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Hunter Flood - Chapter 3: Hell Beast
Posted By: Skul<skulkrusha2000@hotmail.com>
Date: 8 November 2005, 12:59 am
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0107 hours, October 10, 2552 (Military Calendar) / Delta Halo
Lieutenant Hunter Steele's green eyes fluttered open. He slowly sat up on his bunk, a dream he couldn't fully remember danced at the back of his mind for a few moments and was then forgotten. He put his head in his hands and sighed.
He listened and noticed that the rain was easing up. A distant rumble of thunder boomed far in the distance. Good. It sounded like the storm was finally moving on. Steele removed his head from his hands and took a deep breath, reminding himself that he had to go out there, soon. He lay back on his bunk, waiting.
He didn't have to wait very long. Less than three minutes later, Private Robinson, the young marine from earlier that night, slowly opened the flap.
"Sir? Oh, you're awake."
"Time to go, I presume?" asked Steele, sitting up.
"Yes, sir."
Steele nodded, "Alright. Get your gear and round up Dezmin, Ebbin and Smith. And don't forget your night-vision."
"Understood, sir."
Private Robinson left and began hunting down the others.
Steele took in a quick, sharp gasp of pain as his back started to sting. He gritted his teeth as he waited for the pain to subside. A few moments later, to his great relief, it was over – the pain had faded away.
"Ow…" he muttered.
Damn those Grunts and their damn plasma grenades!
Steele started to worry. What if his back began to burn during combat? No, it wouldn't do that. There was normally a long period of time between each sensation.
The Lieutenant shook his head. There was nothing he could do about it. He might as well concentrate on his next mission – finding out what the Covenant were doing with that building a few miles from his encampment.
He stood up, moved to his footlocker and, after unlocking and opening it, picked up his BR55 and two M6C pistols. He laid the weapons out on his bunk, making sure he had enough ammunition: three BR55 clips, four clips for his two sidearms and four M9 HE-DP fragmentation grenades.
Satisfied, he picked up the two sleek, black M6C pistols. He holstered the handguns and bent over to pick up his primary weapon. As he was straightening up, he heard several footsteps splatter outside next to his tent, followed by Private Robinson's voice.
"Sir?"
"Come in," ordered Steele.
The four marines entered the tent and saluted. Steele looked at their armaments.
Sergeant Dezmin was holding an S2AM sniper rifle with an M39 shotgun slung across his back.
Sergeant Ebbin was holding only a BR55 with no other weapon that Steele could see.
"Where's your backup weapon, Sergeant?" Steele asked.
"I got my knife in my belt, sir," replied Ebbin, patting the sheath as if his knife was all he needed.
Steele sighed and threw him one of his pistols in its holster and two clips, "A knife's not going to do much good at long range once you're out of ammo, Sergeant."
Ebbin looked down at the holster and then tied it around his waist.
Corporal Smith had two Sub-Machine Guns in his possession; one in his hand, the other hanging at his side.
"Are we all ready to go?" the Lieutenant asked, wanting to get straight to the mission.
All four marines saluted, "Yes, sir!"
"Alright, let's get moving," ordered Steele, "We're going to traverse the three miles on foot. Has anyone got any problems with that?"
"Sir, no, sir!" they answered as one.
"Glad to hear it."
The five marines left Steele's tent. Before they set out on their mission, Steele walked into the Command Post.
"Sergeant Grant," said Steele, turning to a tall, blond-haired marine.
Grant snapped a salute, "Yes, sir!"
"I'm leaving you in charge until I get back."
"Understood, sir."
Steele and his team braced themselves and stepped out into the rustling, dripping jungle that lay just outside their camp. The only sounds were the rain and the ominous rumbling of distant thunder.
By the time the five marines had reached the building, the rain had thinned to a light spitting. Hiding in bushes where Covenant soldiers had been only a few hours before, the marines studied the ancient structure. There was no movement. There was only an eerie and portentous stillness.
Robinson risked a whisper, "What's going on, sir? I don't see anything."
"Those things are in there," Steele whispered in response, "Don't get careless."
Steele zoomed his night-vision goggles in on the building's interior. He couldn't make out much except a few walls. He lifted his view to the second tier, seeing even less, but he could almost make out what looked like a hole in the ceiling, but no sign of any Covenant activity that he could see.
Something wrong, here, he thought, something damn wrong, here…
Steele didn't like it at all. He raised his left arm to around waist level and lowered it as if patting a dog. Everyone acknowledged the signal to go prone. Steele signalled Dezmin over. The sniper quickly, yet silently crawled over to the Lieutenant's position. Steele pointed to his own eyes and then pointed at the building, indicating to Dezmin to watch the building as the rest of them moved forward.
Steele got up into a half-crouch, signalled for his team to follow and cautiously made his way into the open. The massive Forerunner building loomed in the darkness like an imposing giant.
The Covenant could be hiding anywhere, waiting to ambush him. Steele felt his heartbeat get faster at this thought.
He stopped in front of the central arch and searched the interior with his eyes. Still nothing. He took a deep breath and stepped inside the structure.
The first thing Steele's mind registered when he entered the building was that it was intensely dark. Most of the interior was bathed in shadow. The Lieutenant had barely walked five steps when he stopped, listening. He heard what sounded like ragged, husky breathing. He moved carefully across the wide, open room and towards a doorway to the left of the main hall which opened up into a smaller room. At the threshold of the doorway, he stopped, looking at a figure lying against a wall on the other side of the room. The breathing sound was coming from there.
Lieutenant Steele and his team moved in, Ebbin keeping watch at the door while Robinson and Smith levelled their weapons at the large figure. Steele flicked on his BR55's flashlight, lighting up the figure enough for him to deactivate his night-vision. Lying against the wall was an Elite clad in red armour. Its right arm flew up to block out the light from Steele's gun. It had its left hand pressed just below its chest. Purple-blue blood oozed from under it.
"Who are you?" asked Steele.
The Elite slowly removed its arm and looked at Steele with smouldering eyes. There was no fear in those eyes, no defeat, no mercy. Only anger and hate.
"Who are you?" Steele asked again, jabbing his gun barrel towards the alien being, "What happened?"
The Elite slowly leaned right. Steele saw a Needler lying next to the wounded Elite. Quickly, he kicked the weapon aside, sending it skittering a short distance away. The Elite straightened up again with an angry sigh. Smith picked the Needler up and hung it on his belt.
The tall Elite looked up at Steele, "You do not need to know my name, human…"
"Well I think calling you 'Elite' is gonna get a little old after a while."
The Red Elite growled at the use of the human's word for his species. Who were they to label him and his brothers?
The Elite stared at Steele for a few seconds, and then, deciding he did not want to hear that word again, spoke his name to the human.
"I am named Zanu. That is all you shall call me."
"Alright, Zanu it is. My name is—"
"I have no wish to know your worthless name, human!" Zanu's voice flicked like a whip.
"Steele. Hunter Steele," continued the Lieutenant, ignoring the interruption.
Zanu's expression darkened.
"So, are you gonna tell me what happened here?" asked Steele, again, "And where did you get that wound?"
"…We were attacked by… by the Flood," replied Zanu, darkly.
"Flood…?"
"You do not know of the Flood?"
"You're saying that you got that wound from some water?" asked Steele, cocking an eyebrow.
"Not water, you fool! The Flood are a parasitic race that infest the Holy Rings. They are to be feared."
"Tell us about this… Flood."
"They are many in number. Many. They will infect you in an attempt to turn you into one of their own. So far, they have only managed to mutate my fellow warriors and some humans," Zanu sneered at Steele's shocked face, "but never a Lekgolo."
"A what?"
Zanu sighed, "You call them 'Hunters', I believe. But that does not matter. The Flood infected a Lekgolo, something that should have been impossible, as they consist of many small bodies. I do not know how, but…"
"...The Flood managed to do it…" continued Steele.
"Do not underestimate them! The host will have increased strength and resistance to damage!"
Robinson and Ebbin looked up at Steele who was staring at the Elite, trying to determine if it was telling the truth or not. A parasitical race that infect Covenant and human soldiers? This Covenant Elite must be lying. Steele hoped to God it was. The last thing they needed was a stronger, more resilient Hunter running around.
"Alright, if you're telling the truth, we'll make a deal with you," Steele laid his hand on the Elite's shoulder. Zanu's eyes widened, alarmingly.
"Do not touch me!!" the Elite shouted in rage, roughly pushing the human's hand off.
Steele was about to retort but stopped when he heard a steady heavy thumping coming from above him. Dread filled his soul.
"I don't want to find out what that is. We're moving out and you're coming with us, Elite."
Steele reached for Zanu, but the Elite pushed his hand away, irritably.
"I will not flee with humans!"
"So, you gonna stay here and let that thing finish you off?" asked Steele.
Zanu thought for a moment, and then grunted, "Very well. I shall leave with you, but I will not help you in any way."
"Whatever."
Steele again reached out to help Zanu stand.
The Elite ignored Steele's hand and began to stand up, pushing itself up the wall, "I said I do not need… augh!" the Red Elite cried out as biting pain seared through its wound.
Steele hooked Zanu's arm around his shoulder, supporting the tall alien warrior.
"Don't argue," he said, "Alright, let's move!"
Despite the immeasurable anger and revulsion Zanu felt at being touched by a human, he accepted the help. He would not survive without it.
"What was this deal you were offering?" asked Zanu as they fled the building.
"The deal was – if you were telling the truth, we'd help you out."
"You would help us? Pah!" the Elite spat, "What exactly do you mean by 'help'?"
"Well, we'd help you kill that Hunter, along with any other Flood things we come across. What do they look like?"
The group reached the bushes they had hid in earlier and plunged back into them.
"What do the Flood look like, human? You will know them when you see them."
Zanu cried out in pain, again.
"Alright, let's stop here," said Steele.
They all sank down onto the moist ground. Zanu held his wound tightly, breathing harshly.
"Watch him," said Steele, pointing at the Elite and looking back at the building. His curiosity had gotten the better of him. He wanted to see what this mutated Hunter looked like. He crept back towards the edge of the bushes and turned his night-vision on. He couldn't be sure, but he thought he saw movement inside. He leaned forward, slightly, trying to see better. A weak voice to his left startled him. Quickly, he twisted and aimed at the small creature crawling towards him.
"…Help…"
It was a Grunt. Clad in bulky orange armour, the small creature was finding it hard to crawl. It looked up at Steele, tears streaming down its face. It was bleeding from numerous cuts on its arms and legs.
"My friends… all dead… Flood kill them…"
Despite it being an enemy, Steele couldn't help feel compassion for this Covenant soldier. However, he did not lower his weapon; he kept it aimed at the Grunt's head.
"What happened in there?" Steele asked in a low voice.
"Flood break out! Flood kill them! Big one change!"
Big one…? I guess it's talking about the--
"Hunter!" Steele finished his thought aloud.
The Grunt looked at him in confusion. Then, following his gaze, gasped and stretched its hand out towards Steele. The Lieutenant didn't even notice. All he saw was a huge, lumbering beast charging out of the sand-coloured building.
The thing wore dark blue armour, like that of a Hunter, but the thing encased in it was not like anything Steele had seen before. Green flesh bulged out of splits in the armour. Quivering, twitching tendrils stuck out from the gigantic body, making the creature look even larger. For its size, the monster moved with the ease and grace of a ballet dancer, despite the tight armour. A deep, bellowing roar boomed from the creature. Steele stared in horror. This was no Hunter, this was a demon!
"Oh my God!" cried Steele, forcing his numb body to move.
The Grunt saw him begin to leave and yelled out.
"No! Help!"
Steele felt a pang of conscience as he left the defenceless Grunt behind.
Seconds later, there was a sickening crack as the demonic beast swung its mighty arm, sweeping the Grunt aside as if it were a rag doll. The monster gave another earth-quaking roar as it pursued Steele.
It was then Steele heard a deep, rhythmic hum. A dark shape passed overhead. A Phantom? He glanced over his shoulder and saw the demon take a sudden interest in the floating, purple vessel. He stopped for a few seconds, catching his breath and then continued on back to his team.
He found them where he had left them, all of them looking around, worriedly.
"Sir!" cried Robinson, "What the hell was that noise?"
"It was that Hunter thing. It's real. Looks like it's taken an interest in the Phantom, for now, though."
"Ah, yes, the Phantom," said Zanu, smirking, "I had almost forgotten."
"You knew a Phantom was coming?" asked Steele.
"Yes," replied Zanu, looking at Steele with an amused expression.
"And you didn't think that was worth mentioning?"
"Why should we divulge anything to you? Give me a reason, human."
Sounds of battle emanated from the Phantom's position.
"My brothers shall defeat that parasite. All of our enemies have fallen before us, as shall your pitiful race, human."
Steele had had enough of the Elite's arrogant attitude. He clenched his right hand into a tight fist and struck the sneering face with a fierce backhand blow.
The Elite's head snapped to the left. Its burning gaze locked onto Steele. The Elite held a large hand up to its stinging mandibles. It made to move towards Steele, but Robinson and Smith jabbed their weapons forward meaningfully, making Zanu think better of attacking.
"You will regret that, you filthy human scum!" it growled, sinking back down.
"Yeah? What are you gonna--?"
Suddenly, a series of plasma explosions ripped through the night air. Steele and his team reflexively turned their attention towards the sounds. Zanu used the brief lull in concentration to launch himself at Steele.
"Damn!" swore Robinson as he saw Zanu charge towards his commander.
Out of the corner of his eye, the Lieutenant saw a blur of red and heard Robinson crying out before he found himself on the ground, wrestling with the huge Red Elite.
"What am I going to do, human?" mocked Zanu, "I am going to kill you!"
Before the Elite could make good on his threat, Steele head butted the creature making it recoil. His forehead throbbed painfully after striking the hard armour, but he ignored it long enough to raise his knee sharply and strike the Elite's wound causing Zanu let out a loud cry of pain. Then, pushing his arms upwards, Steele threw the Elite off. Wasting no time, he got to his feet. Robinson and Dezmin aimed their weapons at the Covenant soldier, with Dezmin holding the M6C sidearm Steele had handed him earlier.
"Sir, are you all right?" asked Smith.
"Fine, just fine," replied the shaken Lieutenant, rubbing his forehead.
It was then that the small group noticed the sounds of battle were no longer heard. The hum of the Phantom had also stopped. Steele remembered being faintly aware of the sound of the Phantom swiftly fading away as he struck the Elite's face. Now everything was silent except for the faint rustling of the foliage as it swayed in the post-storm wind.
Zanu stood before Steele, holding its wound. Behind it, Steele saw a quick glance of something big moving behind the Elite in the underbrush.
"Get down!" shouted Steele suddenly at Zanu.
Steele was half-surprised to see the Elite doing so, throwing itself on the ground. A moment later, a large object passed through the space the Elite had been standing with a heavy whoosh. All the marines turned to see what had tried to attack the Covenant soldier. They stared at the huge monster in horror. It had found them. The Hunter Flood was here. Zanu rolled away from the mutated monster as it recovered from its deadly swing. Steele saw smears of blood from the mixed Covenant races that had arrived in the Phantom covering the huge shield.
"Give me my Needler and run," said Zanu in a low voice.
"What?" asked Steele, wondering if he had heard the Elite correctly.
"Give me my Needler!" Zanu repeated loudly.
"We're not leaving!" Steele replied angrily.
"Sir, we're not?" asked Robinson, his voice revealing more fear than he intended it to.
The huge Flood form roared and made to crush Zanu's body again with another swing of its impenetrable shield. The Red Elite jumped backwards, the shield missing by inches.
"By the Rings, give me my Needler!" Zanu shouted.
Steele looked at Smith and nodded. The Corporal quickly unhooked the Covenant Needler and threw it to the tall Elite.
"Now, get out of here," said Zanu over his shoulder, dodging a surprisingly fast lunge from the Hunter.
"I'm staying," said Steele.
"Sir, no disrespect, but let that Elite kill itself! We don't stand a chance!" cried Dezmin.
"I said I'm staying," replied Steele, "Get back to base camp and gather a couple of rocket launchers. Me and the Elite'll keep this thing busy."
Without waiting for an answer, Steele turned towards the Hunter bearing down on Zanu, who was still waiting for an opening to attack. The Lieutenant fired his BR55 at the exposed back of the Flood creature. Green blood sprayed out as the bullets impacted the soft flesh.
Dezmin, Smith and Robinson dashed back to base camp as the Flood juggernaut turned its rage on Steele.
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