Prologue
Sesa 'Refumee.
I see amusement in your eyes. For your kind, it is an odd name, no? But what you do not realize is that it is even stranger for me than for you.
The Elite that it represented is now gone. The small-time archeologist that it once heralded is now gone. It doesn't even represent a person anymore. Now, in my case, it represents a purpose: to save the Elites and all of the sentient life in the galaxy from extermination through stupidity.
I believed their lies, once. That is why I became an archeologist of the Covenant. To find more treasures of our ancient Forerunners and to find a way to embark on the Great Journey.
I told myself I would be the one to find the Halos. I told myself that I would be the holy shower of the path. I told myself I would be the one to succeed.
Now I am glad I did not.
Perhaps I should start from the beginning.
I joined the Fleets, signing on as an archeologist-
No. I need to start this later, as the rest is insignificant. Will you listen? I hope so. That way the ironies, faiths, troubles and deaths that surround my life as a veneer of failure will come to light. Come, and listen.