Truth and Reconciliation

They were taken inside the Capital Ship, the Truth and Reconciliation. Every crewmember on board stared with wide eyes as they saw Telek 'Herosee walk in, chained with humans behind him. Every mind had one thing to think about: We got him!

Telek heard the cheers to the 'heroic' warriors who caught the heretic. He even heard the sounds of their jeers at him. An Unggoy kicked him in the boot, a Kig-Yar hissed at him. It was humiliating, but he knew that they were the ignorant ones who did not know the real truth. Captain Keyes and Sergeant Johnson were just as surprised when they heard the crewmembers cackle and laugh at the renegade Zealot in chains. They did not expect this.

"Telek," said Keyes. "What is going on?"

"They're cheering because they've caught me," he said. "They cheer because now the heretic has been found and will be executed."

"What the hell did you do, Squiddy?" Johnson asked.

"I told them that their religion was false," said Telek.

"All this over a dispute on a religion?" Keyes asked. "They want to kill you for that?"

"You don't know the Covenant like I do," Telek replied. "Nor--do you know the reason why I told them the religion was false and why I defected from it."

"If you'd tell me, I would," said Keyes. "Does it have something to do with this ring?"

"Halo," said Telek. "And yes, it has something to do with it."

"So, you do know about it," Keyes said. "Why lie?"

"Because I'm afraid that you'll try to make the same mistake that the Covenant is about to make," he replied.

"And what is that?" Keyes asked.

"Destroy the universe with it."

They brought the captured to the bay where Orna 'Fulsamee, the Ship Master of the Truth and Reconciliation waited for them.

"The great Telek 'Herosee," said Orna 'Fulsamee. He decided to speak in English so that his other 'guests'. "At last. I've always wanted to match my blade with yours. They said that you were the greatest swordsman in the Covenant, second only to Otto 'Gamamee. But he was your teacher. No one could match the both of you. Your fighting style was like no other."

Telek growled as he pulled against the restraining guards. Orna chuckled. The Zealot Ship Master glanced back at the two humans he also had under his captive. He turned back to the gold and black armored, ex-Covenant Zealot.

"Fleet Master Telek 'Herosee," began Orna. "I've been ordered to bring you before your old teacher--Supreme Commander 'Gamamee and the Prophet of the Particular Justice. How can I disobey their orders when you are here before me--tempting me to see if the rumors are true? I want to see just how strong you really are."

"Great," Telek sighed. "Another challenger."

"Just a small skirmish," Orna chuckled. "You and I. I hope the Prophet won't mind if I bring you back a little roughed up. Let him go."

Telek looked up as the two black-armored Sangheili let go of him. He glanced back over at Jacob Keyes and Avery Johnson. Then, looked back at Orna 'Fulsamee. He saw the gold Ship Master ignite his plasma sword.

"Where's my weapon?" Telek asked.

"If you are as good as I've heard and as good as Otto has often gloated about," began the Ship Master. "I'd be dead in two seconds if you had a sword. No. Call it a handicap."

"That hardly sounds fair," Telek growled. "Or honorable."

"I thought Elites were all about honor," Johnson called. "Why the hell won't you give him a weapon?"

"Not all of us like to play by the rules," Orna said. "You humans should know that. Telek doesn't play by the rules."

"Well, then," said Telek. "If you're into cheating…"

"I will make you beg for the Covenant's forgiveness for heresy!" Orna called as he leapt up high into the air. Telek got into a fighting stance, balling his hands into fists. Just as the Ship Master of the Truth and Reconciliation made a downward stroke, Telek took a side step and leapt into the air. He rolled clockwise, making a full flying, roundhouse. The back of Telek's hoof slammed down upon Orna's back. Telek seemed to make a second jump when he kicked Orna down and flipped in mid air. Orna slammed down onto the floor of the launching bay. His sword shattered. He glanced up just as Telek back flipped onto the level above.

"Shit," Johnson breathed. "Squiddy has some moves."

Telek smirked as Orna leapt from pylon to pylon, making his way onto the level where his opponent stood upon. He lunged for the taller Sangheili, but Telek leapt up again, first slamming his foot down upon Orna's neck, then spinning backwards, double kicking with both feet in a cartwheel motion, once more sending Orna flying.

"Now, we're playing fair," Telek said as he swiftly landed back on his feet.

"I've never seen two Zealots fight," said Keyes.

Orna flew backwards, making a flip himself. He righted himself just as his hooves made contact with the wall. He kicked off of the wall, shooting his body back towards Telek. Telek leapt off the level, catching himself on the edge. He swung himself up onto the other side just as Orna shot passed him. Orna turned his body, righting it, landing on his feet and sliding backwards.

"Man, this looks like a Kung Fu movie," snorted Johnson. "Except its squid-heads instead of young Asian guys fightin' each other."

Keyes just looked at him, his gray eyebrow shot up. Telek shot up and landed again, making a lower roundhouse sweep across Orna's feet. But this time it was Orna's turn to dodge as he leapt up, somersaulting backwards away from Telek's attack. Telek then lunged forward and slammed his fist into the Sangheili's stomach. Just as Orna flew back, Telek grabbed one of Orna's ankles and slammed him against the wall with a powerful swing. Then, he leapt back down to the lower level, barring his fangs and tossed Orna back up into the air. Telek launched himself into the air, ready to take hold of his enemy again. But this time Orna reacted and grabbed Telek by the arm. He righted himself and slammed his foot onto Telek's back, slamming the larger Sangheili into the floor. Orna kicked off of Telek's back when he felt Telek make contact with the metallic floor. But Telek grabbed him by the foot again and threw him up towards the ceiling. Telek leapt up and grabbed the dazed Orna, slinging him over his shoulder. The Ship Master came crashing down.

"Telek!" called a familiar voice. Telek saw a sword emitter flying towards him and he caught it. Just as Orna got painfully up off the floor, a blue flash filled his vision. Orna stared at Telek, noticing that the other Sangheili had an un-ignited sword emitter in his hand. But he knew that Telek had ignited the sword. He felt something wet oozing out of his chest. Then, he felt nothing. Telek stepped back and turned away just as Orna 'Fulsamee's upper torso pealed away from his lower torso. He was sliced in half.

"My God…" Keyes breathed. "I've never seen him do that."

"I've never seen any Gold Elite do that," said Johnson.

"Toss the sword back, Telek," began that familiar voice again. Telek turned back around and found a gold and copper-armored Sangheili walk towards him.

"Otto?" Telek asked as the sword fell from his gloved hands. Suddenly he was once more surrounded by black Spec Ops Sangheili, who restrained him. "Otto!"

Otto 'Gamamee shook his head: "You've done well, as usual. The best fighter in all the Covenant."

Then, Otto backhanded Telek in the jaw. He fell, gasping.

"My greatest student," Otto said with a heavy voice. "And my greatest--disappointment."

"You--know I'm right," Telek said. "You know."

"Take the heretic and his--human pets to their cells," Otto growled, looking away from his ex-second-in-command in shame.

"Pets?!" called Johnson. "We ain't no pets!"

A Sangheili punched the Marine in the stomach.

"Shut up, human," he growled.

Jacob glanced back, seeing that they were dragging Telek along. One of them punched Telek so hard that he heard his own ribs actually crack a bit. Telek felt weakened after that, coughing up a spittle of purple from his mouth.

"This isn't over, Otto!" Telek called back at the Supreme Commander. "Not by a long shot! If you won't see the light, then you'll see the darkness of death!"

"I will deal with you later, Telek," Otto sighed. "And I will end your maddening misery."

They threw the three into the brig where the other Marines were being held. Telek coughed, breathing hard. His old commander, his old friend--and his betrayer was there. His emotions were going berserk inside his head and his heart ached. They were like brothers and Telek looked up to Otto. Otto called him mad for doing what he did those five years ago, and blamed everything that Telek did after that on insanity. Otto believed that Telek was possessed by an evil demon that had taken his friend and turned him into a monster. Of course, no demon had taken Telek. He knew the truth, that was all. Keyes held Telek's head up and braced the 9-foot tall Elite up against his chest. He was trying to keep Telek awake.

"You're bleeding internally," he said.

"That Spec Ops Warrior punched me very hard," Telek coughed. "I'll be fine…"

"That's him," said Keyes. "The one who betrayed you--the one who was your superior officer."

"That's him," Telek replied. "He--he was my superior. He--he is the true commander of the fleet Particular Justice. I--I was his second-in-command. Everyone looked up to both of us. We--were the best of the best. We commanded our ships with honor in battle. It--was glorious…"

"I--could tell the way you were looking at him," said Keyes. "At first, you were almost happy to see him. Why did he do that? Why did he throw you that sword?"

"Because--Orna knew better," said Telek. "We--we have rules on dueling combat. Even ones to the death. Both--should be armed."

"Telek--about Halo…" Keyes began.

"Yes, give us one of your longwinded speeches again, old friend," called a voice. "Tell us all once more the true story about Halo."

"Otto!" Telek gasped as he saw a gold-armored Elite walk in. Otto 'Gamamee was dressed similar to Telek, except the trimming and accent colors of his armor were copper colored instead of black. Those were the colors of a Supreme Commander.

"Let us have a speech, Telek," said Otto as he sat down on the floor beside the force field keeping the prisoners in their cage. "I've missed your speeches. That's what he did a lot before he became a drunken reprobate--and a traitor. His speeches would enthrall all. Even the Prophets enjoyed them. Let us have a speech--just like old times."

"S--shut up…" Telek hissed back.

"You didn't tell them, did you?" Otto asked. "You tell us a lie, but you didn't tell them a lie? Did you decide to tell them the truth?"

"I've always told the truth when it pertains to Halo," said Telek. "It is--what you believe in--that's the lie."

"Telek…" Otto sighed. "I pity you. I've missed my old friend. I've missed the glorious battles we've fought together--side by side. But this demon--this whatever it is--has driven you to madness."

"It--it isn't madness…"

"It's possession," said Otto.

"You don't know what it is…" Telek sighed. "It is I who pity you."

"I'm gonna hate to loose you, Telek," Otto sighed. "I really am. But you've given us quite a chase. But, the chase is over…"

Telek did not even reply after that. Otto shook his head and turned around, leaving the brig.

"Okay," Keyes began. "I'm convinced. They don't like you."

"Isn't it--obvious?" Telek asked as he reached up and unzipped the bodysuit. He then unzipped the UNSC uniform until his bare chest was exposed. He pulled the clothes away until they saw a peculiar scare on his chest. The scar was in the shape of a circle with various lines and smaller circles around it. Keyes knew that this was a character in the Covenant language. He was not familiar with it though.

"This is called the Mark of Shame," said Telek. "It is a mark that is burned on a traitor prior to execution. Anyone with this mark is to be killed on site. Though--they are making an exception right now on Otto's behalf, but I will be killed no matter what."

He looked over at Johnson.

"Do you trust me now?" he asked.

"I don't like you," said Johnson. "But--I trust you. Those squid-heads want to kill you as much as they want to kill us. I guess that's enough."

Telek zipped up his suits again and began to breathe heavily. He prayed to whatever god out there that the Chief would come.

"Telek," said Keyes. "Stay awake."

"I'm--so tired," he breathed.

"Well, then, let's talk," said Keyes. "Tell me about Halo."

"Halo?" Telek asked. "Alright. Halo--was created by an ancient race called the Forerunners. This race--built this installation to contain--a horrible thing--I--think it's a virus--or some sort of monster. But--this monster--feeds off of us. So, in order to make is thing dormant, they--installed a weapon on Halo that could destroy all life on a galactic scale."

"It's a weapon?" Keyes asked. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because--I knew what it was capable of doing," said Telek. "The Covenant think its some sort of gateway to another dimension where they will go and live in peace. I--discovered that it wasn't a gateway--it's a weapon that will wipe out the galaxy. I--was afraid that you would--make a similar mistake and think it could be used--against the Covenant. It can't--be used."

"And what about this--monster--virus?" Keyes asked.

"I--don't know much about it," said Telek. "But--it was the reason why the Forerunner built Halo. It's a containment facility, nothing more."

"Why make this ring habitable?" Keyes asked.

"Make it--look innocent," Telek said. "So that people wouldn't poke around--so they wouldn't go looking for the ring's terrible secrets. Jacob, we have to stop the Covenant from trying to find a way of using Halo. Just stop--them. Don't go poking--around for anything else."

"I'll keep that in mind, Telek," said Keyes.

"We're in a whole hell of trouble if you're right about this ring, Squiddy," said Johnson.

"You--don't know how much--trouble, Johnson," Telek gurgled.

"Stay awake for me," said Keyes.

"Is--that an--order?" he asked.

"Damn straight it is," Keyes smiled.

"Who--am--I to argue--with the Captain of the--Pillar of Autumn?" Telek gave off a weak smile back. "Yes--Excellency."

Captain Jacob Keyes could only chuckle.

0

Time had passed. Keyes had done all he can to keep Telek awake. Though, it was getting harder as time passed. Telek kept saying that he was just waiting for either the Chief or Death to come and take him. He said that neither of them will let the Covenant have him.

"If the Chief doesn't--come, death surely will," gasped Telek. It was getting harder and harder for him to talk. His great, deep voice was nothing more than a whisper now. "But--I'll--be damned if I let the Covenant have--me now. I'll die--before they got a chance to--execute me."

"Let's just hope the Chief comes here first," said Keyes. He glanced over at a gold-armored Elite who was guarding the cells. Two grunts sat on their haunches, snoring away as the Zealot paced up and down, his plasma sword ready for anyone unauthorized coming through that door. Then, the door opened. Suddenly the gold-armored Elite's shields fluctuated and disappeared. Then, the Zealot fell down on the floor, its sword shattering. It was dead. Keyes glanced over, seeing two glowing balls of blue fly out and attach themselves onto the two sleeping Grunts. They exploded after that and the Grunts went flying against the wall, their florescent blood splattering all over the floor.

"Hey, it's the Chief!" called a Marine as a green, armored, tall human walked into the brig.

"Good work, Chief," said Keyes.

"That was amazing, sir, you really kicked the shi…" began another Marine.

"Stow it, Corporal!" barked Keyes. "Let's get these cells open, Chief. The power control's along the back wall."

"Right," said the Chief.

The Spartan pressed the button on the holo-panel and the cells opened up.

"Johnson, help me get Telek up," said Keyes.

"Right," Johnson said as he picked one of Telek's arms up and placed it over his shoulder. Keyes did the same thing putting the other arm on his shoulder.

"Damn, Telek!" Johnson called. "You're heavy."

"I'm--also 9-foot 7," Telek gasped. "And I weigh around--400 pounds."

"As soon as this is over, you're on a diet," Johnson said.

"What happened to him?" the Chief asked.

"They beat him up pretty badly," said Keyes. "We need to get off this ship and get him to a doctor."

"Erin 'Venamee has a camp not far from where--we were captured," said Telek. "He'll--be able to patch me up for--transport."

"I want you on your ship, Telek," said Keyes. "And stay there until we need your help."

"Aye--aye…" the Elite nodded. "It's--good to see you--again, Master Chief."

"It's good to see you, Captain 'Herosee," the Chief nodded.

"Coming here was reckless," said Keyes to the Chief. "You two know better than this…thanks." He turned back to the Marines. "Marines! Lock and load your weapons, let's be ready to move."

"Yes, sir," said one of the Marines.

"Okay, sir," the other said.

"I'm right behind you, sir," said Johnson.

"No--arguments--here, Jacob," Telek said. "The--sooner we can--get off--this rust bucket--the better."

Keyes again chucked at the comment Telek had made about the Covenant cruiser. He recalled the Sangheili making a similar comment about his own ship. Now, he began to realize that any ship that was not his own Shade of Darkness was a 'rust bucket' to him.

"While the Covenant had us locked up in here," began Keyes. "Telek has been very helpful in telling us what this ring is. It's called Halo."

"One moment, sir," began Cortana. "Accessing Covenant battle-net. According to the data in their networks, the ring has some kind of deep religious significance…"

"Hah!" Telek snorted. "Don't tell them anymore. They--know. This ring--is not any sort of--religious artifact. It's--a weapon."

"He told us that too," said Keyes. "Apparently the Covenant doesn't think so. They believe it's some sort of portal or gateway. They don't know it's a weapon."

"They're--gonna make a big--mistake, Chief, Cortana," Telek began. "That's--why I wanted to--get Keyes to destroy the Autumn once she landed. We--have to stop them. 'Who ever controls Halo--controls the fate of the universe…'"

"That's what they kept saying," said Keyes. "From Telek's translations."

"Now I see," said the AI. "I have intercepted a number of messages about a Covenant search team, scouting for a control room. I thought they were looking for the bridge of a cruiser I damaged in the battle above the ring. But they must be looking for Halo's control room."

"That's bad news," said Keyes. "If Halo is a weapon, and the Covenant gain control of it, they'll use it as a weapon and wipe out the entire human race. Chief, Cortana, I have a new mission for you. We need to beat the Covenant to Halo's control room. "Marines! Let's move!"

"Sir," they nodded.

Keyes and his men armed themselves with Needlers and plasma rifles. Keyes and Johnson still carried Telek on their shoulders. They made their way out of the brig and back up the hall.

"So, how do we find our way outta here?" Johnson asked.

"Simple," said Cortana. "Just follow the trail of dead bodies."

Telek lifted his weary head up and saw all sorts of blood splattered everywhere and dead Covenant soldiers lying on the floor. It seemed that the Chief had taken out much of the ship's crewmembers.

"Good--work, Chief," he whispered. They made their way down the hall, passed the control room of the ship's bridge. Telek glanced inside, wanting to know if Otto 'Gamamee was in there after he had killed Ship Master Orna 'Fulsamee. Apparently, he was not. He must have gone back to his own ship.

"Cortana to Echo 419," began Cortana. "We have the captain and need extraction on the double."

"Negative Cortana, I've been engaged by Covenant air patrols, and I'm havin' a tough time shakin' 'em," began Foe Hammer. "You'll be better off findin' your own ride. Sorry."

"Acknowledged, Foe Hammer. Cortana out," she said. "Air support is cut off, Captain. We need to hold here until she can move in."

"Aw, man!" called one of the Marines. "We're trapped in here! We're screwed! We're screwed, man!"

"Pipe down, Marine!" ordered Johnson.

"Stow the bellyaching, soldier, remember you're a leatherneck," ordered Keyes.

"Jacob--if there is--an Spirit in the--hangar bay--above us," Telek began, weakly. "I--I can fly--us out of--here."

"Not in your condition, Telek," said Keyes. "Luckily, I know how to operate one as well. We'll use it to get off the ship."

"There's a Covenant drop ship still docked," said Cortana.

They went down the hall up to the docked drop ship. Already, the rest of the crew was alerted to their position and began to close in. The Chief turned around and fired upon them with a plasma rifle. Telek heard one of them cry out in his language.

"Citereh eht tog evah yeht!"

"They--know I'm with you," Telek said.

"We're getting you outta here, Captain," said Keyes. The Chief pressed a few buttons and the drop ship came loose. Behind them, two Hunters came lumbering in, charging up their fuel rod cannons.

"That's it, the drop ship is loose," said Cortana.

"Everybody, mount up, let's get onboard," ordered Keyes as he hopped into the pilot's seat. Johnson and the Chief helped Telek in and strapped him to a chair. The Chief placed a gloved hand on Telek's shoulder.

"You'll be alright, Captain," he said.

"Thanks--to you," Telek smiled back. "I--knew you'd come. They--can never--have me. My--friends won't let them."

"Give me a minute to interface with the ship's controls," began Cortana.

"No, no need. I'll take this bird out myself," said Keyes. He pulled back on the controls and the drop ship came to life. Keyes moved the ship away from the docking arm.

"Captain! Hunters!" called Cortana as the Hunters made their way towards the stolen ship.

"Hang on," said Keyes. He pulled back on the controls again and rammed the two barrels into the Hunters, smearing their orange blood against the wall.

"Nice one, Sir!" called one of the Marines.

"Good--one, Jacob," Telek breathed. "Couldn't--have done--it--better myself."

"Take it easy, Squiddy," said Johnson. "Just don't try to talk right now."

"I'm--surprised that you--care--so much," said Telek.

"I don't," he said. "But you still have some uses. And we need those uses."

"It's--good--to be--needed," Telek sighed, leaning his head back. He reached up and took his helmet off so that he could rest his head against the seat more comfortably.

"Time for a little payback," said Keyes as he pulled the drop ship out of the opened hatches of the cruiser.

Keyes followed Erin in as he and his Sanghieli brought the injured Telek into the medical tent. Keyes noted the color of Erin's armor. It looked gold, like a Zealot's armor, but it was a bit more subtle than the gold armor that Telek wore, it looked more olive than gold. His Elites were dressed in light purple-blue armor--which denoted them to be medical officers. Erin was a Zealot, but his subtle gold color denoted him to be the head of the medical team. Erin's mandible armor was off his face. Telek was dressed in the gray T-shirt and drawstring pants. Erin grabbed Telek's arm and pressed a pressure gun against the bend. Keyes heard something spray out and into Telek's arm.

"It is a healing agent," said Erin. "It helps in the process of mending the bones and any damaged organs. He will be alright within a few hours."

"How bad was it?" Keyes asked.

"Well, if you had not gotten him to me in time, he would have been beyond help," replied Erin.

"Erin…" began Telek. "Leave me--with Jacob for a moment."

"Yes, Excellency," said Erin. "I'll be in the next tent if you need me."

"Jacob…" Telek said as he leaned up. A light shined above his head and his blue eyes squinted against it. "Come here."

Keyes sat down on a chair beside the bed and Telek leaned over to him.

"Tell me," he began. "What do you plan on doing--after you know everything--I told you?"

"I'm sending the Chief to look for the Silent Cartographer," said Keyes. "From there, he will be able to locate where the Control Room of Halo is located."

"Jacob, remember--what I told you," said Telek. "Halo--cannot be used--for any--good. Stopping--the Covenant from--activating Halo--is the only option."

"I know," he said.

"What else are you going to do?" the Sangheili asked.

"I am going to search in another spot," said Keyes. "Where the other part of the Covenant have been going to. It looks like some sort of laboratory."

Telek's eyes shot open: "Jacob! Don't be a fool. Don't--go poking--in there."

"Why?" he asked.

"That--the virus…" Telek began. "That's--that could--be where the--virus is."

"Telek, maybe we can use that virus against the Covenant…"

"No!" Telek grunted, breathing heavily again. "Jacob. What you're about to do--is why--I didn't--want to tell you--about this ring. I--had a feeling--you would try--to find--a way to use it. It--it doesn't work like that. Please--Jacob. Don't--go."

"I'm sorry, Telek," said Keyes. "I know you're concerned. But I need to find what this ring is about. There's still things you're not willing to tell me."

"I've told you everything--I've known," said Telek.

"Telek, I know you've made a promise to Miranda," he said. "But you know you can't keep that promise. I've got a job to do."

"Jacob…" Telek painfully began as he sat up. "Please…listen--to me."

"Take care, Telek," Keyes said as he patted the Elite on the shoulder. "Erin's gonna take you back up to your ship so you can get some rest. I'll need your help in getting the wounded off this ring."

Jacob Keyes disappeared out the flap of the tent. Telek leaned back down and placed his hands upon his face, exhausted both emotionally and physically.

"No one ever--listens to me…" he sighed. Then, he slowly drifted off into slumber.