he turned away and shook his head at Masterson as he continued his work.

His team saw him approach and focused up. McGraw stood up and spoke.

"Are we ready to head out? I mean waiting here can be such a bore."

"Not yet Sarge. First off, congratulations on Kayla's promotion. She will be taking my previous position. Secondly, George and I will be the ones in command. Vinny will be watching our Op from here. We will be taking two separate Pelicans." Masterson looked at the assembled men. Xavier frowned at Masterson. Masterson gazed at him with a sympathetic look. George's men filed around him as he approached himself. George seemed pleased for Masterson's humility.

"We are taking pelicians Victor-22 and Lima-47."

"With all due respect, sir. I thought I was flying Lancer out. Not, you guys." The pilot of Victor-22 chimed in as he eavesdropped from afar. He was rather surprised, the pilot scrambled for his data tablet.

Flores looked at Masterson knowingly and smiled. She was pleased indefinitely.

"Better check the briefing again, pilot. You have been reassigned." Masterson said. The crowd waited for the findings to be confirmed.

'You can thank me later, Frank.' Stephano said but the latter half of the sentence was filled static.

'uh,oh. Why now...' Masterson lamented. Stephano's other halves are emerging.

'The bastard didn't even thank me for appropriating the algorithms to making it possible.' A more enraged Stephano argued.

'Hey! I did say thank you, albeit informal. But the thought counts right.' The other sounded back.

'I guess...'

'Did you know that Jupiter has the most moon in the Sol system that amounts to 67 compared Saturn's 62.' A third more robotic sounding Stephano stated.

'I wasn't talking to you, buddy.' The angry one said.

'Stopping yelling at him! Also, I'm not your buddy, friend.'

'I can defend myself, pal.'

Masterson couldn't take it anymore and lightly tapped his helmet. It silenced the conflicting personalities of Stephano.

"Shiit, he is right. Bu-" The pilot said astonished. The pilot looked over to Flores and exchanged smiles.

"I have my ways , pilot. Prep the Pelican." Masterson interrupted causally. He looked over his squad and the ODST team Rancor. George had a trace of a smile from this past circumstance but sneered as Masterson's eyes met his.

"George we will be taking separate pelicans. When we get there, I want you to make perimeter so nothing will surprise us. Willis, I want you to take the 1st and 2nd squads to do the same. Me and Kayla's squad will escort the scientists out of there and get them out of there as quickly as possible. Close quarters for my team. Long range for the perimeter. Covenant presence is mounting up in that region so time is lives. Any questions?"

"Yeah, why do you get the easy job? Sir.." George said sarcastically.

"You know the hell why, George. Now lets head out, people." Masterson replied with annoyance. This statement left no room to argue. Everybody turned around and saddled up. Everybody was crammed into the back of the craft. Every seat was taken. These new pelicans are much larger, being able to fit 25 marine in one flight. The back door closed with a metallic crunch The pelicans' engines flared to life and everybody experienced sudden elevation of the ship. The hangar bay doors opened up and the pelicans took off and passed through the energy shields that pressurized the hangars to normal levels. Masterson's stomach lurched as the pelican dipped towards the planet.

"This is Lima-47, we spotted Sierra-13 and Charlie-76 coming from the vector we are heading to." The radio blasted from the cockpit. Stephano tapped into this broadcast.

"Copy that, Lima. We have visual. Pretty fishy if you ask me." The pilot replied. The gun crew shifted uncomfortably as they hanged on while Hacksaw conversed with one another in their seats. Masterson listened in. Kayla was on the opposite corner of the row of seats. She was smiling at Masterson but still talked to Willis next to her. Xavier was berating Warren about his certain crush on a certain female ODST. This interested Masterson greatly.

"She is nothing but trouble, Warren. She will eat you alive most likely. Besides, she is most likely a dyke, man." Xavier joked.

"Fuck you, man. Sasha is the most beautiful woman I've ever met. Even though she doesn't want anywhere near me." Warren argued back, the latter sentence had an ashamed tone to it.

"She is way out of your league. You need a lion tamer to tame that kind of pussy. Like me. But those ODST girlies are up for anything. If you know what I mean." McGraw added in. The females onboard gave him a glare that spelled 'sexist asshole.'

"Please, McGraw. You never got some in months." Willis quipped. McGraw blushed in embarrassment.

The men laughed. The pelican began to rattle a little from the atmospheric descent. It reminded Masterson of the descent into New Mombasa.

Maybe later...but that is one hell of a story.

'Something is definitely wrong, Frank. The security cameras back in the hangar bays show a large amount of scientists being off-loaded.' Stephano brought to light. The images appeared within Masterson's neural implant. It showed just that. He radioed in to Vinny who was also in the shot.

"Vinny, how is your end?" Masterson said into the radio.

"Shit, the scientists just came in from your destination. This doesn't ma-ke any *Static* krssssssssssssssssssssss." Vinny said before static overtook his voice.

Masterson sighed in frustration. "Pilot, amplify that signal." He ordered.

"Aye, sir." The co-pilot sounded off.

'Want me to do the same?' Stephano asked.

Masterson replied with a nod. Stephano took the hint. Masterson is too close to his fellow humans to make a whisper without looking like a idiot or a psycho.

"Uhhhhhhhhhhhhh...sir." The co-pilot hesitantly said.

Masterson unstrapped himself from his seat and walked over to the cockpit. The hue of the artificial sun came into view. Red and orange-purple hues illuminated the cockpit and the world below. The mountains were a violet-purple. The large forest of pine trees reached as far as the eye can see.

"Continue." Masterson plainly said.

"The signal is being jammed. Whatever it is it's not Covenant. Some Forerunner jammer maybe?" The co-pilot pondered.

"Do you have a source?"

"Its coming from our destination."

'Well, whoop-die-fucking-doo!' Stephano commented in a sarcastic tone.

"Something isn't right, sir. Covenant are too far away for their jammers to be effective and Promethean knight signatures aren't showing up." The co-pilot said nervously.

"You can say that again." Masterson replied grimly.

The pelican deaccelerated as Lima took the lead. Their pilot swerved his thrusters and our pilot did the same. The pilot's sign language. The radio was jammed even in this close proximity. Communication is key in a successful military communication. Even a single flaw will destine a operation to failure. Thi jammer will be the end of us.

'We are going into a angry hornet's nest.' Masterson contemplated.

The intercom sounded off. "LZ looks clear. I'm opening up the doors." The pilot said. The metal titanium door doors opened up and the gun man manned the .50 cal on the back. The sun illuminated in darkened insides of the craft. Everyone shielded their eyes fro the blinding sun. Lima formed up and touched down 20 meters away. The 2 gun crewmen piled out and secured the LZ before George's ODSTs filed out soon after. The black armor gleamed slightly as their visor polarized. They steadied their weapons and scanned the landscape for enemies. A large forerunner installation stood in the middle of clearing they were in. A sparse outcropping of rocks and boulder permeated the clearing offering a large amount of cover for the installation within the middle. The forest was producing a large amount of Tule fog that clung to the trees around the clearing. It was a beautiful day to say the least. Wildlife made it's calls throughout the clean air. Masterson's pelican finally touched down.

:"Go! Go! Go!" Master sounded off.
Hacksaw climbed out of the pelican. They did the same as Rancor. They looked uneasy. Masterson eyed the forest warily. Figures seemed to dance inside of the fog but Masterson shook his head of this. Inky blackness clawed at his vision momentarily.

'Soon you will learn of your sins. The tombstones that your forefathers created will be uncovered and the victims will be fleshed out for all to see. Then! Then you will see, why this must be done. Either way, justice will be achieved." The inky blackness receded. His men turned to face him as his stupor ended, glaring

"Come on, sir. We don't have all day." McGraw joked.

"Just admiring the view." Masterson lied.

He turned around to the pilots as the gun crew filed back in.

"Hey. What's your name pilot?" Masterson asked.

"The name is Herald and this is my co-pilot Terrence." He answered. Terrence gave him a wave.

"Keep in close proximity and hide. I have a bad feeling about this. I will take out the jammer, first. Then I will proceed with the 'mission'." Masterson emphasized the word 'mission.'

"Understood, sir. We will be hear. I will tell Lima during our flight." Herald stated.

"Good, man." Masterson said with satisfied smile. Masterson jumped off and landed in the soft dirt of Requiem. The pelicans lifted off the dirt and gained altitude. The thrusters kicked up dirt into the air. The marines covered up their faces and coughed. The ODSTs chuckled at their constituents misfortunes. The pelicans raced off into the distance making for a nearby valley, breaking the sound barrier.

'They are a couple clicks east if we got to make a run for it.' Stephano said.

Masterson upholstered his assault rifle and turned towards his men.

"Alright, boys. Lets head out." Masterson ordered. They walked about a 100 meters before they found the installation. A crashed phantom was in the middle of the meadow that separated them from the installation. Masterson put his hand up to halt their

"Davis, scout out the position along with the other marksmen." Masterson ordered. They looked through their scopes. Davis had a sniper rifle. He was a good shot but not the best that Masterson has seen.

"I see nothing, sir. A couple plasma fires but nothing alive." Davis observed the wreckage. He saw a couple dead Covies but nothing more.

"Shit! What the fuck is that!" A ODST marksmen wielding a DMR shouted.

"Let me see." George said as he looked through his battle rifle's scope. The fog covered a clear details of what he saw. He saw a shadow moving at a incredible speed. It was carrying a grunt corpse from the crash sight.

"The fuck..." George observed in a questioning tone.

"What did you see?" Masterson questioned.

"I honestly don't know but I don't want to find out. It was big....really big." George said in fearful tone. The ODST who saw the thing in a first place became hypothesizing what it was, like a bear or new class of Promethean.

'Could it be...' Stephano pondered.

'I hope it isn't...If it is, the universe thinks I take it up the ass." Masterson thought. He trembled and closed his eyes in depression.

McGraw started to make assumptions as well. "I know what is it is. It's the flood, man." He had a fearful tone in his voice.

Everyone rolled his eyes at him. They heard his story a million times and they think its a just a campfire story. Some believe him because it was in such vivid detail. Many doubted him because it was too hard to believe and that his files don't anything on the Mona Lisa.

"Suuurrrrrrrrrreeee, McGraw." Xavier said in a exasperated tone.

"It's true, it happened." He snarled.

"Stow it you two." Masterson berated. "We have a job to do and it seems it already gone to shit."

"What to you mean? Willis asked.

Most of the scientists are already evacuated to the Infinity. I honesty don't' know why are we here." Masterson added.

"Maybe there are some stragglers?" Baxter said.

"Could be." George commented.

The two squads headed to the base. The fog began to spread throughout the clearing. The cheerful bird calls began to cease their calls and more nocturnal animals took their place. Shadows moved about that made the humans train their sights on them but they retreated back out of sight. This put everyone on the edge. There was a couple of disable UNSC sentry guns. Electric fires sprung from the wreckage. They were absolutely mangled by a fuel rod gun. They reached the large metallic ramp that took them into the center of the installation. Forerunner gray metal was a common theme along with bright blue illuminating light. The squads were murmuring to each other. A couple of chuckles and scoffs. The clic-clac of steel toe boots making contact with the unknown alloy beneath them When they got a grand plaza,,,well it wasn't a welcoming sight. Masterson held up a hand and sent Rancor to the high ground on top of the nearest forerunner structure. It had a bunch of pillars and spires that created a great firing position. Hacksaw carefully moved through the plaza and found many bodies strewn apart. Plasma scouring, pink crystal, black soot and bullet holes made blemishes in the impeccable mega structure of the installation. Grunts, Elites, Jackals you name it. UNSC personnel seemed to be massacred as well. blood splattered the stainless metal. Wreckage from a Covenant ghost made a sizable hole in a nearby Forerunner instrument panel. It was spouting blue flames. A couple sentinels of different varieties were flying about, repairing what they could. The smaller ones fired small beams of light on the damaged surfaces. The robotic humming of the complex's machines permeated the air. They paid no attention to the humans.

"What the hell happened here?" Kayla asked.

"One helluva firefight. I tell you that." Xavier stated.

A couple Promethean data fields were dancing around as well, signaling the death of the Promethean Knights. They looked like fireflies and were pretty to look at but they are really disabled killing machines.

"Whatever caused this must have been one tough motherfucker. Knights don't go down that easy. Especially this many." Baxter said.

"You can say that again. This whole mission is eerie. I like the up close and personal fight. Not cloak and danger." Flores chuckled nervously.

"Man, these Prometheans are pretty cool if you ask me." Davis said as he was circling his hand through the data stream. The orange mist contorting to his manipulations.

Everyone smiled at this kiddish response but then something else entirely happened.

A larger, more menacing sentinel turned red and approached Masterson. It invaded his personal space and scanned him. The marines readied their weapons but didn't fire, knowing sentinels in this large amount of numbers and their superior shielding will kill them all within seconds. It made small metallic processing noises. 'Fraaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnk!' Stephano stammered. 'It's reading your bio scans for some reason. They must like to know their date before they get frisky. Whatever you do... don't piss it off.'

Masterson let the little machine do it's thing. Sentinels don't hurt humans unless provoked. That is what happened with Zeta team. Massacred by a several sentinels. There flesh was burned off their bones.

The three booms of the top moved slightly. Other sentinels caught wind of this. They turned red and approached Masterson as well. The original sentinel then turned green for a several seconds when the scan was complete, then reverted back to blue. Then the rest of them followed suit and continued their previous duties.

"I wonder what the hell was that all about?" Baxter asked.

A large explosions echoed from the other side of the installation. A shrill animalistic yell. The installation rumbled soon afterward It got the attention of the large sentinels as they turned towards the disturbance and flew quickly to the source.

"Hmmmmm, I won-" Baxter began again but was hushed by Willis. They gave glares at Baxter for his remarks.

'I guess we know where we are going now.' Masterson thought.

"Alright guys, lets follow the-" Masterson began ordering but was cut off.

"Masterson! Crawlers!." George yelled. His team fired upon the four-legged quadrupeds creeping out of a nearby crevice. Everybody dashed for covered as yellow-orange hard-light projectiles streamed towards them. Davis wasn't so quick to react He got hit a several times and fell to the ground. The armor took the punishment fortunately but it was enough to break some of his ribs. He quickly reacted by grabbing his snipe rifle and shot at a quickly approaching Crawler in his splayed out position . The semi-auto at that close off range didn't cut it. As the crawler's leg was blow off by the third round but jumped on Davis and started to eviscerate his chest. He yelled in pain. Masterson blew the little bastard away and it fell apart in a pile of metal. Davis was bleeding out fast. The rest of the crawlers were quickly dispersed as the Alpha of the pack was killed off by Rancor's excellent firing position.

"God damn, it! Flores patch Davis up." Masterson ordered.

"Shit, sir. I'm shredded to shit." Davis muttered. Blood was trickling out of his mouth. He was in a lot of pain, his labored breathing and groans made this apparent.

"Hush now, Auntie Flores will make patch you up." Flores cooed.

"Will he be alright?" Baxter asked worriedly.

"Yea, He needs a little morphine and biofoam, though." Flores replied. She was working like clockwork.

",McMillian and Quincy guard Flores while she finishes." Masterson ordered. He wasn't happy because his relucantcy to send his men through cover but then again their wasn't any cover to begin with. Just get low and hope for the best. Masterson focused up.

His men compiled and George's team moved forward on the rooftops of the installation. The firing position will save us many marines. The jog of 400 meters to the sounds of battle sounded like a bunch of stampeding horses. The ragged breathes showed the Corps that their marine training was subpar. Masterson used to be a star athlete so the run didn't exhaust him much but it did make him break a sweat. In Grav-ball. A heavy hitter. He was also a Track athlete. He could have been somebody! But an injury to his elbow during his senior year proved otherwise.

That and the fucking war.

He took a deep breath to repress his regrets. That is another story for another time.

'Frank, I have located the source of the jammer...It's UNSC. But why? It is located a several 100 meters inside the structure and 500 meters down' Stephano analyzed

The sounds of the battle began to be more clear. A sound of UNSC weapon discharge permeated the air. A couple assault rifles and battle rifles. The firefight cam into view. The sentinels were battling a several Covies. Only lowly jackals and grunts. They were running from a opening to the structure. Assault rifle rounds were being propelled from the large opening. The entrance erupted in a large orange explosion. Metal Forerunner materials within the corridor were blown into smithereens. Then two promethean knights materialized in front of the entrance and charged in. The sentinels followed suit. Several Covies that were left to ponder the hell just happened. A grey-Elite Ultra and a couple of grunts were out in the open. They talked in their moon-speak language.

'A perfect opportunity.' Masterson thought. He gave the signal to fire. The ODSTs didn't hesitated and the grunts and jackals were cut down instantly. The grunts' cyan blood spilled out of their carapace and armor. The jackals' thin bodies were torn into ribbons. The Ultra's energy shields collapsed but he took cover. Hot lead punished his cover that took the form of a Forerunner stabilizer a nearby bridge. Hacksaw overran the Covie positions. They cut down a ODST that got too aggressive on their precarious high ground. The black armored soldier twisted around and fell 10 feet to his death. George cussed through the radio in anguish which came out as static on everyone's headsets. George furiously jumped the 10 feet from the roof and landed on the imposing Ultra. He stabbed the neck of the elite with a combat knife but it wasn't enough to slay the Elite. George was flung off and landed in a vulnerable position on his back.

'God damn it, George.' Masterson couldn't blame him.

The plasma daggers came into existence as the monstrous elite stomped on George's chest with immense force. George screamed in pain. He brought his SMG to block a oncoming dagger. The silenced SMG was cut in two but the dagger defected with a electric hiss.

'Whatever you are thinking you better to do it mow!' Stephano yelled into his neural implant.

He took his in mind and charged ahead with his bayoneted assault rifle. He took heed to a Jackal as it let loose a bushel of purple crystals. Masterson knew he would get killed by the jackal in this vulnerable position and cursed himself for being so unattentive The jackal then took notice to a frag grenade landing behind him. It tried to jump away but was blown out of the air mid-jump. The poor bastard landed as a pile of mangled flesh. With a primal yell, Masterson closed the distance on the elite and George. The elite swung toward the charging and the dagger barely nicked his helmet. Masterson ran straight into the Ultra and stabbed the large warrior in the chest. The 9 inch blade entered inside his body effortlessly. Masterson's inertia made the elite collapse and Masterson toppled over the Ultra. The Elite breathed raggedly as Masterson stood up with assault rifle in tow. He gazed at his blade. The purple-blue blood stained the blade and mixed with the green stain, making a azure color. Masterson liked the change. He got out his hankercheif and wiped off some of the excess blood.

Masterson then turned towards the fallen adversary. The elite pointed a finger towards the entrance, trying to communicate to Masterson about something. Materson paused to ponder. Unfortunately, the Ultra was granted a quick death with a several rounds to the neck. McGraw approached Masterson, who had a smile of glee for finishing off such a tough foe.

"That bastard was a wiley one. He was bigger that most hinge heads." McGraw jeered. Masterson failed to see at first but he is right. The Elite was about 9 ft. A interesting specimen to say the least.

"That 'bastard' was about to tell me something until you killed him." Masterson said darkly with a glare.

"That bastard almost killed me...." George interjected while gazing at the fallen foe. "If it wasn't for you, sir." George nodded to me.

"Glad, we can agree on something." Masterson laughed.

He endowed a small smile at this subtle humor.

The squads gathered around the entrance. Echoes of gun discharge echoed from the structure gapping maw.

Other distinct noises were heard,,,,a shrill inhuman shreak.

McGraw and Masterson recognized the shreak and visibly shuddered.

"I got a bad feeling about this, sir!" McGraw stammered.

"Me, too. sergeant." Masterson said in a distant manner.

'The jammer is still in there and no positive contact with friendlies. We must stick to the plans until the jammer is destroyed.' Stephano said through his implant. Masterson nodded.

"Got any ideas, boys?" Masterson feigned ignorance.

A multitude of answers came up but most of them were excuses to leave.

"Alright, we got to find the source of the jammer before we can make decision." Masterson declared.

"We don't even know where it is, sir. I all do respect this operation spells death all over it." George said as he tore his fallen comrade's dog tag off of his neck.

"Well, sergeant. I have an idea where it is. It is in that structure." Masterson knew this mission won't pretty especially when the fight becomes this close quartered.

"We are not going to there. Those knights will tear us apart in that close of space. I say we call for evac. " George deadpanned. The ODST yes men behind him nodded to this request.

"As much as I want to do that, George. We can't with the Com system down. So we are in the dark and are expendable in the eyes of the brass so we must destroy this jammer before anything can be done." Materson said with a sneer. George's body language faltered for their was no room to argue with that logic. Masterson continued.

"We stick to the plan...minimize casualties. If there are any survivors left, we save them. After all, it was our mission."

"Fuck the mission! ONI wants us gone! They set us up." McGraw shouted angrily.

"Quit your belly achin', soldier. Remember your are a leatherneck. We destroy the jammer, if we find anyone in there, we save them. Those knight won't appreciate human trespassing. Hopefully ONI doesn't have anything planned and they already turned tail and ran. We get out of this hellhole, alive. Then we get some well deserved shore-leave afterward. George, get your marksmen to keep an eye for Flores. Now lets move out!" Masterson ordered.

George nodded to a duo of ODSTs. One with a sniper rifle. Another with a DMR. They began to climb to a good position to watch Flores. They gave a thumbs up to George when they were in position.

'Well, played. Why do you have to be so mean? He also has a point. This mission would be very difficult. The jammer is block all of my instruments so I will be very little help. The jammer' Stephano asked. Masterson tapped his helm in annoyance to stop Stephano's

Everyone approached the entrance. A smell came from the inside. It was a horrible stench. It smelled of rotten flesh, shit, and something else. It is indescribably dreadful.

But it is a stench that all too familiar. The flood. His vision blurred. Twisted bodies and shadows appeared in his mind.

'You step closer and closer to your tombstone. The epitaph emulates your demise. You are a messenger...nothing more. Deliver us and see victory everlasting.' The voice reigned out within his mind. It fucking always leave with the same statement. It had a amused tone to it as well. Masterson shook his head back to reality.

'Is it getting worse?' Stephano asked in a concerned voice. Masterson nodded.

"God, damn it! It smells like ass!" Warren exclaimed Everybody covered their noses in revulsion. Again, the ODSTs chuckled at their counterpart's discomforts. Their helmets have a air filter. Fucking unfair. The more qualified always have the better equipment. better equipment, better survival. But easily outclassed by experience.

"Yeah, it smells like you." Xavier teased. He fiddled with his shotgun a little.

"FU- Damn it, I fell right into that one." Warren started but admitted defeat.

A several chuckles sounded out.

"Alright, two-by-two. Willis and Jameson, you guys take point. Kayla and Warren, take the rear." Masterson ordered.

"I would like for you to take my rear." Kayla whispered to him seductively as she moved towards the flank of the group.. The words sent a chill up his spine. His face flushed a little.

'She is so feisty....I kind of like it.' Masterson thought.

"What did she just say to you?" Xavier asked, seeing his emotion.

"Nothing...just reassuring me." He lied.

Xavier laughed heartily. The large group continued their slow progress through the darkened corridor. A couple of covie bodies littered the ground. A grunt was bleeding out while propping himself up with a nearby pylon. Jameson put the bugger out of his misery with a single bullet. The twisting and turning structure . Columns and pylons offered good cover and excellent hiding spots. It also split the corridor in half. The group was able to not get bunched up. A couple of sentinels flew overhead at breakneck speeds to the battle. The stench began to make the air stale and hard to breathe.

The sounds of battle echoed through the installation. It put everyone on edge. Steel clic-clacs of their boots was the only sound the humans were making. Then they came across a grisly scene. A human corpse was being burned into char right in front of them by a sentinel. The robotic perpetrator hummed a little before flying away to the sound of the gun fire.

"Shit. Since when sentinels burned bodies?" Baxter queried nervously.

"I sure as hell don't what to stick around and find out." MacGraw retorted. The nervous breathe of the humans was as loud as a industrial air conditioner. The hum of the installation pulsated through the air. The stale air. A couple of hacking coughs from the squad proved his. The burning bodies stench was horrid. Masterson knew it wasn't just burning bodies. There is more to this.

'The Flood...they're here.' Masterson thought painfully as a high pitch whine echoed through his mind. He brought up a hand to his head. He closed his eyes tightly.

Masterson tensed as it once again assaulted his mind.

'The instruments of your forefathers delay the inevitable. You think your mind will prison me! YOU FOOLISH SINNER! I will have my freedom so I will bring repentance across the stars. You only know the beginning."

I shook my head clear as Stephano shot some electrical wave through his brain to release the grip of the Voice.

Sentinels never partake in overkill. Only necessary force was used by sentinels. They leave unnecessary force to Prometheans. Masterson has seen Prometheans tear through squads before being subdued. They discovered more burnt bodies among the unburnt as they continued. They picked up the pace. The anticipation of the battle was palpable. The shadows of the corridors seemed to move as paranoia kicked in. Some of the architecture was damaged by previous explosions. Scattered fires baked the Forerunner alloys around them.

Then they found a confrontation. A small decline lead to a very large room with a very large lift. Unfortunately, the lift began to descend downward before we got to see the occupants but they were definitely humanoid. But that was rendered unimportant.

They saw the UNSC jammer. A antenna with a large amounts of terminals around it. It was being defended by a several UNSC security personnel. They had assault rifles and it is a miracle that they survived this long. Especially with a Promethean Battlewagon donning a scattershot engaging them. A couple of Covies were sparsely populating the room as well. Taking pot shots at the jammer. The jammer was hit with a fuel rod gun. It exploded in a electric fireball. The sentinel in the room were busy burning bodies into slag. They paid no attention to the intruders or the firefight.

The Knight turned around towards them and hissed. It's metallic 'helmet' opened up and revealed a fiery orange skull. No matter how menacing this knight was, it won't survive the combined firepower of the group of humans. Everyone directed their fire at the knight, being the most dangerous threat. Its powerful shields collapsed. But it teleported away before any major structural damage was taken. The Covies took notice to this and opened fire into the crowd of humans. Fortunately everyone had enough of a brain to hug the ground and shoot from the prone position. The Elites wised up to take cover behind a bunch of parallel panels. But this opened their flanks to the security forces and they were dealt with quickly.

'Frank, slipspace rupture six o'clock.' Stephano exclaimed. Masterson turned around and found the bastard appear behind Warren. Warren caught a glance at this and only had time to back away. The hulking knight effortlessly swung it's bladed hand into Warren but it didn't land flush so it didn't kill him but it granted him a diagonal inch deep cut through his armor from the shoulder to the hip. He was lucky but it probably still gashed him badly. He laid splayed out on the floor screaming in pain. Then it stabbed one of George's men in the back, severing the spine. The mechanical killing machine hoisted the now lifelessly body into the air. Red blood dripped out of the wound quickly. It was complete chaos as the knight used the dead body as a meat shield. The corpse became mangled as it was ripped into shreds.

Masterson put bursts of hot lead into the knight but this thing was unstoppable. The alloy it was made out of is as strong as a Hunter shield.

Felix, one of Masterson's own, poured an entire clip of assault rifle from 10 yards away. Felix was very quiet and was truly dedicated to the mission. A dedicated man that deserved a good life when his tour is over. Maybe have a family. But even in that type of close of quarters, the barrage only blew away it's face plate and one of it small arms. The bastard still didn't disintegrate away, instead the death machine fired its scattershot from point blank range into Felix's chest.

Felix, the truly dedicated man. A man who survived the attack on Cairo Station. He was gutted by streams of hard light and began to disintegrate into the air like glittering rose petals. His body disappearing into the air. Nothing left. Nothing.

'War is beautiful, majestic, but doesn't mean it is fair.'

The humans caught on to this and wasted the knight in hail of lead.. It let out a shrill scream as it disintegrated into a data field. The 10 foot monstrosity was no more. Like fireflies flying around a lamp.

The fighting ceased soon after. The security forces waved them over. The platoon walked over. They peered down the lift's shaft. It seemed to go down for miles below the surface. The Sentinels cycled through the air. Some even descended down the shaft.

"Jesus Christ. That bastard almost killed us all. You have my thanks, sir. Corporal Sam Bhakia, security group 677. We were sent here to protect this jammer. Don't ask me why. ONI always does this shit."

"How long have you and your boys been fighting? Hell, why are you protecting a jammer that is jamming our signals?" George questioned spitefully, he lost another man so he wasn't happy. Masterson noticed this. Masterson nodded to Willis. Willis obliged and took the dogtags of the fallen ODST. He handed the tag to George who took the dog tag furiously.

'Radio and sensors are back online. The Infinity is trying to hail us for hours. I'm detecting movement everywhere about a 1 mile below us. Energy levels are extremely concerning in this facility. I think-.' Stephano rambled on but Masterson tuned out the A.I.

"Well, me and my boys were told to guard his antenna for some reason. They never told us what it was. Eventually, everyone's signal was jammed. Hell, we couldn't even hail the Infinity from outside. Anyway, the scientists were doing a lot of top secret stuff. That all change when the Covenant and Prometheans showed up to the party. I have no idea why? Most of our personnel was evacuated but a lot of people are trapped down there. It goes a several miles down...A lot of my men, are trapped down there." He explained. I wasn't sure if he was lying or not. Stephano screened him and told Masterson that Sam was telling the truth, but only a partial truth. Masterson frowned at Sam. They are hiding something, that is for sure.

"Are there transponders still up?" Masterson asked as he began to make his way to the radio jammer then circled back to the lift. They gave me questioning glares on my movement.

"Like I said before, Sir. Something is jamming are signal and it isn't our jammer. It is coming from down there actually but I'm picked up vital signs." Sam explained worriedly. He glanced over to his companions. They were shifting uncomfortably.

"Well they aren't going to save themselves. George, set up a perimeter around the entrance. I don't want anything in or out. Anything. My squad, you stay top side. McGraw, George and Kayla, you are coming with me.. Willis, take the rest of us and go along with him. Call for Lima and Victor to pick us up in a hour. If we don't comeback in time...leave us behind."

"Woah there, sir. I'm not going to leave my squad with a incompetent old man like Willis." George mouthed off like a little kid but his ODST yes men agreed with a several head nods.

"You better watch your mouth, boy!" Willis retorted as he stepped closer towards George. The security personnel looked each other with a questioning look.

"Alright you two! We have a job to do here." I interrupted as I pulled George to the side.

"George, I understand your worry but Willis is fully capable of keeping them alive. As for the reason why I chose you to go down there is to minimize casualties because you are one of the best marines here. I'm gonna need you down there, especially since you are a explosive expert. You still have the C-12 on you" Masterson said. George looked down in a perplexed manner then nodded.

"What do you think is down there?" He asked while looking at the lift.

"If it is the thing I think it is. We are in for a world of hurt. But I need answers...and those ONI bastards still down there are going to tell me."

"Yeah. Greeeeeeeeeat idea. I say we should get the hell out of here. When we still have a chance." George said sarcastically.

"Listen. These fuckers want us dead. Time to find out why." Masterson walked away with that.

Masterson thought about getting the hell out of here as well. But learning the truth is much more important this time. They wanted him and George gone but why? This greatly worried him especially that the Flood has become a variable. Masterson reached for the panel. If ONI is experimenting with the Flood and it escaped, then they have to detonate the place.

'If a single flood spore escape Requiem...the galaxy will be doomed. You know what we have to do. What we need to do...' Stephano explained with static slightly garbling his voice.

'Why bother? The Flood must have escaped already. Hell, they probably already jumped the planet.'

'No, you numbskull! By the looks of it, the Covenant already did routine quarantine as well as the Installation's protocols seemed to be largely effective.'

'Shut up, you stupid prick!' Masterson turned off his neural implant for now. He let them sort this altercation out.

'Stephano is getting worse. I better get this done as soon as possible.' Masterson thought.

"Shit, sir. Why do I always get picked to do the hard shit?" McGraw asked, snapping him from his inner thoughts.

"Because life hates you." Masterson said while smirking. "To be honest, you are a screwball but you're one of the most seasoned marines here. Also...I think the Flood is here..." McGraw dropped his assault rifle and stumbled on it.

"Wha- wh- No!" He stammered out as he picked up the rifle from the ground.

"Calm down. We need you more than ever. Now you need to tell me how to beat these bastards." Masterson said. Even though Masterson knew how to kill these demon spawn, he needed to feign ignorance. He will never dare speak about his time in Voi.

"Y- Yes, sir."" he mustered out. McGraw explained thoroughly on the matter. They don't go down easily...Masterson knows that first hand.

"Good. Now prep the lift."

MacGraw saluted firmly after understanding the situation. "I don't even know how this works." He said while looking down the bottomless chasm that the lift descended through.

So...what are we doing exactly?" Sam asked.

"Your coming with me down there." Masterson said. Their mouths went open and went into complete shock.

"What?! NO! We need to go now!" He roared as started to hyperventilate.

"You said we had friendlies down there, right?" Masterson shot back.

"Yes, bu-" Sam started.

"Then we are getting them out of there! Don't you care about our men's lives?"

He failed to find words at that statement. "You don't understand what you will get yourself into."

"No corporal, I completely understand. You and your little experiment." I whispered to him.

He took a step back. "What are you talking about?" He said.

'Liar.' Masterson thought but he knew this was getting him no where.

"Anyway, I need your schematics of the lower portion of the installation. I'm practically going in blind."

He looked down, defeated. "Fine...." He said while motioning his men to the lift. they reluctantly agreed and stayed quiet. They have been straight through hell and Mastersson understood this. Sam followed suit.

"Don't say I didn't warn you." Sam said menacingly as walked away with a pouting expression.

Masterson's vision was clouded once again as the Voice took the podium which is Masterson's brain.

'Hmmmmmm. You little insects fail yet again to comprehend your role in this universe. You constantly squabble with each other. Your species' selfishness and sins as led you to this path. How are you supposed to repent if you are committing SIN with every step you take. You are a messenger... nothing more, nothing less.' The Voice exclaimed then it left as soon as it arrived. Masterson stood in front of the control panel of the lift, dumbfounded by how he got there.

"Hey, asshole aren't you going to do anything?" George said.

Mastersn looked at George with a blank expression as he activated Stephano and put pressed a random button on the see through panel.

'Why did you mute me, asshole!' Stephano roared through the neural implant. Masterson didn't respond, he just waited. Stephano then concluded now is not the time to bicker.

The A.I. began to do its work as the control panel was translate and told to summon the lift upward. The Forerunner symbols flew willy nilly on it. A hum filled the air. It took a several minutes. Eventually, the lift appeared and settled in place. Everybody filed in, awaiting the hell that is down there. The one that a select few has survived.

"Willis?" Masterson sounded off.

"Yes, Frank." Willis answered.

"Be sure to contact Flores and everyone with her."

"Will do..." He trailed off while activating his radio. Trying to hail the Pelicans and Flores.

"Radio contact down there is limited so it is up to you to keep them alive."

Don't worry, sir. Flores is competent enough to get everyone back." Willis said hopefully.

Masterson mind raced and worried while Stephano finished up. The panel was scrambled by the Covies so it was difficult to debug it.

'All yours, Frank.' Stephano interrupted.

Masterson pressed on a certain glyph and the lift hissed and began it's descent. Everyone shuffle at the instant lurch of the lift. The hum filled their ears. Taking them down to the abyss. To a hellhole.

Little did they know...that these events will reshape all of history...

Prologue 2: Our Brother's Sins (unedited, uncut)

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