Chapter 3: Heresy

Noka 'Tamamee paced across the floor of the prisoner's room, shaking his head and trying to clear his thoughts.

"And we are forbidden to even examine this special Human armour?" asked Ruka 'Tamamee.

"No, by orders from the Shipmaster. He is right in his beliefs, but also wrong."

"How so then?"

"It is considered heresy to examine and use technology without permission or guidance from the Prophets, especially Human technology-which is deemed inferior. However, we could learn much of the Human's science behind this monstrosity." Noka gestured to the Human and his armour piled in the corner. "We could learn valuable secrets that could make their extermination much more swift."

Ruka pondered this for a moment. Noka's reasoning was following the right path, but dangerously close to the edge.

"Brother," he said, in a low whisper, "I must ask you a question. Just listen to my words." He stepped towards the exit and tapped a button on the holopad, locking it. "I need to ask "I need to ask why?"

"Why… Why what?" Noka asked.

Ruka hung his head for a moment, but then stood straight and stared into his brother's eyes. "Why are we here? Why must we obliterate an entire race, without even giving them a chance to join our Covenant? The Prophets have never given a clear reason or explanation as to why we must do this deed."

Noka stared intensely at his blood brother, his words startling, and infuriating. His hand rested on the hilt of his energy sword.

"The words you speak are heresy and treachery. I should strike you down now, to bring no further shame to our family!"

"Then so be it, brother. I am not ready to fight for a cause that cannot be justified."

Noka glared at his brother, angry, but also proud that Ruka had shown honour in accepting his own death. The words he spoke were heretical, but not entirely false. He pulled his hand away from his blade, and crossed his arms and sighed heavily.

"I also share your concern, Ruka. Naturally, a Sangheili of my stature and rank should immediately suffer for even thinking of this, but I trust you, as you are my own brother."

Ruka's head tilted, puzzled.

"I have also been questioning the Prophet's decision to eradicate the Humans. After all of our raids, seeing Human faces with fear in their eyes, cowering, and running from our might…But why? The prophets labelled the Humans as vermin, as an infestation that needs to be eradicated, but why? From what I have learned over time, the Humans came to us, and wished to broker peace, not fight. Did the Covenant start this war, and are now covering up the mistakes?"

Just as Ruka was about to reply, there was a loud knock on the door.

"Locking a door on my ship will earn you an un-honourable fate. Open it now, or you will suffer. Do I make myself clear? I know there is someone in there."

Ruka quickly tapped the button on the holopad, and the door slid open, revealing Shipmaster 'Zadumee in his shining gold armour.

"Telling secrets are we? Talking behind my back? I will not tolerate this, Commander." He glanced at Ruka, furious.

"No, Honour, we just do not wish for any other troops to come across our find. This is a Sangheili find, and therefore, our responsibility."

'Zadumee glanced at each of the Sangheili, then at the armourless Human, his head laying in a pool of his own blood. "I see. Have this Human's armour destroyed, we have no need of it. Keep the prisoner for interrogation."

Both of the Sangheili bowed their heads. The Shipmaster continued speaking.

"Reports from the Huragok claim that our external communications are highly unlikely or impossible to repair, because too many relays were destroyed. However, we have two more view screens online. At least we can see."

"That is good news, Shipmaster." Said Noka. "We shall obey your commands and dispose of the armour."

"Excellent. When we arrive at our destination, I will put in for immediate repair. Ready your team as well. We have no idea where we are headed, so it could be hostile."

"Yes, Excellency."

With that, 'Zadumee left the room once again.

"I do not agree with the Shipmaster," Noka said. "I will go down and ready the squad for possible action. Stay here until I return, and we will decide what to do with the Human then."

Ruka nodded. He was thankful that his brother shared his opinions. However, revealing this to anyone else, even to his own squad mates would surely be fatal. Even thought they had fought together for many years, they were still completely Covenant minded.

Noka left the small, dimly lit room and the door slid shut behind him.

The Huragok let out a shrill squeal and held up a small round object, with wires dangling from it, those leading to another boxier object. It squeaked again, and held out the object it had made to Ruka.

"What is this, Huragok?" He growled. As he finished his words, a sound came out of the device. It was clearly the sharp, distinct language of the Humans.

The prisoner jerked his head at the words, looking at Ruka, then at the device, surely knowing that the little Huragok had just created a translator.

The Huragok pushed the device towards the Human, and chirped.

"What do you want from me?" The Human asked, the device translating into the Sangheili's own language.

Ruka was speechless. What did he want? The answer was obvious. Answers.

"Why do you fight us?" The Human asked.

"You must be eliminated. Where is your homeworld?"

"I have no home…" He replied.

"Then we have already destroyed it?"

"Maybe, maybe not."

"Speak the truth, vermin!" Roared Ruka. He was still unsure of what to think. Would this Human be worth risking his honour and his life over?

"No, you speak the truth!" The Human's voice filled with rage. "All of this 'vermin' and 'infestation' crap, why? What did we ever do to you? I want to know –no– humanity wants to know!"

The Human's icy stare penetrated Ruka's mind. He would just play it safe and tell the Human only what he knows.

***

"Our Prophets state that you are the destroyers of the Holy Relics, and you are perils to the Great Journey."

James kept his eyes glued to the Elite. He was trying to pry information from him, but it will not work. He would rather die than doom the Human race.

"What relics? What is this 'Great Journey'?"

The Elite stepped closer and growled. "You Humans keep Holy Relics aboard your ships, on installations, and on your planets, but you destroy them before we can claim them. In fact, you destroyed the relic I was sent to retrieve. Instead, we found you!"

The Elite towered over him, staring directly into James' eyes. Was he talking about the navigation database? It would make sense. The Cole Protocol states that all navigation systems must be purged and destroyed to prevent or at least delay the Covenant from finding any more Human colonies. He was not about to reveal that to the Elite, though.

"So why keep me? I know the Covenant takes no prisoners."

"You are different from the rest of the Humans." The Elite replied, and gestured at the disassembled MJOLNIR armour in the corner. "We want to examine your technology, which was clearly stolen from us!"

"Which you stole from the Forerunners!" James snapped back.

"The Forerunners leave gifts scattered on planets throughout the galaxy. The Prophets study them, and meld them to our own use. We do not steal."

James considered laughing at that statement, but thought better of it. His face couldn't take much more abuse.

A voice penetrated the momentary silence; "Special Operations squad Sword of Vigilance to the Command area immediately."

The little alien device even translated Comm signals. That was impressive.

The Elite growled and walked to the door. He tapped a control, and it slid open and beeped. He turned and walked out, the door once again sliding shut behind him.

James lay on the table, and started to stare at the ceiling again, wondering what exactly was going to happen to him.

***

Ruka 'Tamamee looked at his squad mates on the command floor, and stared at the now operational view screens. The carcasses of several wrecked ships were slowly drifting on random vectors.

"The Huragok managed to create a single beam external Comm. I talked with the Shipmaster of the Divine Penance, and learned of where we were headed." The Shipmaster smiled, and swept his arm forward.

The view screens snapped to a new image, one of a purple/blue gas giant, with a small moon orbiting it. In between them, however, was an enormous, ring-like object. The Sacred Ring. Halo.

The Shipmaster spoke again, only this time on the internal Comm. "Attention all crew and soldiers. The Great Journey has begun."