Authors note
Hello everyone and welcome to Halo: An Odd Relationship!
Ok firstly, the pairing in this story is Male Human/Female Sangheili. I've done this because I really enjoy reading these types of stories and there aren't enough of them out there. Saying that, it is difficult to write about this type of pairing so give me a little slack. Secondly, this story is set in the timeline of Halo 5 so there will be some cheeky references and occasional dialogue from the game.
Last but not least, sit back and enjoy the first chapter!
Location: Pelican en route to UNSC Infinity
Date: 20th February 2558
Time: 1500 hours
A sudden bump to the dropship caused the dozing ODST to bolt upright and bring his trusty combat knife to hand. The knife was sheathed after the ODST remembered where he was.
For the last week Mayne Alexander had been in insurrectionist territory, his mission; to eliminate an arms dealer that had obtained UNSC equipment and was selling it to the rebels. He completed the mission flawlessly.
Just two months after the Covenant-Human war ended the Insurrectionists have made a reappearance and were once again a pain in the ass for the UNSC. Even at the age of 26 Mayne was one of the best of the best, an expert at lone wolf suicidal missions and as most people had said, "if he was any better he'd be a Spartan!" But that privilege came with a cost. advanced training, constant exposure to harsh environments and of course the orbital drops into raging battles.
"Shit I must be tired." Mayne confessed to himself as he removed his helmet and ran his calloused hands through his short spiky brown hair, greasy from a lack of showering. Mayne could only imagine what the rest of his body smelt like. He gazed around the empty cabin of the pelican where teams of marines would usually sit and was struck with a piercing sadness. He had a team once. Fireteam Chaos. They were perfect. They worked together exceptionally well and they always got their missions done, whether it be against the Covenant or the Innies, their missions were flawless. That all changed during one mission during the defense of the planet Reach. Something went wrong. They messed up, and now Whetherman, Kyte , Brown and Novell were dead. Yet Mayne lived, he was lucky.
The young ODST snorted. Lucky. That was his nickname, given to him by his team for surviving suicidal situations which included taking on a Sangheili general with nothing but his combat knife and driving a Warthog into a pair of Hunters, running them off a cliff and jumping out at the last moment. It was only by luck that he didn't die that long, cold night along with his team.
Mayne turned his helmet and stared blankly into his visor, his green eyes stared back at his and a single tear fell from his eye.
Why me, He thought numbly, Why did I have to survive and they didn't? Mayne's sadness suddenly turned to anger and he flung his helmet across the cabin and into the opposing wall with a heart wrenching yell. The helmet hit the ground with a 'thunk' and a dint clear in the space the helmet impacted.
"It's not fair!" The young ODST shouted at the wall, more tears raced after the first.
After his failed mission with his long lost fireteam Mayne refused to be assigned to another team, even after being threatened with court martial he was determined not to let anyone close.
The overhead speakers crackled to life, "You alright in there Corporal?" The pilot asked questioningly "Just heard a bang back there."
Mayne wiped the tears from his face, a salty sensation in his mouth from a stray tear. He scowled at himself. "I'm fine pilot." Mayne called out reassuringly towards the cockpit. The now emotionless ODST stood and moved to pick up his grounded helmet. He inspected the dint made in the top of the helmet, dusted it off and placed it back on his head, an abrupt hiss seeping from his suit as it became airtight once more.
"ETA to the Infinity five minutes, better pack your bags Trooper." The pilot informed. Mayne of course carried only a light bag containing the few items essential for field hygiene and grabbed it along with a trusty BR55 Battle Rifle which he slung onto his armoured shoulder and M6 Magnum stowed away in its holster which he instinctively brushed his hand across, an action developed after countless solo missions. A short moment later and the rumbling sound and sudden thump told Mayne that the pelican had landed. The back hatch hissed and slowly lowered down to the ground artificial air rushing in to greet the weary ODST.
Throwing a last "thank you" to the pilot, Mayne removed his helmet and placed it under his arm, made his way down the angled hatch and made a beeline straight to the nearest officer to report on his mission. Whilst crossing the vast hanger he paused as he noticed a Type-55 Lich stationed on one of the landing pads. Elites were hovering around the ship and Mayne noticed they had the mark of the Swords of Sanghelios on their chest armour.
"What are the Hingeheads doing here?" Mayne thought before continuing on his way. What he failed to notice was an Elite observing him from the alien craft.
Special Operations Commander Reesha Moram, dressed in her reflective black armour that looked similar to a Field Marshall's armour, was overlooking the refueling and packing of supplies into the Lich when she noticed the lone human standing off to the side watching the Elites work. The human had short spiky hair and was wearing a set of black body armour with red patterns covering the shoulder pads and helmet under their arm. Reesha would have normally shrugged this off but she continued to look for a moment longer, not at the human's armour or their face but at their eyes.
This human had brilliant, vibrant green eyes that kept her own bright blue eyes glued to them. In those green pools of brilliance she saw confidence and intelligence, something she doesn't usually see in the eyes of humans. After just a moment the human turned on his heel and walked away. Watching him walk off the female Sangheili found that she respected the strength she glimpsed in those eyes.
"Commander Reesha, is everything well?" A Sangheili Officer in red armour questioned. Snapping out of her thoughts the female Spec Ops Commander turned and lay a reassuring claw on the officer's shoulder.
"Yes, everything is quite well Zek. How close are we to being refueled and restocked?" She asked.
"We are fueled and almost restocked on supplies, we should be done soon Commander." Zek stated before saluting with a clenched fist to his chest before turning about and resuming his work. After returning the salute Reesha busied herself by inspecting the blood red energy blade she carried on her leg, its red colour flung red shades across her armour, giving her a rather menacing look. A gift from her teacher, the red blade had been driven into many bodies, both human and Jiralhanae alike.
As a Spec Ops Commander in the Covenant alliance, she and her fellow spec ops Sangheili had been assigned on many missions behind human lines to gather intel or assassinate specific humans of high importance. This all changed of course after the betrayal of the Prophets and after the formation of the Swords of Sangheilios she and her soldiers had been assigned as the personal guard of the Arbiter, leading attacks on the remaining Covenant forces with their well-respected leader; Thel Vadam.
Mayne Alexander crossed the hanger and towards one of the many sliding doors that led away from the vast vehicle filled room. Upon nearing the door he noticed a commotion off to the left where the Captain of the UNSC Infinity and his second stood; Thomas Lasky and Spartan Sarah Palmer was speaking to an old, rather annoyed one armed scientist being escorted by a group of Spartans. "That's Fireteam Osiris, what are they doing with a scientist?" Mayne thought.
"Lasky, I told you my position three weeks ago. I told you this was happening!" The elderly woman growled, annoyed further by Captain Lasky's emotionless response.
"We'll discuss that in private, Doctor Halsey." He said bluntly but with authority, he then gestured to Spartan Palmer towering next to him, "Palmer?" Interpreted as an order, Spartan Palmer wrapped her titanium arm around the doctors own arm and began walking her away, towards the same door Mayne stood by.
"What has she done? How far has it already gone?" The scientist became worried when Captain Lasky didn't respond.
"Good work Osiris." The Captain stated and then turned and walk off with Palmer towards the doors, leaving the Spartans very much confused.
As the Captain and Spartan Palmer passed Mayne gave a solid salute, "Captain, Commander." He acknowledged.
"Corporal." The pair responded in almost unison and continued on their way, Captain Lasky's footfalls soft on the steel floor compared to the clunking of the massive Spartan beside him. Mayne continued in a different direction, heading for the debriefing center where he would give all the information he had gathered and actions he had taken. Mayne let out a long deflated sigh, the debrief was always a long and boring task but necessary as the UNSC Infinity needed to keep a log of missions for HIGHCOM.
At the bridge Captain Lasky parted ways with Spartan Palmer and Doctor Halsey.
"Commander Palmer, I must leave you here as I have a meet and greet with a Sangheili Special Ops Commander in a few minutes and I don't want to be late to the party." He smiled stupidly, amused by his own humour. Spartan Palmer, clearly not as impressed just nodded and continued to speak to the one armed doctor.
Reesha sat on a supply container as she awaited the appearance of the Shipmaster of this vessel. She expected that the Shipmaster of such a large and formidable ship would be large and ferocious, such as were the Shipmasters commanding the large vessels in the Sangheili fleet. When a relatively stocky human male with short black hair, a fancy uniform and a hint of a protruding belly began making his was towards her she was rather confused. The man stopped in front of her saluted her in the Sangheili fashion, making a fist and raising it to his chest and then letting it drop to his side. "Special Operations Commander Reesha Moram?" The man asked.
Reesha crossed her arms over her chest. During the war her dealings with humans had been mostly in the sights of her Type-25 Plasma Rifle or at the end of her red blade. It was only after the events of the Great Schism and the exposure of false teachings from the prophets that she viewed humans as allies. After coming to understand that the humans were not heretics but just another race simply trying to protect themselves and their way of life she felt devastated. Every death she had delivered to a human was because of a lie. There was no Great Journey and there was nothing godlike about the Forerunners, they were just a superior race before them. This lie led to her species killing millions if not billions of innocent human lives and that left a hole larger than a Wrath crater in her soul.
"Yes, I am Commander Reesha. Are you the Shipmaster of this vessel?" The female Sangheili confirmed. The man seemed to laugh slightly, he mouth widening into what Reesha could only assume was a smile.
"Yes I guess I am the equivalent of a Shipmaster, I am the Captain of this ship, my name is Thomas Lasky. Let me escort you to the Bridge, I assume we have a lot to talk about." Reesha nodded. She had been sent on this mission by the Arbiter with a request and was eager to get started with it. She turned to one of the Sangheili working behind her,
"Zek, take command while I am away." Reesha called and the Sangheili saluted.
"As you wish Commander." He replied and turned to issue orders to the other elites. Captain Lasky made a gesture with his hand as an invitation for the female Spec Ops Commander to walk beside him.
"Lets go then." He said cheerfully, turning to walk back the way he came Reesha moved up beside him and the couple walked out of the hanger and towards the bridge.
Mayne tapped the Finish Report button on the handheld device after what seemed to be stood up from his uncomfortable office-like chair and made his way back to the aging debrief officer behind his large desk.
"That was the longest hour of my life" Mayne grumbled to himself as he handed the godforsaken device over to the bored officer. The officer heard the ODST's grumbling.
"Suck it up kid, imagine my job, you got it easy. Just wait 'till you're 50." The officer snorted and took the data pad from Mayne's grasp. Mayne rolled his eyes.
"You have a good day too." He retorted before walking out of the debrief center, oblivious to the older officer rolling his eyes.
Once outside the center, Mayne pulled his small personal data pad from a pocket within his armoured chest pad. With a few clicks he located his own room and made a beeline for it. On the way he passed a group of marines chattering amongst themselves.
"Hey, did you hear that some Spartans cut the head of the Covenant?" One male marine asked to his companions.
"Jul 'Mdama is dead? Thank fuck!" Another marine exclaimed while the others marines whooped in delight.
Jul 'Mdama is dead? Well at least the Swords of Sanghelios will have an easier time against the Covenant now. The ODST thought. Once Mayne arrived he swiped his data pad across the scanner and the door slide open with a hiss.
For the first time in days, the ODST smiled. "Home sweet home." He grinned slightly and walked inside, taking in all the details within a second. The walls were unpainted steel, and so was the floor and roof. The bed was a single with a thin mattress and metal frame. Next to the bed sat a set of draws that contained personal items. A locker sat to the side of the room and a few hooks were placed above it. Mayne carefully put his firearms onto the hooks and opened his locker and was faced with three pairs of fresh ODST labelled fatigues, a pair of polished black boots and a set of physical training gear which were accompanied by a pair of standard running shoes.
Mayne laughed as he picked out the PT gear "My my, I've missed you." He began unclipping his armour from his body and reeled back at the aroma produced by his body suit. Once comfortably in his PT clothing he grabbed a towel from the locker and made his way to the door with his next mission in mind; having a shower.
At the door he paused and instead walked to the set of draws beside his bed. Mayne bent down and opened the top draw, within was a single photo of Mayne and his fireteam. The photo was taken after a mission they completed on Paris IV, and the closely knitted friends were huddled together making stupid faces towards the camera. Mayne had his hand over Whetherman's giving the bunny sign and had his tongue sticking out. He missed Whetherman, he missed Novell, Fuck, he missed all of them. They were his closest friends, His only friends. Tears threatened to break loose again and Mayne hurriedly wipe them away. He carefully placed the photo back into the draw like it was an ancient relic and walked quickly towards the showers, his smile gone and sadness setting in.
The shower was a bleak one, the water crashing down on Mayne's well built body did nothing to cheer him up. Looking down at his exposed body at the rewards he had received from uncountable missions; Plasma burns, cuts, grazes and even the occasional bullet wound but the one that suck out most was a dark, prominent scar running from his left shoulder all the way down to his bottom rib, the story that accompanied the wound he would give anything to forget. After returning to his room, Mayne striped down to his boxer shorts and jumped into bed for some shuteye before dinner time came around. The bed was warm and calming and it was only a matter of seconds before Mayne felt his eyes droop and his vision faded to black as he fell asleep.
A sleep he wished he never had.
With a cry Mayne shot up with clenched hands, ready to fight. Sweat poured down his face and seeped out of what seemed every pore on his body. The ODST fell back onto his bed, completely exhausted from the activity that should have rejuvenated him. A small beep from his data pad on the table next to him gained his attention. Mayne leaned over and picked the small device up, squinting at its bright light.
Sender: Bridge officer Sergeant Sam Roger
Receiver: Corporal Mayne Alexander
Message Start
From command of Captain Thomas Lasky, come to the bridge, 5 minutes, no gear required.
Message Finish
With his curiosity perked the ODST put his nightmare to the back of his mind and quickly got dressed into a set of formal uniform and walked briskly out of his room towards the bridge.
*Dusts hands together* Well, that's the first chapter. I really hoped you all enjoyed it and leave a review with a bit of criticism, tell me what I could improve on or just give me an idea of what you thought of it. Just for everyone to know, chapters will probably be spread apart due to school starting again in a few days but I will upload.
I will see you all in the next chapter, have a lovely morning, day, afternoon.
Peace!