• Down the long hallways of cell blocks seven through thirteen, it seemed as though it was too silent. the freezing stone floor like knives piercing the bottom of anyone feet who was foolish enough to step on it bare-foot. Sighing and looking down at my charts, i see a name most familiar to myself. He was an old buddy of mine that i met during the great Halo Wars. See, he had been falsely imprisoned, because someone who had a problem with him, accused him of treason. He had obvious been assigned to my own prison, issued to me by the UNSC (United Nations Space Command). Although i know otherwise, he was dedicated to our cause, even more than I. But running into him here, in my prison? Just going with it, i strapped my sniper rifle to my back, my magnum to my hip and a wide assortment of grenades, i never leave without them. So i headed up the steel steps, my jet black armor clanking against the metal, and my visor glaring a little from the hanging light above. My insignia painted onto my shoulder armor, and my katana permanently mounded onto my back. The clanking of my armor against the stairs excited a few of our, more dangerous criminals, the ones who have done just horrid things, unspeakable things. Making them come to their shield doors watching me walk on by, them staring at my shotgun, thinking of a way to get it from me. Finally getting to cell block 10. Turning down the hallway, and seven cells to the right, sure as shine, his old service tag right beside his shield door, "M57,"
    "Prisoner M57!" i yelled, making him spring from his bed and drop on the floor with a loud, "Plop!"
    "Sir, yes si... wait... Oh look who it is, Mr. L13, i haven't seen you since Halo. So you've been here all this time? and I've never seen your insignia, good thing you never changed it pr id've never noticed you."
    "You know me, old habits die hard."
    "Just like us Spartans eh?" he paused for a moment, "Well... you Spartans..." stopping for a moment i looked down at the floor and back up at him. "Anyway, i see you got your katana and security helmet, finally made it to Five Star General yeah?"
    "Yeah, Heheh... But im not much help now that the Halo Wars have been won," Catching up with him for a while, a piece of scrap metal fell from the sky, into the window making a loud noise hitting the steel flooring. I Dropped to my right knee aiming my shotgun. Seeing that it was a piece of debris i just stood and walked over to it, cautiously picking it up. It was an odd metallic purple color, with a green fungus on it.
    "What is it?" said M57, in a reluctant type of way.
    "Im not... too... sure..." examining it ferther, I thought for a second. Suddenly it came to me. "Everybody get down!" i yelled, touching my special key chip that hooks into the back of my helmet; to M57's door, which removed the shield. Nodding at him he nodded back, taking my magnum he dropped down to on knee beside me. Just about that time, the ground shook and jumped beneath us, crumbling the wall to the left of us, killing all of those prisoners. Seeing nothing but smoke, we looked at each other and he knew what i was thinking. We took off running, obviously he hasn't been running in a while, or maybe its because he had no armor. Picking him up off of the floor, and jumping over the railing falling over 70 feet, i landed with a loud crashing noise and somewhat of a crunch and gush. Looking where i landed, i see that i had accidentally crushed an escaping Elite prisoner. Smiling behind my visor, i took off towards the armory M57 still in my hand, seeming to be in some sort of daze. Hearing a loud roar of flames, i look around. I saw no fire, but as i looked up at the sky i saw huge balls of fire falling down towards the earth. All i saw painted in the sides of them was, "U.N.S.C.," and, "O.D.S.T.(Orbital Drop Shock Troopers)," "So i was right..." running into the armory to the left of us, i throw him down, next to the armor, "Suit up, we've got a big mess on our hands, and for now we're all that we've got,"
    "Y-yeah," he stood, changing into the required under uniform. When he went for the armor, i placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him.
    "Not there, here," i hit a button over in the corner, dropping down a secret panel in the wall, revealing a suit of white armor. But not just any, it was his old armor. He smiled at me, walking over and grabbing his helmet, holding it up and just staring at it, "Are you... ok?" He snapped out of a daze as soon as i spoke.
    "Huh? Oh, oh yeah," strapping his armor on, he turned around; while dropping his E.O.D.(Explosive Ordnance Disposal) helmet on, "Lets go," i smiled behind my visor as we both ran out and through the demolished wall.
    "You still remember how to do this, right?" i asked him as he loaded up his shotgun
    "Tch, you know me. Old habits die hard," he pumped his gun as we stared at the smoke. We waited and watched the smoke, it wasn't going anywhere. But as we watch we start to see nothing other than, the Flood slowly emerging from the smoke screen.
    "Lets go!" i yelled, running for a tank Flood along with M57, and just as we were about to fire our weapons, an O.D.S.T. drop pod dropped down, right in front of us, crushing the Flood unit. The shock wave knocking us back a few feet, but as we recovered, the door of the pod busted open, revealing several O.D.S.T. units rushing out. Several loud booms went off all across the battlefield. The pods, sending out shock waves and clearing the smoke. Now catching a glimpse of our battle plain, seeing a crashed elite ship taken over by the Flood. We stood in awe as the troopers poured out of the pods, when another rather human like. But a fireball none the less, the flames tailed behind it. The ball of flames came down behind us hitting the earth like a bomb going off. We waited for the smoke to clear so we could see who it was. His crimson red armor, glaring from the sunlight and his flaming Recon helmet burning brightly. If it wasn't for our insignia's we'd be totally lost. He had landed as if he was kneeling down, a machine gun turret in hand. Immediately, he began firing at the flood, spraying them from a little ways out.
    "Hahah! Die you little sons a!" he stopped mid sentence, just noticing us. We had taken refuge in the O.D.ST. pod, as not to be hit. He peeked a little bit around the door, seeing my insignia on my shoulder, along with M57's. "Well if it ain't old Hot Shot and ol' Rookie!" our old nick names that he gave us, i was obviously rookie, but by now, i dont think that getting mad over a name would make too much difference. "So Hot Shot, i thought you were still pulin time, its only been 7 years out of the 13 they sentenced you."
    "Yeah... i was lucky to get that, seeing as if L13 here didn't pull some strings, id be in for life," he replied, us emerging from the pod. As soon as M57 stepped out behind me, a grup of Flood tanks punched the pod, sending it flying. Instantaneously i turned around, taking A55's energy sword off his leg holster and activating it. Then still spinning around i sliced each ones head off and stopping facing the other two.
    "So A55, am i still a rookie?" i asked, speaking to the one in the crimson red armor. They both seemed awestruck as i give back his sword and picked up a Battle Rifle, turning quickly and aimed for the incoming Flood. I was firing left and right, killing them like a bird in a bucket of worms. Quickly reacting, the others came up beside me, firing at them as well.
    "Hey, Hot Shot. You never did really told me how you got out," he asked, and in return, all he got back out of him was, "Did you ever look down when you fell? Look behind you," turning now, A55 saw the demolished prison, barely standing.
    "But... didn't you run that prison L13?"
    "I have, i did, and still do. But i let him out, knowing i could never take these guys on without him," A55 turned around, and as soon as he did, his gun jammed.
    "Ah great!" he threw it down, pulling out his Assault rifle. The flood were getting closter and we couldn't help but notice all of out men were gone. There was not another trooper in sight. It was like they had all disappeared. As the small infection types retreated, so did the tanks, and the combat units. It was all a little unusual. Noticing something out of place i blurted out,
    "The Flood dont retreat! What is going on here!?"
    "Maybe they're looking for more hosts..." added M57
    "Now where int he... The prison..." we turned quickly seeing flood carrier units pouring into the prison walls, them bursting as they got inside, little infection units spreading out and searching for bodies, "They've taken our men, our weapons, and our prisoners... We need to call in P90," I spoke in a low serious tone, making sure they knew i meant business. They looked a bit uneasy as i mentioned him, "What, what is it?" i asked, still sounding serious.
    "Well... no one know how to reach him anymore..." one replied.
    "Well now you guys do," I lifted a secret lid off my chest, revealing a button, "You guys ready for some absolute zero action...?" i asked slowly, "Well ready or not here he comes!" I slammed my hand down on the button, and immediately our armor paint peeled off, revealing the white paint underneath. Our weapons frosted slightly and our visors black. The fire we possessed on our person, turned black; as well gunfire bursts. Along with a sudden shock wave sent out by my armor; pulling us all together. Suddenly in a flash of ice, he appeared, flame thrower and rockets ready.
    "P90, has arrived," he spoke dramatically, a flamethrower on his back, and shotgun grasped tightly in hand. P90 pumped his shotgun once,
    "Well, i guess old habits die hard," pausing for a moment i had the strangest feeling that that had happened before. M57 grabbed the sniper off my back, and as i turned i saw that he used all his ammo,
    "I might need this," he said, then i nodded,
    "Alright, but put the freeze on those Flood sons a..." i was interrupted by the sounds of gunfire behind me, firing at the Flood, slowly emerging from the prison. P90, being M57's twin, or at least that's what we all said; officially making them the E.O.D. brothers. The reason really being that they wore the exact same armor, and oddly enough they had decided to change their insignia's as well. Turning away from him now, i stared forwards aiming my gun at the far off Flood. Pausing for a moment examining the Flood, "Guys, if we cant get some heavy fire on these guys then we're done for. You know that right?" as the case may be, they all replied in a yes or yeah. P90 then came back,
    "Aren't we already shooting them!?"
    "Duh stupid! But are you paying attention!? Only three or four drop ever so often!" i yell at him in return, all of us but M57 firing our weapons, him just picking off Tanks with head shots.
    "You ladies know what this means don't you?" blurted out A55, with the others remaining silent for a moment when they came back.
    "Man, who doesn't remember that tactic?"
    "Some things are better left forgotten man..." i added. Suddenly he rushed closer towards the Flood, energy sword in hand.
    "Old habits die hard ladies!" screamed A55, as we watched him. I turned looking at M57, in return i got a nod and motion forewords. I paused staring infront of me, then turning to look at P90. He took his flamethrower off his back, nodding at me as he rushed on towards the Flood.
    "C'mon... why do we always take this approach!?" i yelled, getting back from A55,
    "When has it never worked!?" thinking for a moment i dashed towards them as well, picking up an energy sword lieing on the ground. Activating it i watched A55 get close enough to attack. The sickly brownish green color of the Flood, and the texture of the rumpled skin of a dry baked potato; made me want to puke in my helmet. All three of us making it up to the abominations, we began to slice away at them. All that could be seen were streaks of blue, and electricity trails, passing through the bodies of the enemy. As i was swinging my sword, a Tank came up behind me; but not to my knowledge, "Look out Rookie!" was all i heard before i turnd around. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. Everything but me was moving as slow as a slug, just taking its sweet time. It was swinging its large arm at me, almost mauling the crap me. Jumping up in the air as quickly as i could, i took advantage of this time paradox. Stabbing my sword into the center of the beast, i jumped ready to do what i do best. Taking A55's sword right out of his hand, i began rushing through the crowd of sickly green creatures; slicing and chopping my pathways. I felt invincible as i ruined the Floods day, but it wouldnt last. FOr as soon as i though i had killed every last one, i looked down at myself; feeling quite strange. Everything began to move normally, the Flood gushing out green juices and dropping down to the ground all at one, in an epic manor. The others seemed to be awestruck, as the saw the Flood just dropping as they attacked nothing but air. Turning their heads slowly towards me, they cautiously walked over, my back turned towards them as i just stare at the exposed black areas on my armor. P90 slowly worked the words from his mouth,
    "H-hey man, y-you ok?" he asked. I lifted my head a little and sighed deeply as i dropped down to my knee's. The others jumped in fear, now rushing over to my aid. The last one to get there, M57 grabbed my shoulder. Just turning my head to look at his hand, then dropping my head; the sounds of crying could be heard.
    "C'mon man, what's up with you, what was that a second ago?" M57 asked.
    "You know you guys were my best friends right...?" i replied.
    "What are you talking about man, pull it together! You sound like you're saying! ... Saying, g-goodbye...?" slowly standing up, i stumbled, turning around and slowly opened my chest armor. What could be seen were quick moving lumps just underneath my skin. I showed the others as i hung my head down.
    "You guys were the only real friends I've known, And it's gunna be pure hell without ya'll," i re-adjusted my armor, then just stared back and fourth at the three others, "You know what you have to do right...?" i placed a hand on M57's shoulder, "Take that sniper... and shoot me..." i slowly and sorrowfully whispered.
    "But you know i..."
    "You have to, its the only way,"
    "There's got to be some way to take the Flood out of you,"
    "Man, you know as well as i; and these two here. That there is absolutely no other way,"
    There has to be!"
    "Stubborn as a mule, i guess it is true... Old habits do die hard," he gave in after i spoke those last five words. Reluctantly he took out his sniper, as I get down on my knee's, holding my hands up; as if in prayr. M57 pointed the barrel of the gun to my head, in the dusty battlefield, the sand drifting by in the wind. I stared around at the last place i would see life, taking the beauty of my land. The mountains, the boulders, the sand and dirt, and all the wonderful waterfalls and lakes i have seen in my time, "I love you guys..." and with one fatal shot to the head, i watch them from above, coming in when i am needed, unknown, and un-thanked. But i don't mind, it's thanks enough that i can protect... My family.