<boring stuff>
The following story is copyrighted material and all rights belong solely to the author. Any reproduction or republication of any or all of this publication without the explicit and expressed written consent from the author is strictly forbidden.
</boring stuff>
Chapter 9 - Begging For Mercy
The Elite and BFM escort walked back toward the Spartan with the now collar-free Grunt. Noticing the atmosphere of the group, Liam looked around at the crowd and said, “What’s going on?”
“Me free! Me free!”, the Grunt said jumping up and down.
The ONI representative darted his eyes at the Grunt and said in a low tone, “Get rid of that thing!” All eyes were still on the tense unfolding and no one moved. The ONI looked either direction and yelled, “I said, SHOOT IT!”
The Grunt crouched and screamed, “No! Please! No Kill I! Me friend! Me Friend!”
The ONI began to yell and get red in the face, “I said shoot that whining, little, squeaking piece of putrid smelling…”
“Belay that!” the BFM Spartan commanded.
The ONI looked up and raising his eyebrows said, “He… He is the enemy! We ‘kill’ the enemy!…”
“Not when they Beg For Mercy, we don’t. Or haven’t you noticed our insignia”, came the reply.
Eyebrows still up, the ONI’s eyes looked down to the armband of the BFM Spartan. Almost shaking with anger and still red faced, the ONI breathed heavily through his nose as his lips tightened.
“He’s a friend, aren’t you?” the Spartan said turning his head slightly to the Grunt but keeping his eye on the ONI representative.
“Yes! Me friend! Me friend! Me help you get the other one”, the Grunt happily agreed.
“Other one?” said the BFM Spartan quickly and turned to the Grunt.
“Yes, yes! I know where him is!” the Grunt said shaking his head up and down eagerly.
The BFM Spartan looked up and said, “Take him to Medic and get him checked out. Make sure he doesn’t have any other surprises hidden on him. I’ll be there to de-brief him later.” Turning back to the Spartan and ONI, he felt a tap on his waist. Looking down he saw the Grunt tapping his hands together lightly. “And food?” the Grunt said quietly. “Yeah, give him whatever he wants”, he replied.
“Whee!” the Grunt exclaimed as he jumped in the air and took the hand of his escort. “Me talk human speak good, huh. Me study three whole… um hours, yes that is word, hours, yes.”
As they walked away, Liam said, “He learned all that in three hours?”
“Do not under estimate the Grunts, human”, the Elite said.
“But they’re just Grunts”, came a reply from an ODST in the crowd.
Still looking at the ONI representative, the Spartan said, “Apparently, you have never heard of the Great Grunt Rebellion. It was almost as famous as the Taming of the Hunters.”
Stepping back quickly, the ONI officer said, “Right! Take this Spartan… this thing into custody! I have reason to believe this is an imposter, possibly a traitor! I’ll deal with him later!”
The Spartan pulled his Battle Rifle and said, “I don’t think so. I’m no traitor and you aren’t taking me anywhere!”
All around, the Spartan heard the cocking of weapons. Without looking the Spartan knew they were all trained on him. Standing weapon ready, the Spartan refused to concede.
