Honor and Friendship

Chapter Eight

Flipyap ran all around the room, Aythai’Vadam had scared the daylights out of the Unggoy. Though, it seemed like Easy to Adjust found his terrified antics rather humorous. The Huragok made happy chimes and whistles, watching his Unggoy friend run all over the place, hovering up and down with his tendrils held up. But, it was rather obvious that Aythai’Vadam found it rather annoying, his helmeted gaze following the green armored Unggoy.

“Ghost! Ghost! T-There’s a ghost aboard the ship, Easy!!!” Flipyap yelled, as he ran around the room.

Aytthai’Vadam gave a sigh of pure annoyance, and simply waited. When the Unggoy got close enough, the Sangheili stuck his arm out and grabbed Flipyap by his throat. “I am not a ghost, as you can see, Flipyap.” The Unggoy let out a hacking noise, acknowledging the Sangheili’s hold on him. Slowly, Aythai’Vadam raised Flipyap up until he was eye level with his helmet. “And those creatures, you two have been watching? They are with me.”

At that, he released the Unggoy, dropping him to the ground. Flipyap took a couple of deep breaths, trying to regain his normal breathing, as Easy to Adjust placed a tendril on his friend’s shoulder and whistled. “A great help you were, Easy… You could have done something.” Flipyap said, as the Huragok whistled and held out a flexed tendril. “Your sensor could have picked up anything, or could have been malfunctioning! We haven’t seen a Sangheili since before the crash!”

“Good to know that.” Aythai’Vadam said, walking up to the two of them. “Which reminds me, how did the two of you survive the crash?”

“Well, Boss uh…” Flipyap drew the word out, not knowing his name.

“Aythai’Vadam” He corrected.

“Well, Boss AV, we were fighting those Brutes and Kig’Yar, who boarded our ship.” Flipyap motioned to himself and Easy to Adjust. “Easy was trying to keep our section from blowing up, while I opened up a whole can of whoop ass with that plasma turret outside… When the whole ship started to shake.” The Unggoy started to get nervous, as Aythai’Vadam crossed his arms. “Easy said we were going to crash, and to hold on to something…”

Aythai’Vadam suddenly held his hand up, stopping the Unggoy’s story. “You got stuck in some vent, and the tightness kept you from flying all over the place.” He then motioned to the Huragok. “Easy here then came along, and pulled you out of it, am I correct?”

“H-How did you-?” Aythai’Vadam thumbed towards a vent, which was bent back into an Unggoy’s body shape. “Oh, that’s how…” Easy to Adjust made happy whistling sounds, excited that someone was acknowledging him for doing something good. “Well, you know how we survived… But, what about you? How did you survive, Boss?”

“I was in a Phantom, that escaped before one of the hangers blew up. It crashed on to this planet, and I was the only one to survive. The locals found me, and treated my injures.” Aythai’Vadam answered, choosing to go with the shortened version. “After recent events, I now find myself honor bound to the Kingdom we are currently in.”

Flipyap and Easy to Adjust looked at him, to each other, and then back to the Sangheili. “You’re now sworn to those creatures?” Aythai’Vadam gave a nod, the Unggoy giving a shrug. “Eh, bet they are a lot better than the Covenant. Though, what are you going to do, when they come to rescue us?”

Aythai’Vadam froze, realizing that these two may not be aware of what had happened, nor the message from the Arbiter. “Flipyap, Easy, there is no more Covenant.” He informed.

The Unggoy and Huragok looked at one another, before the Unggoy started to laugh. “What are you talking about, Boss? Of course the Covenant is still around! Did you hit your head, or something?”

Aythai’Vadam shook his head. “I managed to get a communication array up and working, and ended up receiving a mass message from the Arbiter. The Prophets have betrayed the Sangheili, and any who stood with us… Using the Brutes to carry out this betrayal.” He looked at the Huragok. “I highly doubt you are oblivious to this, much as you can interface with the ship.”

Easy to Adjust lowered his head, confirming that the Sangheili was right, and flexed his tendrils. Flipyap suddenly threw both of his hands up into the air. “Are you serious!? They are doing that, even forcing good Grunts to fight one another!?” He asked, the Huragok flexing one tendril. “Well then! Those stinky, stupid, arrogant; Prophets can consider this my official resignation! I QUIT!!!”

“Good to hear, now we can go meet some of your new employers.” Aythai’Vadam said, as he turned around and started to leave.

“Wait, new employers!?” Flipyap yelled, trying to keep pace with the Sangheili, Easy to Adjust hovering behind them. “Why should I work for these creatures! Just because you are honor bound to them, doesn’t mean me and Easy have to be.”

Aythai’Vadam stopped and looked down at him. “Would you prefer to stay here, until you run out of supplies and then try to traverse a hostile environment? That’s if you get pass the Royal Guard securing the area around this ship, who have orders to attack anything that comes out of here?” He asked, the Unggoy not responding to his question. “I didn’t think so.”

-Elsewhere Within the Ship-

“Darnit, now where in Equestria did Pinkie Pie run off ta?” Applejack groaned, as she and Rainbow Dash walked down the dimly lit corridor. “She wasn’t that far ahead of us.”

The daredevil was pulling the strange slime off of her coat, and hair. “We’ll find her, but right now? I’d like to try and get this crud off of me, and kick the butt of whoever placed that trap.” She pulled some of the green slime off. “When we find them.”

“Already done.” Ayhai’Vadam’s voice called out, from behind the two mares. When they turned around, Applejack and Rainbow Dash saw the Sangheli walking up with two others, one hovering. “I found them, and both are crewmembers of this ship.” He looked down at the stubby one, wearing a green mask. “And they are willing to help Equestria, right?”

Flipyap crossed his arms, looking away. “From what you have told us? These Equestrians are a lot better, to work for, than the Covenant.” Easy to Adjust floated over to them, making happy chimes, and whistles, one of his tendrils to Applejack. “Huh… Easy to Adjust likes you.”

The happy Huragok made the farm mare smile, as she took the tendril. “Well, howdy there, pardner. Pleasure ta meet ya, Easy ta Adjust.” Applejack looked to the Unggoy. “And what’s yer name, sugarcube?”

“Flipyap, Unggoy demolitions and defensive arsenal expert… A ‘Heavy Grunt’, for short.” He explained, before looking at Rainbow Das. When she pulled off some of the slime, from her coat, he lost it. The Unggoy fell backwards, laughing uncontrollably. “I-I can’t believe you s-set that trap off!” The Unggoy managed to say between laughs.

Rainbow Dash turned red, she was steamed at Flipyap’s reaction. “What is this crap, anyways, ya runt!? I can’t get it out of my fur!” When she said ‘crap’, the Unggoy went into further laughter.

Easy to Adjust hid behind Applejack, showing that Rainbow Dash’s fury had scared him a bit. The farm mare reached up, and gently stroked the Huragok’s head, while Aythai’Vadam walked up to the daredevil. “There’s a wash station around the next corner. According to Flipyap, Easy disabled the taps… So, you’re cleared.”

“This little guy? How can he do such a thing?” Applejack asked, as the Huragok rubbed his head against her cheek. “Well, aren’t ya the sweet one?”

“Huragoks, or simply known as ‘Engineers’, are kind, gentle, creatures…” Aythai’Vadam noted, as he walked over and Rainbow Dash went to the wash station. “To answer your question? Engineers are, essentially, biological super computers that can interface with any computer they touch.” The two watched Easy to Adjust floated around them. “Easy to Adjust, or ‘Easy’, here seems to be the one responsible for keeping the assault carrier from self-destructing.”

“Well, aren’t ya the smart one?” Applejack said, scratching under the Huragok’s chin, while Easy to Adjust made happy chiming. “What was on Rainbow’s coat, to cause Flipyap there ta laugh so hard?” She motioned to the, still laughing, Unggoy.

AYthai’Vadam let out a sigh, making sure Rainbow Dash wasn’t listening in. “Whatever you do, do not give her the answer. She will become hysterical and may do something she’ll regret.” Applejack nodded, as he leaned in to whisper the answer. “Lek’Golo dung, they are a worm-like race, and form giant warriors we call ‘Hunters’.” The moment she got the answer, it took every ounce of strength Applejack had not to go into a hysterical laugh of her own.

“Y-Ya mean ta tell me… Rainbow has been.” Applejack tried to ask, but she kept nearly laughing.

Aythai’Vadam gave a nod, smiling a bit behind his helmet. “It seems Flipyap is rather resourceful, in trap making.” The Unggoy gave the three of them a thumbs up, during his laughing fit.

-Outside, Sometime Later-

The group, after Rainbow Dash had a thorough bath, had gathered all they could carry. Now, the five walked out of the ship from one of the lower breaches in the haul, so that they could meet up with the Royal Guard Officers. “Any idea where Pinkie Pie could have gone?” Rainbow Dash asked, carrying a Covenant Carbine and a concussion rifle, looking at the group.

Easy to Adjust flexed his tendrils, as the Unggoy looked up at his floating friend. “According to Easy, he detects your friend quickly approaching our position… Though, he detects something else.” Flipyap said, readjusting a large machine on his shoulder, it was draped by some sort of cloth from the ship. His masked eyes were locked on to the five approaching Royal Guards. “Two of those gold boys aren’t who they appear to be.”

“What do ya mean, Flip?” Applejack asked, carrying two Plasma Repeaters, along with a Mauler and two Spikers tied to her belt. “That doesn’t make any sense.”

“In other words, two of those guys do not fit the biological scans he has done, using your bodies as a way to determine medical data.” Flipyap answered, as the two groups stopped in front of each other.

“In simple terms…” Aythai’Vadam suddenly dropped the Plasma cannon and beam rifle he had been carrying, then drew his needle rifle. “Two of those guards are infiltrators.” The Royal Guards stepped back, as the Sangheili pointed his weapon at them. “None of you move, that’s an order! According to our Engineer, two of you are infiltrators. So, this can go the easy way, or the hard way… Either you reveal yourselves, or the Engineer begins scanning each of you!”

Before Aythai’Vadam could say another word, the lieutenant and sergeant suddenly turned tail and ran! Their bodies were suddenly surrounded by a green flame, and the two became bug-like creatures instead of the gold armored Royal Guards… The sunlight reflecting off of their black exo-skeleton. "C-Changelings!” Applejack and Rainbow Dash yelled, the farm mare looking up at the Sangheili. “Aythai! Ya gotta take’em out, before those two escape!”

“Trying, but their exo-skeletons are blinding my scope!” Aythai’Vadam said, unable to get a clear shot.

Flipyap stepped forward, smirking behind his mask. “When in doubt, blow it up!” The Unggoy pulled the cloth off of what he had been holding, revealing a very dangerous weapon.

Aythai’Vadam went wide eyed, seeing the yellow metal and green glow. “Get down, now! Fuel Rod!” He shouted, the weapon activating, and extending out, as he quickly tackled both Applejack and Rainbow Dash to the ground. Sensing the Sangheili’s fear of said weapon, the Royal Guards dove to the sides, and cleared the line of sight for Flipyap.

The Unggoy grinned wildly, his sights locked on to the two retreating Changelings. “Say hello to my big friend, ya freaks!” Flipyap yelled, as he pulled the trigger, sending a green missile straight for them! The rocket’s force caused a powerful back blast, which threw up dust everywhere. The Changelings heard its boom from behind them, turning to see the green rocket’s glow lighting them up… In seconds, the two infiltrators were caught in the explosion, and completely incinerated by its blast. Flipyap deactivated his weapon, and pointed the barrel up. “Problem solved.”

The Sangheili slowly got up, dirt and rocks falling off of his armor. This allowed the mares to sit up, coughing with all the dust around them, while Aythai’Vadam looked at Flipyap. “Any other surprises we should know about?”

Flipyap was about to say something, but Easy to Adjust chimed in and flexed his tendrils. The Unggoy nodded to his Huragok friend, and looked back at Aythia’Vadam. “Easy says your pink friend is here, and she’s brought one big toy.”

“What is that supposed to-?” A loud hum cut the Sangheili off, and the group looked towards the assault carrier… As a damaged Wraith hovered over to them.

The Covenant Tank stopped in front of Aythai’Vadam, as the driver’s hatch opened up and Pinkie Pie hopped out with a salute. “Commander Pinkie Pie, reporting for duty, sir!” She chirped, giggling a bit. “Can I keep it!?”

Aythai’Vadam blinked a few times, having to give a second take and having a hard time figuring out what it was he is seeing right now. “H-How did she work the controls?” Is the only question he could possibly manage.