'For the blood of our fathers,'

The marine screamed as the blade of energy slid into his flesh, tearing his body in two. Vora Oracee swept his blade back, its edge red, and plunged it into another marine.

'For the blood of our sons,'

Next to him, Jano Huzamee was slaughtering humans like cattle, swinging his sword here and there. Screams filled the air as soldiers tried to escape their inevitable death.

'For the sake of the Covenant.'

Kraz, the third zealot in the group, was firing his concussion rifle in rapid bursts. The control panels behind the cowering humans exploded in giant, electric bursts.

'For the Great Journey!'

The last elite, Yar Garvonee, vented off the heat in his plasma repeater as he booted the final marine in the head, crushing his skull. Now the only wretched creature left in the room was a wizened old man, in white clothes. Yar felt a pang of sympathy for the old man – he was about to die a very painful death, reserved, only for cowards.

Vora Oracee, who was the undisputed leader of the group, having attained the rank of field marshall, strode forward and planted his sword into the man's stomach, and held it there.

'Die, wretched heretic!' Kraz screamed, firing his concussion rifle into the ceiling for no apparent reason. Die!'

It was typical of Kraz to become all excited over the death of a human. Yar sighed and turned away from the grisly scene. Finally, after a full minute, the old man stiffened and died.

Vora withdrew his sword and growled, 'Start the search.'

'For what?' Jano Huzamee groaned. 'There's nothing here.'

'Idiot!' Kraz emitted a honking laugh. 'Don't you see that back door – '

'Watch your tongue,' Jano snapped. He cast a dark look at Kraz.

'Silence,' Vora said. Everyone quietened down immediately. 'Kraz, Jano, go into the back room and take a look around.'

Jano grumbled, but eventually they proceeded into the darkened room. Vora turned his beady, judgemental eyes towards Yar, who instinctively shivered. Yar was the newest zealot of the group, and for months he had wondered whether he had deserved it. Vora's eyes accusing eyes only made his guilt worse.

'I understand, Yar,' Vora said.

'Sorry, sir?'

'I saw it in your eyes. You feel sympathy for the humans.'

Yar wasn't quite sure what to say. Both of them stood silent for a while, then Vora continued.

'The only reason I am not going to strip you of that rank right now, Yar,' Vora murmured with a voice that could slice steel, 'is because all your traits combined make you a more worthy zealot than those fools down there. And also because...I was like that once.'

Yar had never known Vora to discuss his personal life, so he kept his mouth shut, not knowing whether it was safe to speak.

'But than I realised, Yar, that petty things like sympathy for our enemies is insignificant. What matters is the Great Journey. I hope you understand that.'

'Yes, sir.'

'Now, go. You may leave. I shall give you some time to sort out your faith.'

Somewhat dumbstruck, Yar holstered his weapon and walked past all the bodies of slain marines. He didn't look back.

'One more thing, Yar,' Vora called out. 'If you ever disappoint me again...'

'It won't happen, sir.' Yar said, and then disappeared.

Jano was hot and tired. Under his armour, he was sweating. And the fact that Kraz was constantly getting on his nerves wasn't helping.

Kraz had become a zealot through his fanatical devotion to the Great Journet. Jano would have thought that Kraz was too fanatical.

'Come on, brother!' Kraz was cheerfully shouting. 'If we find artifacts, it would been greater ascension in our journey!'

'Shut your mouth!' Jano muttered. He had long since grown to hate this life, this strict routine that did not give you any freedom. Great Journey? He had once believed in that, but frankly, Jano was beginning to think it was a load of rubbish.

I will get my chance, he thought. If the other zealots, Vora Oracee especially, knew his thoughts, he would be immediately be put to death as a heretic. That was what scared him. There was only one way out of his miserable life.

He had to escape from the Covenant. But how? That question had followed him for many years.

He saw Vora appear in the doorway and froze. The field marshall wasn't able to read minds, but nevertheless he was an imposing presence.

'Hey sir!' Kraz hollered. 'How – '

In a flash, Vora darted forward, tackling Kraz to the ground. Jano started in surprise, and his commander turned his head to him, putting a finger to his lips.

And that was when Jano heard voices outside. Humans.

He quickly activated his translator, and overheard their conversation.

A female voice. 'Damn. Plasma damage.'

Another voice, male this time. 'Found something.'

'I'll take that, Six. Not your domain.'

Jano was wondering why Vora didn't give the command to engage those fragilr humans right then and there. But then a figure walked into his view, and Jano understood.

They were Spartans.

'Surprise them,' Vora whispered.

'Sir!' Kraz hissed. 'That's...that's...too sneaky!'

'I will not endanger the lives of my squad. On my mark.'

Jano groaned, and activated his energy sword.

'Go.'

Vora jumped out of the room, the two zealots followed. Jano saw exactly six Spartans framed in the dim lighting of the place.

Six of them? That's insane!

Vora charged forward, his whole body lighting up as the whole team fired at him. Damn, they were quick. So much for a surprise attack. Vora swung his sword at the big Spartan, missed, and then pounced on the two Spartans by the control panel. They ducked, and the blade sliced through the machinery instead.

Just then, Vora's shields collapsed with a loud snap. Roaring, the marshall barged past all off them, knocking a grey soldier down in the process, and disappeared through another door.

Jano almost faltered in his charge. He had never, ever, known his commander to do something as so cowardly as this. But then again, Vora hadn't been that close to death before.

These Spartans were no idle threat.

Jano, with that in mind, went for the Spartan still lying on the ground. All the concepts of honour and respect that he had been brought up with disappeared in an instant. All he thought about was that he didn't want to die while still a damn zealot.

His sword jabbed down, but the damned Spartan stopped the blade by smacking away Jano's arm. His other hand flew up and punched Jano right across the face.

'Curse you!' Jano roared, ignoring the blood flowing into his mouth. 'You will not kill me today, human!'

He was roughly pushed off by one in dark blue armour. The next thing he knew, pistol rounds were being emptied into his shield. Panicking, Jano backed away, and struggled to get up.

Suddenly the humans stopped firing. Jano looked up, and understood why. Kraz had grabbed one marine that they had not killed, and was using him as a hostage. It was even stranger that Kraz would do something as dishonourable as that, but Jano didn't care. He scrambled over to Kraz and stood up, feeling the comfortable click of his shield recharging.

Slowly, still holding the screaming, half alive marine, Kraz backed into the room they had leapt out from, Jano following. The Spartans, with their guns pointing at him, disappeared behind walls.

He could still hear them.

'That tango blew past me. Permission to persue?'

'Negative, Four. Stay on the entrance. Two, handle her. Five and Six, clear the hole.'

They were coming.

Kraz slit the throat of the marine. For once he didn't seem talkative. Both of them moved deeper into the room, wordlessly seeking cover from the onslaught they knew was coming.

You will not kill me now, Spartan, Jano thought furiously, tightening his grip on the sword. I still have much to do.