Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there... I do not sleep.
I am the thousand winds that blow... I am the diamond glints on snow...
I am the sunlight on ripened grain... I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you wake in the morning's hush, I am the swift uplifting rush
Of gentle birds in circling flight... I am the soft star that shines at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry—
I am not there... I did not die...
"Heh… I suppose that old Irish rhyme has more meaning to me than anyone else in the universe…" The Spartan thought as it stared up into the skies of Planet reach.
It was September 2nd, 2552; approximately 20:00 Hours. It looked around from the tower as Covenant drop ships approached. The planet was in ruin and all who had stood by it, fighting to stay alive were now dead and gone. The black and red armored Spartan gripped the DMR in its left hand; was a lone wolf now. Across the armor on its shoulders was its name, "Epitaph" written in red. Epitaph, Spartan 118, demon…it went by all of these names and many more.
It sighed and held up its DMR as the Phantoms unloaded their soldiers. They were coming for it. The Spartan knew it wasn't going to win this fight, but it wasn't going down without taking a few thousand Covenant bastards with it.
Meanwhile, on the Sangheili Super Carrier Righteous Passage…
"Able 'Idheo, may I have a word with you?" The Ship Master asked as he stepped into a room.
Standing on the opposite side, staring out the window was a Sangheili in unique Ultra Armor. The armor was black with red symbols and the eyes, which were white for most other Ultra armored Sangheili, glowed like rubies. Over the right eye was a long scratch. He turned his head slowly and looked at the Ship Master.
"I need you to rid us of a rather irritating demon."
"Why not send your men to do the deed?" The black Ultra asked.
"I have sent many of our brothers down to handle it, but… this demon has killed every last one who has challenged it."
Able turned his around and looked at him. "One single demon has done that much damage?"
"Yes my brother. I need you and your squad to go down there and get rid of it."
"How much are you paying us?"
The Ship Master growled a little then sighed. "You will be paid 500,000 if you accomplish the mission."
"500,000? You must really want this demon dead."
The Ship Master activated a screen and played a video. "This came in from a Field Marshall I sent down to the surface to eliminate the demon."
Able turned and watched as a picture appeared on the screen. The area looked like an abandoned construction site. There was loud gunfire and he could hear dying screams coming from some Sangheili. The Field Marshall charged up the hill to where the screams were coming from. Able could see an old five story building. There must have been at least fifty Sangheili at the entrance, firing in as something fired back at them. Able could see many dead Sangheili lying around the area.
The Field Marshall pulled out his energy sword and ran around to the opposite side of the building. There was an opening there and nobody was around it. The Marshall charged in; expecting to catch the demon off guard.
Suddenly the Marshall was stabbed through the chest by another energy sword and he fell to the ground on his back. Able knew he was dead. The n he saw a Spartan in black and red armor walk out of the shadows and stare down at him. Its glowing red visor hid its eyes and made the black Ultra curious. He had never seen a Spartan that looked like that before. He watched as it then ran over to where a hole in the wall was and began firing at those who were attempting to enter while it was distracted.
"You see Able…" he Ship Master said as he turned off the video. "This demon is a great problem and must be eliminated.
"Very well Ship Master. I will kill this demon for you." Able said as he walked out of the room.
"Interesting…very interesting…" Able thought deeply as he walked to the hanger to meet up with his squad. "That Spartan… it's somehow different from the others I have seen..."
While most Sangheili viewed humans and Spartans as plagues, Able and his squad didn't. They actually found them rather…intriguing creatures. They had many different lifestyles, cultures, religions, and even languages among their species that Able's squad couldn't help but be fascinated by them. Able and his squad were known as freelancers, the human equivalent of a mercenary. They did jobs that the Covenant paid them for. They only worked for the Covenant but when not on the job they spied on humans; learning all they could about them.
The door to the hanger opened and standing there was a Sangheili in black Ranger armor. "Seeing you here, I assume we have a new job." The Ranger said.
"You assume correctly Ehru. Gather the others; I'll brief everyone on the way down to the surface."