My first ever shooter game was Halo 3 and it opened my eyes to the potential all games held. Nearly every day, I'd spend my time playing Halo 3 until I could buy the other games. It was safe to say I had become a big fan of the series.
And then one...
A low groan leaves my lips as I feel my consciousness return. As I wake up, I feel something large and slimy wrapped around me. Opening my eyes and looking down, I immediately recognise it as giant tendrils. Tendrils that belonged to the Gravemind! I squirm and try to escape, but to no avail. The tendrils drag me through a tunnel and raise me up in the air, revealing me to the colossal, faceless worm.
Cora: Oh boy. This isn't good.
Cortana: What is that?
I notice Chief was also hung in the air on my left, confined just as tightly if not more along with Six on his left.
Mutasim: You alright, you two?
Noble Six: I'd feel a lot better if I wasn't stuck like this.
Chief: Let's not piss this thing off.
I turn my head to the right to see the Gravemind dragging another figure in. Despite the armour being different, I recognised the Sangheili as Thelya. The same Elite I saved, duelled and respected. Except now, she was more commonly referred to as "The Arbiter". The Gravemind held her by her wrists and ankles, making her agitated and squirm.
Mutasim: Hey. Thelya, maybe don't squirm.
Her orange eyes widen upon hearing my voice and she turns to look at me.
Thelya: You again...?
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Chief + Cortana: You know her?
Noble Six: Yeah. From Reach. Small universe, huh?
The Gravemind snarls as it turns Six and Chief around, as if inspecting them and their suits.
Gravemind: These ones are machine and nerve, and has their minds concluded.
The Gravemind then twirls Thelya around, again, inspecting her.
Gravemind: This one is but flesh and faith, and is the more deluded.
Finally, it turned its sights on me. Even though I knew the Gravemind wouldn't kill us, just the presence of being here in the moment terrified me. It squeezed me a little tighter, making me grit my teeth in pain.
Gravemind: And this one... Lost from a world beyond. And is the most enlightened.
SHIT! The Gravemind knew! Now I wasn't so sure it would let me live. It could just have a parasite latch onto me and then everything I knew about the Halo series would be added to its knowledge! It could plan around every single thing!
Thelya: Kill us or release us parasite. But do not waste my time with talk!
Gravemind: There is much talk. And I have listened. Through rock and metal and time. Now I shall talk. And you shall listen.
Looking at the sides of the Gravemind, we see this Halo's Monitor and the Prophet of Regret.
Monitor: Greetings! I am twenty-four-oh-one Penitent Tangent. I am the Monitor of Installation zero-five!
