Traveling Companions

Within the Shadow of Darkness, they all met. Telek glanced up, smiling slightly as he saw the Master Chief and his old commander Otto 'Gamam, known as the Arbiter now, walking into the bridge and standing beside the debriefing table. With them was of course the Monitor, 343 Guilty Spark. Lord Hood and Commander Miranda Keyes stood on the other side of the table while Telek sat in the hovering 'captain's' chair. Tom stood beside him. Beside Telek was Shipmaster Rtas 'Vadum—the commander of the assault carrier Shadow of Intent. On the other side was Detective Tim 'Manda' Marx.

"Chief, it's good to see you again," Telek said.

"You too, Admiral," the Chief nodded.

"I see you're wearing the colors of a Supreme Commander now, Telek," began Otto. "Congratulations on your promotion."

"And you've done what you said you would, Telek," said Lord Hood. "You pulled another miracle. I suppose for bringing a fleet to Earth to help us with the Covenant is enough to make me forget about the previous insubordination of following Commander Keyes to Epsilon Halo after I told you not to."

"Well, I had to do what I had to do," Telek shrugged. "Shipmaster Rtas 'Vadum wanted to sit in with our meeting. He is a member of the Sangheili Council, so therefore how could I say 'no'?"

"I suppose your allegiance is back with your people," Lord Hood crossed his arms.

"My allegiance," the Zealot began. "Is to life itself. How's that? I joined the UNSC because the Covenant were a bunch of idiots following a false promise. Now, my species has finally realized that promise was false. They were my people before your people became mine as well, Terrance."

"I suppose this means your pirating days are over," he continued. "I don't see any Jolly Roger on this ship or your armor."

"That remains to be seen," said Telek. "Now, Spark, about Cortana. Can you fix her?"

"Uncertain," Spark replied as he attempted to repair the storage device. "There is much damage. This storage device is highly unstable."

"Perhaps one of our own technicians…" began Hood.

"That would not be necessary," said Rtas.

"If Spark can't do it, then, no one can," said Telek. His eyes fell upon Miranda, a sign of relief came upon them now that he knew she was safe once more. Miranda nodded as well, smiling slightly at him.

"Chief!" called Cortana as her image flashed on.

"Success!" Spark called out.

"The Covenant city High Charity is heading for Earth with an army of Flood," Cortana continued.

"Oh…shit…" Telek growled. He glanced down at Tom who looked sick to his stomach.

"I can't tell you everything," she continued. "It's not safe. The Gravemind, it knows I'm in the system."

"It's only a message," the Chief called out, glancing up at Telek.

"Let it play, John," Telek said. Just as the message started up again, another being entered the room behind the blue-armored Minor Sangheili. Telek's eyes just widened when he found that it was none other than President Kiryuu Knight himself. Some of the Sangheili guards who had never seen anything like the bio-mechanical, reptilian creature before them were even more shocked than Telek.

"What it doesn't know is the portal," Cortana said. "Where it leads. On the other side, there is a solution, a way to stop the Flood without firing the other Halo rings."

Then, she jerked as if she was in pain, dropping to the table's surface.

Both Kiryuu and Manda grunted slightly when they heard the song of the Flood echo through the message. Kiryuu held his head as if he was in pain as well and he barred his fangs.

"Hurry, Chief," Cortana gasped. "The Ark…there isn't much time…"

"I am sorry," said the floating, metallic orb beside the Arbiter.

"No matter, Oracle, we've heard enough," Rtas said.

"Indeed," said Kiryuu as he awoke from the piercing pain.

"Mr. President!" Lord Hood called. He stood at attention and saluted. Miranda followed as well as the Chief.

"Welcome aboard, Mr. Knight," Telek began. "You came quite unexpectedly."

"I suppose that new armor doesn't earn a salute from you either, Vice Admiral 'Heros," Kiryuu chuckled. "Yes, I know the change in the name."

"Kiryuu…" Manda began. "It's been a long time."

"Detective," Kiryuu said with a nod.

"What the hell are you doing here, Kiryuu?" Telek asked. "I don't remember ever giving you a call."

"But your actions garnered one," said Kiryuu. "This solution Cortana speaks of…" he broke away staring at the holographic image of Cortana. "It is a solution I wish to see through personally." His lip curled up into a snarl. "I wish to silence that godforsaken song once and for all."

"Song?" Telek asked.

"You haven't heard it?" Kiryuu asked. "The song Gravemind sings."

"I've heard it," said Otto. "Once before when I first met him back on the other Halo. And I heard it again down there in the human city when the Flood attacked."

"You've faced the Flood, Telek," Kiryuu began. "Surely you did not hear the Song they sing?"

"Different Flood," said Telek. "The one on Installation 04 weren't controlled by this Gravemind creature. They did not sing. They gurgled and spat."

"They are still the same creature," said Kiryuu. "They are still his creations."

"Kiryuu, what the hell are you doing here?" Telek asked again, slapping his hand on the arm of the chair.

"I came here to make sure you get the job done, Telek," Kiryuu crossed his arms.

"You do not have to worry about that, Mr. Knight," began Rtas. "Yes, I know about you as well. We will find this solution your construct has spoken about." He rose up. "Our fight is through the Portal with the Jiralhanae and the bastard Truth."

"We've got it covered, Kiryuu," said Telek. "Any other doubts you had in mind?"

"I have none," Kiryuu said in a dismissive tone.

"Mr. President," began Lord Hood. "We should remain here and hold out as long as we can."

"Did you not hear me, Admiral?" Kiryuu asked. "I stated I wish to find this solution."

"With all do respect, Mr. President," Hood began. "I think you must put the priorities of Earth before your own desires."

"I am putting the priorities of Earth before my own, Terrance," Kiryuu said with a churning growl. His golden eyes flashed. "You have no idea what my agendas are for Earth, how I wish to make sure she stays safe." He turned back to the Sangheili. "You all don't understand. This is more than a war between our two peoples." He looked away. "I'm putting Earth at risk by staying here."

Telek's eyes narrowed, trying to figure out just what Kiryuu was getting at.

"Your world is doomed," said Rtas, directing his comment towards Lord Hood. "A Flood army and a Gravemind has you in their sights. You barely survived a small contamination."

"We can manage," said Lord Hood. "Well without your help, Shipmaster."

"One single Flood spore can destroy a species," said Rtas, stepping forward. "Were it not for Telek's and the Arbiter's counsel, I would have glassed your entire planet! And so, I beg to differ on what you can manage alone without our help."

"Alright, that's enough!" Telek shouted. "That's enough! We can do well enough by ripping each other apart, but we've got other problems to contend with. For once—I have to agree with Mr. Knight. This solution Cortana talks about—it would be the thing to destroy the Flood with. The Ark is up there, which I know. Truth is also up there. And once Gravemind gets wind of what we're about to do, no doubt he'll follow us."

"I have already given my orders, Terrance," said Kiryuu. "I want my Space Fleet up there!" He leaned down and stared into Hood's eyes. "And when I say we go—we go. No hesitations. Understood?"

"I understand, Mr. Knight," he said. "But you can't order your entire fleet to go up into wherever that leads."

Kiryuu leaned back: "You are correct. Commander Keyes, you will be given the command of the frigate Forward unto Dawn and you will have her docked inside the Shadow of Darkness' launching bay for transport up into the Portal. Since our ships cannot travel through slipspace as fast as the Sangheili ships, they will be our means in getting there."

"Yes, sir," said Miranda.

Kiryuu walked around the table towards Rtas and Telek, facing the two Human naval officers.

"Whatever ships you can spare, Terrance, I want them," he said.

"I could probably spare one more for this endeavor," said Hood. "But I do not wish for Earth to be so defenseless."

"You don't have to worry about the Flood," said Kiryuu. "They won't be after you anymore once I leave."

"Who said you could come?" Telek asked.

"I did!" Kiryuu bellowed, snorting out a wisp of purple energy from his nostrils. "Any objections."

"If I did, you'd probably render me into a charred spot on the ceiling."

"More like blast a hole through the roof," said Kiryuu, the right corner of his lip curled into a smirk. "I don't feel like being berated by you. I don't give a damn whether or not you want me on the ship. I am going up to the Ark even if I have to hijack your ship in order to get there!"

Rtas snorted, his hand fingered the hilt of his sword. Telek held up a hand to stop him.

"I suppose arguing with a 60-meter tall mutant, cybernetic dinosaur that could spit plasma fire would be a bad idea right now," he said.

"I think it would," Kiryuu said with a nod.

"I still have to protest this decision of yours, Kiryuu," said Lord Hood. "Cortana's 'solution' could be a Flood trap!"

"Then, we should go through the portal," said Miranda. "And find out for sure."

She glanced back at Kiryuu Knight who gave a nod.

"Hood," began Kiryuu. "When have I ever been wrong?"

"This time you could be," said Hood.

"No," said Otto. "If your construct is wrong, then the Flood has already won."

"I'll find Cortana's solution," said the Chief standing between them. "And I'll bring it back."

"I think this discussion is over," said Kiryuu. "The majority has voted to go. The system works."

"This is either the best decision you've ever made or the worst," Hood said. "Hell, if it is. I doubt I'll live long enough to find out which. But I still must protest you going with them, Mr. President."

"What does it mean to be the Commander in Chief of the military?" Kiryuu asked. "Am I just an executive administrator or am I the highest ranking officer on the battlefield?"

"You are the—highest ranking officer on the battlefield," Hood said in defeat.

"You can't argue with him," said Telek, turning back to Rtas. "Once he gets his mind set on something, there's no stopping him."

"I understand why you often become frustrated when dealing with him," said Rtas.

Kiryuu turned back to Telek and grinned again.

"Don't think that means you can boss me around," Telek said. "This is my ship, Mr. President. My ship, my fleet, my rules."

"Alright," he nodded, bowing slightly.

"Fine," Hood sighed. "Have it your way."

Kiryuu chuckled again and took the Winsor knot of his tie and loosened it. He slid the tie off of his collar and unbuttoned the top button. Taking off his blazer, he tossed it to the Chief, who caught it, and then unbuttoned and rolled up his sleeves.

"Wonderful," Telek rumbled. "He's gonna fight the Gravemind looking like a white-collar jockey." He glanced over at Miranda. "Commander, we'll be leaving soon. Get your ship docked inside quickly before we go."

"Right," Miranda nodded.

"Cujo, Mitsu, Tulsa, Wago," Telek began. "Prepare to join the fleet, we're going up through that thing."

"No problem," said Cujo. "We're ready."

"Good," said Telek as the COM-channel clicked off.

Lord Hood turned and walked out of the bridge followed by the Chief and Miranda.

"By the way," began Kiryuu, turning back to Manda. "It was Malcho."

"Excuse me?" the Eastern Dragon asked.

"Malcho did it," he said. "Because of what he did, we've lost the Tower of Atlantis to Truth."

"What?!" Manda said. "He gave the Tower of Atlantis to that Prophet? Why?"

"It was the device in which the key ship Dreadnaught could open the Portal," said Kiryuu. "Not only that, but Truth needed a Technomancer and Malcho was the one he used to activate the Device with."

"I'm gonna pluck every feather out of his body!" Manda said. "That's my Tower he just gave Truth! Mine! Not his, mine!"

"If I recall from the discussion," began Telek. "You lost it to Malcho."

"Indeed, I also recall that discussion," said Rtas. "But why would this Malcho help Truth?"

"He didn't," said Kiryuu. "He said he was helping something you call the Oracle of Dreadnaught. It was a Forerunner AI."

"Oh, I know about that one," said the orb.

"Kiryuu, meet 343 Guilty Spark," said Telek. "Spark, meet Kiryuu. You two have so much in common. You're both AIs and you both piss me off!"

"I am privileged to make your acquaintance, Construct," said Spark, floating over to Kiryuu's side.

"Oh, I can see this turning into a wonderful relationship," Kiryuu said with a sarcastic snort.

Finally, something that pisses him off as much as he piss me off, Telek thought with a smirk.

I heard that.

Damn it!

Rtas turned to Kiryuu and then back to Telek, noticing their fixed expression.

"Anyway, Malcho lifted the Tower up and activated it, creating the Shield around Lexington in order to keep the Covenant out," Kiryuu said. "But it only provided Truth with a beacon in order to find what he needed."

"I can't believe he would do this!" Manda said in defeat. "Even he isn't pigheaded enough to do something like that!"

"But in a way, Malcho did something for all of us," said Kiryuu. "We can fight this final battle without harming anymore of Earth. That was another reason why I wanted to go up to the Ark."

"I get it," said Telek. "Better trash up the Forerunner's big base of operations instead of your own planet."

"Telek," began Manda. "The Ark belongs to the Humans. It's theirs to do whatever they wish to do with it. If they wish to fight on its surface to spare their own planet, then, that is what the Ark will be used for."

"I better go see Lord Hood off," said Kiryuu.

"And I must return to my own ship," said Rtas. "We make for the Ark in two cycles, Supreme Commander. This should give your Commander Keyes enough time to get her ship inside your bay."

"Yeah, I hear yah," Telek said with a sigh.

000

As Lord Hood entered his Pelican, everyone was making ready to go through the portal. The Forward until Dawn and another frigate the Aegis of Fate was docked in the enormous bay of the Shadow of Darkness. Pelicans and Warthogs and Scorpion tanks loaded themselves in the back while trucks carried boxes and supplies inside. There was uneasy rest between the two different armies. Helljumpers sat down on the crates at one side while a Major Domo and some Minor Domos and black-armored Spec Ops Sangheili grouped together on the far wall. Sergeant Major Johnson snatched up a Carbine from a crate near a Major Domo and he rose up. He watched the human walk over and collect other Covenant-styled weapons, packing them away for later usage. The Arbiter did the same, carrying a rocket launcher in one arm and a flamethrower in the other with 343 Guilty Spark floating behind him. Both weapons Otto found were rather adequate against the Flood and so he knew he would need them later.

In the bay where Hood was about to leave in his Pelican, Telek, Miranda, and the Master Chief all stood and watched him depart. Lord Hood looked at them sadly as the door closed behind him and the Pelican took off, leaving them to whatever fate they headed for through the portal. Just as the Pelican had left the enormous carrier, Telek noticed another Pelican arriving and some Marines taking out a large crate stamped with the seal of the UNSC and a red stamp marked 'Top Secret'. Kiryuu was standing right beside it, signaling them to lower the crate down. Telek growled and headed for him with Miranda and the Chief walking behind him. Shipmaster Rtas 'Vadum entered a Phantom and prepared himself to leave for his own ship.

"Alright, what the hell is going on here?" Telek asked. "What is this?"

"Admiral," Kiryuu began. "I thought I'd bring along some supplies to help out in the battle to come."

"A big box marked 'Top Secret'?" Miranda asked. "Mr. President, what is in this box?"

"That's on a need to know bases, Commander," the bio-mecha replied. "Only I need to know."

"Uh-huh…" Telek snorted. "Open the box, Kiryuu."

"You know the old saying…" Kiryuu sneered back. "Curiosity killed the cat."

"I'm not a cat," Telek growled. "Open the box."

"How should I phrase this?" Kiryuu sniffed. "No…"

"Open the box," Telek ordered. "Or I'm getting a fuel rod cannon and blasting it open."

"Very well," Kiryuu growled. "Have it your way, Admiral. But I will put this on record as threatening a superior."

"Cry me a river, Xbox," Telek growled. "Now, open it."

Kiryuu growled again and typed in a code into the key-pad on top of the box. As the box opened, a white mist flowed out. The box was obviously chilled by sub-freezing temperatures. Whatever Kiryuu had in the box was something that Telek did not like. He leaned down and placed both hands inside, bringing out a device hidden under the mist. The device was made of steel and glass, a rounded cylinder built from technology that had been lost for centuries. The device looked like something out of an old, 1950s science fiction movie. Inside the glass case incased with the steel was a silvery ball swimming in some sort of clear fluid.

"Catch," Kiryuu called as he tossed the device over to Telek. Telek caught it and stared at it with inquiry.

"What the hell is this?" he asked.

"The thing that killed me," said Kiryuu. "The thing I used on King Ghidorah—the Oxygen Destroyer."

"That's classified knowledge," said Miranda. "No one has ever known what killed you back in the mid 20th century, Mr. President. Even to this day…no one has ever known."

"I knew," said Kiryuu. "And Telek knows."

"Don't tell me, you plan to use this on Gravemind," Telek stated.

"Call it—plan B," smiled Kiryuu. "If plan A fails, that's our back up plan."

"Oh, yeah, lure Gravemind into some large body of water and hope he'll stay in there long enough for this thing to liquefy him," Telek growled. "Nice plan, Kiryuu. What's plan C?"

"The OD can work outside of water," said Kiryuu. "I've altered some of Serizawa's designs to make it do so. I've had 500 years to figure out how to alter it."

"This thing isn't staying on my ship," Telek protested, handing it back to Kiryuu.

"Fine," Kiryuu shrugged, placing the device back into the crate. "I'll put it on Miranda's ship."

"It's not going there either!" Telek barked. "No, absolutely not."

"Telek," said Kiryuu. "Sometimes, having a fallback plan is better than nothing at all. What do you plan on doing if it doesn't work?"

"Getting drunk and believing it would!" Telek shouted. "And glassing everything that moves."

"Telek," Kiryuu sighed. "I have to make sure the job gets done—one way or another. Call glassing plan C."

"You better hope plan A works, then," Telek growled. "Marines, load that crate up into the Dawn. I want that thing out of my sight."

"Yes, sir!" the Marines called and picked up the box, heading for the Dawn.

"And you," Telek pointed at Kiryuu. "You may be the head of the UNSC, and you may be the one who hired me to help you win this war—but on my ship—I'm the one in charge. You take orders from me, got it?"

"Understood, Admiral," Kiryuu grinned darkly.

"Good," Telek said. "Now, I'm needed back on the bridge. Miranda, would you like to accompany me?"

"I've always wanted to see the inside of a bridge on a Sangheili ship," said Miranda. "But what happened to the Shade?"

"Had to blow it up—Flood infected it," said Telek. Kiryuu chuckled again and watched Telek take Miranda's arm and escorted her to the bridge. The Chief prepared to follow them until Kiryuu took his arm and stopped him.

"Master Chief Petty Officer John-117," he began. "May I have a word with you?"

"Yes, sir," the Chief nodded. Kiryuu pulled him off to the side where they were out of the way of the loading just as the bay doors closed and the ship prepared to take off. Kiryuu motioned for the Spartan to sit down on a crate. As they began to talk, the Arbiter Otto 'Gamam peeked out from behind another large box.

"From the ONI report you filed," Kiryuu began. "You informed me that Telek attacked you back on Installation 04, is this correct?"

"Yes, sir," the Chief replied. "He was preventing me from firing the Halo."

"I see," Kiryuu said. "You didn't detect him?"

"He was invisible, sir," replied the Chief.

"Were your reactions slow?" he asked.

"Somewhat…"

"Do you mind if I run a diagnostic on the biosyntech inside your body, Master Chief?" Kiryuu asked.

"No, sir," he replied. The Chief prepared to take his helmet off, but Kiryuu took his hand and stopped him.

"That won't be necessary," Kiryuu said. "I can do the scan here. Your armor can't hide anything from my eyes."

With that, Kiryuu started his scanning. Running over a diagnostic of the biosyntech that was place inside the Chief at the start of the Spartan program, Kiryuu noticed some imperfections in the programming. The nano-technology that kept everything running had a glitch inside.

"I am going to test something," Kiryuu said. "Stand up."

"Sir," the Chief nodded and stood up from the box. Kiryuu raised his forearm and snapped off the silvery plating that covered it until he revealed the black, rubbery 'skin' underneath. Otto's eyes widened when he saw these strange-looking, silvery blades suddenly grow out from Kiryuu's arm. Kiryuu shot the blades out towards the Chief and the Spartan swiftly dodged the trunk of the cybernetic flesh flying his way. Kiryuu could not help but to noticed that the dodge was rather slow and the blade had barely missed the Chief's head. There should have been a much wider gap.

"That's not good," said Kiryuu. "Your reaction speed is a bit sluggish. There's a glitch in the programming. I'll have to repair it—and fire whoever programmed your syntech."

Just then Kiryuu's own senses came alert just as he felt someone rushing up from behind him. Though the attacker was invisible, Kiryuu's own keen senses could pick up on the footsteps. He dodged the attacker and took hold of the arm, flipping the attacker on its back and slamming him down to the floor. The Chief stood back just as the invisible being became visible. It was the Arbiter.

"There," said Kiryuu. "You see? You should have been able to do that. Despite the fact Telek was invisible; you should have been able to defend yourself."

"Why did you attack the Spartan?" Otto asked.

"I was testing his systems," Kiryuu replied, letting him up. "Before I became President, I was the CEO of the Utah Foundation of Bio-Organic Research. My company supplied the Spartan program with the very cybernetics they needed to augment their soldiers." He took off the skin and revealed the silvery, cybernetic, synthetic flesh underneath. "This is what lies beneath John's skin. No human has ever been so augmented with it—but the Spartans have. I detected that there was a bug in his systems and I wanted to test how badly it was." Kiryuu lifted up a finger, the claw growing out to a small and slender needle. He pointed it at the Chief's neck. "Hold still, this will sting just a bit."

The Chief stood still just as he felt a small prick piece through the rubber of his suit and going through his skin. He felt a jolt and a shock jump through his body and he shook his head for a moment.

"There," Kiryuu said, removing the needle. "Upgrade complete. If you feel any discomfort, let me know. Don't worry about the small hole. I blocked it. You are dismissed, Master Chief."

"Yes, sir," the Chief saluted. He nodded to the Arbiter, letting him know he was all right. Otto glanced back at Kiryuu suspiciously.

"I had no idea the type of connection you had with the Spartan," said Otto. "I was merely informed about what it is you were."

"And you were more than informed just a few moments ago back at Voi," said Kiryuu. "I am a different sort of creature, Arbiter. I am one of a kind and I bare the weight of that solitude."

"I suppose you look to the Spartan as some sort of kindred spirit, then."

"Not really, besides the fact that he is just as made of syntech as I am," said Kiryuu. "But we do share one thing other than what lies beneath the skin." His golden eyes narrowed. "We are alone."

0

"I thought I might find you here, you lazy jackass," Johnson barked as he walked into the bridge. "Gettin' all snugly with the Commander again, I see."

"Johnson," Telek sighed as he turned his chair around to see the dark-skinned human walk up. "I've missed you too."

"Hah!" Johnson snorted. "I bet you did. I'm the only one here that can keep your ass in line. I wonder how you made nice with the council back on your home planet. Probably too wasted to even know where you were going. You probably confused the bathroom for the chamber hall."

"And pleading before a council of pink elephants too," Miranda giggled.

"You see what you did, AJ?" Telek asked. "Now you got her doing it!"

"Excellency, if this human is insulting you," began Joli. "I can kill him for you."

"What?!" Johnson cried. "You better hope I did not here you say that, squid-face. I will tear your guts out through your sphincter and make you wear it like a gay-assed boa!"

Joli blinked just as a paper wad smacked in between his eyes. He looked at Telek who tucked a rubber band behind his leg.

"Hey, Twiddle Dum," Telek growled. "Mind your own business and keep your eyes on your job."

"Uh—yes, Excellency," Joli nodded.

"You just can't seem to get good help these days," Telek sighed. "So, how was your flight back to Earth on Wago's ship?"

"You were right, Squiddy," Johnson said. "He is decorated and arrogant. Just like you."

"I'll take that as a reply that it went smoothly," Telek chuckled, his chair lowering back to its resting clamps. He hopped out of it.

"Hah!" Johnson snorted. "It was rougher than my Aunt Milly's petty coat. He was all bossy and kept giving off this high and mighty attitude towards us. Reminding us that he was doin' us a favor by taking us home. At least you would have been a bit more cordial."

"At least," Telek sighed. "I'll have to talk with him about that. He's not used to dealing with humans as I am. I am sorry if he was a bit rude."

"It's okay, Telek," said Miranda. "At least he got us home."

"I'm sorry for being so late," Telek replied. "I would have been here sooner if my ship hadn't been infected by the Flood. Also, I had to go pick up the gecko."

"And what's so special about him?" Johnson asked.

"He knows what the Ark does," replied Telek.

"And that's the only reason," Johnson shrugged. He shifted the cigar in his mouth and shook his head. "Well, I bet ole Erin is glad to be back with you—and Shri and Ysoa probably feel more at home again."

"Where is Shri?" Miranda asked.

"In with her brother," said Telek. "Flynn and Erin are patching him up."

"I hope her brother is all right," Johnson sighed as he leaned up against the large table on the command platform.

"And here you complain about my little—crush…" Telek chuckled. "It seems you fancy squid yourself."

"Will you shut the hell up, split-lip?!" Johnson barked. "Before I shove my shotgun down your throat."

Just as Johnson said that, every single Sangheili inside the bridge stood up from their post and pulled their weapons out from their hips. Telek rolled his blue eyes at them and turned around, clacking his mandibles.

"Will you rookies please mind your own business?!" he bellowed at them. "This is how Johnson and I talk to each other, okay?"

"They're a might jumpy, aren't they?" Johnson shook his head. "As if they haven't heard a friendly conversation before."

"Maybe it's not a good idea for you two—to start your little 'husband and wife' routine while they're around," said Miranda. "I mean, they don't seem to get the fact you two happen to be joking around."

"Well, that cuts the funny dialog off this trip," Telek snorted as he took another swig from his tin.

"With your drinkin'," Johnson crossed his arms. "I'll be surprised if we come out forwards."

"Hey, I've got designated drivers," Telek chuckled, motioning Johnson to come with him towards the helm of the ship. He pointed to Rolu and Joli who kept at their stations. "See? They're driving the ship."

"Well, that makes me feel better," Johnson placed his hand on his hip and puffed deeply on his cigar. He heard Rolu start to cough.

"L'lems taht si tahw?" Rolu asked.

"Gnikoms si namuh eht de'ew egnarts taht si ti," Joli replied.

"Tuo ti tup ot mih l'let," Rolu hissed.

"Johnson," began Telek, picking up on what Rolu had said. "This is a non-smoking bridge."

"What?" Johnson asked.

"The stogy," Telek said. "Snuff it."

"Mangy-assed squid…" Johnson growled as he took the cigar out of his mouth and snuffed out on his leg. "What's the matter? Can't stand the smell of a fine Cuban cigar?"

"I can, but they can't," Telek replied. "It's interfering with their driving."

"Fine," Johnson sighed. "But as soon as we get this tugboat to wherever it's going…" He turned around and walked out. "Besides, I better go check on Shri."

"Hey, Justin Timberlake!" Telek called. "Say, hi for me."

"Shut-up, Squiddy," Johnson echoed just as he left the bridge.

"With him around, it almost makes this ship feel like home…" Telek crossed his arms. He glanced down at Miranda. "But with you around, it really does…"

"Stop it…" Miranda shook her head with a sheepish grin. "You promised me that you'd hold off on this whole thing until the war is over."

"Which may come sooner than we think," Telek said. "I retire from both navies, let Otto take over as Shipmaster and I just settle back in some hideaway in the American Southwest—with you coming for a visit ever so now and then…or more now…than then."

"That is if one of us makes it," Miranda crossed her arms. Telek leaned down to her.

"Hey," he said. "I promised myself I would see to it that at least one Keyes makes it through this war. And I promised your father I would keep your safe. I'm not gonna break that promise."

"And I told you that's a promise you can't keep," said Miranda. "I've got a job to do too. I promised myself I wouldn't let my father down and make the same mistake he did." She paused for a moment and heard her comlink buzz. "I'm needed on my ship."

She brought herself to attention and saluted. Telek sighed and returned the salute. Miranda turned on her heals and walked out, passing Tom as she did.

"Captain Jimenez," she nodded as she passed him.

"Uh—Commander…" Tom returned the greeting. He turned around and found Telek sitting on the floor, legs crossed and his head resting in one of his arms. "Did I miss something?"

"No," Telek sighed. "I just can't wait to get this war over so I can retire. I've had enough of this fighting."

"Right, sir," said Tom. "Oh, guess what? I raided the Dawn's food storage."

Telek's head perked up when he saw his second-in-command with arms full of bags of pretzels, two six-packs of beer, and a canister of cheese fondue.

"Tom, I just might give you a medal for this," Telek chuckled.

"Well, I did learn from the best," said Tom. "Heads up!"

He tossed Telek a bag of pretzels and a can of beer. Telek opened the can and sighed in delight when he heard it hiss at him.

"They didn't have vodka?" he asked.

"Sorry," said Tom. "And I think Miranda locked up the sherry."

"Do they even have cooking sherry?" Telek asked.

"Nope," said Tom.

"Damn," he sighed. "Well, here's to Truth's death, the Flood being finally destroyed, and my retirement."

"Salud," Tom nodded in agreement and returned the toast.

Manda came in followed by 343 Guilty Spark.

"Telek," began Manda. "I do need to let you know something. Though while I do know how to operate the Ark, I don't know everything about how to get around it. Spark would be the one to pick some of the locked doors if we run into them."

"While I do not fully have in my databanks—the layout of the facility," began Spark. "I may be of assistance in helping you find your way around."

Telek wiped his mandibles: "I'm not the one that will be walking around on the ground there. The moment we break through, I'll be up here on the ship handling Truth's ships and conducting the orders of my fleet. The Chief and the Marines will be the ones down on the ground taking out the ground forces. I'll send Shri and her Spec Ops Sangheili to assist in this as well." He turned to Manda. "Have you ever set foot on the Ark before?"

"Once," said Manda. "A long time ago. My memory maybe a bit fuzzy about it."

"Do you know what Kiryuu will do when we reach there?" Telek asked.

"Probably stay up here," said Manda.

"How about have him with Miranda?" Telek asked. "Knowing that big—ole robot's with her—keeping her safe will make me feel a bit better about her being here."

"You should let the President know that," said Tom.

"I already do," Kiryuu said as he walked in. "So, you don't want me with you on the bridge, Admiral?"

"Let's just say having you here is enough," Telek growled at him. "I don't need you breathing down my neck every step of the way. I want you on the Dawn when she departs the bay. You could assist Miranda more there than you can assist me here."

"Very well," Kiryuu shrugged. "If you insist."

"And I want that weapon off my ship!" Telek barked.

"The OD is on the Dawn as we speak," said Kiryuu. "Like you wanted, Telek."

"Good," said Telek. "That's what I wanted. Just have your metallic ass off as well when we reach the Ark."

"I'm sorry you don't trust me very well, Telek," Kiryuu sighed. "After all I've done for you—giving you a commission—leadership—power—your own voice and say on things…"

"I trusted you more when you were 50 light years away on Earth and I was riding around in my assault carrier without even a thought about you, Kiryuu," Telek spat. "And that's how I like it. You being here next to me is making things worse."

"I see," Kiryuu said as he left. "Well, if you need me, I'll be on the Dawn."

"Like I'll ever need you," Telek growled.

"All of this hostility," Spark sighed. "How unfortunate at a time as urgent as this."

"Shut-up, light bulb," Telek growled. "I trust you even less. At least Kiryuu has shown some loyalty. You've actually betrayed the Chief and you tried to kill me."

"As I stated, protocol dictated my actions," said Spark. "Which is more than what I can say about that construct that just walked out."

"You know what he is?" Tom asked.

"Known?" Spark asked. "It's hard to not see it. He is a construct—primitive maybe, but efficient and highly astute. But it seems he lacks any protocol at all."

"Kiryuu doesn't need protocol," said Telek. "He has a mind of his own. He makes his own decisions."

"Completely rampant?" Spark asked. "If my makers were to have found out about something like that…"

"Well, isn't the old Tonka Toy happy your makers aren't around anymore," Telek sneered. He hopped back into his commander chair and glanced down at the arm. "This thing needs a cup holder."

Tom just chuckled and Manda shook his head in dismay.

And this is the guy who's supposed to lead us to victory…Manda thought.