Halo: The Maw

Kurt patted Holly’s hand one last time and then went to the infuser and lifted the side panel. Inside were dozens of solution vials. He squinted, reading off their serial numbers.

He spotted “8942-LQ99” inside the infuser. That was the carbide ceramic ossification catalyst to make skeletons virtually unbreakable.

There was “88005-MX77,” the fibrofoid muscular protein complex that boosted muscle density.

“88947-OP24” was the number for retina-inversion stabilizer, which boosted color and nighttime vision.

“87556-UD61” was the improved colloidal neural disunification solution to decrease reaction times.

There were many others: shock reducers, analgesics, anti-inflammatories, anticoagulants, and pH buffers.

But Kurt was looking for three vials in particular, ones with different serial numbers—009927-DG, 009127-PX, and 009762-OO—that didn’t match any standard medical logistics code.

They were there, bubbling as their contents were drained and mixed with picoliter precision.

He heard footsteps approaching.

Kurt lowered the panel of the infuser and stepped back to Holly’s side.

There was rustling of plastic curtains and a medical technical in blue lab coat entered.

“Is there anything you need help with, sir?” the medtech asked. “Anything I can get you?”

“Everything is fine,” Kurt lied. He brushed past the man. “I was just leaving.”

- HALO: Ghosts of Onyx; Page 144

PROLOGUE

TEAM KATANA

0745 HOURS, OCTOBER 31, 2552 (MILITARY CALENDAR) \ ZETA DORADUS SYSTEM, PLANET ONYX, GRID 2-3 OF ZONE 67

“Katana, form up on me.”

Five Spartans, each encased in Semi-Powered Infiltration Armor moved like liquid mercury over velvet. Each muffled step bringing them deeper into the unknown structure. The photo-reactive panels that made up their SPI Armor flickered and distorted as they stacked up one behind the other on the left side of the massive door; the harsh lines of the unknown architecture causing their camouflage systems to contort to match their surroundings.

“Katana-Four, you’re up. Get it open.”

A green status light winked on in response, telling him that his teammate acknowledged the order.

It had been like this forever. After the drones had chased them deeper into Zone 67, it had been like this. No talking, no joking, no speculating on who would win the Top Honor’s exercise or where their next assignment would be. It continued to wear the young team of Spartans down; The normally boisterous team was reduced to what they really were inside.

It wasn’t supposed to be this way. The further they got into the planet of Onyx, the more things started to heat up. A lone bead of salty liquid flowed down into his eyes. The burning was exquisite. A gauntleted hand touched his shoulder. The lead Spartan shook his head slightly, using gravity to wipe away the painful tears.

“It’s done. Ready when you are, Shawn.”

The lead Spartan nodded after clearing his head. Shawn brought his hand up and gave a small wave forward as the door silently glided open, allowing Team Katana entrance into the room beyond. Each of their MA5K carbines raised into a ready position as they moved onward, blurry eyes darting this way and that, making sure to sweep every dim corner. Shawn tensed just as the last light hit the farside of the room.

Something wasn’t right. There was something missing.

“Katana, how long have we been down here?”

Silence reigned for the next few moments. He figured they were probably checking their heads-up display; Subtracting the time since Top Honors had started until now. Something hit the bottom of Shawn’s stomach. It was a feeling he was sure he didn’t like. A snag. He turned to the rest of his team.

They weren’t moving.

“Katana?”

“Security protocols enabled.”

“What,” Shawn asked, raising his carbine further.

“Ring offensive system activated,” a voice that sounded suspiciously like his own said. “Shield in countdown mode. Exchange proper counter-response, Reclaimer.”

The lead Spartan looked to his team. They haven’t moved a muscle since he asked them the question. In fact, they haven’t even said a word in more than two minutes.

“Reclaimer,” the lead Spartan said in confusion, “I don’t know what that is, but would you mind telling me why my team isn’t responding?”

A large humming sound reverberated around them. Shawn spun around and dropped to a knee in a crouching position as he raised his rifle on the intruder. A massive drone lowered itself to his level; It’s glowing blue eye stared the Spartan down, even as the barrel of his weapon nearly poked into it.

“Voice patterns and biometric data confirmation received. Reclaimers Status: Ready for Transfer.”

“What do you mean ‘Transfer’?”

“Warning. Pacification fields in effect. Prepare for Transfer, Reclaimer.”

Shawn wanted to protest. To pull the trigger. To scream at this Drone to make sense. His arms felt heavy as the rifle lowered. His vision blurred further and eventually faded to darkness; His petrified family being the last thing he ever saw.