Bump

I've said it once and will say it again. BEST. STORY. EVER. Keep going.

You are an [u]extremely talented writer,[/u] i would even go as far as to say you could be compared to a professional. I have read True Sangheili and was wandering when part 18 is coming out? (if it is) I have also read Memoirs of an ODST, your first book. When you mentioned Ras in one of your posts in the first book i knew he would be back as you said [b]"Pay attention to Ras, he's more important than you think."[/b]

good job as always wolver

My mistake, I read the story in one day, so I didn't notice that there weren't as many issues in the more recent chapters. Sorry for that. Can we still be friends?

[quote][b]Posted by:[/b] random no337 [quote][b]Posted by:[/b] AssaultCommand Wolverfrog, can I add you on MSN or something? Maybe I could help fix some of your canon issues or other problems. [/quote]Making an awesome story is more important than canon.[/quote] What canon issues? I know there's a fair few at the beginning of the first book, but what are you talking about?

[quote][b]Posted by:[/b] AssaultCommand Wolverfrog, can I add you on MSN or something? Maybe I could help fix some of your canon issues or other problems. [/quote]Making an awesome story is more important than canon.

[quote][b]Posted by:[/b] ajw34307 Yes, but Ras insisted he didn't want to kill Archer, and his honour code would restrict him from doing so anyway. Archer even understands that enough to use it against him.[/quote] Exactly. :) P.S. any chance Rook is eating Burritos on Earth after the magical fairy, Buffalo Wing, granted him 3 wishes?

Wolverfrog, can I add you on MSN or something? Maybe I could help fix some of your canon issues or other problems.

Yes, but Ras insisted he didn't want to kill Archer, and his honour code would restrict him from doing so anyway. Archer even understands that enough to use it against him.

What Archer did was justified, Ras might have just wanted him to lead him to the squad. We know otherwise, but he was unsure. At least he did a Batman and dragged Ras out from the fire. :)

Archer was a complete twat, betraying Ras... Looks like he's just lost a bit of respect, [i]grrrr[/i]. Great chapter, as per usual, Wolvers. I expect you to not post up any more until the end of Christmas, get your bloody Xbox Live back so we can talk!

I'm gonna see when I can make a wallpaper for this. And how I'll fit everything on a cover. Maybe I'll make an iPhone wallpaper, even though I don't have one. D: Oh, I almost forgot to say I've read up to here from the beginning of book one in one day... NEEDZ MOAR READINGZ!

Great chapters! I missed Part 3 somehow :\ I agree with Smurf, I'm loving the parts that aren't all war, the side stories and bits out of the action with just dialogue are extrememly good. You'll write a full novel one day, I know it.

"Screw you" written on a contract reminds me of that Arby' and The Chief episode...

Hahaha, a blast from the past. I'd imagine Ras is gonna be pissed. Great chapter!

Yes, indeed I do. Never expected Ras. Archer's an ass for what he did. I'd totally have an Elite sidekick if I could. And, still, you could make a pretty crazy plot using Innies. Like the Cole Protocol. Innies and rogue Kig-Yar working together. Not exactly along those lines, but, you know what I mean. Regardless of your decision, I'm sure it'll be an awesome one. [Edited on 12.20.2009 4:24 PM PST]

[i]Innies?[/i] You know me Smurf. I make far crazier plots than that.

I didn't. It's evident that the Covenant will be involved, I'm simply stating that I like how you're including other things that aren't the Covenant. Any hope for some Innie action, and not just crazed muggers who get there asses kicked by Archer?

You must have missed part four Smurf, because the Covenant are in this. But they won't be the only problem like in the first book.

It is official, Wolver. At first I thought it was just your dreamy English accent, but now I realize it'r your writing that's so attractive about you. I love you Wolver. Okay, no -blam!-, this was really good. I [i]love[/i] how you're straying from the path of fighting Covenant, to other things like the situation back on the collonies. Keep it up! <3

Before Ras could react, I shot the spherical device lying on the floor next to him. It exploded, and the smoke it had gathered in fired out in one concentrated blast, engulfing Ras. He howled in frustration, unable to see, and I shot him three times, intending to take out his energy shields. They dropped, and I ran up to him, dealing the Elite a heavy blow in the jaw. Ras dropped to the floor, unconscious. Almost immediately I felt bad about what I had done, and then, smacked myself on the forehead when I realised one thing -- the building was still on fire. Could I leave the Elite there? It's what I should have done, I know. But I couldn't -- not after he had just saved me. Frantically, aware of the flames creeping down the staircase, I searched the unconscious Elite Major. Eventually, I found what I was looking for. Plasma grenades! Dragging Ras' heavy body aside, I took one of the grenades and set it by the wall inside a cell. The concrete was thick, but hopefully the grenades would be able to blast through it. They did, and ripped apart several other cells too. I looked out into the Charon VI sky with a gasp -- Covenant ships sailed above. Any UNSC resistance on the planet had long been swiped away; and Charon VI was a planet without much military support anyway. Shaking free of my shock, I turned around to face Ras. The Elite would be heavy, but hopefully I'd be able to drag him out. As I began to attempt pulling Ras out by his shoulders, I knew it would be futile to attempt. The Elite weighed a ton. Dark thoughts were creeping into my mind about leaving him -- flames were drawing ever closer -- but I quickly dismissed such ideas. Then I heard footsteps outside. I turned around to see the outline of a human, staring at the hole I had made. Then he stared at me, eyes growing wide. "You!" he exclaimed, frozen with evident shock. I frowned in confusion for a few moments, before I took a close look. A scar above his right eyebrow, dirty blonde, long hair, a rough beard. About 30 years old, maybe a bit older. It was one of the men who'd tried to mug me the other night; the one who'd robbed my debit card. The police hadn't been able to find him. "Small world eh?" I growled, pointing my battle rifle at his chest. The mugger began to perspire profoundly, his own firearm -- an M6C -- stuck uselessly at his side. "Listen, I'm sorry for what I did. Man's gotta make a living somehow right? Please don't kill me," the mugger begged, weeping openly. I made a noise of disgust. "I'm not going to kill you. But I need you to help me do something. Way I see it, you owe me something," I told the mugger, who was blinking through tears. He suddenly began shaking his head violently. "Get stuffed, I am not fighting the Covenant with you!" I laughed sharply, shaking my head. "You may have to do that anyway mate, if you want to get out of this city alive. But that's not what I mean. See this Elite here?" I pointed to Ras. If possible, the mugger's eyes grew wider. "You knocked out an [i]Elite[/i] by yourself? Damn. You out of bullets or something? Want me to finish him off?" One question after another. Jesus. "Yes, no and no. I'm not out of bullets, so don't you get any funny ideas. No, I want you to help me drag him outside." The mugger then nodded with comprehension. "Ah, I see. You want me to help you toss him in the river? Might want to tie some bricks or something to his feet first." This was one seriously twisted mind. "For Christ's sake, I'm not killing him! I just want you to help me drag him outside, and then we'll walk away." There was silence from the other man. "What?" he finally questioned, flabbergasted. The flames were drawing ever closer to Ras' body. "Just do it!" I bellowed, shooting a single round just before his feet. The mugger yelped in shock, before grimacing and moving up next to me. I grabbed one of Ras' shoulders, and the mugger grabbed the other. Together, we began to pull the heavy Elite out of the building, through the hole I'd created. Finally, the Elite was lying safely on the river bank, still out cold. He'd stay like that for a few hours at least. The mugger and I breathed deeply, both of us worn out. I looked back at the police building, which was a burning wreck. So was the rest of the city. Skyscrapers were alight and crumbled, the flames in the distance projecting colossal shadows of Covenant soldiers onto far away buildings. A hazy substance hung in the air. I took a look at the highway above the police building, hoping to God it was clear. No such luck. Wraiths glided along the highway with a hum, with Covenant forces walking alongside them. Well, we certainly weren't going to be able to use a vehicle to get around. Worried we would be spotted, I beckoned for the mugger to follow me into a cluster of reeds. I'd already decided I would help him, regardless of his past sins. I was a soldier, and when you boiled down to the core of it, he was a civilian. I had to help him. I noticed the mugger had his hands firmly clasped together, eyes closed and mouth muttering incomprehensible words. I stared at him. "[i]You're[/i] praying?" I asked the sandy haired man, who returned my gaze with slight embarrassment. "I am." The mugger was rubbing the back of his heated neck awkwardly. I shook my head in disbelief. "You know, that's kinda ironic. Doesn't one of the ten commandments say something along the lines of 'thou shalt not steal'?" "I don't want to be a criminal! You think I enjoy it? But a man's got to eat. Got to stay warm in the winter. The UNSC doesn't give a damn about the poor people in the border colonies," the mugger justified. My icy gaze melted a little, and I sighed. "Well, I'm more concerned with staying alive right now. It looks like we're going to be bandied together, unless you want to try your hand at surviving alone." The mugger cast a fearful look up at the Covenant on the highway, before looking at the greater city in the distance. He shook his head. "Please don't leave me," he begged of me. I smiled. "Don't worry, I never leave a man behind. Can I be sure you won't try to pick my pocket every time I turn around?" Shame crept into the man's gaze once again, and he fished around in the deep trench coat he wore, before drawing out a small object. My bank card. The man passed it over. "Figure you want this back," he mumbled. I snatched it out of his grubby hand. "Thanks," I replied icily. "Pin never worked none anyway. We're going to be all right ain't we?" His expression was a far cry from the one he had worn earlier in the night, when he'd been in the process of mugging me with his friends. "Just peachy," I assured. Something then struck me, "so what were you doing at the police station? Turning yourself in?" "Err...no. I saw the Covenant ships approach, and knew this was the only place where I'd be able to find weapons. Only managed to grab a crappy pistol before I saw some of those huge dinosaur aliens approaching. Scared me senseless. I decided to steal away along the bank until I saw you and your...friend." The man gave a meaningful look over at Ras, who was breathing deeply. I scowled. "He's not my friend! We've just...met before. Owed each other favours." There was an awkward pause, and the mugger frowned. "Right. Name's Nathan, by the way." The man held out a grubby hand for me to shake. My own hands weren't much cleaner. I grasped it, noting the slippery sweat coating the skin. He was very nervous. "Archer." We both sighed simultaneously, resting our backs against the rocky bed. Nathan looked over at me. "So what do we do now?" I really had no idea. Still, I wasn't about to admit that to Nathan, and so I adopted a confident expression. "Well, from my experience, when the Covenant attack a planet, they'll land on it for a while, deploying troops to search for something." "Search for what?" Nathan interrupted rudely. I scowled, forcing myself to remain calm. "I have no bloody idea! Do I look like an Elite to you? Anyway, they'll search for a while. Then they'll pull their troops back to their ships. Finally--" I broke off, grimacing. The man was worried enough. "Finally what?" Nathan demanded urgently, anxiety clear in his voice. I regarded him bleakly. "The Covenant'll glass the planet. Heat it up so much that it turns into a big ball of glass. Uninhabitable and desolate." Nathan's eyes grew wide, his breathing growing more rapid. "Well can't you stop them?" I laughed a bitter, mocking laugh. Then I shook my head wearily. "You need a full fleet to stop them. And the UNSC won't come. Not to one of the border planets. Our only hope is to escape Charon VI on an evac ship," I told Nathan, who cursed. "And how do we go about that?" I stood up, reloading the battle rifle in my hand. "Well first thing's first, we're gonna link up with my squad, get some extra fire power." "And then?" Nathan pressed, also stood up now. I was silent for a few moments, staring blankly at the running river, in which the reflection of the burning city was shown. "Then, good thief, we fight our way through the hoards of Covenant between us and those ships. And we get off this soon to be dead planet."

Here's an early Christmas present -- a nice, long fun filled part of Memoirs. :) [b]Part 4 - Whole world ablaze[/b] I awoke to the smell of burning. As if a switch had been thrown, I threw off the coarse sheets provided by the police department, and leapt out of the bed. I gave a yelp when I saw smoke trailing down the stairs outside of my cell. Had some idiot set the building on fire? Where the hell was the fire department? Growing worried, I grabbed the heavy steel bars of my cell and began to rattle them. No good; the door was sturdy. Still, I beat on the bars loudly, calling up the stairs. "Hey! I'm still down here! Hey!" I shouted at the top of my voice. No answer, and more and more smoke was trailing down the stairs. Didn't most jails have a system where a fire alarm would automatically open cells? Why wasn't this system working, and better yet, where the hell was the ring of the fire alarm? The first slivers of smoke began to trail in my cell, and I grew worried. To avoid breathing in the choking smog, I ripped off my shirt sleave and tied it around my mouth. "Help!" I cried, giving one last tremendous push on the bars. All that resulted was a louder rattle. Was Commissioner Jiles really leaving me to die down here just because I'd insulted him before? I wouldn't have put it past him -- he could easily claim that there had been no way for his men to get safely down to my cell afterwards. I looked around the small block I was trapped in. The only other possible exit was a steel window embedded near the top of the cell, and that was covered by a barrier of bars too. I was stuck. Suddenly, I heard a noise at the top of the stairs. Feet scurrying. Immediately, I renewed my attempts to draw attention. "Down here! Help!" I screamed, the smoke was beginning to make my voice faint. To my relief, I heard footsteps stagger down the stairs quickly. Then, standing at the doorway was commissioner Jiles. Something was wrong, I could tell that immediately. The commissioner's usually stoic face was wide eyed in a look of shock, and his hands were moving frantically behind his back. "Jiles?" I asked uncertainly. The commissioner turned to face me with a crazed look, mouth opening and closing as if he was trying to speak. Then he toppled face first to the floor, and I saw why. Buried deep within the commissioner's back was a knife forged from plasma. [i]No. Not here. Not now,[/i] was all I could think as I stared in fear at the lifeless corrupt commissioner. A set of keys hung from his belt. The problem was that his body lay several metres away. There was no way I'd be able to reach that. And then my worst fears were realised. More footsteps trudged down the staircase outside my cell, but these were not the light steps of a human wearing shoes. They were the heavy steps of armoured hooves, affixed to alien legs. The trio of Elites came into view. One was coloured a burning crimson, and the other two were garbed in blue armour. The Covenant had found Charon VI! And they were attacking! The crimson coloured Elite -- evidently a Major -- sniffed the room distastefully, before turning to the Minor on the right. "Clear the room of this putrid smog," the Major growled. There was something familiar about his voice, but I couldn't place it. The Minor drew a spherical device out, pressing a button. He then dropped the sphere to the ground, where it began to pulsate. For an irrational moment I thought it was a grenade. Then I used logic -- why would the Elites blow themselves up? Logic prevailed, for the sphere did not explode. Instead, all the smoke in the room was drawn to it, like water in a plug hole. The smoke disappeared inside the device. Whilst I was grateful the smoke was gone, it was less of a pro and more of a con. For now, if the Elites happened to glance my way, they would see me clearly. And see me they did. As the trio began to move down the corridor outside the cells, one stopped, sniffing the air. Then, his eyes snapped straight to mine, murder burning dreadfully in his. His companions followed his gaze, and saw what he was looking at. "A human?" one of the Minors questioned, coming up to the cell. I forced myself not to look away -- I knew Elites admired bravery. Perhaps if I did not baulk, they would kill me quickly, rather than torturing me before hand. "Trapped like a canary in a cage..." the second Minor growled, running a large, alien hand across the bars of the jail cell. Somehow, I found my voice. "Surely you wouldn't be so dishonourable as to kill me unarmed and defenceless in this cell?" I questioned of them, the pitch of my voice rising as I finished the sentence. The two Minors stared at each other. "He is right, although we could make an exception just this once," the one on the right suggested. The other Minor nodded, and together they both drew swords out, looking back incredulously at their Major. "Do we have permission to end his life noble one?" I backed away from the jail door, knowing that there would be no way to avoid the two burning swords in the end. To my surprise, the Major shook his head, eyes burning into me with a familiar intensity. "Leave," he commanded to two Minors, whose eyes widened, swords deactivating. "I beg your pardon Major?" the one on the left asked, disbelief clear in his voice. The Major stood taller than the two, and stared down at them angrily. "Go! I will deal with this human myself, and then catch you up." Oh, just great. The two Minors looked at each other for a few seconds -- they seemed close, perhaps they were brothers, or even twins -- before leaving down the corridor. The Elite Major followed their progress until he was certain they had left through the door at the end. Then he turned to me, and to my surprise he wore a smile. "Well well human; it would seem fate is not without a sense of humour," the Major said to me, regarding me with interest. It was then I realised who this Elite was, and why he seemed so familiar. "Ras?" I inquired. Ras had been an Elite back at Harvest me and my squad had taken into custody, to help us get alive through the building. Instead of killing him as the marines we rendezvous with wished to do, we had instead ordered that he be taken outside and freed in return for being cooperative. Back then he had worn the golden armour of a zealot. "It is indeed me. You are lucky it is I who came across you...Farm-Boy is it?" Ras asked of me. I shook my head, still slightly wary. "No, it's Master Sergeant Archer now." Ras chuckled, looking envious. "Congratulations on your promotion then. I was not so lucky. After the council learnt of my failure to protect your Commerce building upon Harvest, I was beaten and stripped of my rank. Still, I could be dead had it not been for you, which would have been much worse." I nodded, keeping a firm eye on the sword hilt at his side. "So what now Ras? Will you kill me?" Surprise crossed the Elite's face, and he shook his head strongly. "Kill you? Of course not, you spared my life years ago. It would take a far greater cad than I to end yours now," Ras assured me. I let out a breath I hadn't known I'd been holding. I then turned to the staircase, and saw the orange glow of fire at the top. "The building's on fire. You just gonna let me burn to death?" A look of indecision crossed the Major's face for a moment, before he steeled his expression, drawing out an Energy Sword. I jumped back from the door, thinking he was going to kill me. Instead, Ras sliced the steel bars with the plasma protruding from the blade, which crumpled. Like a hot knife through butter. Ras then grabbed the bars, and gave he heave, bending the near molten metal. Soon enough, a human sized hole was affixed firmly in the centre of the cell door. "Quite the opposite. Here, climb out." Gingerly, I edged my way towards the hole. Keeping an eye on Ras the entire time, I slowly climbed through, and a moment later I was stood next to the taller Elite. He smiled down at me. "Thanks." It felt weird standing next to an Elite who was behaving benign towards me. He laughed. "Think nothing of it. Well, think something of it. For I have repaid the favour I owed you and your squad human. The next time we meet, I shall not be so kind. Now here, take one of this building's rifles." Ras passed me a Battle Rifle he drew out from his back. I stared at it in surprise, noting with pleasure that it contained a full magazine. "You want me to kill your forces in the city?" I asked Ras, more confident now I had a weapon. The Elite's look grew sombre. "Do I want you to kill them? Nay, of course not. But I am a firm believer in fairness. If the Covenant soldiers in this city cannot outgun you, then they deserve to die." That was honestly brutal, but it made sense in a way. Still, I regarded Ras with suspicion. "How do I know you won't follow me when I leave?" I demanded of him. His brow rose. "Why would I do that?" "I don't know -- maybe to find my full squad. Maybe you want to take revenge on us all for getting you demoted," I mused, keeping the rifle aimed at Ras, who nodded slowly. "A valid concern. But an unnecessary one. I have nothing but warm feelings for you and your friends." "How can I know that for sure?" "You can't. Only trust me." Ras wore an uncertain look, as if he was questioning his decision to free and spare me. I wrestled with my worries for a while, before coming to a decision. "I've got a better idea." [Edited on 12.20.2009 1:19 PM PST]

[quote]Only an averaged sized part here -- why does every 'Part 3' in all of my stories end up being shorter than the others?[/quote] I read that and the words, [i]Halo 3[/i], appreared in my mind for a second. Not that that was [i]your[/i] work though, Wolvers. Also, I liked the Doctor Who reference in this about water always winning, subtle there. So Archer is having trouble with a man Paranoia could only describe as a certain family member... [i]e sure he doesn't read this![/i]

I never posted on your threads before but -blam!- your writing has gotten good

Awwwh, what a waste of tea :( Great part though, Wolver! :)