16Welcome one and all to the next chapter of Two Demons! I'm sorry I haven't been able to submit this when I said I would, but it's out now, and I promise to work on this next time. Now enough of my babbling, and let's get to the story!
Cortana couldn't believe what was happening. Master Chief had just made a deal with the infamous space pirate Ryoko to release her from UNSC custody after her assistance upon arriving at the Silent Cartographer. It went against all code of conduct, protocol, and regulations of the UNSC! It had never been done before! She just hoped Master Chief knew what he was doing.
The ride over to the outcropping was quiet. Before they set out, Master Chief grabbed extra clips for his pistol and assault rifle, and let Keyes know what they were doing. He was against it, but he agreed they had little choice. Ryoko was content as she was. Another Marine, Corporal Anderson, joined them on their way, mounting up on the turret. Master Chief wanted to ask Ryoko who Tenchi was, but considering the circumstances, he thought it wouldn't have been the best idea.
Upon arrival at the outpost, the trio hopped out of the Warthog, and entered the building that lead to the Silent Cartographer. Chief was on alert, in case the Covenant had sent more troops, while Ryoko was just walking around like she was on a leisurely stroll through the park. Journeying down in the tunnels, they finally reached the chamber with the locked door. Chief noticed Ryoko looking at the bodies and blood.
When they got to the door, Ryoko took one look at it, and said, "I can't help you."
"What!" yelled Anderson. "You attacked our troops, destroyed our vehicles, and took us on a trip to the center of the earth, just to say that you can't help us?"
"Marine!" said Cortana in a stern voice. "Now isn't the time!"
For a computer program, she could be scary when she was pissed, thought Chief.
"Let me finish," said Ryoko. "This door has a mechanism built into it that prevents me from phasing through, and if I tried shooting it, the energy required would turn everyone here into fine ash."
"Well crap," said Anderson.
"Ahem!" interjected Ryoko. "I'm not finished yet. Judging by the markings on the surrounding wall and the door itself, we can override the lock by shutting down the security measurements in another building."
"We just need to find it," said Chief.
"I've got an idea where it is," said Ryoko. "I saw a building on the other side of the ridge when I came here. It was guarded, but nothing our boy can't handle," she said, looking at Chief with a grin.
"Can you take us there?" asked Chief.
"I'm not sure. I saw the installation from my fly in, but I didn't see a way up to it. It was on the edge of a cliff on the other side of the island."
"Better start there," said Chief, starting to head back up out of the installation, stepping around the body of an elite, the others following suite. After a few minutes, the trio reach the surface again, and got in the warthog.
Chief drove around the island, looking for this other installation. After a while, Cortana saw it. "Well there's the entrance to the security substation, but it looks like we'll have to find another way up."
"I told you so," retorted Ryoko. Although she didn't say anything, Chief could tell Cortana didn't like Ryoko one bit.
After driving around the island, the group found another warthog on its side. Dead Marines were around it, with blood everywhere. Jumping out, Chief went to inspect the bodies.
He didn't get far before he saw a plasma bolt fly over his head, hitting the rock in front of him. Turning, he saw two elites, four jackals, and a slew of grunts. Acting on instinct, he quickly dove behind a rock, drawing his assault rifle, and returning fire. The grunts scattered, running scared of the "demon." The elites were less intimidated, jumping over the log and rushing up to him, ready to send him to Kingdom Come, or whatever the heck the Covenant considered paradise was.
Anderson quickly turned the turret, taking out several grunts in a few seconds. He continued on firing, attacking the jackals next. This took a little longer, considering the shields, but not long. He turned on the elites, but he hadn't anticipated the Chief's combat skills, as Chief had taken out one of the elites in the same time Anderson had taken out the jackals. Chief was already taking care of the other elite with a few quick jabs and kicks, leaving the elite on the ground, bleeding profusely.
Ryoko just sat in the warthog the whole time, watching the brawl, enjoying the show. When all was said and done, something caught her attention. She heard a whimpering. Turning her head, she saw a grunt hiding behind a tree, shaking in his nonexistent boots. She looked at Chief. He had seen it too. She got out of the warthog, and walked over to it. Immediately, the grunt tried to hide behind the tree more, but to no avail.
"You can come out now," said Ryoko soothingly. "We're not going to hurt you."
The grunt peeked out from behind the tree. "Y-y-you're not?" it said, terror in it's voice.
"No, we promise," said Ryoko, but Chief saw the small grin on her face which told him she was lying.
The grunt, since it was behind the tree, didn't see it, so he believed her. Slowly coming out, he had his needler up and aimed at her, trembling in fear. "Wh-what do you want?"
"I just want to know what's up there," responded Ryoko, bending over so her eye level was even with the grunt's.
"Go to hell!" it yelled, firing off a needle at Ryoko.
The needle flew towards Ryoko's torso at a high speed, but Ryoko was faster. Grabbing the needle, she flicked it back at the grunt, sending it shooting into the grunt's head, the needle exploding after burying itself deep into the grunt's brain, killing it instantly. Te grunt's body dropped like a stone.
Ryoko stood up, a dissatisfied look on her face. "I told him I wouldn't hurt him," she said, lifting her hands up in an innocent shrug. Walking back to the warthog, she got back into the passenger seat, waiting for Chief to get in as well.
Chief started to get back in, when he saw something move in the trees up ahead. It was more Covenant troops, unaware of Chief and the others. Getting his rifle out, he walked in front of the warthog, looking at the enemy troops. Chief looked at Anderson. "We won't be able to get the warthog up that trial. We'll have to go on foot. Stay here with the warthog. We might need a quick getaway."
"Yes sir," responded Anderson.
"Come with me," Chief said, turning his gaze to Ryoko.
"Who, me?" said Ryoko, looking around her as if there were more than just the three of them. "Well if you say so," she said, getting out of the warthog, walking up beside Chief. "Where're we going honey?" Chief said nothing, simply walking up the path that lead deeper into the island. "Fine, don't answer me," Ryoko retorted. "Some gentleman you are."
The suspense is killing me! What will happen next? Will Chief ever find out who Tenchi is? Will Anderson make another appearance? Will I stop asking questions? Read and review to find out! (I'm not going to make a limit this time, but I will publish the next chapter after a certain number of reviews are made)