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Hunter Flood - Chapter 2: 'Towdalee
Posted By: Skul<skulkrusha2000@hotmail.com>
Date: 2 September 2005, 10:57 pm
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Ninth Age of Reclamation, Hall of Peace / Proximity of Ancient Structure, Halo
The building, made of large, brown-gold stones, was a perfect square, exactly 50 feet wide and 40 feet tall. There were three entrances in the centre of the front wall of the structure; each was a gracefully curving arch, cut perfectly and all exactly identical in height, width and thickness. The building design was interesting, too; there were three tiers, each one smaller than the last, much like the tiers on a wedding cake. Each level had several identical rectangular windows spaced evenly along their sides with the exception of the top tier. Behind the building was a huge, green mountain, providing a beautiful backdrop to the magnificent structure.
Zanu 'Towdalee, a Red Armoured Sangheili, led his group of Covenant towards this very building. Of course, Zanu couldn't see very far in the heavy rain. For the hundredth time, he wiped the rain from his face, grunting in annoyance.
Curse this weather! he thought.
He looked back at his group, making sure nobody was falling behind, which was common with the Unggoy. No, the five of them, including a red-armoured Unggoy, were still tottering close behind his three Blue Sangheili. Two of the Sangheili, Taytok 'Murmee and Rigon 'Kolnoree, were carrying dual Plasma Rifles while the third held a Carbine and had a Beam Rifle slung on his back – that was Innu 'Simolee, his most skilled sniper. Zanu himself was carrying an Energy Sword and a Needler. Walking rear guard were two huge Lekgolo, Narga Sono Persu and Lero Sono Madda, muttering to each other in low grunts.
After what seemed like forever, Zanu caught a glimpse of a large, shadowy form not far ahead after a bright flash of lightning. He had found the Forerunner building! Silently, the large Sangheili sighed with relief. The rain drumming on his helmet and the loud thunder was starting to give him a headache and made it hard to hear what was around him. His motion detector only helped so much. Anything moving slowly enough would not be picked up. For all he knew, humans could be sneaking up behind him at this very moment.
On that thought, Zanu turned around quickly, his Needler at the ready. He eyed the foliage closely, but with the high wind whipping the leaves around, it was impossible to tell if anything was moving in there.
Innu crept closer to his commander, "Leader, is something wrong?"
Zanu turned his head towards the young Sangheili's voice and then looked back at the rustling foliage.
"Nothing. Nothing is wrong," said Zanu, shaking his head.
The tall Sangheili turned and began walking cautiously towards the building. He looked up and smiled, despite the rain thrumming relentlessly on his head. He could clearly see the towering structure, now. It was magnificent. He expected no less from the Forerunners.
If he was younger and less experienced, Zanu knew his first instinct would be to rush inside and relieve himself of his discomfort, but he knew he had to put that aside if he wanted to make sure he stayed alive. He had seen younger, less experienced Sangheili rush straight into dangerous situations and uncharted territory without his permission, giving away his squad's location and then getting cut down by the filthy humans or worse, the Flood. He wasn't about to let that happen again.
Zanu raised his left arm, signalling for everyone to stop. He moved into the bushes, his group following suit. He then motioned for the Unggoy to move forward and scout the area ahead.
The red-armoured Unggoy, named Gugum, ushered his fellow Unggoy towards the large stone structure hastily, mainly because Zanu scared him. The Red Sangheili was unusually tall, standing at around 8'10", and was cold-hearted. Zanu had a tendency to use his Needler as a cruel melee weapon, preferring to stab his enemies with the Needler's sharp crystals. Due to Zanu's close-quarters battle style, he had incurred numerous injuries and was easily angered. For these reasons, Gugum gave Zanu a wide berth when passing by him, feeling the towering Sangheili's eyes on him the whole time.
The Unggoy crept forward, their Plasma Pistols aimed in front of them, looking around rapidly. Following Gugum, they slowly crept up the ramps sloping in front of the arches that led into the dark interior of the massive building; two Unggoy on the left and right ramps with Gugum using the centre ramp. They stopped at the entrances, waiting for Gugum's orders. He turned his head left, then right, looking at his team, and then pointed into the darkness. The five short, stocky Covenant soldiers moved in, checking the ground floor of the building. From what they could see, it was empty. Lightning lit up the sky and poured flickering light into the building, extinguishing the shadows for a few brief seconds. Seeing nothing, the Unggoy headed back to their towering Sangheili leader.
Zanu turned his head as the Unggoy came walking towards him. He looked down at Gugum.
"Well?" he asked.
"I-It is empty, Leader! N-Nothing is there!" said Gugum, trying to force his voice not to quiver under the cold, uncaring eyes of the imposing giant looking down at him. Zanu grunted, then nodded and cautiously ordered his troops into the huge Forerunner building. The group moved swiftly, staying alert at all times, aware of everything around them.
Zanu ordered the two Lekgolo to stand in the shadows of the two side entrance arches as soon as the others had filed inside. Once everyone was safely under the building's roof and the Lekgolo had taken up their positions, the tall, red-armoured Sangheili began giving orders to his waiting troops.
Zanu turned to the two Plasma Rifle-wielding Sangheili, "Check the floors above. Give me all details once you get back down."
"Yes, Excellency," answered the Blue Sangheili in unison. The two turned and ran deeper into the massive stone structure, searching for a staircase, or some other way up.
Zanu turned to Innu, who was standing at the central arch, keeping a vigilant eye out for any threats.
"We will need more warriors," said Zanu, "Call for a Phantom to deliver them. It is inevitable that the humans," he said the word 'humans' with undisguised hatred, "will stumble upon us and this holy temple."
The Covenant believed the building was some sort of temple. It wasn't. It was something else…
The two Blue Sangheili, Taytok and Rigon, cautiously moved around the large ground-level rooms, each wielding a single Plasma Rifle, their other Plasma Rifles hanging at their waists. It was possible the Unggoy didn't fully check the place before reporting back. They may have missed an enemy hiding in the shadows.
"Do you think we will battle the humans this night?" asked Taytok, pivoting his body left and right, searching for a way up.
"It is very likely. I am looking forward to the combat. We shall crush them!" replied Rigon, balling his hand into a tight fist, his face eager.
Taytok stopped and pointed, "See! A way up!"
Just ahead was a ramp that ran up one wall at the back of the ground level of the 'temple'. The ramp, like the rest of the building, was in good condition, considering its age. A few small cracks and erosion from the wind marred the otherwise smooth surface. The two Sangheili silently made their way up the ramp with Taytok leading.
The interior of the second floor was equally as empty. However, in the centre of the second tier there was a square, metal trapdoor about four feet wide set into the ceiling. Since there was nothing else of interest on this level and no other way up that they could see after a thorough search, the Sangheili decided to open up the trapdoor to discover what lay beyond.
"What is on the other side of that trapdoor? We had best open it. Our leader shall want to know of our findings," said Rigon, looking at the shining square with interest.
"Agreed," said Taytok, "I shall attempt to open it."
Rigon stepped back as Taytok prepared to jump upwards and open the trapdoor using his body weight. The powerful legs of the Blue Sangheili bent and then straightened as he launched his large, yet agile body upwards. The Sangheili's broad shoulders hit the door, producing a deep thump. Taytok landed from his jump, grunting. He looked up, examining the metal.
"It did not even buckle!" he said with a voice that was part-awe and part-irritation. Taytok prided himself on his strength and he was not going to be stopped by a small piece of metal! The Blue Sangheili launched himself upwards once more, bashing himself into the trapdoor harder than before. The force of the blow jarred his bones but the door did not budge. Taytok grimaced and flexed his shoulders, shrugging the slight ache off. He was about to try again, but his partner placed a hand on his chest, stopping him.
"Let us try firing at it," suggested Rigon, his hand still holding Taytok back.
Taytok nodded in agreement. The two aimed at the trapdoor and began to fire their Plasma Rifles. No sooner had they began firing than Zanu and the Unggoy came rushing up the ramp towards them. The two Plasma Rifle-wielding Sangheili stopped firing, blue vapour rising from the barrels of their rifles, when they saw Zanu approaching.
"What is happening?" the Red Sangheili asked them.
"Leader," Rigon pointed upwards with his Plasma Rifle, "we have discovered a trapdoor that we are unable to open. However, I believe we are making progress, now."
Zanu looked at the blackened trapdoor and frowned, "You are unable to open this?"
"Yes, Excellency. Even Taytok could not bash it open."
Taytok glared sharply at Rigon, but the other Sangheili chose to ignore him. Rigon had said his statement as if Taytok was arrogant about his strength.
"Really? Even the mighty Taytok failed?" said Zanu with sarcastic amazement.
The Red Sangheili looked at them both, "Well? What are you waiting for? Continue! Get this door open!"
The Blue Sangheili nodded and began firing once more. The heat was building around them. Zanu watched as the perfectly cut stonework of the Forerunners was blasted or melted away by the plasma bolts. Once they saw the door begin to melt, the Sangheili fired with renewed vigour, using both of their Plasma Rifles.
Lightning sizzled outside, casting eerie blocks of light to flash in through the windows. A second later, a loud rumble rolled through the air.
The trapdoor was now weakening under the heat. There was a creaking sound and the metal began to glow orange. With a loud screech that set everyone's teeth on edge, the door fell from its hole. The Sangheili jumped back as soon as they saw the trapdoor falling. It landed with a loud bang, causing a couple of the Unggoy to jump and utter small cries.
Aside from the rain, which was now starting to ease off, and the rumble of thunder in the distance, there was no sound to be heard, only the faint ticking as the metal trapdoor cooled. In the ceiling was a new hole leading into the third tier.
Gugum stepped under the hole, being careful not to touch the still-hot trapdoor. He looked up, but could see nothing. It was pitch black up there. He looked at Zanu, who was waiting to hear what the Unggoy saw. Gugum looked up again, straining to see anything. Failing, he looked at Zanu again and shook his head. He was about to speak when he heard a slithering hiss. The small Covenant's heart froze. Fear gripped him. He now knew what was up there and why there were no windows on the third tier. He knew he should run or cry out, but his whole body seemed paralyzed.
"What is it?" Zanu asked, losing his patience with Gugum.
Gugum managed to turn his head to look upwards once more and that's when he saw Them falling out of the darkness. Gugum's eyes widened and his tongue finally detached itself from the roof of his mouth, allowing him to scream before he was crushed under the slimy, writhing mass of flesh.
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