22Shark: *sighs and looks at the sound and video recording installed on her computer* Ugh, it may be the holidays, but that doesn't mean I have no work. The English assignment I have is easy, but I'm just too lazy. In other notes regarding school, I got a D in Home Economics (cooking AND sewing), which is pretty good considering the amount of effort I put in.
Destiny: You know you don't HAVE to work during the holidays.
Shark: What are you talking about?
Destiny: You could do it now and save yourself some time.
Shark: Hell no. I've put this story on hold for TOO LONG!
"Some say the world will end in fire, some say in ice. From what I've tasted of desire, I hold with those who favour fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate to say that for destruction ice is also great and would suffice."
-Robert Frost
No, no. There was still a way to turn this around…wasn't there? "'Fraid not, Sky. You used your amnesia dust in the fight with the brute. Plus, you're in a tank. As a driver. No way would you get out, put the dust on them, and act like it didn't happen." Destiny chuckled.
I sighed. "Well Six, DJ, I was sent here by Destiny, the voice you heard, to save the NOBLES from dying. As you can see, this was a fail and the secret had to come out. So…yea, I'll be trying my best to protect you. Six, you caught me during Winter Contingency, but the amnesia dust I had used on you made you forget the encounter. Six, where I come from, this is all just a game. However, here, this is all real. Hell, this is probably the craziest thing I've done. Also, Destiny gives me stuff. That's why I can do all this." I came clean. Probably not at the best time, but who cares?
"Ok, why didn't you just say so? I don't mind, but I think the rest of the NOBLES wouldn't be too happy knowing they were being baby sited, so I won't tell them." Six laughed. I was surprised by that response. I thought he'd get angry.
"I don't mind either. See, I was sent to stop the planet from being glassed." DJ admitted. I knew it! I KNEW he wasn't just another Spartan!
"Sky, as much as I would love to hear this talk continue, don't you have something you need to be doing?" Destiny RUDELY interrupted our chat session. She was right, however.
"Ok, now that we've confessed, I think we should continue doing this mission…" I said as I trailed off and shot the last giant gun down. "Ok, now to clear those covvies."
"On it." DJ and Six said together and as I drove the tank forward they used the turrets, spewing bullets out everywhere. Ha, ha! We sure showed them! Then we continued on, turning around a bend and saw more open space. I kept pressing forward as Six and DJ kept on firing at the ghost and covenant look-out tower. We continued on, and I knew I recognized the coliseum like area from a game level, but just couldn't remember where. Since Six and DJ were doing so well, I decided to not shoot from then on, just like the achievement 'Be like Marty' in ODST.
Once more we pressed on, defeating the covenant easily. Then I saw the gate you had to pass through to the other side and I frowned. "Okay people! We need to hop out!" I called to Six and DJ. They both complied and three ghosts appeared in front of us.
"Need a lift?" Destiny chuckled.
As sad as I was abandoning the tank, the three of us zoomed toward the gate and it opened automatically. While Six and DJ tried to find a way around the blockades, I just backed up and zoomed over it. I was already halfway through the next gate before Six and DJ arrived. Of course, they killed all the enemies, I just wanted to complete this area and get back to my job. The turret that was manned by a grunt was annoying though, so I rammed it and giggled. Toro, Toro.
We came to a mini open area (once the slowpokes caught up) and it was bathed in a red light. I thought it was pretty weird. I also realized Destiny was being silent. Meh. Anyway, there was a big sign that said OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. Oh! So THAT'S what ONI stands for. I saw how small the door was and frowned again. How many times were we supposed to leave perfectly good driving equipment behind.
Six and DJ were being silent also. Bizarre, but I bet they were mulling over the information there were told. They did seem a bit distant. Ah well, I'll take it as my fault. We sprinted up the stair as we had just passed through the doors and with my Suppressor took out a couple of Jackals. Their shields didn't stand against my epic Suppressor. We travelled up the stairs, seeing a few Skirmishers and Six quickly took them out, then we progressed even more and came face to face with more Jackals. DJ took those out. Wordlessly, too, I might add. It's like someone put on the mute button.
After the regular Jackals, then came two holding Beam Rifles. Everything seemed to be in pairs. What next? A hunter pair? It would make sense. Six took one out and I took the other out. They were really easy for some reason. I mean, like, what the hell? I normally play on Heroic difficulty, but this level felt like it was on Easy. Then after the Beam Rifle Jackals, came the NEEDLE RIFLE Jackals. Damn it, why were there so many Jackals?!
We continued on and found ourselves stuck in a hallway that, too, had a red light glow. I sighed. This was getting annoying, but I rolled with it. Taking a right, we came to another room that was – surprise, surprise – red. ARGH! TOO MUCH RED! When I get back, if anyone says 'red' is their favourite colour, I'll punch them.
We went on yet again and came to a ruined room. Glass was shattered, there were marks from weapons on different walls (most likely from plasma) and I finally realized where this room was from was from. It was from the level 'Sword Base'. Wow, although being here before, it was startling to see the difference from the tidy room to the room full of destruction.
We dodged the covvies, and followed the waypoint that had appeared on out HUD's. Six pressed the button on the gate and we kept walking forward. As we walked in, Carter, Kat, Emile, Jun and Jorge walked in. How did I miss them? It's really hard to keep silent…unless, currently, you were DJ and Six.
Leaving us three out, they had a conversation. Kat and Jorge quiet. I suspect the reason for that is the fact that they're not supposed to be here. Ah man, now I think I shouldn't have saved them…no. I will not think like that. I was sent here to SAVE them…and I will. I looked around; there were so many dead marines. What the hell happened here? Covenant? 'Cause that's the only reason that I could make sense of.
"Looks like they got themselves cornered." Jun said. Well, I guess my guess was correct.
"Or were committed to the position." Carter suggested. Possibly…
"I'm going with cornered; there's nothing here." Emile stated. True that.
"No load bearing columns either." Jun said, backing up Emile. Or at least, that was what it looked like. "Sir, if we're supposed to blow this place, this ain't the spot to do it from." Ah yes, we're supposed to blow up Sword Base.
"Dot, check your vector." Carter asked the AI. If I counted up how many AI's I know, I'd reach only 2: Cortana and Auntie Dot.
Vector confirmed, Commander; we are precisely where ONI has directed – Apologies. Coordinates revised. Please confirm?" AD (Auntie Dot) asked.
"Revised…?" Carter asked AD.
"By an AI of unknown origin. Whose clearance is well above my own." AD clarified for the leader of the NOBLES.
"Well it's pointing us a click and a half east and two thousand feet underground." Jun stated to everyone in the room. Okay, two thousand feet underground. What machine were we to use?
"I didn't bring my shovel, Commander." Emile said to Carter and I chuckled a bit. That was actually a pretty good joke.
"Sir, I say we go AI free on this one." Jun suggested to Carter. "Obviously these coordinates are junk, and the longer we go chasing them –'' Jun was cut off as a click was heard and almost instantly, everyone brought their weapons up. Apart from me, that is. I knew where this was heading. A door that looked like part of the wall opened up, letting the dead marine against it slump to the ground.
"What is this, Dot?" Carter asked AD.
"Our revised route, Commander." AD said.
"Alright, we came this far." Carter said, his weapon still raised, and made the motion for us to continue out. Being the faithful team we are, we followed his command.
We walked out into a hallway and the wall-door closed behind us. We came to a place with a train like thing and the NOBLE team still kept their guard up. We then walked into the train and NOBLE lowered their weapons. "Your new AI friend tell you anything else? Dot?" Carter asked. "Dot?" He repeated.
"She's been expecting you." AD said. Who?
"That's perfect." Emile said.
"Apologies for the unusual security measures, Commander," A voice said and I almost jumped. It was Dr. Halsey! "But the stakes demand it."
"Dr. Halsey. Casualty reports have listed you as –'' Carter managed to get out before he was cut off by the Dr.
"Yes, well, as they say, news of my death has been greatly exaggerated," the Dr. said as there was a bit of a pause, but Dr. Halsey continued. "It may please you to learn that the data module Noble Two procured from Visegrad station contained precisely what my scientist promised: a latchkey discovery. It has unlocked, at last, the secrets of this excavation."
"I'm not sure I understand." Carter replied to the Dr.
"Your orders were a pretext to bring you to me and have been overridden. You are here, Team NOBLE, to ensure the delivery of this vital data to a secure location." Dr. Halsey said.
"Doctor, our orders were to destroy all sensitive materials –'' Carter began but was cut off again.
"Others will handle the demolition." Halsey said. I'm starting to not like her very much, cutting off Carter like that. She could at LEAST let him finish when he's talking.
"I'll need to confirm this directive with command – '' was all Carter got out before he was cut off yet again.
"Colonel Holland will be briefed. You belong to ONI now." Halsey said, turning away from the camera and then it turned off. Hey, if you give someone orders, LOOK at them.
We continued down in whatever type of transportation this was. (I think it was an elevator, personally.) Then Halsey's voice came again. From where, I don't know. Our helmets possibly…? "Before you is an alien artefact neither human nor Covenant in origin. Advanced beyond our comprehension…until now. Thanks to Noble Two, the decrypting of its data is nearly complete."
"Whatever we're doing down here, we'd better do it quick." Emile said as a trio of rocks fell.
"Have your data ready, ma'am. We're coming to you." Carter said.
"The decrypting process is still underway…" Halsey said but was cut off by Carter. Take that!
"I don't think you understand. We're out of time. If it isn't portable when we reach you, it's going to get buried!" Carter said.
"Bury any of it, and you bury mankind's best chance of survival!" Halsey retaliated. "Please. By me all the time you can." She asked.
Well, we're going to have to if we want to continue. Let's roll!
Shark: Annnnd BAM! Part 1 complete! YES! FINALLY!
Destiny: Do you know how hard this was for Shark? She got writers block near the beginning, and only 30 replays of Bomfunk MC's 'Freestyler', 20 replays of Diana Ross's 'If We Hold On Together', 9 replays of 'Can't Hold Us', then 12 replays of 'Counting Stars' remedied it! She's even got 'Freestyler's lyrics!
Shark: Not my fault it's a song that I like.
Destiny: I'm afraid of other songs you like.
Shark: Really? Oh well, just wanted to say thank you all for being so patient with my updating speeds. I know they're not the best…
Destiny: GOOD NIGHT/GOOD MORNING/GOOD EVENING PEOPLE OF FANFICTION!