September 10th, 2552

Reach's Atmosphere

0900 hours

"So let me get this straight, we're being paid 500,000 to kill one Spartan?" a Sangheili in grey Zealot armor asked. Able nodded in response. "I have great difficulty believing that, Able." Able sighed and looked at his squad. There were five members altogether, including himself.

The newest member of the squad was a youngling by the name of Kaine 'Eto. He wore black Minor armor. He didn't have much experience in the war, but he was the best Sniper Able had ever seen. This was going to be his first mission with them and the first time he'd see a Spartan. He remembered Kaine telling him that what he wanted to do most while on the team was come face-to-face with a real Spartan. The kid was a little naive but that was to be expected.

The Sangheili in the Zealot armor was Orro 'Sylod. He had been on the squad for roughly a year now and was the pilot and big weapons guy of the team. He even knew how to pilot human vehicles which had come in very handy on a lot of occasions. Orro liked human music, but he liked it in only two languages; Japanese and Russian. Orro had even learned how to speak the two human languages and taught them to the other members of the squad. It made them able to speak to each other without any other Sangheili understanding them.

Up from him was Drak 'Sikev. He specialized in technology and could hack into anything he wanted. He wore black Ranger armor and had been in the squad for roughly seven years. Drak was the smart one of the group and he liked human literature. Whenever he was in his quarters he would read books that he had picked up on his various journeys with Able and the others. He was also familiar with the human body since he also read science books, making him a deadly opponent when a human went up against him.

Ehru was the second in command and Orro's older birth brother. He had been on the squad since the beginning and was Able's closest friend. He wore black Spec-Ops armor. Ehru was fascinated by human culture and how they could differ from other human planets and even from city-to-city. He was also fascinated by how different humans could look from each other. Whenever he wasn't on the job he was taking notes in a journal he kept with him. He even drew faces of humans he saw but he never drew the faces of those he killed in battle.

"I must agree with Orro; This Shipmaster has lied to us before." Drak added as he crossed his arms.

"I am aware of that but I'm not too worried about our pay."

"Why is that, Sir?" Kaine asked.

"Because I want to see this Spartan in person. It's been holding off the Shipmaster's forces for a week now on its own. And from the video I saw of it the Spartan is a strange one."

"Well, I don't really care much for payment either way." Ehru said.

"We're at our destination, Sir." The pilot told them as the Phantom began to slow down and the doors began to open.

Able picked up his two energy swords and placed them on each of his thigh plates. He then picked up a Carbine and walked to the door. When it was fully open he and his Squad jumped out and landed on the ground a few feet below.

Gunfire rang out and Able saw a few Grunts running away screaming. He looked in the opposite direction to where they were running to and saw the Spartan kill a Sangheili in regular Ultra armor with an energy sword. It then turned and stared at them before coming under fire from a group of Sangheili Rangers as they jumped out of their drop pods and ran off back into the building.

"After it!" A Field Marshal yelled.

"Stop!" Able suddenly commanded. All looked at him. "If you go charging in there you'll only get gunned down."

"And who are you to give me a command, Ultra?" The Field Marshall growled.

"I am Able 'Idheo and my squad and I were sent here to deal with the demon."

The other Sangheili looked at him in shock. They all knew who he was and were shocked to see him here. Able may have worn mere Ultra armor but he was ranked as a Fleet Master among them.

"…I see." The Field Marshall said.

Suddenly they heard a bang and a squawk. A group of Jackals that were placed on the tower where the Spartan had once stood were now being sniped. Within a few moments they were all dead. The Field Marshall snarled.

"Wretched demon has been managing to hold us off for a week. I've lost many soldiers and those who are not dead are exhausted from battle." He sighed and looked at the Sangheili standing behind him.

"I want you to withdraw your men from the battle field. We will take care of the Demon." Able said as he placed his hand on the Field Marshall's shoulder.

"As you wish, 'Idheo. Soldiers, fall back! We have done our job." He commanded. His men began to fall back when they suddenly spotted the Spartan on the edge of the roof staring down at them.

"Don't even think about it." Able told the group. "It has already proven to be a match for all of you in your current state. Now get back to the Passage."

With Epitaph

Epitaph watched as the Covenant forces suddenly began to leave. "How strange… First that Elite in black Ultra armor shows up then everyone decides to leave… I wonder what they're planning."

It sighed deeply and looked up at the sky. Suddenly the scenery changed. It could see the Sangheili in black Ultra armor standing in front of it. They were both in the Spartan's building, but they were not fighting. It heard the Sangheili speak.

"…I am Able 'Idheo and I have been sent here to kill you."

"If you were sent here to kill me then why are you unarmed? Pretty stupid to try and kill when you have no weapons." The Spartan growled, aiming a shotgun at him.

"Because I don't want to fight you…at least not tonight, I just wanted to warn you. Come tomorrow I will be here with an Energy Sword. We will duel then."

Then, just like that the vision was gone and the Spartan was staring up into the sky once more. It sighed and shook its head. "Another vision… I suppose he will visit me tonight… I should get ready…"

With Able

That very night, Able snuck up to the building alone. His squad stayed behind and set up a perimeter around the area so that the Spartan couldn't escape. Able turned on his COMM. "Kaine, do you see the Spartan."

The Minor was standing on top of a pipe aiming his Carbine at the building. "I think its inside, Sir. I haven't seen it within the past ten minutes."

"Alright everyone keep vigilant. This is most likely one of our most dangerous missions we've ever had."

"Understood."

Able entered the building and began his search for the Spartan. He searched through the first two floors without much luck. Suddenly, he heard a gunshot. It sounded like a human Sniper Rifle.

"Augh! DAMN IT!" Kaine yelled in frustration through the COMMS.

"Kaine, are you alright? What happened?" Able asked.

"Damn that Spartan has good aim. It must of seen me aiming at the building cuz it shot a hole straight through my Carbine; the thing's useless now, Sir." He replied

"Wait…it didn't just shoot you?"

"Uhh, no Sir; I'm not injured other than the fact that I nearly had a heart attack from my gun rupturing."

"What should we do, Able?" Ehru asked over the COMMS.

"I want all of you to fall back. Somehow the Spartan knows we're here so it's better if I do this alone." Able replied as he began to walk up another flight of stairs.

"Will you be alright on your own, Able? This Spartan is a tough one. You may be in over your head." Orro chuckled.

Able merely chuckled as well and said, "If I am in over my head then the rest of you are definitely outmatched. I'll be just fine. I've made it through two floors without being killed so this Spartan must know something's up."

"Understood; radio us if you need any help." Ehru said to him. Able could hear the worry in his voice and smiled a little.

"Understood." He replied before turning off his COMM.

Suddenly, the moment he turned off his COMM he heard a click and froze.

"Don't try anything, Elite. I'm not exactly in a very good mood to be dealing with you." He heard from behind him.

Able calmly held up his hands and didn't move. "Calm yourself Spartan. I have no weapons to fight you with. I have come unarmed." He told it.

"I know that." It replied.

Able heard the Spartan begin walking around to his front and turned his head slowly to watch it. The Spartan looked just as strong as it did when he saw it on the video screen. Now that it was dark though, it looked even more ominous and intimidating with its glowing red visor and the moonlight silhouetting it. He could see the barrel of a shotgun shining in the moonlight.

"What do you want?"

He slowly reached up and the Spartan pointed the gun in his face. "Please, I only wish to turn on my night vision."

"And why should I let you? I'm a lot safer with it off."

"It's rude to talk to someone when you can't see them and it is like I said before; I did not come tonight to harm you." He told it.

The Spartan grumbled but lowered the shotgun, allowing him to turn on his night vision. When he did everything around him became visible including the Spartan. He looked it over as it stood there. It was well built and looked powerful…of course he expected it to be that way since it had been all alone holding off the Covenant for so long.

"May I ask your name?"

The Spartan merely turned to the side; showing him its shoulder plating. He looked at it and saw written in red the word…

"Epitaph, huh; an ominous name for an ominous Spartan." He said before looking up at its visor. "It suits you perfectly."

"It's not my actual name, idiot. It's the name I was given when I became a Spartan and what the UNSC and ONI both call me."

"I would like to know your real name."

"Why the hell would I tell you?"

"I like to know the names of the warriors I fight or in this case I will be fighting…I am Able 'Idheo and I have been sent here to kill you."

"If you were sent here to kill me then why are you unarmed? Pretty stupid to try and kill when you have no weapons."

"Because I don't want to fight you…at least not tonight, I just wanted to warn you. Come tomorrow I will be here with an Energy Sword. We will duel then."

"Good, I look forward to wearing your mandibles as around my neck as a souvenir." Epitaph spat.

Able couldn't help chuckling. "You are not afraid, that's good."

"I didn't say I wasn't afraid. Anyone who says that they aren't afraid when they're about to go into battle is a fucking liar and I am NOT a liar."

Able smirked behind his helmet and nodded. "Very wise; I look forward to our duel. You can rest for the night, Spartan. All of the Covenant have left the area. My squad and I are the only ones here and we are not going to attack. Rest and be prepared for tomorrow."

"So what; even if they did leave they'll be back after I kill you and your buddies."

"Trust me, they will not." He told it before turning around. "Goodnight Spartan; I will see you in the morning outside this building." Able then walked away.

With Epitaph

"What the hell is this guy up to? Does he really believe he can defeat me on his own?...Or….or is he really THAT good at fighting? Damn it that stupid vision didn't help me whatsoever!" Epitaph thought as it watched Able begin descending down the stairs.

"…I sense that I can trust his saying that I can rest for tonight…but…I don't know about the rest of the things he said...Well either way I have some down time. I better catch some Zs while I can…"

With Able

"What an…interesting Spartan; surely a great and well experienced fighter. He is worthy of the warrior name." Able thought before pausing and looking up to see the Spartan walk back into the third floor.

"But…there's something strange about him. He is no fool so he had to of known I was inside before he even fired at Kaine…but Kaine said that the Spartan wasn't even facing my direction when I entered the building, so why didn't he just kill me right then and there?"

The Ultra Sangheili then shook his head and chuckled as he continued to make his way out of the building.

"…You are a very unique Spartan, Epitaph…"