Authors Note: At last, the final story of the Zendou series. Though it is not really required to read the previous story arcs, it is recommended to read Duel Hearts at least, if you haven't. Also, this one will be posted once a week and will have a commentary covering the whole series at the end. This one is rated T due to swearing and violence. Enjoy!

Thanks to Gex-1539 for proofing this.

Disclaimer: Halo, Sangheili, Rtas, Thel/Arbiter and other canon characters belong to Bungie Studios/343 Industries. However, Original Characters, like Zeno, belong to me.

Prologue

Zeno yawned and stretched, unsure if he wanted to get up yet. Beside him, he could feel his mate beginning to stir as well. No, not mate: spouse, he reminded himself with a smile. Two months they have been married, and he still hadn't gotten used to using the human word.

Just as well, as they both knew that if the High Council found out about this they would flip. That was why they hardly told anyone about the wedding: it was a very private affair between just them and the judge that did the service. Though, Luke still found out. Damn, sneaky ONI bastards, he recalled with a chuckle.

He knew it was only a matter of time before the news reached the High Council anyway, though they were doing their best to keep it a secret. For instance, Sani only wore the 'engagement' pendant when they were at home. Granted, the pendant wasn't really needed anymore since they had got matching tattoos about a week ago.

Zeno looked down at his right forearm and marveled at the simple, yet elegant tattoo that now resided there. Two loops made up of two intertwining lines in a pattern that meant 'infinity' according to the humans: these lines also encircled the wrist in a third loop. The only difference between them was that Zeno's was black and Sani's was a lighter, red-brown to compliment his skin tone. Both had healed well, though now they were in the most irritating part of the healing process: the itching phase. Zeno, having had previous experience with tattoos, had been able to resist scratching so far. Sani, on the other hand, was having difficulties.

"Sani, do not scratch," Zeno said softly when he caught his mate doing just that.

"Ugh," Sani grumbled as he forced himself to stop. "It itches so much…."

"I know, sweet," Zeno said as he scooted over so he was behind him. "Perhaps some cream will help?"

Sani purred gratefully as Zeno took said cream and gently rubbed it onto the healing area. He returned the favor when Zeno was done, only he ended up doing more than just applying cream. It didn't take long for the foreplay to end up into a full on mating session.

"You know…," Zeno said as they recovered from the romp. "It is a good thing we only have one real thing to deal with today."

"Ah yes, that new arrival," Sani said sleepily. "When does he arrive again?"

"Uh…." Zeno craned his neck to look at the time. "We have a couple of hours still."

"Oh, well then…how about another round before we go?" There was a cheeky expression on Sani's face.

"Since when were you a sex addict?"

"I am not a sex addict…," Sani countered. "I am a Zeno addict!"

"Ah, well I cannot argue with that."

A couple hours later…

Zeno had to admit that he knew little about the Sangheili that was arriving today. Taho 'Eligo was his name, a shipmaster that had served honorably and with distinction during the Schism. Why he was being transferred here and not being promoted to fleet master, he did not know. That he was not informed on what duties this man would be doing bothered him. Not even Sesai, the station AI, had been informed, which made the whole thing stink even more.

His mind kept going back to the hearing a few months back, on how the High Council said they would continue the debate on whether he was still worthy of his position privately. He had heard nothing since then and his instincts were nearly screaming that they had to be up to no good. The thing was what could he do about it? He had suspected they where wanting to remove him from his office long before the hearing took place.

Nothing, he told himself. I can do nothing but just accept it, no matter how much it pisses me off. There was one good thing though, should his suspicions come to pass: Sani had his separation paperwork filled out and waiting to go just in case. If Zeno did lose his position, Sani will be able to go with him back to Sanghelios.

-Ambassador,- the station AI, Sesai, said in his earpiece. –The phantom from the ship Guiding Light is approaching.-

"Noted," Zeno said. "Any word on what this guy is going to be doing here yet?"

-Negative, Ambassador. I am still trying to get that information.-

"I see. Thank you, Sesai."

"I really hope this is a case of poor communication and not something deliberate…," Sani grumbled.

"Same here, love," Zeno sighed as he spied the approaching phantom. After a few moments, the phantom docked and a lone Sangheili dropped down from the grav-lift. "Shipmaster Tago 'Eligo," Zeno greeted him, extending his hand. "Welcome to Cairo Station. How was your journey?"

Tago looked down at his extended hand and brushed it aside. "Well enough," Tago said, not sounding impressed. Zeno did not miss that Tago did not refer to him as 'Ambassador' and he was already getting a bad vibe from this man. Still, that was no reason to not be polite.

"Forgive me, Taho, but no one on the station was informed, including our AI, on what you will be doing here, so it was difficult to arrange for appropriate accommodations. Do you know what your job here will be?"

"Yours."

Zeno blinked couple of times in confusion, not sure if he heard that right. "Say again? I think I heard you say you were taking my position?"

"That is correct: I am your replacement." There was no hint of mischievousness in Taho's eyes, only seriousness.

Zeno's blood started to rise, despite having suspected this very thing was going to happen. "Why was I not informed of this sooner? Does the High Council…."

"The High Council authorized the transition," Taho said flatly. "Your AI should be getting confirmation at this moment."

"That is an affirmative, Ambassador." Sesai said regretfully, from a nearby console this time. "The message states that Talo 'Eligo is to take over your duties immediately and that you are to depart the station within twenty-four hours."

"Twenty-four…hours…," Zeno said slowly, the shock setting in. "That is not even time to give you any training…advice…a tour..."

"The Council specifically did not want you to train me," Taho said. "They told me they wanted a real Sangheili in this position, not one that had been 'humanized' and practiced deviant behavior."

Shock was now rage. "Deviant behavior!" Zeno roared. "Those fucking assholes should be more concerned about how I do my duties, not who I sleep with! And how wonderful they have no spine to tell me this themselves and instead slip this in like a bunch of blackmailing pirates!"

"Zeno!" Sani warned, grabbing his hand. "Calm down…getting into a rage will not help you here."

"Does it matter, Sani?" Zeno growled softly. "The council's mind is obviously already made up."

"As for training," Taho continued, having completely ignored Zeno's outburst. "They said your current aide should suffice in this task."

Now it was Sani's turn to get angry. "What? Hell no! Where Zeno goes I go: I will not be separated from my mate. Find your own damn aide! I quit!"

Taho frowned, clearly disappointed. "You cannot just quit, boy…."

"Watch me. We both had a feeling the Council was going to try to pull a stunt like this, so I have had a request to be relieved from military duty waiting to be sent out just in case…and it will be sent the moment we return to our suite."

"And you think they would approve of such a request?" Taho sneered.

"I was drafted at the start of the Schism: I would not be in the military otherwise," Sani pointed out with a growl of his own. "Besides, we have more personnel than space to put them in right now."

"A good point…."

"And just where are we to go on such short notice?" Zeno asked, his blood still hot.

"The ship I arrived on has been tasked with your return to Sanghelios, where the Council hopes you will be reminded on how to be a proper Sangheili…though it seems chances of that will be less if your…mate…is coming along. There, you will await your new assignment, should you be deemed worthy of one."

It was so hard not to deck the bastard right then and there.

A few hours later…

Zeno paced the living room, nearly bumping into the movers that were packing his things more than once. He knew he should be helping pack, but he was just too angry: he was more likely to throw things than to pack them right now. Oh the council really sent a winner didn't they? he thought with a faint growl. Someone that fits their collective persona just perfectly.

The bastard hadn't even allowed him to introduce him to the officials he would be working with, saying he wanted to be as free from his 'taint' as possible. Considering the man's attitude toward him, Zeno would not be surprised at all if he insisted on the suite being completely sterilized before moving in. At least Sani's separation paperwork was approved without a hitch.

"Zeno, calm down," he heard his mate say: Zeno had lost count of how many times Sani said that today already. "There is nothing we can do, so there is no point in being angry."

"I know," Zeno grumbled, trying not to take his frustrations out on Sani. "But where are we to go? What will we do? Rtas already told me it may be some time before he has need of me. Plus, I know my keep would not want us and the apartment I have in the capital would be too small for us."

"My keep will accept us," Sani said. "After what you have done for me, they consider you family."

"Family? Really?"

Sani chuckled. "They do not forget those that go out of their way to help us, Zeno."

Zeno stopped pacing as he considered it. Yes, he would be staying with people that were not only are grateful for helping Sani, but were far more open-minded than most of their species. Things might not be as bad as he thought. Then he remembered one little possible crimp in the plan….

"Wait…doesn't get rather cold there during winter?" he asked.

"Yes," Sani confirmed. "But not much colder than the cabin on Earth we stayed at sometimes."

"What season will it be when we arrive?"

"Ah…Fall."

"Oh great…I will be freezing my ass off there almost immediately…."

"Do not worry; I will help keep that lovely ass of yours warm."

Zeno chuckled at that. His mood brightened, Zeno started thinking about how to get back at Tago before he left. While he really wanted to do something to the council, he knew it would be signing a death warrant on his ass if he tried it, so Tago had to do. "Sesai," he asked. "Has Tago made any arrangements to fix up the suite once I am gone?"

"Affirmative, Zeno," the draconic AI said from the console. "He has requested a full clean up of the suite, to include new carpet and furniture and fresh paint."

Zeno smiled broadly: this would be perfect. "Did he specify what kind of paint and furniture?"

"Negative, Zeno. In fact, I believe he said he didn't care."

"Good…I have some suggestions to make for our dear new ambassador."

It pleased him to see an equally broad grin on Sesai's face. "What are your suggestions, Zeno?" she asked.

In a very good mood now, Zeno stated his suggestions. He hadn't played a prank in a long time, so why not go out with a bang? I wonder if dear Tago likes pink?