Halo Lighting System First Strike Games User Manual

Page 93

ERIC NYLUND

The Engineer passed a tentacle over the controls. They flashed

blue, then dimmed.

"It locks now," Polaski told them. "Ugly here knows his stuff."

Three ultrasonic whistles filled the air. The Covenant Engi-

neer who had just repaired the bridge door snapped to attention,

and its eyes peered intently forward. It chirped a response and

then floated toward the Master Chief, trying to maneuver behind

him.

"What's it doing?" the Master Chief asked, turning to face the

creature.

The Engineer huffed in annoyance and tried again to move

around him.

The Master Chief didn't let it. While John had seen no hostil-

ity from the creatures, they were still part of the Covenant. Hav-

ing one at his back grated against every instinct.

"I've told it to repair your armor's shields," Cortana said.

"Let it."

The Master Chief allowed the small alien to pass. He felt the

access panel removed from the shield generator housing on his

back. Normally it took a team of three technicians to remove the

safety catches and get to the radioactive power source. The Chief

shifted uneasily. He didn't like this one bit, but Cortana had al-

ways known what she was doing.

Locklear watched this and ran a hand over his shaved head.

He stood on the raised center platform and turned to the other

Covenant Engineer as it repaired the burned-out displays on the

port side of the room. He held his MA5B loosely, but it was still

aimed in the alien's general direction. "I don't care what Cortana

says," he told the Chief, "I don't trust them."

The Engineer near Locklear floated to the bridge's holographic

controls and passed a tentacle over a series of raised dots.

The screens snapped on and showed three Covenant cruisers

closing fast.

Adrenaline spiked through the Master Chief's blood. "Cor-

tana, quick—take evasive action."

"Relax, Chief," Locklear said. He waved his hand over a holo-

graphic control; the images on screen froze. "It's just a replay."

He turned and examined the suspended plasma bolts just as they