On top of a crumbling, unknown structure still rooted on Requiem, First Officer Lasky leaned over a flickering console, jaw tight and eyes darting between status readouts.
"Again—this is Lasky to any UNSC vessel," he barked into the comms. "We've got hostiles breathing down our necks! Is anybody reading us?!"
Down near the fractured wall, Sarah Palmer stood with her helmet tucked under one arm, her gaze fixed on the storm of shapes beyond the shattered barrier. Her Spartan fireteam flanked her—silent, motionless, poised. Outside, through what was left of a reinforced viewport, a dozen orange-glowing alien forms closed in—creatures unknown, warping the ground as they moved. Unlike anything they'd cataloged before.
"They're about to breach the door," Palmer muttered. "Form up."
Then—WOOOMPH.
The Promethean soldiers outside the structure began to disintegrate—not from weapons fire, but as if they were being swallowed. One by one, they sank into expanding pools of violet-black shadow, disappearing without a sound.
"What the hell?" one of the grunts near the Covenant line squeaked. "Shit—we are—"
Then the sky broke open.
Ten thousand shadow soldiers dropped like a plague from above, descending in perfect formation .
At the center of it, tearing through the clouds with wide, terrible wings, came a massive shadow dragon. Black as night, its body flickering with purple veins. Flames—red, violet, and black—spilled from its jaws, igniting Covenant drop-pods in midair and leaving spiraling debris in its wake.
Lasky stared, slack-jawed. "Are we just on drugs…?"
Palmer didn't flinch. "No. We're in reality, Lasky. Keep broadcasting that signal."
Suddenly, the console beeped, cutting through the chaos.
A voice came through.
"This is Spartan-117 of the UNSC Forward Unto Dawn. Ready to assist."
Lasky grabbed the mic, voice rising. "Master Chief?! Are—Are those black soldiers… yours?!"
No response. Only the rumble of something far bigger drawing near.
THOOM.
A titanic shadow loomed above the battlefield. Descending with surgical precision, the Didact's Cryptum hovered over the ruined structure—silent, ancient, and menacing.
And then—from its top edge—two figures dropped.
Gasps echoed from the remaining personnel. Marines stared. Spartans froze. Even the Covenant remnants outside scattered in disarray.
Palmer blinked, arms crossed. "…You've gotta be kidding me."
The sealed door creaked open.
First Officer Tom Lasky stepped forward, barely managing to collect himself as he greeted Chief with a relieved smile. "Afraid we're gonna need your help again from time to time," he said, extending a hand. "Tom Lasky. First Officer of the Infinity."
Chief took it without hesitation. "Good to see you still breathing."
Behind them, Palmer gave a quick gesture to her squad. "Clear the perimeter. Sweep and lock it down."
"Area secure," one Spartan reported.
Palmer nodded. "Then seal the door. Let's not invite any more surprises."
Chief glanced toward her. "I don't think that'll be necessary."
Palmer turned, expression deadpan. "…Why?"
Chief's voice was level as always. "The guy beside me—Jin-Woo—just solved the main problem. For me… and by default, all of you."
Lasky turned to Jin-Woo, eyes narrowing with curiosity. "You're the one who deployed those black-armored soldiers?"
He stepped forward and extended a hand. "I'm Tom Lasky. But… you're not wearing any armor. No gear. Are you… local?"
Jin-Woo didn't answer. His eyes were fixed ahead. Silent.
Suddenly, static crackled from one of the nearby Marine's comms. A voice cut through—sharp, impatient.
"What frequency—dammit! This is Captain Del Rio, come in!"
Lasky moved fast, grabbing the comm unit. "Infinity, this is Lasky. Repeat—all Pelicans are down. We've got numerous casualties all over the map . We require assistance, over."
Then came Del Rio's voice, cold and clipped. "Finally. Did you get coordinates to that gravity well?"
Lasky hesitated. "I have it, sir. But we need to bust out of here. We're under heavy pressure."
Del Rio didn't even blink. "Then make it happen,. ."
Cortana's voice filtered through Chief's helmet, laced with biting sarcasm. "So let me get this straight—you were sent by that captain… to scout an enemy-controlled planet. While your ship was under attack?"
Lasky tensed, opening his mouth to respond.
But Jin-Woo cut in first. "Show me the coordinates," he said, voice steady. "Everyone who's wounded. Mark them." "I'll take care of the rest."
Palmer stepped over to Master Chief, her eyes scanning Jin-Woo's who being pointed where all the casualties recent location on the map .
"…I thought you were taller," she muttered. "And that guy—Jin-Woo. He's got a name like he's from Earth, Korean maybe, but… I don't know. I feel like he's dangerous."
Chief didn't turn. "You're right to be afraid," he replied. "But right now, we better hope he gets the job done."
Suddenly, across the loading bay, new shadows began unfurling from beneath consoles, corridors, even broken crates.
From the darkness, Promethean Knights began stepping out—dozens of them—each one carrying wounded crew members on their shoulders or in hardlight support harnesses. Marines and engineers alike, scorched and bloodied, muttered in confusion as they were set down carefully in medical zones.
One of the wounded flailed as he was lowered. "Let me go—let me the hell go!"
Another survivor looked up, stunned. "Is that… is that Lasky? Commander Lasky?!"
Lasky's eyes snapped toward the Promethean crowd, his voice low with disbelief. "…Those orange creatures. They're his subordinates?"
He turned his gaze back to Jin-Woo, who still hadn't moved from where he stood—arms crossed.
"I need an explanation," Lasky said sharply.
Cortana's voice filtered in, her tone casual, even amused. "Truthfully? He killed the one called the Didact. Took his power. Absorbed his command over the Prometheans."
"You can call him a semi-Forerunner now… maybe."
Jin-Woo raised his hand with a simple gesture—fingers slicing through the air.
The Cryptum, still hovering silently above the deck, responded immediately. Its hull hissed and parted, exposing an interior platform of ancient Forerunner alloy and swirling light.
"Can we go now?" Jin-Woo said, his voice even. "To your ship."
Lasky opened his mouth to respond—hesitating.
Before he could,
Chief stepped forward. "I can vouch for him. He's been a man of his word so far."
Lasky exhaled. "Then I'm taking a risky gamble…"
He looked up at the massive globe-shaped satellite, the Cryptum's sheer size looming dangerously close to the Infinity.
"…but I'd rather we walk on foot than fly that thing next to the ship. That might spook Captain Del Rio enough to open fire."
Jin-Woo and the gathered marine group moved out on foot, trekking across the scorched surface of Requiem. The distant rumble of Covenant skirmishes echoed faintly in the background. As they walked, the Promethean soldiers that once swarmed the battlefield now silently peeled away—one by one—melting into Jin-Woo's ever-growing shadow like they belonged there.
Palmer glanced sideways,. "So I've been wondering… why the silent type?"
Jin-Woo said nothing.
She blinked, slightly annoyed, but said no more.
A moment later, one of the remaining Promethean Knights approached Master Chief from the flank. With an eerie mechanical grace, it extended a weapon toward him—an elegant, glowing Forerunner Lightrifle.
Chief eyed it. "I didn't ask for this."
Jin-Woo, walking ahead, responded without looking back. "Nor did I. Probably means they're more... cooperative now."
Lasky, rubbing the back of his neck, muttered from behind, "So… let me get this straight. You killed the Didact… brought him back… and now he's under your command? Just like that?"
Jin-Woo gave the smallest tilt of his head.
"Uh huh," he said. "Like that. Simple."
Suddenly, the comms flared to life, a loud transmission echoing through every nearby helmet and console.
"This is Captain Del Rio to all UNSC forces," the voice barked. "The Covenant has fully retreated from the Infinity's perimeter. Remaining orange hostiles have also vanished. All units, return to the ship immediately for debrief and reassignment."
Cortana's voice chimed in a moment later, dry and curious.
"I've been wondering… what kind of personality does Del Rio actually have?"
Lasky gave a hollow chuckle.
"Do you really need to ask? He'll butt heads with anyone breathing the same air. Give it a minute—we'll be right back to square one."
As the group continued walking, the smoke clearing around them,
Lasky glanced toward Jin-Woo. His tone sharpened.
"You asked for the Forerunner Artifact called The composer . Is that the deal? You help us, do the heavy lifting—while we give you that artifact?"
Jin-Woo didn't slow his pace. His gaze stayed fixed ahead, his voice flat and sharp.
"It's located at the Ivanoff Research Station. I already know that. With or without your help, I'll get it."
He paused just long enough to glance at Chief.
"My respect's for him. That's why I helped.. "Anyone else? I don't care."
Eventually, the group stepped into the main hangar of the UNSC Infinity. The atmosphere was thick—soldiers moved in formation, medics scrambled around the wounded, alarms still rang in short pulses. The metallic hum of the ship's core systems echoed through scorched plating and steel walkways.
Captain Del Rio stormed forward, voice slicing through the tension like a blade. His eyes locked on Lasky.
"What took you so long?" he snapped. "The enemy's retreated, and you're dragging your feet like it's shore leave. You lazy or just blind?"
Lasky didn't flinch. "With due respect, sir—my men are wounded. We lost people. I prioritized survival over bravado."
Del Rio sneered, then turned his attention to the stranger beside Chief.
"And you. Why the hell is there a civilian on my ship? No UNSC clearance. No armor. No tags. Who the hell do you think you are?"
Jin-Woo didn't even spare him a glance. His eyes remained locked on Master Chief.
"Chief," he said flatly. "Fulfill your end of the bargain. I'm not here for third-rate character speeches."
Chief stayed silent for a beat, then turned toward Lasky.
"Lasky," he said calmly. "Lord Hood… he's still Fleet Admiral, right?"
Lasky nodded once. "Yeah. Last I checked—he still is."
Del Rio, still standing nearby, clenched his jaw as he realized he was being completely ignored. His voice rose, sharp and annoyed.
"Can someone explain what the hell those orange creatures were?!"
Before anyone else could speak, Palmer stepped forward with her arms crossed, voice flat and clear.
"They were Prometheans. And the civilian you're yelling at?" She nodded toward Jin-Woo. "He killed the mastermind. Took out the one controlling them. Cleaned up the battlefield before any of us could."
Del Rio's expression twisted. "Arrest him," he barked. "I want that unknown man in cuffs. Now."
Tension rippled instantly.
Five nearby Marines raised their rifles, training their sights on Jin-Woo.
Jin-Woo didn't move. Didn't flinch. Just stood there with a half-amused expression on his face, as if watching a child throw a tantrum.
Lasky stepped forward quickly. "Sir. With all due respect—without this man, we would've been overwhelmed. We wouldn't be standing here."
Del Rio didn't budge. "Or maybe he's a Covenant agent. Some kind of plant. A walking bioweapon. You want to take that risk?"
Jin-Woo finally turned his head, a slow smirk forming as his eyes glinted with quiet menace. "Wherever I go… I tend to handle things myself."
In a blink, over a hundred shadow soldiers burst forth from the ground—surrounding the Marines who had raised their weapons. Each blade hovered just inches from their necks.
Del Rio froze, throat dry. Sweat trickled down his temple as the black, faceless figures closed in.
Palmer stepped forward, rifle raised. "Stand down. Drop your army, Jin-Woo. Now."
Jin-Woo didn't move. "No," he said bluntly. "I'm not getting arrested. I'm pressed for time."
Lasky interjected sharply. "Captain—enough. We need to be rational. Those orange hostiles we barely survived? They're called Prometheans. And right now, every last one of them answers to him."
The tension was suffocating.
Palmer's rifle split apart in her hands. No warning. Just scattered metal clattering to the floor at her feet.
Jin-Woo lowered his hand. "If you want to kill me," he said flatly, "you'll need more than a bullet."