Authors Note: A big thanks to Exilo, whom helped me start putting this series together and Luke-1539, whom did the final beta-read (and my brother, for support).

Disclaimer: Halo and Sangheili belong to Bungie Studios. However, Original Characters, like Zeno, belong to me.

Chapter 3: Rescue?

Two years ago…

Sanghelios, Ribal Keep

The Kisan Blade, a traditional weapon of keeps whose ancestry heralded from the nomadic tribes of the plains. Like the more common energy blade, the blades of the Kisan were formed by plasma. The hilt was of almost identical design as well. What made it different from the other sword was the orientation of the blades. The top blade was positioned like a normal energy blade, but the bottom blade went in the opposite direction, paralleling the forearm of the user. In some models, part of the bottom blade curled upward, affording the hand more protection. This was the model Zeno preferred.

The training room was empty; classes were over for the day, which Zeno was grateful for. It was the only time he could practice using the sword without being disturbed, or seen. Practicing out of class time was not unheard of; it was encouraged actually, but in Zeno's case it was the only time he could practice at all. This was because, after a series of events that were not within his control: Ley, his uncle and trainer, had banned him from further training for…Reasons.

Even the lowest ranking Sangheili is taught how to fight, Zeno thought bitterly as he practiced the few sword forms he did manage to learn. Does he consider me not a Sangheili at all?

It seemed the answer was yes, which burned Zeno's blood. Just because I am sterile…Just because I am attracted to other males…. He slashed his sword in a vicious arc. I do not even want to be attracted to other males. Does he not understand that?

Kou did though. As kaidon he had the power to ignore Ley's ban and continue his training. In fact he continued Zeno's training personally, a great honor. Zeno did believe Kou also had the ability to force Ley to rescind his ban, but he never voiced the thought. He shuddered, thoughts entering his mind of how Ley could cause 'accidents'.

Zeno pushed those thoughts out of his mind though, as Ley wasn't training him, Kou was. He just wished Kou had more time to train him. With most people in the keep giving him a wide berth and Lila now in full Gi'vea training, Zeno was very lonely for most of the day. He passed the endless time, the long days, in solitude or training, with Kou or alone.

How he relished the time he spent with Kou. The kaidon treated him fairly, with kindness, and most importantly, like he was a normal person. It was that which he appreciated the most and a part of him felt sad knowing that eventually he would have to break ties with him and find his own way. Hopefully not anytime soon….

"What are you doing?" a voice demanded suddenly.

Zeno halted his kata and turned to see Ley standing in the doorway, the elder Sangheili's eyes blazing with rage. He knew he would be caught by someone eventually, but had hoped it wouldn't be him. With a thick swallow, he stood strong and tall. "What I am doing is obvious," Zeno replied coolly, his blade still ignited in his hand. "Practicing the art of combat."

"Which I have forbidden you from doing," Ley growled. "Put away that sword and leave!"

He cringed at the words, but did not move, the blade still burning in his hand. "No."

"What did you say?"

"I said no," Zeno said, hissing slightly. "You have no right to bar me from learning to fight. Every Sangheili is trained in the art of combat, no matter how humble."

"You…Consider yourself Sangheili?" Ley said mockingly.

"By my blood I am Sangheili." Zeno held his head up proudly. "You cannot change that, no matter what you think of me."

Ley stalked around him, his gaze boring holes. Zeno did not cower, nor back down, keeping his head high and proud, his orange eyes focused on his once mentor. "So you think you are Sangheili," Ley said, still circling him. "Yet…You are incapable of adding more Sangheili to the line. If you are Sangheili, then you are worthless."

There was a slight tightening in the muscles of his mandibles, but that was the only outward sign Zeno showed from the sting of Ley's barb. "I have not seen any children from your line, Ley. Does that mean you are worthless as well? And yet…You are still a respected member of the Keep…."

The elder Sangheili's face turned a nice shade of purple. Zeno smiled mentally, proud to have hit a nerve with the bastard. "You are in no position to judge me and my accomplishments!" Ley said hotly.

"Why so angry? This just shows there is more to a Sangheili's worth than how many children he sires."

"Like you know anything about worth, freak."

Zeno felt his neck muscles tighten at the insult. "Do you think I want to be this way?" His hand tightened around the hilt of the sword.

"It does not matter if you want to be that way or not…You just are. A worthless freak, taking up precious keep resources."

"I am not worthless! Everyone has a place here. I just have to find mine!"

"Oh? Is that what Kou has been telling you? Honestly, I do not understand why the kaidon has such interest in such a waste of blood. If he had not interfered, I would have just let you rot away and die from that illness. No respectable Sangheili wants weak blood in their lineage."

"You dare to insult the honor of our kaidon?" Zeno growled, his eyes narrowing.

"Insult? I only speak the truth. The kaidon has strayed from the Path because of you. He risks bringing shame upon our whole keep!" There was a flash of light as Ley drew his sword. Suddenly its own plasma burned. "Our Lineage has clawed its way up from the ashes of those before us and I will not let a vileu like you bring it down again."

Ley lunged at him then, forcing Zeno to lift his sword to attempt to block the strike. Plasma flashed and sparked when the swords connected, the display distracting Zeno for a moment. It was long enough for Ley to strike again with a foot, the elder's blow connecting with Zeno's abdomen and sending the youth backwards, slightly winded.

Zeno had no time to catch his breath though, as Ley was already charging him again. He barely got his sword up in time to block the blow and stumbled back, not wanting to be kicked again. Instead Ley came at him with a series of strikes. He struck with the viciousness of a Brute and the speed of a Beam rifle shot. It was only his youthful agility that kept him from harm, but just barely. Grazing blows got through his defenses, opening painful cuts. Blood was starting to flow. Yet to slow for even a moment, he may has well stand still and let Ley run him through.

"It appears you took something with you from my lessons," Ley growled as he started circling him again, the annoyance clear on his face. "But is how to defend yourself all you learned, boy?"

Zeno twitched, keeping his blade in a guarded position, but did not raise to the bait. He wasn't entirely sure if Ley truly intended to kill him, or was just testing his resolve. "I do not wish to harm my own blood," he said softly. Even if in my hearts, you do deserve it.

"Harm me?" Ley laughed. "A novice…A vileu…Like you? You have not a chance against a master. And to think that you share my blood. A sickening thought. So if you will not fight back, so bit it. It will make my task of killing you that much easier."

Zeno's eyes widened, but Ley was already moving, coming at him again. He worked his blade the best he knew as he feverishly warded off Ley's attacks, backing away as he went. A part of him wanted to run away, but that would be a coward's choice. He wanted to prove to Ley that he was no coward, even if it cost him his life.

Seeking an end to this battle, he started striking back, though Ley could easily deflect his attacks. Indeed, this choice proved to be his first mistake, for within moments Ley had managed knock his blade clear out of his hand. Zeno followed the blade in shock, turning around as he did so, its safety mechanism having turned it off before it hit the ground.

That was his second mistake, a grievous one.

By turning his back to his opponent, he gave Ley the opening he wanted. Zeno realized it within seconds. He knew what was coming, but he knew in his hearts that he could not spin back around fast enough to block or parry the blow, even if he still had a blade in his hands. Instead, he dived forward, hoping to avoid the bite of Ley's blade. He almost succeeded.

A line of searing pain ignited across his back. He could smell the scent of his own flesh burning, melting even, what felt like to his very bones. Zeno screamed in agony, his left hand clutching his right shoulder where strike completed its slash. Move. MOVE! His mind screamed, reminding his body that this was no friendly sparring match. Reminding him that he couldn't just lay there wallowing in pain.

Ley's blade was coming at him again. He could hear the hot plasma hissing through the air, hungry for more of his blood. Adrenaline rushing through his veins, he rolled sideways, Ley's strike missing him by inches. He managed to get to his feet, but his legs were wobbly at best. The muscles across his back felt tight and unresponsive, making his arms almost useless. On top of that the pain was excruciating, clouding his mind and slowing his movements even more.

His uncle noticed this and started taking his time with his next approach. Not out of the goodness of his hearts, oh no, he was doing it to torment Zeno, to prolong his suffering before dealing the final blow. Zeno managed to dodge a couple of halfhearted swings from his uncle before Ley suddenly kicked him, sending him to the floor again. His back hit, and sending a shock-wave of pain that agonized his body.

"Now you die…Vileu…." Ley said as he raised his sword to kill.

His wounds was not what kept him from trying to evade, but simple fear. Paralyzing fear. He realized how much of a coward he was. Perhaps he truly did deserve this fate. His dark orange eyes were at first fixated on his uncle's blade, then his uncle's murderous gaze. This was not how he wanted it to end. He wanted to prove himself to his peers and elders, but now it seemed he would never be allowed that chance. Zeno closed his eyes, feeling he had no option but to accept his fate, and waited for the end.

There was a roar of fury that at first he took as his uncle's victorious cry, yet somehow it seemed different. Zeno opened his eyes in time to see Ley's look of shock and horror before someone slammed into him. He watched Ley hit the ground several feet from his original position, so powerful was the blow. Then Zeno looked at his rescuer and his eyes widened in both surprise and relief. Where Ley was a moment ago stood Kou. His kaidon.

His mentor.

His savior.

"K-kaidon," Ley whimpered once he got his wits about him.

"Leave." Kou said, one hand on his own sword.

Ley needed no further convincing. Zeno's uncle scrambled to his feet and left the room as fast as his hooves could take him. Only when Ley was gone did Kou start to relax his guard and turn his attention to Zeno. "Are you alright?" he asked.

Zeno lowered and shook his head. "My back," he replied quietly.

"Let me see."

Shakily, Zeno got to his feet and showed his wound to the kaidon. After a moment of silence, Kou said, "Come."

Zeno nodded and followed him, figuring he would escort him to the infirmary of the keep. After a few moments however, Zeno realized he wasn't taking him to the medics. Getting nervous, he tried to work out where Kou was taking him. Fortunately, no one bothered him during the journey, not with the kaidon with him. At last, Kou stopped before a large door and opened it for him. What Zeno saw inside made him freeze.

The room was vast and lavishly decorated. Though he had never been in here before in his life, he knew what room this had to be: the High Room, the kaidon's personal quarters. Zeno started trembling, knowing he didn't deserve to be here. "Kaidon?" he said, his voice trembling.

Kou did not respond, instead he put his arm on his shoulder and guided him in. Only once they were both fully inside and the door closed did the kaidon let go of him. "Sit," Kou said, taking a chair and putting it in front of him. "And hold on to the back."

Zeno caught the meaning quickly and sat on the chair backwards, wrapping his arms around the back as instructed. He saw Kou nod in approval, then remove his cloak to place it on the bed. The kaidon opened a drawer and rummaged around it, finally revealing a first aid kit. "Kaidon?" he asked curiously.

"If you need to bite the chair, do so. This may hurt." Kou moved around behind him.

It did indeed hurt, quite a lot. Zeno bit the hard wood of the chair as Kou worked on removing the burnt, dead skin around his wound. He did his best not to sob or whimper, especially in the presence of the kaidon, but a few did escape here and there. Kou didn't seem to mind this though and in fact occasionally spoke soft words of reassurance.

This puzzled Zeno greatly. Not only did the kaidon prevent his death at Ley's hands, he was personally tending to his wounds. This sort of behavior from a kaidon was unheard of. Yes, he was always kind and fair to him, unlike so many others, but this certainly was an extreme.

The most painful part of the treatment was over and now Kou worked on sealing the open skin with bio glue. The lessened pain enabled Zeno to ponder over Kou's puzzling behavior. Why was he doing this? No one ever went to this length for someone to his recollection and certainly not to him. At least, not for a long time.

He could come up with no answers by the time Kou was finished and coaxed him out of the chair. Zeno reflexively started heading for the door, but a firm hand on his shoulder stopped him. That same hand gently directed him toward the bed: an even greater shock. "Rest Zeno," he heard Kou say.

"But kaidon, this is your bed. I could not possibly sleep here," Zeno said, turning toward him. "I am certain my own bed would be sufficient…."

"I insist…For you own safety," Kou said. "If Ley has it in his head that you are to die, no matter how illogical the reason may be, then it is certain he will make an attempt at your life again the moment I am distracted. At present, you are weak and injured, so until you have recovered and are able to defend yourself adequately, I insist you stay here."

Zeno lowered his head: he couldn't argue with that. "Kaidon, why are you doing this for me? What makes me so special?"

Kou smiled, though there was a hint of sorrow in his eyes, and put a hand on his shoulder. "Someday, you may find out. But for now, it is not for you to know." He gently pushed him back, forcing him to sit on the bed. "Rest Zeno. Regain your strength. And do not leave this room."

"Yes kaidon," He watched as the kaidon turned and headed for the door. Then Zeno suddenly remembered something. "Kaidon!"

"What is it Zeno?" Kou said, stopping and looking over his shoulder at him.

"Your cloak." Zeno stood up and picked up the cloak, then handed it to him.

"Ah, yes, I nearly forgot," Kou said with a smile as he accepted it and put it on. "Thank you."

Zeno bowed his head respectfully and watched as Kou left the room, closing the door behind him. For a few moments he looked around the room, wondering what it would be like to be the kaidon. It would never happen, he thought, reminding himself on how he was viewed.

With a deep sigh, he curled up on the expensive sheets of the kaidon's bed, not feeling worthy to crawl underneath them. The stress and exhaustion of the day's events quickly caught up to him and he drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

Present day

Zeno was surprised when he woke up: he was expecting to be dead, or slung over a humans vehicle like some trophy. Instead, he found he was still in the forest and it was now night. Moving as little as possible, he checked himself over. He was sans his armor plating, which left only his bodysuit as attire. There was a soft, but thin blanket or mattress under him and an even thinner blanket over him. Most puzzling was that he had no injuries, even though he knew he was shot at least three times where his armor didn't protect him.

It didn't make sense. He should be dead or the human's prisoner, one or the other, yet it seemed to be neither. Looking around beyond his immediate surroundings he got his answer, an even more surprising one. A short distance away, lightly illuminated by small camping lights, he could see the silhouettes of at least two Sangheili.

Zeno felt joy spring to his hearts. After all this time, he was rescued! They must have come upon his captors before they could finish him off or dragged him away. Speechless with joy, he started to move toward them, only to feel a weight on his right leg. Puzzled he lifted the blanket to see a plasma cuff, the other end hooked to a small tree. His hearts sank. It turned out he was a captive after all.

By his own people….

Kia's Dictionary:

Vileu – Means 'without worth', 'worthless'. Used as a derogatory term.