Chapter 6 – The Prisoner
Location: Covenant Occupied Human Colony World New Carthage
Date: 03 / 03 / 2545 (Human Military Calendar)
3 Days after the events of Chapter 5
30 Days prior to events of Prologue
Juha' Relusee was silent as Kilshree was carried out towards the funeral pyre, his hands clasped neatly behind his back as the attendant Unggoy shuffled forwards, the washed and embalmed body of the young warrior supported between them.
More wrapped forms followed in Kilshree's wake, the diminutive slave creatures lifting each body onto the portable pyre's with revered silence. Just over a hundred Sangheili of the Special Operation Group crowded the hastily converted landing platform, each one having come to pay their final respects to one of the warriors who had been killed that dreaded night three standard planetary days passed.
Tasolmee and Texlusee stood beside him, all three Sangheili resplendent in their ceremonial robes and armour. Texlusee's claws were still bandaged and Tasolmee was sombrely quite, his mood understandably subdued.
Relusee's lower mandibles twitched as he did his best to ignore the lancing pain that shot up from his shattered ribs every time he breathed. Healer Sequesha had been furious when she had learned that he had contravened her express ruling as chief medical officer and partaken in the disastrous search and recovery mission. In her anger she had even threatened to have him actively discharged from his unit and strip him of his post and rank. It had taken no small amount of pleading on Relusee's part just for her to agree that he was fit to attend Kilshree's funeral today. In truth he believed she knew that he would have come regardless.
As the attending Unggoy dispersed from the square the young priestess lit each of the funeral pyres in turn, whispering a silent prayer and sprinkling a palm full of intense into each of the open flames.
"Lord's above, accept this offering and receive the souls of our departed into your embrace. Keep them blessed and safe beside you, every day until the end of all time, when we tread our final steps of the Great Journey and meet again."
The priestess folded her claw like hands across her chest and closed her eyes, the Unggoy ranked behind her falling to their knees as they performed prostration before the lighted alters. The female's gesture was repeated by a handful of the more outwardly religious Sangheili around the square. Relusee merely watched as the plasma enhanced flames consumed Kilshree's body, burning away all that he was and all he may have been. Relusee watched as the young fervent warrior he had come to love both as friend and brother evaporated into the air.
"The humans will burn for this" Tasolmee growled beneath his breath, his gloved hands curling to fists by his side, "Every last one of their retched kind!"
Texlusee twisted her head towards him, "The wholesale extermination of their race could never equal Kilshree's loss brother" she remarked coldly, her voice sombre "but when our ships finally glass this world and its infernal inhabitants to molten cinders, it will be a most gratifying start."
"Relusee, welcome" Korequee said, the tall Sangheili rising from his seat.
Relusee had scarcely set foot over the threshold that separated the corridor from the Commander's personnel quarter's before Korequee was across the room and in front of him. He reached forward and the two Sangheili clasped forearms from hand to elbow, an age old Sangheili gesture of greeting.
"Excellency" Relusee replied, trying to ignore the pain that flared through his ribs as he spoke, "I thank you for your invitation, but fear my delayed absence will only exhaust the remaining good will Healer Sequesha has left for me."
Korequee chuckled beneath his breath, "Do not concern yourself with such matters" he consoled, "I've already informed Sequesha that you are here on my orders to discuss official matters of military concern. Despite her over protectiveness she needs to accept that you are only wounded, not incapacitated."
Relusee nodded his thanks.
Korequee beckoned him forwards towards the vacant chair that was in front of his desk before turning towards one of the antiquated display cabinets that lined the walls of the chamber.
Relusee used the opportunity to take stock of his Commander's quarters.
Several smaller rooms seemed to branch off from the central chamber which likely provided Korequee with a personnel washroom, sleeping quarters and perhaps even a private kitchen and armoury. Space was certainly not at a premium among the senior military officials off the Covenant occupation force. Despite this most of the central chamber remained bare, and Korequee had utilized some of the extra room to install a personnel work station and terminal. The Commander had always had a reputation on Sepheria Luminare as a Sangheili of adequate wealth but few material luxuries. He had risen to his command upon his skill and frugal devotion to duty rather than the commodity of his lineage.
Korequee turned back towards him, a sea blue crystal bottle in one hand and two small glasses in the other. Placing the two glasses on the table between them Korequee proceeded to pour out two drinks, one he handed to Relusee and the other he took in his own hand before retaking his seat.
"Jiralhanae rum" Korequee explained, "Brewed on Doisac itself. Is has quite a kick but I've found it useful when I've needed to clear my mind."
Relusee sampled the drink, lowering the glass as the blue liquid slipped over his tongue and down his throat. It was remarkably stronger then what he was use too, but at the same time seemed to dull the pain from his broken ribs. He raised the glass to his lower mandibles and took a second sip.
"I'm sorry for your loss Relusee" Korequee said finally, "Kilshree was a fine warrior and his death is a grievous loss not only to your unit but to the entire Special Operation's Group as a whole."
"Thank you Excellency" Korequee replied, "He was an only child, his parents are based on Sangheilios. I've been trying to word a letter to them these last few days, I wanted to tell them he died a warrior's death, but I can't seem to find the right words too..."
He trailed off, unable to finish.
Korequee nodded in agreement, "There'll come Relusee, with time. I've been drafting letters to the families of every warrior that we've lost. Kilshree was not the first, and he will certainly not be the last."
"How many dead?"
Korequee paused, draining his own glass in the moment of silence, "Seven Special Operation warriors, eleven terrestrials, seventeen Unggoy and Kig-yar auxiliaries and a dozen Jiralhanae mercenaries."
"And the demon?" Korequee growled, his claw like hand curling around the now empty glass.
"You know I cannot answer that Relusee" Korequee replied as he folded his hands neatly across the table, "But I promise you, warrior to warrior that justice will be done to Kilshree's killer."
Relusee nodded in solemn agreement.
"Now to the matter at hand" Korequee continued, "How are Tasolmee and Texlusee taking Kilshree's death?"
"He was as a brother to them" Relusee answered, "And they had only just come to accept him as such. They will not let his death go unanswered Excellency, and I fear what will happen if they are given time to brood over the fact that his killer is both alive and at present inaccessible to them."
"I had feared as much" Korequee said, "Which brings us to our main conundrum. I believe the best course of action would be for you to return to front line duties once fully healed, but at present your unit is combat ineffective. I cannot send your team into a potential combat scenario under strength, and neither can I break up another fourunit to provide you with the seasoned warrior you require."
"Then what would you suggest Excellency?"
Korequee reached beneath his desk and withdrew a holo-file, placing the silver tube on the table between them. Relusee took the metallic cylinder in his hands and flicked open the seal with a single claw, drawing apart the two halves of the tube as the holo-screen materialized between them. He read through the file, taking careful notes of the dates, profile and comments left by the warrior in question's previous commanding officer.
After a few seconds he glanced up towards Korequee.
"A terrestrial?" he asked.
"Conscripted past her initial three cycle term of service" Korequee replied, "She was recommended for advancement to the Special Operation Group during her tour of the Talakreche worlds and noted for her exceptional marks in perception, marksmanship and intuition. She's already completed her basic Special Operation's training and is more battle seasoned then many of our recruits. And by all accounts she may have saved your life Relusee, there's no question of her competence."
Relusee clicked his lower mandibles and cocked his head, considering the Commander's words, "We could condense the remaining training into a high intensity course over a few days. Should she choose to remain within the Special Operation's Group we can tie off any loose ends upon our return to the Academy on Sepheria Luminare. My main concern is whether she wants to join us, she stepped out of this process during her original term of service and legally we cannot force her to join, all Special Operation warriors are volunteers."
"The Terrestrials are here under orders from the Ministry of Resource to back up the Field Legions" Korequee replied, "This is just a transfer from one unit to another Relusee, it will not be permanent unless she wishes it so."
Relusee nodded his head in agreement, his eyes still running over the scroll in his hands.
"Tasolmee may agree with you in principle" he said, "Come to think of it, I believe he's involved with one of the terrestrials in her unit, but I don't know how he'll react to her filling Kilshree's place. As for Texlusee, she won't like it. She hates the terrestrials, she'll never accept this."
"She doesn't have to accept it Relusee" Korequee replied, waving away the remark with a swish of his claws "I know Texlusee well. She may seethe over a terrestrial taking Kilshree's place, but she would never do anything that would place your lives in danger."
Relusee was silent as he skimmed through the holo-scroll a final time, taking careful note of the final report of the commanding officer of the terrestrial in question.
"When do we make our move?" he finally asked.
Korequee mandibles twisted into a smile, "Soon!"
"Who are you?"
"I do not know."
Field Master Ortz' Satoroquee exhaled sharply, his face flushing with anger.
The demon was suspended before him in the centre of the ocular holding chamber, the creature's gauntlet hands secured above its head in shielded manacle guards. Its feet were similarly restrained by a single reinforced rectangular clasp comprised of the same material as a Mgalekgolo's standard issue combat shield. A dozen fully armed and armoured Sangheili ringed the cell, all of them seasoned warriors from the Interstellar Field legions, handpicked by the Field Master himself.
Slowly Satoroquee made his way around the prisoner, the golden zealot's armoured hooves ringing atop the raised platform.
"Why were you sent here?" Satoroquee continued, "Are your forces preparing to attack this world?"
The demon did not turn its helm to face him, "I know not of who you speak?"
"Insolent vermin!" Satoroquee roared as he rounded on the human from behind "Why are you here?"
"I do not know" the demon repeated.
Taia' Korequee watched the interrogation unfold from the observation room that boarded the holding cell, his arms folded across his chest.
"Do you believe that he is telling the truth?" Penance mused.
Beside Korequee Healer Sequesha shook her head, her claw like hands poised atop her hips, "The terrestrial's report stated that she struck a solid blow to the human's upper cranium. Such a blunt force trauma could easily result in memory loss Excellency, both temporary and permanent."
On the other side of the aged San 'Shyuum's bobbing gravity throne Fleet Master Talsharnee and High Priestess Ikarshree regarded the manacled human prisoner with silent contemplation.
"Then it could be telling truth?" Talsharnee finally remarked.
Sequesha reached up to scratch at her lower mandibles then sighed, "Excellency, the terrestrial's report stated that she struck this human directly atop its head with the full force of the hammer's anvil, swathed in gravitonic fields and without a functioning gravity inhibitor. That amount of raw force could have crushed a Mgalekgolo's skull into its torso compartment. Once I've worked out how this human is still alive, I'll start looking into whether it's suffering from amnesia."
"What can you tell us about its physiology?" Ikarshree asked, "Could it be one of the human's genetically modified warriors? I believe they refer to them as, Spartans."
Ikarshree spoke the word with evident distaste; her words seeming to curl around the term with an almost wary disgust.
"The human's armour has deflected all attempts to scan or examine his anatomy" Sequesha replied shaking her head, "But I do not believe so. I know a little of the human's enhanced warrior's from autopsy reports and reported interrogations. Their Spartan combat troops are merely drug enhanced genetically augmented heavy infantry, this is something else. The psychical strength it displayed, its sheer size and stamina in relation to a standard adult human makes me believe that it has been genetically engineered from conception rather than just enhanced. This, creature has not consumed food or water for three standard human days and we do not know when it last consumed adequate provisions. It shouldn't even be conscious at this moment."
Penance nodded in reply, tapping his chin with a gnarled finger "Why do we not merely strip off its armour and examine the flesh beneath?"
"I have not been able to decipher any form of seal or manual access to remove any part of its armour from the outside" Sequesha replied, "As best I can tell it was designed only to be opened from the inside. We could always try to force our way in but I believe the human is physically integrated into the armour to such a degree that such an action may well kill him."
"Wouldn't that be unfortunate?" Talsharnee remarked coldly.
"The demon will be terminated in due course Fleet Master" Penance assured them with a lazy wave of his wrist "but first we have to know who sent it and why. The humans are not the only suspect party. The Phfor, the Xenotine's or even a faction within the High Council could be responsible for this, abomination."
"The High Council" Talsharnee sneered, "Using humans, preposterous."
"The prospect is not entirely without precedent" Ikarshree remarked, her eyes still upon the demon, "A single captured human or even a small number of them would be easy enough to procure on the galactic black market for one with adequate wealth and resources. Indoctrination would be a simple enough matter, and as the good Healer has already pointed out, the demon's armour has been designed to be seemingly impossible to force open without killing the occupant. It was obviously designed for a suicide mission, the perfect deniable asset."
"A reasonable assessment" Penance nodded, "Commander, what do we know of this human's weaponry?"
"Precious little" Korequee replied as he stretched out his neck muscles, "We've identified a varied range of what appears to be standard issue infantry equipment, an assault rifle and combat blade, some form of energy grenades. They appear to be comprised of same type of material as the human's battle armour and as such are completely impervious to any of our scanners. Furthermore all the weapons appear to be gene locked to the human's own genetic imprint, so we cannot test their capabilities although from the combat reports they appear to be energy based."
"Interesting" Penance pondered, stroking at the thin whiskers beneath his chin as he considered Korequee's words, "The humans do not posses that level of technology, which would suggest we are dealing with either a domestic or neighbouring party. Tell me Commander, what would be your best educated guess?"
"Excellency, the human's armour and weapons bare marking not common to any known power or private organization that I know off" Korequee said, "This human was not equipped by any force or party within the Orion spiral arm."
Penance nodded his head in silent agreement, raising a withered hand to ward of any further comments, "Most disconcerting. Yet perhaps the demon can shed some light as to the mystery of its origins."
He gestured towards the interrogation room where Satoroquee was now directly in front of the shackled human, his deep voice echoing throughout the circular chamber.
"...equipped you?" Satoroquee was asking.
The demon regarded the Field Master with an almost quizzical inclination of its helmet head.
"Who provided your weapons and armour?" Satoroquee repeated through gritted mandibles.
"The state" the demon replied.
"Which state?"
"I cannot remember."
"Blasted creature" Satoroquee roared, raising his arm as if to strike the human. To its credit the demon didn't even flinch. At the last moment Satoroquee paused, though better of his action and lowered his arm. Without a further word the golden armoured Field Master turned on his heel and swept his hand over the access crystal beside the chamber's single doorway. The energy field that blocked the doorway dissipated and Satoroquee strode out.
"Well that was distinctly unhelpful" Ikarshree commented beneath her breathe.
"Quite" Penance agreed, "Healer, what can you tell me about Chieftain Vorackus's current condition."
Beside Korequee Sequesha took a cursory step back and rubbed absently at her wrist, "Terminal, if such a term could be applied to his condition. The Jiralhanae is alive in a technical sense; though I do not believe he will ever regain consciousness. The demon shattered both off his legs from kneecap to hip, and all but crushed the femur in his forearm into broken gravel before dislocating Vorackus's upper nasal cavity. He then took the Chieftain's broken nose and effectively shoved it up into his brain. The damage was extreme, all I can do is to try and make him comfortable."
"Thank you Healer" Penance replied solemnly. They were all silent for a moment, Korequee using the time to mutter a voiceless prayer for Vorackus's soul. He was a Jiralhanae, a turncoat and perhaps even butcher of countless Sangheili, but his actions whether intentional or not had saved Relusee's life and traitor or not, he had met his end with courage and honour, yet robbed of his final dignity by the human before them.
After a few seconds the door to the observation room slid open and Satoroquee entered, the big Sangheili's mood was little improved.
"Infuriating race" he growled, clasping his claw like hands behind his back, "Excellency, I see little more that can be garnered from this prisoner, and I am concerned over the threat he could pose to the security of this instillation and its personnel."
"I agree with the Field Master" Ikarshree responded, "This demon poses a direct threat to all of our interests that we have invested into this world. It should be moved off planet immediately."
She made no mention of the Forerunner relics in Satoroquee's or Sequesha's presence.
Penance sighed, drumming his long fingers on the armrest of his throne, "I'll make the necessary arrangements. Once we've garnered everything we can, the human will be relocated to a secure facility off world for further interrogation and eventual termination."
"Excellency" Korequee said as he turned towards the Prophet, "I would ask you to allow that my own Special Operation warriors handle the transfer of the prisoner from surface to orbit. I do not wish to give this human any possible chance of being loosed upon the surface of this world for a second time."
"Off course Commander" Penance agreed with a casual wave of his hand, "You'll handle the transfer personally."
"A most satisfying outcome Excellency" Satoroquee remarked, a hint if shallow triumph in his voice, "I take it there will be suitable repercussions taken against the human colonists for the loss of our warriors."
"Absolutely not" Ikarshree suddenly interjected. From the tone of her voice Korequee new that the High Priestess would broker no argument on this subject.
Satoroquee turned towards her, his lower mandibles twisting in anger, "We have lost warriors to the humans priestess. They must be punished for their insolence."
"The human resistance cells maintain planet wide communication with each other Field Master" Ikarshree growled as she turned towards him, "They know of every raid, bombing and foray committed against our forces before we've even rounded up the hostages for retaliation. Right now our subjugation of this world and the flow of raw materials from it depend on the humans belief that we maintain complete military superiority over their indigenous resistance forces. If the humans learn that a single of their warrior's killed so many of ours, it could be seen as a rallying cry to war, at worst we could see a planet wide uprising. The flow of supplies to the frontlines would be strangled if not cut off entirely, and our overall crusade against the humans would suffer because of it. The colonists are never going to know what happened here Field Master."
Satoroquee still clearly boiling with anger parted his mandibles to speak but Penance cut him off before we could respond.
"In this matter Field Master" Penance said, "I fear the High Priestess is correct in that a retaliatory action against the humans could do more harm than good. The end results will be the same, any humans who survive this occupation will die when we glass this..."
Penance paused, his voice trailing off as something caught the aged San 'Shyuum's attention. Inside the holding chamber the Sangheili Legionnaire's were moving towards the single entrance, their weapons raised, the section leader blocking the doorway. Someone was trying to force their way inside.
Korequee swept his hand over the terminal that linked beneath the observation window, a holo-panel lighting up beneath his gauntlet as he amplified the transceivers volume. Inside the chamber he caught sight of a swarthy Jiralhanae clad in the pseudo combat harness of a captain, ultra class. A handful of the creature's fellow mercenaries filled the corridor behind him.
"I do not care who you believe yourself to be Krausx" the Sangheili section leader was growling, "The Field Master ordered that no one is to be permitted entry to this cell."
"...shishvalk butchered our kin Sangheili" Krausx was shouting, "Not to mention your own. We are here to interrogate the prisoner, your Field Master is fully aware of our orders."
"Sacred flame I am" Satoroquee roared, reaching for his communicator at his wrist, "I'll have that beast's head for this."
Penance suddenly reached up and grasped the Sangheili thick wrist in his wiry fingers, "Hold fast Field Master" he said, "Just for the moment."
"...am not going to ask you again" the section leader hissed, his fellow Legionnaires levelling their rifles and carbines behind him, "Step back from the doorway!"
Krausx stood his ground, his arms folded. His fellow Jiralhanae tensed behind him.
"Let them enter" Penance decided.
"Excellency!" Satoroquee cried, "You cannot be..."
"I'm curious Field Master" Penance mused, his eyes returning to the demon, "Krausx was a counter-insurgency officer on Doisac during the tribal secessions, perhaps he can glean something from our prisoner that you were unable to."
"Excellency I strongly..." Korequee began.
"Silence" Penance hissed, "You will do as ordered Sangheili!"
Satoroquee glanced towards Korequee, and with a nod of his head thumbed the communicator at his wrist, "It's alright Ikorandee, they have clearance. Stand down and vacate the chamber immediately, the prisoner is to be left in their care."
With evident reluctance the section leader turned and barked a command to his assembled warriors. One by one the Sangheili filed out of the cell as the Jiralhanae entered, the swarthy irregulars spreading out around the prisoner as the last legionnaire sealed the doorway behind her.
"Now human" Krausx growled, his arms folded before him, "It is time you leant your place beneath us."
The demon visibly straitened before him, the slanted sheath like blades that extended from the rear edge of its forearm's seeming to twist ever so slightly as if it was testing the manacles that ensnared its gauntlets. From the observation room Korequee felt a distinctly unpleasant chill trickling down his spine as he watched the demon's beast like helm tilt towards Krausx and was suddenly reminded of a Sangheilian razorback trekking its prey.
"You are Jiralhanae?" the prisoner stated, "I fought your kind in the forest."
"You murdered our kin" one of the Jiralhanae mercenaries hissed.
The demon twisted its helm over its shoulder, the manacles audibly flexing above it head, "I inflicted upon them the same fate that they attempted to inflict upon myself" he replied coldly, "I merely succeeded where they failed."
"You dare to mock our dead" Krausx shouted.
The demon turned back towards him and cocked its head as it regarded the captain, "Their discipline was poor."
"What?" one of the Jiralhanae growled.
"Your fellow Jiralhanae" the demon remarked, his eyes still upon Krausx, "they were poorly disciplined and inexperienced combatants. Your commander was different, capable but overconfident in his own abilities. I'm sure he held nothing but contempt for the fighting ability of those beneath him."
"Silence demon!" Krausx shouted, "We are sacred warriors of Covenant and you will hold your tongue!"
From behind the observation screen Korequee exhaled deeply, his hand moving towards the deactivated plasma sword at his waist. Inside the chamber the demon was tensing its muscles, audibly flexing the manacles above.
"You are not a front line unit are you?" the prisoner asked.
Krausx opened his mouth to speak then stopped, his meaty paws clenching to fists as he looked around his fellow warriors.
"Yes" the demon continued, "The pieces begin to assume their place. This is an occupied world, a beachhead in your enemy's territory. A place to marshal supplies, resources and you are rear echelon, security troops."
"Silence human" Krausx growled.
"It's is no wonder really" the demon continued, its voice now laced with obvious contempt; "You have never experienced the horror of true and total war have you? No sane military commander would risk your incompetence on the battlefield, the only place you could be ever be tolerated in a war is here."
"Silence" Krausx roared, pulling his arm back to strike a blow across the human's face. As before and to Korequee's grudging respect the demon didn't even flinch.
At the last moment Krausx paused, glancing towards his fellow warriors. The Jiralhanae milled about, avoiding each others eyes with an almost sheepish reluctance where before there had only been confidence.
Lowering his arm Krausx took a step back from the prisoner, his attention flickering towards the observation panel. With a somewhat uncharacteristic chuckle he began to laugh.
Korequee clicked his lower mandibles in puzzlement. Penance was silent beside him whilst Satoroquee fumed in the corner.
"You are correct human" Krausx chortled as he lifted a curled hand to his mouth, "To each warrior their respected duties. It is the will of the God's we find ourselves on this world, with you in our care."
"How unfortunate for us both" the demon retorted.
Krausx grinned a toothy smile, "I think it is time we see your face demon" Krausx remarked, "I wish to look upon your eyes before I tear them out."
"I welcome you to try beast."
"Excellency" Korequee warned.
"If they..." Sequesha began.
"We will stop them before they extract flesh" Penance said, "But I am curious to see what lies beneath the demon's visor."
Inside the chamber Krausx cracked his fingers, "Lepidus, remove the human's helmet."
A thickly built Jiralhanae emerged from pack, rounding the cell until he stood beside his captain. The swarthy warrior reached forward and grasped the human's armoured head in both hands, hooking his thick fingers around the beastmask's lower cranium and chin guard. The demon was silent and stubbornly impassive as the Jiralhanae tried to twist its head first one way, and then the other, gaining only a fraction of movement in either direction despite his best attempts.
"There is no dermal seal or outer layer" Lepidus grunted, his brow clenched in exertion, "I cannot feel a release mechanism."
The Jiralhanae stepped forward, his hands still locked around the prisoner's head.
Korequee glanced down towards Penance. The aged San' Shyuum was poised at the edge of his gravity throne, the knobbly nails of his fingers digging into the underside of the throne's armrest.
"Magalus, Bruktus" Krausx gestured to the two Jiralhanae warriors, "Take hold of the human's..."
The demon lashed out suddenly and with a force that Korequee had not truly believed the creature capable of before, its skull helm crashing straight into Lepidus's face. There was the screech of cable as the manacles above the demon were strained to their limit, but held.
Lepidus pitched backwards drunkenly on his heels, the Jiralhanae's face a twisted mess of bloodied fur, exposed bone and cartilage. Krausx was already reeling as Lepidus hit the ground, his limbs twitching spastically as blood gurgled from his lips. From the angle he was laid out Korequee knew instantly that his neck was broken.
Inside the observation room the Sangheili recoiled from the scene. Fleet Master Talsharnee was cursing the Jiralhanae's stupidity and ordering them removed even as Satoroquee was roaring into the communicator at his wrist.
The Sangheili legionnaire's stormed back into the room, corralling the Jiralhanae mercenaries first from the chamber's perimeter and then towards the doorway, the contractors screaming all manner of threats and profanities. Lepidus's body was unceremoniously scooped from the ground and hoisted into the midst of his companions before the Jiralhanae were bundled out of the chamber altogether.
Nu Carthage was not a world any self respecting Sangheili would ever choose to colonize willingly.
As a race the Sangheili had evolved in a climate of tropical heat and fertile coastland. By comparison the human colony was a barren half frozen backwater of a world; its sole commodity being the extensive deposits of raw materials entrenched beneath its surface. Under normal circumstances the Sangheili would have been all too happy to leave the planet to penal labour and Kig-yar merchants, creaming off the income derived from any exports and subsequent industry from the comfort of their own warm homeworlds.
Yet the ongoing crusade against the humans required no small amount of sacrifice from the Sangheili, the luxury of home comforts chief amongst them.
Suka' Nakitee was therefore understandably gratified to have access to the legionary communal sauna block that day. The complex was one of only six such structures within the Covenant Forward Operating Base that spread out from the Central Spire, and as such admittance was in very high demand.
Naked save for a silken loin cloth and towel, Nakitee made her way towards the closest sauna room and opened the door. A single female Sangheili of slightly darker skin tone was already seated on the first rack, a field legionnaire if the tattoo on her shoulder was anything to go by. The female greeted Nakitee with a cordial nod of her head but otherwise remained silent. Nodding her head in acknowledgement Nakitee ascended up the steps to the second rack and sat down. The raw heat that seeped through her back, thighs and hooves was a pleasant and welcome relief to the Sangheili. Nakitee lent back her head and closed her eyes as for the first time in she could not remember how many days, sweat dripped freely down from her forehead, shoulders and arms.
The field legionnaire left not long after she arrived. Nakitee heard her stand up and make her way out of the sauna, easing the glass door shut behind her. There was the gentle thump of her bare hooves on the marble floor, and then the sound of running water, a shower being activated.
Nakitee allowed herself to drift into the all consuming heat, her mind free to wander. She was home again, standing barehoofed in a field of freshly cut Ikuren, her family's ancestral villa back on Sepheria Luminare. There was no war here, no military checkpoints, no frigid wasteland and no blasted humans.
A child's cry echoed behind her, Nakitee turned to see her sibling brothers playfully rolling around together in the mud, the harried looking Unggoy housemaid screaming at them to stop before her mother saw them.
Nakitee lifted a cupped hand to her mandibles as she laughed, the light breeze gently tingling the skin of her cheekbone along with the summer crop.
All was fair until an ice like claw stroked her spine from behind, chilling the Sangheili warrior to her core. Nakitee awoke to the sensation of icicle like fingers closing about her throat, stifling the air from her lungs. She jolted up from her seat and gasped for air, the towel falling from her body.
Nakitee almost slipped as her heel touched the floor. Her skin was plastered with thick clammy sweat which dripped from her legs, brow and even the tips of her claws.
How long had she been asleep for?
Scooping her towel from the floor Nakitee strode straight towards the glass door, storming out of the sauna as fast as she was able. There was no sound of running water, no gentle click of hooves along the marble floor.
Nakitee found the communal showers deserted, the field legionnaire must have left.
Discarding her sweatlogged towel and loincloth Nakitee stepped into the shower block and swiped her claw like hand over the activation rune. The cold water that rinsed over her was an unexpected yet welcome relief from the sudden heat and Nakitee ensured that in reached every corner of body as she smoothed her hands over her scalp.
After a few minutes Nakitee swept her hand back over the activation rune, and the jet above her ceased, the last droplets of water bouncing off her neck and shoulders before plummeting to the floor beneath her. It was as that gentle patter of water droplets petered out that Nakitee was suddenly made aware of another sound coming somewhere close by, a gentle click against the marble floor.
Hoofbeats.
Stepping out from the communal showers Nakitee made her way towards the corridor that ran down the centre of the centre of the shower block.
There was nothing.
Clicking her lower mandibles Nakitee turned towards the stairs that led down from the main changing area below the gymnasium.
Again there was no one there.
Was she imagining things now?
Nakitee shook her head, letting slip an exasperated sigh. Her nerves had not seemed this frayed even during her tour of the Talakreche worlds, and the Jiralhanae were not exactly the most jovial of subjects.
Twisting on her heel Nakitee made her way towards the chamber's sole washbasin. She splashed cold water over her face and rubbed at her eyes.
She was just tired.
Opening her eyes Nakitee placed both hands on the basin's edge and looked up into the reflective mirror above the sink, vaguely glimpsing the coiling stream rising from the shower block behind her.
She knew she had not slept well these last three days, not since...
The steam was moving the wrong way!
Pure instinct took over her actions. Nakitee ducked down, twisting her body towards the ground as the mirror shattered above her head.
The blow had no doubt been meant for her skull.
Pivoting on one heel Nakitee struck out with her other leg, sweeping the seemingly empty space before her with a powerful overhead kick. Her barehoof connected with something undeniably solid and in the vacant steam chocked shower block Nakitee caught site of the faintest outline of a Sangheili warrior, high in stature and armoured.
Ossoona.
They'd come for her!
Nakitee's blow was a textbook military close quarters strike, yet her opponent had the advantage of a fully sealed combat harness, and she was stark naked. Pain flared through her lower thigh and hip joint yet her attacker, still half invisible was momentarily reeling away from her.
Grimacing against the pain Nakitee clasped her hands above her head and locked her fists together.
Something crashed into her from the side and all but through the Sangheili from her hooves. In the ensuing struggle against the second invisible opponent Nakitee felt a powerful arm hook around her throat as she was pulled backwards, the chokehold crushing her windpipe.
Sputtering for breath Nakitee smashed her elbow into her attacker's abdomen. There was a guttural hiss in her ear and the faintest notion of breath on the back of her neck but the arm locked around her throat remained just as tight as it had been before. In front of her Nakitee glimpsed definite movement as the first attacker's active camouflage fought to reassume its master's shape.
Nakitee changed tact. Gasping in her last lungful of air Nakitee pivoted forwards, leaning her full weight onto the tips of her hooves. For the slightest moment the second attacker at her rear was lifted from the ground, their full weight now supported on Nakitee's back.
Breathing out Nakitee launched herself backwards with all the force she could muster. The two Sangheili crashed into the wall with such force that the luminous panelling audibly flexed behind them. Her attacker staggered, their arm loosening from her throat. Nakitee struck out with her elbow landing a second strike to the cloaked Sangheili's chestplate.
Freed of her attackers grasp, Nakitee sprinted for the steps that led down from the gymnasium's dressing chamber. There was a plasma pistol and blade in her locker, if she could just reach them...
A cloaked leg connected with her lower thigh, cracking against her kneecap. Nakitee almost screamed as she was flipped forward onto the cold marble floor. She landed on her hands and knees and was just making a less then articulate attempt to right herself when two gloved hands seized her arms from behind.
Nakitee hissed vehemently as she was pulled to her knees, an armoured hoof forcing its way down onto the back of her shin and pinning her legs to the ground. In front of her two Sangheili materialized from the swarming clouds of steam. Her first attacker was a thickly built male; the second was a tall lithely built female.
Nakitee turned up her mandibles at the Ossoona, trying her best to rise to her feet but the hoof pinning her lower legs to the ground was too strong, and her own strength was deserting her. Stifling a cough Nakitee was suddenly aware of a black hood being pulled over her head. She struggled, jabbing her elbow into the third Ossoona's back.
A sharp sudden crack to the back of her skull felled the female to the ground.
"She's awake Commander."
Nakitee winced as the hood was pulled free from her head, the sudden illumination stinging her eyes as she ducked her head.
Her mouth was dry.
How long had she been unconscious for?
The room she was in was windowless, its walls a plain ablative black whilst a single strip of lighting directly above her provided the featureless chamber with its only source of light. It took Nakitee a few seconds to register the Sangheili seated in front of her.
From his frame and posture Nakitee knew he was male, yet he was swathed in shadows, just outside of her narrow field of vision. He was armoured, yet Nakitee could not make out any formal indication of rank or unit insignia.
Nakitee could sense others in the room, at least two behind her. That was where the voice had come from.
Clearly the Sangheili before her was the 'Commander' of which they spoke.
"Suka' Nakitee?" the Sangheili asked. His accent denoted a warrior of high linage, yet the tone was of one seasoned by combat. The Commander gestured with his claws to indicate to her that it was a question.
Tersely Nakitee nodded her head.
"First Daughter of Varo and Essa Nakitee" he continued, "Good linage, if somewhat of a common ancestry."
There was an evident disdain in his voice now.
"I understand you're here with your cohort under a mandatory order of extended service by order of the Ministry of Resources. Your standard term was spent on deployment in the Talakreche sector, correct?"
"Yes" Nakitee replied.
The Commander nodded in solemn acknowledgement, "You were recommended for advancement into the Special Operation's Group, had all but completed your standard training in fact, and then for reasons never specified you dropped out."
"Yes" Nakitee repeated, "As was my right by common law."
The Commander shifted in his seat, resting his lower mandibles between his claw like thumb and forefinger. Nakitee was repeating his words in her head, trying to decide if they had been phrased as a question when he spoke.
"How long have you been working for the humans?"
"What?" Nakitee gasped, her face twisting in horror at the insinuation. She was flabbergasted.
"How long have you been in contact with the human central military command?" the Sangheili male asked.
"I..." Nakitee began as she shook her head, "I don't know what..."
This couldn't be happening!
"A very interesting report" the commander said as he held up a sealed silver holo-scroll, "Your's from three standard human days ago, I assume you're more than familiar with their dating system, as you are likely in frequent contact with them."
"I'm not a traitor" Nakitee hissed, "I'm here under orders. I can barely even speak their language."
Someone was chuckling behind her, a female. Nakitee was sure of it.
"Are yes, conscripted deployment" the Commander remarked, "the perfect cover for a defector. Strange that out of every terrestrial on this world you just happen to turn up where and when a human commando is scheduled to make planetfall."
"I helped subdue him" Nakitee retorted, "If I was working with the humans why would I help capture their infiltrator."
"Yes that was quite a conundrum for me as well" the Sangheili male replied as he opened the data-scroll, "that was until I went back and read through your earlier reports. I tell you now Nakitee I've been in fleet security fifteen cycles but it's not often I'm fed a sacrificial agent."
Nakitee opened her mandibles to speak but no words came out. She paused, her face twisting into a look of pure uncomprehending confusion.
"Your third patrol" the Sangheili continued. "Your report states that you stopped and search a human youngling, male. Nothing found, you let it go. Nine standard planetary days later one of our supply convoy's following a supposedly random route is ambushed by human insurgents."
"I was there" Nakitee snapped, "I killed one of the humans with my bare hands. This is..."
"One planetary day later" the Commander cut in "During the reprisal executions in the city square your report states that you intercepted a lone human child attempting to vaunt the security barrier. Then during your report concerning the engagement with the human commando you record seeing a human child fleeing from the forest, only then do you acknowledge that the child encountered at all three occasions was the same human. The human who has been serving as your contact with their indigenous resistance force, the human you failed to execute after it attempted to breach an active security zone, and the same human you escorted from an enemy drop zone while our forces were committed to hunting down a pre-arranged decoy!"
"I'm not working with the humans" Nakitee all but screamed, "This is utterly preposterous."
The Sangheili rose from his seat, his hand reaching for a sheathed energy sword at his waist as he loomed over Nakitee.
"Let me simplify this for you little daughter" he growled, "What you've done is punishable by ritual excruciation and execution. We have irrefutable evidence linking you to the human resistance forces here; however my superiors would like to make you an offer. You come from a well respected family Nakitee, and those who have benefited from their friendship do not wish to be associated with such scandal. If you admit your guilt, I can promise you a type of later day exile. You'll never serve in the military again, you will never be considered fit for bonding by any respectable lineage, but you will be allowed to return home. You can even take up your position with the Central Archives and Account's. If however you continue to profess your innocence, we will have no other option but to punish you're crimes to the full extent of both military and state law. You will be hung, drawn and quartered, your name will be stricken from all honours and your parents and brothers will be forbidden on pain of death from ever breeding again!"
Nakitee glared at the shadowy male, her eyes screaming undisguised murder. In truth she was terrified, it was worse than anything she had feared would come from her report, but she had told the truth on all accounts, and she would tell it now.
"My grandfather always commanded me to tell the truth" Nakitee remarked calmly, "Even if one day it would lead to my death. I am no traitor nor have I ever been in contact with any human organization or individual except on account of mutual apathy. Do with me what you will."
She closed her eyes, a single tear slipping down her cheek. She could only hope her parents would forgive her.
Silence seemed to reign between them for eternity, and Nakitee was aware that her twin hearts were thumping ever harder inside her chest. She'd never believed her life would end like this.
"Finally put warrior."
The male's voice was soft, almost paternal in its sudden change of tone. Nakitee inhaled deeply as she felt a strong claw like hand curl around her shoulder as she opened her eyes.
The Sangheili Commander was directly in front of her, his mandibles twisted into a kindly smile before he looked up over her head.
"Release her Tasolmee."
Nakitee felt the bonds around her wrists loosen before sliding free from her hands altogether.
Tenuously she rose from her seat, absently stroking at her claws together, "I don't understand?"
The Sangheili male, a Special Operation's Commander Nakitee now realized clasped his hands behind his back, "Nakitee, my name is Commander Taia' Korequee, of the Special Operation's Group. I'm afraid I owe you a most sincere apology warrior, for both your treatment in being brought here and for the subsequent terror I must have no doubt just put you through. Though you did give two of my most experienced warrior's a most remarkable thrashing all things considered."
With a slight inclination of his head Korequee gestured towards the rear of the room, Nakitee turned in the direction he had indicated. Two Sangheili warriors stood directly behind her seat, a male and female both clad in the silvery combat harnesses of the Special Operation's Group. A third Sangheili male of identical cladding was seated in the corner of the room, one arm slung in a medical brace that wrapped around his shoulder.
"For a terrestrial" the female remarked dryly.
"What was that Texlusee?" Korequee asked.
"I said you wanted her unharmed" Texlusee replied, "Our choices were limited."
"Next time our hands will not be tied" the male that had to be Tasolmee remarked. The Sangheili male looked familiar and Nakitee was certain she's laid eyes on him around her barracks before, but she could not think where or when.
Slowly Nakitee turned back towards Korequee, "My report?" she asked.
Korequee held up the silver tube in his claw like fingers, "As I said, a most interesting read. And as a former intelligence officer, I can tell you on all accounts of your conduct since setting foot on this world you have made the right decision. Killing the human youngling after the search would have served no practical purpose, whilst murdering it at the executions with thousands of its kin all around could have incensed the humans to riot. As for the drop site, I confess its presence there is still a complete mystery to me."
"Do you believe it to be a contact for the human resistance?" she asked.
"It's possible" Korequee conceded with a twist of his neck, "But unlikely. The human infiltrator came down close to the mass burial site which was used at the executions you intercepted the child at. His very presence at both locations would lead me to believe he knew one of the prisoners we had taken. More than likely the child was paying its final respects and was simply at the wrong place at the wrong time."
"A pity we cannot extract the answers from him first hand" Tasolmee remarked from behind.
"Quite true" Korequee replied, "However by your report he is still alive and whilst he is likely not directly involved with whatever mission this human infiltrator was sent to accomplish, he was the first witness to its arrival and thus may have valuable intelligence. He is now a first priority target. Nakitee, having crossed paths with him before I am confident you can assist us in identifying and apprehending this child, he must be taken alive."
"But, I'm a terrestrial" Nakitee replied, "I'm not part of the Special Operation's Group."
Korequee's mandibles curled back into a smile, "I apologized to you before Nakitee and now I most do so again. Legionnaire Suka' Nakitee, by the authority off my position and the Covenant Ground Forces, I am placing you under the jurisdiction of the Special Operation's Group. On refreshment of your basic training you will placed under the command of squad leader Juha' Relusee. Suka' Nakitee, welcome to silverbacks."
"Oh" Nakitee replied.
It had been three days since Alex had returned from the forest.
Three days since his encounter with the mysterious warrior atop Alam's grave. Three days since the young boy had slipped back into the orphanage unnoticed in the dead of night.
He had not left its walls since.
Alex lay awake beneath his piled blankets, the tattered mattress squeaking ever so slightly as he stretched out his tense limbs, his eyes remaining fixated on the antiquated watch on his wrist, the second hand ticking by.
He had barely slept at all.
Alex had remembered so vividly scrambling down the abandoned coal shoot that night, his clothing damp with grime and sleet. He had curled up in the storeroom's corner and sobbed over what he had seen, the rich scent of the mutilated brutes still hot inside his mouth and nostrils. If his waking hours were not consumed with the terror of what he had witnessed, then his dreams were filled with the horrors that could yet be unleashed against him.
The seconds ticked by before him. Minutes passed, and then hours yet nothing came for Alex from the darkness. The other orphans crammed into the small basement continued in their slumber oblivious to his plight. There was gentle snoring of to his right, and somewhere in the room Alex could hear a child coughing wetly. Above them Alex could hear the light tread of footsteps as the adults moved around in the rooms of the orphanage above. There were hushed whispers and he thought he could hear Ms Potter crying in the dining hall.
She always cried.
There was movement outside the orphanage too, a soft drone like that of a hummingbird.
A Covenant hovercraft!
Alex stirred restlessly, easing up the blanket from over his head. Covenant vehicles passed the orphanage all the time, especially at night when the Covenant patrols were sweeping the city for any humans who were in violation of their planet wide curfew.
Alex closed his eyes, his numb lips curling downwards as he struggled to control his breathing.
Were those footsteps in the road above?
There was a commotion now in the central hallways of the orphanage, frightened voices and then screams. Something crashed to the ground, further screams coupled with course alien hisses and the sudden whoosh of plasma fire.
The orphans stirred around him, the children rising from their gurneys to exchange nervous panicked glances.
The double wooden doors to the basement were smashed aside, bathing the basement in piecing white light. The figure that towered in the doorway stood over eight feet in height and was clad in a sinister crimson battledress, its muscular form blocking a passage that could easily have fitted two adult humans abreast.
The alien was not alone, and as she strode into the basement Alex caught the silhouette of others behind her, cobalt armour, fanged maws and sharpened claws.
The Covenant elite's swarmed into the room in mass, their viciously angular plasma rifles pointed downwards as they swept the human orphans before them, physically wrenching the handful of children who remained beneath their covers into the air. Alex had barely scrambled out from his bed when a towering female clad in blue armour emerged from the ranks of elites and descended upon him, clasping his shoulder in an inhuman claw.
Alex glanced up towards her helm, and in that shock moment knew that they had met before. Almost four weeks ago, she had searched him in an distant alleyway. The Covenant soldiers had butchered the others humans in front of him, but she had let him go. Then again a week later an elite had stopped him just as he'd attempted to charge out onto the execution square where Alam had been shot.
It had been her again, and again she'd let him go.
And then three nights ago in the forest, as he'd been fleeing back towards the city. The Covenant soldiers had been so close to him that night. Alex remembered with terror catching his foot in the branch and almost breaking his ankle. It had been as he had twisted around to free his foot that he had caught sight of the elites not a hundred paces behind him. One had been looking directly at him, the same elite who had stopped him from running out onto the square, the same elite who had searched him in the alleyway all those weeks ago.
Alex opened his eyes, his lips parting in a strangled cry as he flew up from his bed.
The basement was quite, the orphans still peacefully slumbering around him.
As if on queue the Covenant hovercraft parked in the road above increased in drone as it pulled off, its gentle murmur receding into the silence of the night.
Alex rubbed at his temples with his forearm, his pyjama sleeve coming away slick with sweat.
The female elite had seen him running from the forest.
And she had recognized him!
