The Son of the Covenant
Disclaimer: What, you actually think I own this? Man, if I owned Halo, I wouldn't waste my time here! I'd be making Halo 3!
Chapter One: Captive
1135 Hours, September 15, 2517 (Military Calendar) / Arian Star System.
On the bridge of the military vessel Gleaming Shard, Captain Juan Hernandez shuffled his feet slowly, a habit he had developed over his years serving the UNSC. It seemed whenever he was excited, the feet shuffle was sure to follow. And today he was feeling especially excited. He didn't usually like errand missions, least of all for citizens, but this was for the greater good…the good of the UNSC, for mankind even. He was excited because he was chosen by a certain Doctor Hasley to participate in the SPARTAN 2 project. Well, not really "participate", per se, but he was still apart of it. He was one of the few Captains chosen to "collect" the SPARTAN subjects. He didn't entirely agree with kidnapping children, then training them for war, but they didn't really have a choice. It was inevitable that there would be a war soon, whether with space pirates or rebelling colonies. It was just a matter of time…so the Doctor came up with the idea of training exceptionally gifted kids from the age of six to become super soldiers. Nobody really took her seriously…for a while. So now, after years of planning, project SPARTAN 2 was up and running. And one of them, one of the… subjects …was on board, in the lower decks. It sort of felt good to take part of this momentous occasion, but Hernandez quickly dismissed the thought. Pride wasn't really encouraged in the military…
"Sir, systems powered up, about to enter Slip Space, sir." reported Ensign Simmons. Simmons was young, in his mid twenties, but had seen enough battles to be referred to as a veteran. The Captain nodded slowly.
"Good, good…anything else, Ensign?" Hernandez asked wearily, hoping to get back to Reach soon.
"The kid's drugs are wearing off… we sent down a man to up the dosage." The ensign responded tentatively.
In the lower decks of the Shard, in a storage room filled with boxes, someone moved. And this someone was a small six year old boy, slowly regaining consciousness. Jack opened one eye very slowly. The room which he was in was a blur, and stank of blood and metal, and his head was pounding. Where was he? The last thing he remembered was going to sleep…in his room. But even that was a haze. He couldn't tell which way was up or down…so he was just dimly aware of the figure that had just entered the room. The shadow moved closer, grasping something in his hand.
"Alright, boy. Time for mommy's medicine…"the figure's voice drifted softly.
Jack tried to move, but all his bones ached. A sharp pain shot through his arm, and he opened his mouth to scream, but he couldn't. He fell back, and shut his eyes once more, as the drug took effect. And he wanted it to stop. He wanted to be home…safe…
The Captain started moving towards his seat. He just wanted to be back at the Reach colony, doing a normal mission. He sank into the chair, and let out a sigh.
"What the…Sir…?" Navigator Williams asked slowly, looking at the radar.
Hernandez came to attention and went over to the soldier.
"What is it Williams? Pirates?" asked the Captain with a concerned tone.
"Well…I don't know, Sir. Look at the radar…" replied the Navigator.
On the small blurry screen of the radar, Hernandez saw something odd. There were ships on the screen…but big. Definitely not one of their ships, and it couldn't be a rogue pirate vessel, it was too big…
Hernandez stared blankly at the view screen for awhile, and then spoke quickly.
"Navigator, can you get us to contact this ship?" he asked.
Williams shook his head.
"No, the vessel is of a different design and has a different comm system."
The Captain backed away from the screen, a confused look etched on his face. He grabbed the ship comm system.
"All men at their stations! Ready the MAC gun! I repeat, all men at their stations!"
The sleek Covenant Cruiser known as Destiny's Blade glided easily through the endless black of space, its light purple hull shining. Commander Zrenn Anorian, the Sangheili, or Elite as they were now being called, stood motionless on the bridge of his ship. Compared to other races, Covenant technology was much more advanced, as they had mastered both plasma and shield usage. Zrenn's ship was one of the most equipped in the Covenant army, so naturally his was chosen to scout out the path. The great Prophets had declared that they should expand territory, so they would have a higher chance of finding one of the sacred rings. The Commander loved the brilliance of it all and the fact that something as simple as a planet could start the Great Journey. But his happiness was short lived, as one of the soldiers shouted something to him.
"Commander, there is something on our radar. Looks like a ship… not one of ours." Spoke the soldier. Zrenn strode towards the radar, confusion on his face.
"What? There were no warnings of a nearby colony. Are you sure?" The Commander asked.
The soldier nodded.
"Yes Commander. See the blip over here, to the south? That's it." replied the recruit.
Zrenn nodded slowly.
"I see…set our course in the ship's direction. As we near, do not engage them. Send out a small boarding ship. I want everyone on that ship dead."
Captain Hernandez stood grimly at the hull of the ship. The MAC gun was powered up and ready, but he feared it would not be enough. Whoever this new threat was, they were confident enough to head straight towards the Gleaming Shard. It seemed in an instant the ship was in firing range. It was unlike the Captain had ever seen… it was a light purple hue, with strange markings on its side. The gun turrets it had seemed similar to the UNSC's but somehow much more advanced. He didn't like this at all. Ensign Simmons came up to him.
"Sir, the enemy is within range. Permission to fire MAC gun?" queried the young soldier.
Captain Juan Hernandez nodded.
"Permission granted, Ensign," he stated, "Let's blow these strangers to hell!"
High Commander Zrenn Anorian was confused. Did these aliens know who they were dealing with? Clearly not, as they actually thought they could do battle with his vessel. Really now, did they actually think they stood a chance against the Covenant?
"Commander," interrupted the Elite Xeon Ravger, his second in command, "The boarding vessel has launched, and is nearing its target."
The Commander laughed slightly, completely ignoring Ravger.
"These…things…think they can fight. Who are they do dare attack us? Why, if the-"
The Commander never finished his sentence. For at that moment, the attacking ship fired its MAC gun straight at the bridge of the Destiny's Blade. The ship's shields took the brunt of the damage, but the blow was powerful enough to make the hull shake violently, causing bits of wall to crumble. As fate would have it, one large piece fell on top of the High Commander. Xeon stood shocked for a second, and then quickly took control of the ghastly situation.
"Remain at your posts!" he barked, "Remain at your posts!"
The scattered Elites and Jackals in the area snapped to comply with the new Commander's orders. High Commander Xeon Ravger picked up the helmet of his fallen comrade, and slipped it easily on his head, laughing.
The rest of what happened will now be quite clear. The Covenant forces boarded the ship, slaughtered their way to the bridge, and killed Captain Juan Hernandez. None of this information would come to Reach. False reports would come in, saying the Gleaming Shard came in collision with an asteroid. The Reach officials will believe this. Unfortunately for them, in the battle on the bridge, all of the consoles on the bridge were destroyed, making it impossible for the Covenant to trace the ship back to its home planet. But, for Captain Juan Hernandez and the rest of the crew of the Shard, the journey was over. Save one. For one person aboard that ship, the journey had just begun…
The Elite known as Zregon made his way down the stairs to the lower decks, his Grunt companion following closely behind. The red clad Sangheili was making sure all of the aliens they had encountered today were dead. He turned on his plasma rifle, and walked down the hall.
"Calm yourself Glim! There aren't any of these beasts left aboard!" spoke the Elite harshly to the Grunt.
Glim took out his Needler, glancing up at Zregon.
"I am not scared! If you remember, you're only one here who retreated at the first sign of enemy ships back at the Angluure Crusade!" he shot back.
Zregon made no reply, mumbling to himself of "having no choice". Suddenly, a small whimpering noise came from the door to their left. Then silence. The Elite and the Grunt looked at each other, nodding slowly. Zregon lifted his hand, counting 1, 2, and 3. At 3, they both burst into the room, weapons at the ready. Glim charged onto a box, and raised his gun to smash what was behind it. What he saw confused him. It seemed to be a young pup, the same race as the rest of the people on the ship. But what confused him was the fact that a young pup was on a war ship. He looked at it curiously, and motioned for his fellow soldier to join him.
"By the Rings…get a look at this, Zregon!"
The Sangheili walked over to Glim, and looked at the young child. He picked it up by the scruff of its clothes. The…thing appeared to be asleep, or drugged, as when the Elite shook him, the young one didn't move. The pair glanced at each other, then back at the kid. Zregon decided to take charge, so he took the blunt end of his Plasma Rifle, raising it above his head.
"I don not know why this young one is here, but he should have stayed in his bunk!" roared Zregon as he brought down the side of his gun. Glim looked on in horror, and quickly put his arm in front of the incoming rifle.
"Zregon! Think rationally for once in your life!" shouted the small Unggoy angrily.
The Elite's amour glinted in the dim lighting of the room. He sheathed his Plasma Rifle, blinking, frustrated.
"What are you yapping about? Why do we not kill this pup on the spot?" he asked, spittle flicking from his tendrils. Glim sighed, and started to pick up the boy.
"Look, this little thing might be of some value to us. Maybe he can be interrogated, or something. There has to be some reason he was on the ship." Explained the Grunt.
Zregon nodded, and picked up the kid.
"I see…but this better work, Unggoy. I'm risking my honor here."
On the Destiny's Blade, the boarding team was just arriving. The new High Commander Xeon Ravger went to congratulate them, wondering if they had retrieved information on these damned attackers. He stood at the entrance to the shuttle; a group of Jackals, Grunts, and Elites followed, and then started forming a circle around the shuttle. There was a hiss, and then the hatch of the small ship opened. A large black armored Elite stepped out, and looked oddly at Ravger for a while, then bowed.
"High Commander…We have returned." said the Elite quietly.
Xeon sighed angrily, putting his hands in his head.
"I can see that you fool! What information have you received?" shouted Ravger.
The Elite stepped back, and barked something into the shuttle.
"The consoles were destroyed, Commander, along with the information regarding these beasts. But two of our men did happen to find something in the lower decks…" explained the Sangheili. Footsteps were heard, and then out of the shuttle appeared Zregon and Glim, carrying a small figure. The rest of the crew followed close behind. The High Commander watched intently as the crew made their way down the loading ramp. Zregon and Glim lowered the body of the boy slowly at the feet of Xeon, and then kneeled before him. Commander Ravger stared at the form of the child, and then spoke in a gruff voice.
"What was this young thing doing on a war ship?" asked Ravger.
Zregon shook his head.
"We do not know, sir, but we thought he could be tested to determine what species was aboard that ship." answered the Elite calmly. The Commander took this in for a while, and then turned to the Elite standing next to him.
"You…send a message to High Charity. Tell the Prophets we have something they might like…"
"I sincerely hope you and the other Prophets find this information useful, my lord." finished High Commander Xeon Ravger, having just explained all that had happened to the Prophet of Mercy. The wise old Hierarch's face on the hologram wrinkled.
"Your report is finished, Commander. You are dismissed, while Truth, Regret and I discuss the fate of this boy." replied Mercy, and slowly the hologram faded.
Xeon turned around, and faced Glim and Zregon.
"You have done well, soldiers," stated Ravger,"I will see to it that both of you are promoted to Special Operations."
This brought smiles to the pair's faces, but Zregon's slowly dissipated.
"Commander, what do you think will be done with the child?" he asked, a curious look on his features.
Xeon turned around, and stared at the holo displayer.
"His destiny will be decided by the Prophets." stated the Sangheili matter-of-factly.
Hours later, the hologram flickered to life. Zregon and Glim had long since left to gloat about their new positions, and the only form in the room was that of the High Commander. He stood at attention near the hologram, as the face of the Prophet of Truth appeared.
"Greetings High Commander. I suppose you have inquiries regarding the young one?" asked the Covenant lord softly.
Ravger nodded.
"Yes, my lord Prophet. What shall be the boy's fate?" questioned the Commander, eagerly awaiting the answer.
Without missing a beat, the Prophet of Truth replied.
"Bring the child to High Charity. Here, his destiny will be explained, to him and to you." And with that closing statement, the hologram died with a hiss. High Commander Xeon Ravger dropped to his knees.
Bring the young one to High Charity? Is there something here I'm not seeing? thought The Elite as he stood shakily to his feet. Why did they request his presence there? There was a medical lab on the ship that would extract any data they needed to know about the boy's race…unless they wanted him for something else. Something bigger. For the first time that day, Xeon Ravger allowed himself to worry. Life seemed so much simpler when he wasn't a High Commander…