a/n- Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize. However, any names that aren't a part of the Halo universe are made up by me, such as Jamie, Piraz, K'vark, and the Soul and Honor.

Chapter One- Phantom in the Sunset

Jamie growled. "Damn, where's Chief when you need him?" He asked, ducking behind the rock he used for cover as the Wraith shot at him again.

As if on cue, a Banshee came from the sky and engaged the Wraith. The Wrait, not being anti-aircraft and actually having a somewhat slow reaction time, didn't win the duel. With the Wraith gone, the Banshee landed and it's owner got out.

"Humans!" Cried a harsh-low voice. Jamie recognized that kind of voice and held his breath, wishing he hadn't used the rest of his ammo on those Grunts. All they'd had was Needlers. He hated using Covenant weapons.

The voice called again. "Humans, I come to you peacefully. My name is K'vrak . I have news. By order of the Arbiter and Shipmaster, the Sangheili are hereby joined with Human forces."

Jamie wasn't expecting that. He wasn't leaving his cover, either, He didn't think it was safe.

A Phantom passed by overhead and hovered. Jamie heard the sound he recognized from many years of war as the sound of Elite Camouflage activating. Instinct told him to run, but his curiosity told him to stay. The curiosity won.

He glanced around slowly and noticed Piraz, his only other remaining ally, was still there. Jamie mouthed, "Toss me your pistol."

He could hear boot steps. The Phantom was still overhead. This was no time for a fight. The Phantom would see and send reinforcements.

Piraz loaded his pistol and tossed it Jamie's direction. Jamie didn't catch it. The pistol hit the ground, and it seemed that quiet thud was the loudest sound Jamie had ever heard- louder than the plasma cannon of the Hunters. He snatched the gun off the ground and spun around.

The Elite, a golden, was right there, close enough that Jamie could touch him… if he'd wanted too.

"Please, Human, listen. My leaders and my brothers have realized the error in our ways. We do not ask forgiveness, only cooperation. The Arbiter and Shipmaster have spoken if your leader, Lord Hood. The Arbiter and your leader Johnson helped each other defeat Tartarus. Peace."

Piraz was now next to Jamie. The both had their fingers on the triggers of their gun, just in case. Jamie never understood how Elites were always so calm, even in the heat of a battle they couldn't win.

Unable to make the Marines trust him, the Elite sighed and deactivated his energy sword. "There are Hunters on the way. You can fight them with your pitiful weapons, or you can permit me to help."

Jamie and Piraz exchanged glances. "Help is better," they agreed. Two ordinary soldiers typically did not come out of a fight with a pair of Hunters unscarred. Hunters terrified Jamie.

"Come, the Soul and Honor is waiting."

"You mean the Phantom?" Jamie asked. "You're kidding. You want us to go in there?"

"Just do it," hissed Piraz. "Better there than at the hands of Hunters, or worse… Flood. At least the Elites have dignity and respect."

Jamie had to admit that death by Flood sounded terrible. "Lead the way, K'vrak."

The Elite led them directly under the Phantom, and soon the three were in the tractor beam headed for the Soul and Honor.

"Are there more of you?" K'vrak asked.

"No," replied Jamie. "We were headed for extraction, but extraction never came. Lost a lot to Brutes and Drones. Lost a few to your kind, too. A few of us split off to find alternate routes, but they weren't ever heard from again." He finished with a glare.

K'vrak noted Jamie's bitter tone. "It's in the past, Human, forget it."

When they boarded the Soul and Honor, they were escorted a room full of Elite. On a screen at one end was Johnson.

"We've got the last of your unlocated men," said an Elite, obviously one in power.

"Good. Followed our ships out. Sounds to me like we're headed for Earth."

Jamie gasped. Had Johnson lost it? He was leading the enemy home!

Another Elite appeared on screen next to Johnson. He only had three mandibles, unlike the four most Elites had. "Our time has come!" He cried. "Revenge for the deaths of our brothers! Too many have died. And now we shall bathe in the blood of our newfound enemies. Death to the Prophet! Death to the Flood! With the Demon, we will be unstoppable!" The screen flickered and went dark.

Jamie finally started believing the Elites weren't the enemy. He'd have to get on a Pelican soon enough though anyways. Who knew what the Elites ate?

A woman in pilot gear approached. "So you two are what's left of the group I was supposed to extract."

Jamie shrugged. "Yeah, I guess."

The girl burst into tears. "I'm so sorry, I should've been there! I should've been there, but I saw the Phantom on my screen and thought it'd be too hot for me to land! I had no idea!"

Jamie couldn't help but give the girl a hug. "I probably would've done the same thing. Don't blame yourself. I don't think anyone really saw this coming. Do you know who extracted Chief?"

The golden interrupted them. "The Demon was last seen fleeing our holy city, High Charity. It's believed he boarded a Forerunner ship, which we are following. We have brothers on High Charity. We don't know what became of them when the Great Schism took place. The Demon can tell us."

Piraz piped up. "How long will the trip take?"

"Not long, Human. If we find the Forerunner portal, only a few minutes or so."

"What do we do until then?" Jamie asked.

a/n- If I have any of my facts wrong, especially in later chapters, please let me know over a PM or a Review or something! I really don't like looking stupid... I've done a crapload of research on Sangheili, but not much on any other races, so it's likely I'll get stuff about the Brutes or Prophets wrong.