halo.bungie.org

They're Random, Baby!

Fan Fiction


Aliens vs. Master Chief Part 8
Posted By: spartan058-halogeeky<youngartist2151@yahoo.com>
Date: 24 November 2005, 3:51 pm


Read/Post Comments

      The explosion echoed through the room, and debris of tiles shot up and flew in all directions. James covered his head to shield himself from the bits of floor falling down upon them. It had all happened so fast. But soon the room was quiet; too quiet. James's ears started to ring as the serene environment didn't cease. He watched the Chief lift his head and look at the door. James did the same. But he couldn't see anything as the dust slowly settled and clouded his view. When it finally cleared, the door was bent in, a large hole made out of twisted metal. The Aliens were no where to be seen. The Master Chief stood up and looked to James.
      "Did you see where they went?" The Master Chief asked slowly.
      "No…" James replied softly.
He watched as the Spartan searched the room for the shotgun. He dug underneath some debris, retrieved it, as well as the SMG James forgot he even had. The Spartan quickly picked up the duffle bag that was now on the floor, and tossed it to James. James reflexively caught the heavy bag, and felt the weight hit his arms. The Master Chief turned away, and headed for the door.
      "Where are you going?" James asked hastily, standing up.
      "Stay here," The Master Chief replied.
      "Why? Where are you going?!" James asked again.
The Spartan turned around
      "I'm just checking outside."
James let out a worried look, and then nodded. The Master Chief crawled through the hole and exited the room. James began absently scratching his leg, as he looked to the hole in the floor; loose tile, rigid shards of metal and cement surrounded the gap. He slowly treaded toward the gaping hole, leaned over slightly, and saw the floor below. Dust also covered the area, and the various large tubes outlining the walls. It looked like another lab, and the floor below was easily a twenty-five foot, maybe thirty foot descent. James didn't want to go down. He'd rather keep his feet on the floor.

      Perfect…yes children…perfect…
The Queen knew that now that the door had been opened, Her prey would continue their way down to Her chamber…but would they require further herding? This would sacrifice more of Her precious children, yes, but was it necessary?
      "Yes, Mother…it is…" one of the Queen's children was speaking to her…
      "Yes…Yes…we will herd them..."said another.
      "They need to be guided…" the other answered.
      "Agree, I do Mother…" another replied.
      "Final…Mother…" The last one agreed.
The Queen respected her children's judgment on what they could, or could not do. They were Warriors after all…
      Yes…go children…
Her children's laughter filled the humid air as the five left the chamber and followed the directions that the drones were giving to them in their minds.

      Follow closely…
The Leader ordered with pristine accuracy.
      "Doing so Leader…"the Voice said.
      "I hear you Leader," the Secret answered.
      "Leader understood…" the Meaning replied.
      "Saw, Leader…" the Final answered last.
The Leader followed the telepathic trail a drone was giving them to the entrance of the room the Prey was located. Then they would chase, toy, and herd them to the lower levels…
      "Are we almost there, Leader?" the Meaning asked.
      Patience, the Meaning…we must arrive slowly, stealthy, swift…unnoticed…
      "Heeded, Leader," The Secret responded, and the others hissed in acknowledgement. The Warrior stopped to jump on an outlining wall.
      Walls…
      "Acknowledged," replied the Voice.
The remaining Warriors split and simultaneously jumped and glided across the walls.
      Mother, we are nearly there…
      "Wait," their Mother replied. "Wait until the time is right…"
      Yes, my Mother…
The others said their approval.

      The Master Chief had walked out into the hallway, and saw nothing. The air was much staler then he remembered, and he could hear nothing.
      How can things be so silent?
He stepped carefully down the hallway. Not even his boots were making a sound. Was his helmet malfunctioning? He turned around and decided to walk back into the medical bay and check it out. He stepped through the door and saw James looking down the enlarged hole in the floor.
      "Say something," the Master Chief said.
      "What?" James asked.
      "Good, I can hear you…"
      "What are you talking about?"
      "Don't you notice that it's unusually quiet? Especially out in the hallway. Come listen."
      "Yeah, I have, but what does this have to do with anything?"
      "That's what I'm trying to find out."
With that, James walked over to the Chief and followed him out the door. The Master Chief managed to quickly hand the SMG back to James as the entered the discomforting silenced hallway.

      It was quiet. It was as if something had muted a scene from a movie. He could hear nothing.
      "Isn't this odd?" The Master Chief asked.
      "Yeah…" James breathed. "I don't understand…"
      "Me either, but we aren't going to get out of here this way."
James nodded. He was about ready to get moving again.
      "Which way are we taking?"
      "We're repelling done to the lower level through the hole."
      Thought so…
He watched as the Master Chief walked back into the bay, and after a quick look down the hallway, followed. The Master Chief had crouched by the hole, and James went over to the corner and retrieved the duffle bag.

      The Master Chief had some sturdy repelling gear attached to his utility belt. He hadn't used it in ages, but he checked it before he came to the Margos Taken.
      "Let's hope this works," the Master Chief said out loud.
      "Is there a way it couldn't?" James asked.
      Many…
But the Master Chief didn't want to say that, so he ignored the Lieutenant's question. He didn't want the kid to get nervous again. The Master Chief unhooked his carabiner from his utility belt and looked around for something to latch it to. He decided that a leg from a table would be best. Luckily the tables were attached to the floor, and the Master Chief hoped that that would be enough. He walked to the nearest, undamaged table and wrapped the rope connected to the carabiner around the table leg, brought it back and then hooked the rope. The end of the rope was already attached to the belt. The Master Chief tugged a few times to make sure it was sturdy, it was, then he slowly crouch-walked backwards, letting the rope slide carefully through his hands. He quickly looked to James.
      "Ok, I'm going to go down first, and then you slowly climb down the rope. Understood?"
James gave a blank look.
      "Do you think you can manage to climb down with your injured leg?"
      "Yeah but—"
      "Good," the Master Chief interrupted. "Don't worry, if you fall, I'll catch you."
James laughed slightly, and the Master Chief nodded quickly. He looked behind him as he began moving toward the edge. He continued to feed more rope as he did so, and finally reached the hole. He put the arch of both feet on the edge, and slowly stretched his body length out. He held onto the rope as tightly as he could, and gently pushed away, letting more rope out as he did so. The Master Chief hung suspended for a few moments, then started his descent as he fed more rope, and repelled downward.
      So far, so good.
He rope suddenly caught, making the Master Chief jerk slightly and also sounding a rather loud clack.
      Go figures…
      "Is everything ok?" He heard James ask from above.
      "Yeah, the rope just jammed. Hold on," the Master Chief responded. He vigorously tried to un-wedge the caught rope. He began to tug and the rope was slowly ripping. He tugged slightly harder and the rope gave free. The Master Chief lost control as the rope unreeled itself. He felt himself plummeting down the remaining twenty-five feet, hit the floor, and the sound of scraping metal, was his last recognition.





bungie.org