Chapter 8: Ten Years Later
Jason stood outside the council chamber, hesitant to enter. This was the first time in almost ten years the council had requested an audience with him, and now they were going to send him on his first mission since the battle against the aliens on Vespae.
Jason remembered it like it all like it was yesterday. But what he really remembered the most was the interrogation session with the captive alien afterward. He had asked to be the one to interrogate the creature. It was a decision he would never forget and constantly regret.
He used the force to enter the alien's mind while drawing on the same dark emotions as the Sith. He had found what he needed in the alien's mind at the expense of its life.
They called themselves the Covenant. They were an alliance of deeply religious species that had come together in an attempt to follow in the footsteps of their gods, the Forerunners, by activating an array of weapons called Halo which they believed were spread throughout the galaxy.
Jason learned much about the Covenant in that short half an hour of digging through the alien's mind. He had learned all the alien species' names; Unggoy, Huragok, Kig-Yar, San'Shyuum, Lekgolo, Jiralhanae and Sangheili. He leaned about how they were able to travel faster than light speed. They traveled through a parallel dimension known as Slipspace. He learned about the Forerunners and their battle with an alien parasite known as the Flood, and how it was defeated by the activation of the Halo array. But what had intrigued Jason the most was the fact that he found loads of knowledge about a massive war ongoing between the Covenant and a more primitive race of Humans.
The reason behind this war was what had driven Jason to commit such a horrendous crime. The thought that humans elsewhere in the galaxy were being persecuted because of their existence was what drove him over the edge. He had killed the Sangheili out of revenge. Following the interrogation session Jason was left hollow and empty.
After relaying all the information he discovered to the Jedi council he decided to leave Couriscant. He had realized what the dark side could do to a corrupted individual like himself and for a while he chose a life of exile and made a promise to himself that he would never fight again.
After living in the forests of Endiku for eight long years his old master finally sought him out. By then Jason's grief had diminished and he agreed to return to Couriscant with Keelu.
For two years he quietly lived in the Jedi temple with his master, studying the ways of the force until the day the Jedi council asked to speak with him.
Jason gulped and looked down at his light sabre. He hadn't used it since the day he saved a boy and a girl fighting Covenant in the middle of a street back on Vespae, but even though he refused to fight he always kept it with him for some reason. Jason breathed deeply then stepped through the doors.
The first face he saw was his master's. The previous year Keelu had been elevated to a seat on the council. He was happy for her, but having her sitting there watching him made him even more nervous.
Jason made his way to the center of the chamber and turned to face Master Cath. The old Jedi master was looking like he was nearing the end of his life, but even now he still looked as intimidating as he did in his youth.
"Thank you for coming Jason" Cath said softly.
Jason nodded lightly.
Cath sighed. "You're probably wondering what we want with you, correct?"
Jason looked the Jedi square in the eyes, "I wouldn't have put it so harshly but yes, I am curious."
Cath clasped his hands and sat back in his chair. "We think the Covenant have returned"
Jason looked at his boots, not wanting to hear what as coming next.
"Republic forces have detected several large ships dropping in and out of the Abian system for the past week now. An analysis of the data reveals that they are of similar deign to the ships you encountered ten years ago in orbit around Vespae."
Jason winced at the names, Abian IV and Vespae still gave him nightmares to this day. "Why are you telling me this?" He asked.
"Because this is the first time in nearly a decade that we have had any kind of contact with the Covenant. You and your master are some of the only ones in known space who have fought and won against them. We are going to be sending a fleet of about thirty capital ships to the Abian system and we want you to accompany the fleet for a special mission that may require your experience."
Jason shifted uncomfortably, "You have Keelu, why do you need me?"
Cath looked at Keelu then back to Jason, "Jason I know it must feel horrible having others remind you of all the suffering you have experienced in your life time. But you have knowledge and insight that Master Keelu doesn't. You've been inside the mind of one of them, which makes you more important than any other member on this mission."
Jason felt a trickle of sweat roll down his back, "I... I wont have to fight will I?"
Cath shook his head, "no, if that is your wish then no one will force you to fight. And if you refuse to take part in this mission then I would assume the fleet would appreciate it if you could offer them insight on the Covenant and their forces if it comes to a full scale battle."
Jason thought this over. In a way he would be helping to defend the Republic without needing to fight, but he didn't want to suffer from the tragedies of war again. The mere thought of going to war shook him to his core. He wasn't afraid of dying, it was watching others perish that scarred him. Then again, he was a Jedi, and it was the role of a Jedi to protect the innocents, even if it meant taking another life.
Jason took a deep breath, "Fine, I'll go, but only to give insight."
"I understand" said Cath, "Now before we get this mission underway I want you to meet someone. Come to think of it you have met her before so this might be a little bit of a reunion." Cath pressed a button on his chair and the chamber doors opened. Several seconds later a beautiful woman wearing a Republic military uniform entered the chamber. At first Jason thought it was Tana coming back from the dead. But as the woman drew closer he realized it wasn't the comedic colonel he had come to know on the trip to Vespae. But to Jason she was still very familiar.
The woman stepped up beside Jason and snapped to attention, "Corporal Helen Terrek reporting for duty master Cath"
Cath nodded at the woman then turned his eyes on Jason, "Jason this is Helen Terrek, Helen this is Jason Kiel. Jason you saved her and her brother on the streets of Vespae during the Covenant's Invasion. I assume you probably remember the incident."
Jason turned to get a better look of the woman. Cath was right, it was the same girl. He remembered those big blue eyes staring wide eyed at him as he carried her to the safety of the Saurora. She smiled vibrantly at him before redirecting her gaze back on the Jedi master.
"You will be accompanying her on this mission." Cath continued, "She has been tasked to put together a special team who will attempt to infiltrate and steal the navigation data aboard a Covenant vessel."
"Who is on this team?" Jason queried.
"Helen here, Master Keelu, Star fighter pilot Cris Terrek, Sith Lord Darth Trepid and yourself. But seeing as you won't fight they're just going to have to manage without you."
Helen whipped her head around to look at Jason. He turned away from her, his face flushed. It was embarrassing really, being a Jedi who wouldn't even fight to protect people. Jason knew it would be an awkward few weeks.
"The fleet is scheduled to launch at oh eight hundred tomorrow. We wish all three of you the best of luck." Jason bowed and Helen saluted before leaving the council chamber. The two of them walked toward the turbo lift in a tense silence.
"I never got a chance to thank you" Helen said as they stepped into the turbo lift. "You saved my brother and I back on Vespae. I thought it was over for us until you showed up."
"Uh...you're welcome" he said nervously.
"So" Jason said after several seconds of silence, "What made you join the Grand army?"
Helen shrugged, "There was a couple good reasons. The main one being that at first my brother and I wanted revenge for what happened to our parents. After you took us here to Couriscant I was stuck in a med center for over a month because of my shoulder. In that time the two of us submitted applications to the military academy here on Couriscant. At first we thought it was going to be a full scale war between the Covenant and the Republic. But as it turns out the Republic fleet found nothing once they reached Vespae. To this day I still have some pretty hard feelings about what happened, but I learned after a while that revenge can't change what's happened, and I've learned to live with it."
"I'm sorry Helen" Jason said with a shake of his head. "I'm sorry I couldn't have done more to help you and your world"
Helen turned him around and looked him in the face, "You and I both know you did all you could. You're only one person. You Jedi maybe powerful but one of you alone wouldn't have had the power to take on a fleet of thirty massive ships."
Jason turned away and they fell back into silence. When the lift reached the dormitory level Jason hesitated before leaving.
"Helen, I need to know" he said, "why did you put together a team of soldiers, Sith and Jedi?"
Helen took a moment to think. "Because we have all fought the Covenant to some degree." she said slowly, "and we're going to need many different skills if we want any hope of completing this mission"
Jason shook his head, "I don't know what use I can be to you. I mean I spent eight years in exile because I was afraid I was falling to the dark side. I'm afraid if I take part in war again, then even a self imposed exile won't save me."
The lift's door began to close but Helen kept it open with her foot. "Jason it's human to want justice, just like it's human to want revenge. Most of us can't help it. But there is a difference between the two, and I can tell you aren't interested in revenge anymore, just like me. I learned revenge is pointless in the long run. If you are truly a Jedi you will fight the Covenant to protect people across the galaxy, you will fight for Justice and peace, just as a Jedi should."
At that note she let the doors shut and left Jason staring at the cool metal, mulling over Helen's words in his conflicted mind.
Kalleem walked through High Charity's private upper walkways, enjoying the sight of the Forerunner Dreadnought sitting at the city center. The thing was massive, towering over the internal living space of High Charity with unmatched beauty. It was Kalleem's fifth time aboard the Covenant Capital, and each time it was just as majestic as the last.
Kalleem finally saw his destination appear at the end of the walkway. He pushed forward, not wishing to waste any more time. He approached the large door leading into the Sanctum of the Hierarchs, unsure as to why the leaders of the Covenant called him to High Charity on such short notice.
As he walked up to door the Sangheilios guards positioned on either side eyed him wearily. Kalleem respected these warriors greatly, for they were hand picked by the Hierarchs themselves to provide them with security. Kalleem presented his credentials to the one on the right. The Sangheilios guard looked them over before standing to the side, letting him enter the sanctum.
The first thing he saw when he entered the massive room was the large red star which filled the main viewing window. Kalleem tore his eyes away and located the Hierarchs hovering around a large holoprojector at the center of the room, talking quietly to one another. Kalleem walked over and kneeled several feet away from the three San'Shyuum.
"You wished to speak with me Hierarchs."
All three of them turned at once, "ah yes, ship master Kalleem" the Prophet of Truth said with a smile. "How went the engagement in the Sapir sector?"
Kalleem gulped, "It was a complete success Hierarch. We are now one step closer to putting an end to these Heretics for good." Since the time Kalleem was raised to the rank of ship master, the Covenant military repurposed An Unknown Truth and sent them to the front lines where they could better serve the Covenant. His most recent engagement with the humans in the Sapir sector was his twenty fifth battle so far.
The three Prophets exchanged looks of satisfaction. "Forgive us for taking you off the front lines ship master" croaked the Prophet of Mercy, "but there is an issue that demands your attention"
Kalleem bowed his head even lower, "Your will is law hierarchs. I trust I you and your wisdom. If you demand me to be removed from the fight against the humans then I will obey."
The Prophet of Truth clasped his hands together. "Rise ship master, we have much to discus." Kalleem did so and looked at the three San'Shyuum, waiting for them to continue.
"As you well remember ship master, you and your crew discovered a distant world harbouring Humans almost ten cycles ago" stated the Prophet of Regret, "you and I both saw the cleansing of the planet, believing its inhabitant hadn't spread to other worlds. It turns out, we were wrong.
Kalleem swelled up with anger. Why did these heretics have to complicate everything?
"One of our scout ships discovered an entire star system infested with humans. We believe they are apart of the same group of humans you and your crew came into contact with almost ten cycles ago. They call themselves the Republic" Mercy explained, "This star system was almost a hundred light years away from the one your ship discovered. This explains why we haven't had any contact with these more advanced heretics for such a long time."
Truth leaned back in his hover chair, "this is not all. Four years ago the Prophet of Regret and the previous Arbiter discovered a Forerunner temple buried in the ice on the planet the humans call Harvest" Truth gazed out the window at the red star, captivated by its beauty. "In that Temple we discovered much useful information. Some of which has remained undecipherable for a long time, until just recently."
Regret pressed a button on the holoprojector and it hummed to life, creating an image of a seemingly dead planet containing several reclamation glyphs and another Kalleem had never seen before.
"This world lies within the system containing these humans from the Republic" said Regret, "the information we gathered from the temple told us that there is a weapon of immense power. One that the Forerunners themselves used in the final years against the Flood infection."
Kalleem perked up at this news, "a Halo?" he wondered out loud.
"Unfortunately we don't believe so" said Mercy, "The Forerunners refer to this weapon as The Destroyer. It is a new term we have never come across before, which is why we don't believe it isn't connected to the Halos."
Kalleem looked at the hologram, "and you believe this weapon resides on this world?"
Truth shook his long head. "Again, no. The information from the temple told us that this world contains what the Forerunner's called a Silent Cartographer. In other words, a map room."
Kalleem nodded, "If we can locate this weapon the heretics would never stand a chance."
"That is why you are here Shipmaster" Truth continued, "Your old mentor fought these creatures, and you have seen what they can do. This makes you fairly valuable on this mission. We have already located the Silent Cartographer on the fourth planet of the system, and we want you to be the one to retrieve the location of the Destroyer."
Kalleem dipped his head, "I would be honoured to serve on such a mission."
"Then I'd suppose you would be even more honoured to be the one chosen to use this weapon in our campaign against the humans" said Truth with a smile. Kalleem stared wide eyed at the Prophet, barely believing he just heard.
"We would recommend you put together a small team. This way you won't be drawing as much attention to yourselves. When the time comes you will accompany Fleet master Rilka 'Dalisee." Truth stated "He will lead a full scale attack on several planets in this system including the one of interest to you and your team. His attacks will create the diversion you will need to find and retrieve the information inside the Silent Cartographer."
"I understand hierarchs. I will not fail." Kalleem promised. Amongst all of this exciting news he was fascinated by the fact that his ship would fly along side the fleet of Rilka 'Dalisee. This was an honour in itself since Rilka commanded one of the most renowned fleets in the entire Covenant, and was said to have never lost a battle.
"May the gods watch over you Shipmaster Kalleem" said the Prophet of Mercy, "may you strike down your enemies and bring glory to the Covenant."
Kalleem realized he had been dismissed. He bowed his head and turned his back on the leaders of the Covenant, his hand toying with his new energy sword strapped to his waist, eager to finally test it in battle against a worthy opponent.
