The Heretic

Thel 'Vadamee, Supreme Commander of the Fleet of Particular Justice, was silent. He was fearless, yet terrified. He had narrowly escaped the destruction of the Sacred Ring at the hands of the Demon, the 'Master Chief', and had now been summoned to the Holy City, High Charity, to declare his 'misconduct' at the Holy Ring. He did not know what the Demon would do. Yes, his primary concern would have been that human, but with the Flood outbreak, he did not have the chance to strike at it. As his CAS Class Assault Cruiser drew ever closer to High Charity, weaving slowly between the wreckage of destroyed battlecruisers, and in the shadow of the burning Ring, he once again marvelled at the immense size of the Holy City, but his thoughts were interrupted once again by the agony of facing the Hierarchs. He knew that their wrath would be great, and the punishment, should one be enforced by the Council, would be severe.

He entered into the Holy City, and was immediately asked to present himself to Councillors in the Council Chamber. Where ever he looked, others looked warily, knowing that Thel was in the utmost of trouble, but the Jiralhanae, the Brutes, knew but to laugh at his 'errors'. He growled fiercely, but that only brought more humiliation, and walked on, yet again, in silence until he reached the Council. Upon arrival, he gave his finger as required, testing the blood to make sure it was indeed Thel 'Vadamee, then made sure no weapons were on his person, and walked into the centre of the room and onto the raised dais.

He waited. The Prophets loved to do this, to show others that they had power, not those who sought an audience. He noticed in the corner the Jiralhanae Chieftain, Tartarus, watching also, smirking. Thel's blood boiled. Why were those fouls brutes even admitted to be in the presence of the Hierarchs? He stopped in front of the three High Prophets: Truth, Mercy and Regret, although the last was absent, appearing as a hologram, filling his space. Eventually, the High Prophet of Truth spoke. 'Tell us your version of events, and why you were unable to stop the humans from desecrating the Holy Ring?'

Already noting that they all thought it was his fault, he recounted the events, the discovery of Halo, the initial attack, then the Flood outbreak, then finally the destruction of the Sacred Ring. Throughout his soliloquy, no one spoke, though it seemed also that few believed him. Once finished, again, he waited, until Truth spoke, saying, 'Once more, the beginning…'

Thel said 'There was only one ship…'

'One? Are you sure?' the High Prophet of Regret interrupted him

'Yes. They called it…The Pillar of Autumn.

The High Prophet of Mercy shouted furiously 'Why was it not destroyed with the rest of their fleet?'

As calmly as he could, Thel replied 'It fled as we set fire to their planet, but I followed with all the ships in my command.' There was a pause, and then Regret said 'When you first saw Halo, were you blinded by its majesty'

'Blinded?' Thel did not quite understand.

'Paralysed? Dumbstruck?

'No!' That he was certain of. He knew he should have been able to stop them, and as if reading his mind, Regret continued. 'Yet the Humans were able to evade your ships, land on the Sacred Ring, and desecrate it with their filthy footsteps!' Thel could begin to see where this conversation was going, and tried once more to sway them to see his point of view 'Noble Hierarchs, surely you understand that once the parasite attacked…' but he got no further, as he was soon drowned out by angry shouts from the galleries either side of him. Thel heard one distinct word, 'Traitor' thrown out at him. At the side, Tartarus continued to watch in amusement.

Discontented with the sudden outbreak of angry shouts, Mercy says 'There will be order in this council!'

Truth, as calm as ever, spoke and said' You were right to focus your intention on the Flood, but this Demon, this 'Master Chief'…'

'By the time I learned of the Demon's intent…' Thel, vividly remembering the detonation of their ship, destroying Halo, paused, and quietly uttered, 'There was nothing I could do.'

But the council were indignant, and wanted this over, as did the Prophet of Regret, who said quietly to Truth 'Noble Prophet of Truth, this has gone on long enough. Make an example of this bungler! The council demands it!'

Thel thought so much and was embarrassed, but they were not finished yet. 'You are one of our most treasured intruments.' Truth began, 'Long have you led your fleet with honour and distinction. But your inability to safeguard Halo, was a colossal failure…'

A Council member, the Prophet of Obligation shouted 'Nay, it was heresy!' which got shouts of approval, and Thel, angered by all of this, said firmly 'I will continue my campaign against the humans!'

'No! You will not!' Truth said, signalling for Tartarus to send him away. Thel then knew that this decision had been reached long before his arrival at High Charity. Tartarus called on two others in his pack, who attempted to seize Thel and escort him out, but were shaken off. He did not resist arrest, and turned back down the corridor. Truth, loudly so all could see, said, 'Soon the Great Journey shall begin, but when it does, the weight of your heresy will stay your feet… and you shall be left behind.' And with this, he left under the custody of the Covenant he'd served so long.

Hours later, still in custody, Thel 'Vadam, not 'Vadamee, as he would be denounced by his house, and called a heretic, walked through the open doors, into the middle of all the open walkway, past Kig Yar and Unggoy. He was jeered at the entire time, as in these hours, he heresy had been announced across the entire city, and many invited to watch his punishment. Some of the Unggoy, with one united voice chanted repeatedly 'He-re-tic! He-re-tic!' Thel, angry at them, but knowing he could do nothing, walked past in silence. He stopped, and was in full view of thousands, tiers upon tiers of Covenant species who had come to watch the 'spectacle'. His brute escort then put him into wrist restraints while Tartarus looked around at the congregation gathered before him. Then he turned and said to Thel, with complete indifference, 'You've drawn quite a crowd.'

'If they came to hear me beg, they will be disappointed.' Thel replied calmly, even in the face of utter humiliation.

'Are you sure…' Tartarus mocked, as the restraints charged, then released the electrical energy through the former Supreme Commander and blackening his bright golden yellow armour. At first he tried to resist the pain, but is unable to, howling. Once his armour had smouldered, Tartarus stopped the electrocution, turned and said to the crowd 'There can be no greater heresy!' Tartarus pointed at Thel. 'Let him be an example for all who would break our Covenant!' With this, the two brutes who had escorted him and guarded him ripped off him armour, leaving Thel chained in thin air, naked in front of everyone. He felt utterly devoid of honour, and almost wished that they could just kill him now, and save him the torture. From the floor, however, a brand rose, glowing orange at the tip, and highlighting Tartarus' face in an evil grin. The brand was the mark of a heretic. Tartarus paused, the firmly pressed it into his chest, searing the skin and flesh. Again, Thel tried to resist the pain, but it was useless, and let out a howl of agony. When Tartarus had finished, the restraints were removed, and, hiding himself, Thel 'Vadam, formerly the Supreme Commander of the Fleet of Particular Justice, was lead away to the cells to await his execution.