Planet Sangheilios -0941 hours, 2551
2 Days later
Flashes of memories played through Azhaq's head. He saw a giant computer and then himself, his face was shocked and horrified, what could make him look like that?
Then he was in a hangar....and there was a demon there, but they weren't fighting....they were talking. Then suddenly he was falling from the sky and there was blinding pain and he started running, what was he running from?
Then bullets were flying everywhere and he couldn't walk but he was moving backwards, being dragged by someone and then everything went black.
Azhaq awoke with a start and in a panic.
Where is my armour? Am I alive? Where am I? He thought.
As he realised where he was in everything suddenly came flooding back to him. The military base, the Spartan and his escape.
He sat up and tried to stretch causing him to feel a flare of pain throughout his body.
"You should really try and stay still brother."
Azhaq looked to the right of his bed and saw Ithix and Suiwa sat in chairs and Pompaey standing in a corner with his arms crossed.
He was most surprised to see Pompaey, his surprise must have been obvious because Pompaey suddenly spoke.
"You saved my life, I owe you and I wanted to make sure that me just saving your life would repay the favour" He said quite simply and walked from the room.
Ithix waited for him to leave "Cheerful fellow isn't he?"
"How are you?" asked Suiwa.
"Hungry, how long have I been unconscious?"
"About two days" Ithix chuckled.
"I can't even remember the last time I slept so long" Azhaq said wide eyed.
"We'll get you some food from the canteen." Suiwa suggested.
"Not without me you won't" Azhaq said as he started climbing from his bed
"Steady on Azhaq, you need to recover" Ithix said with concern in her voice.
"Yes, but I also have some things that need doing, there are people I need to talk to" he replied quickly, "and besides, there's nothing like choosing your own breakfast" he said grinning.
"One last thing," Azhaq said, "Where did you put my armour?"
Planet Sangheilios -0950 hours, 2551
Azhaq limped out of his old home and looked around at the military district that he had called his home for a large part of his life, he took in everything as he knew that by the time the week was through he might never see this place again.
A civilian ghost drove past and every now and again a banshee flew overhead and even more rarely phantoms sometimes flew by. Looking around he noticed everything from the stone houses to the carriers in orbit to the Sangheili going about their daily business, even the grunts trying to squeeze through the crowds with various packages brought a smile to his face.
As the trio made their way to the food hall Azhaq started thinking about the information he had discovered on Onyx, he had to find out whether or not it was true. He, unfortunately, believed that it was and he had made a promise that he would keep if it was true but if it was true he would have to give up everything, but this was a very small price to pay to try and put right all of his wrongs. He would repay his debt to the humans no matter the cost.
"Hey, Azhaq! You awake in there?" Ithix waved her hand in front of his face.
"What......of course" he stuttered and clicked his mandibles.
"Are you sure that two days was enough sleep?" Ithix asked mockingly.
"Come on Ithix, he's been through a lot." scolded Suiwa.
More than you know, Azhaq thought gravely a frown appeared on his face but it swiftly melted away as they walked around the corner.
As they turned the corner they came into sight of the hall the smell of cooking food wafted towards the three Elites. Azhaq knew that smell well, as he should considering he spent some of time off shift working as a cook in this very hall, sometimes when he was on shift he was assigned to the hall, which he never complained about.
As they neared the hall they saw a strange sight, the Elite known as Atlas Tasumee left the hall, this action, in itself, was not unusual but the fact that Atlas had a tail that stretched from the bottom of his back was unusual. Azhaq knew this Sangheili but he had not seen him in years and he chuckled as he saw Elites stopping and staring at Atlas as he passed.
"Come on, I'm not getting any less hungry out here."
They walked into the hall and were greeted by the clamour of conversation and the clatter of dishes.
"Wow, it's busy here today."