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ERIC NYLUND
89
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