High Charity's Master
Have you any idea what King Ghidorah is? Telek recalled that question Kiryuu probed him the first day they met back on Reach those years ago. He had to admit that now facing the monster finally—he had to agree with Kiryuu. Telek did not know what King Ghidorah was that is until he faced the Flood. Now he knew exactly what King Ghidorah was. King Ghidorah was King Ghidorah whether he called himself Monster Zero, Gravemind, the Hydra, Harodihg, or the Gold Demon—he was King Ghidorah. Gravemind finally revealed his true identity and with that, he whisked Kiryuu away back to High Charity, the once holy city of the Covenant. Telek shook his head as he glanced back at the smoldering wreckage of the once great city. He had been left behind by the Master Chief and the Arbiter, who took two Banshees on towards the Covenant city. Above was the Shadow of Intent with her gravity lift activated and anchored to the ground. Rtas had already began to gather up the remaining survivors. He was down off his ship assisting with gathering up the various crates and boxes filled with supplies that the Dawn had in her. Commander Shri 'Canthon and Ysoa 'Argam assisted him with Colonel Davis. Then, he came upon a particular box that once had a lock. The box appeared to be empty, its latch opened.
"Telek," Rtas called. "What was in this crate?"
Telek turned around and walked over to the crate. It was very familiar to him and he felt his heart sink below his feet.
"This is the crate Kiryuu carried the Oxygen Destroyer in," he said. Johnson, hearing this, walked up to him.
"The what?" Johnson asked.
"Oxygen Destroyer," said Telek.
"What's that?" Rtas asked.
"A very powerful and nasty—500-year old weapon that was used on King Ghidorah before," said Telek. "And it was also used on—the first Godzilla."
"Japan's secret," said Johnson. "How the fuck did you know about it?"
"Kiryuu told me," said Telek. "Kiryuu must have taken it, but when? I don't remember him carrying it when I saw him at the Citadel."
"Kiryuu used his Mass Displacement on it," said Manda. "He must have hidden it under his clothes."
"He's gonna use it on Gravemind," said Telek. "Like he did before…great then we really need to get off this thing." He glanced back at High Charity. "Kiryuu's in High Charity and so is the Chief and Otto. If Kiryuu sets that thing off—they'll die before they can get to Cortana and get the Index."
"But it'll kill King Ghidorah," said Manda.
"You said it yourself, he has no weakness," said Telek. "Gravemind—King Ghidorah, same dude, he can't be killed. The only thing we can do is—just push him back. And we can really do that—with that…" He pointed up at the unfinished Halo in the sky. "We blow that thing up, it'll destroy the Ark, and it'll destroy Ghidorah's physical form—setting him back again. And it'll buy us time to get the hell outta here and back through the Portal. The blast will destroy the Portal and it'll trap Gravemind here—that is if there's anything physical left of him."
"There are still other installations," said Manda. "Flood to form into a new body for King Ghidorah. They all share his consciousness like the Horrors do."
"Then, I'll find each and every one of those Installations and I'll destroy them," said Telek. "I'll make sure he can't come back—at least not through the Flood." He turned and grabbed a shotgun and slung it over his back.
"Squiddy, what are you doing?" Johnson asked.
"Going to find Kiryuu," Telek replied. "What does it look like?"
"No," said Rtas. "You've done what you set out to do. Truth is dead. Your battle is over. I need you here to assist me in retrieving the rest of the survivors."
"Kiryuu needs my help more," said Telek. "The Chief needs my help more. He doesn't know what Kiryuu hides."
"You are a dimwitted imbecile!" Rtas cried. "How can you hope to help him?"
"I hate Kiryuu," said Telek. "But even he doesn't deserve to be his prisoner."
"I forbid it!" Rtas bellowed.
"Fine," Telek sighed as he punched Rtas in the jaw. The white-armored Shipmaster fell backwards to the ground. Telek stared down at him with a snarl on his lip. "Don't ever try to order me around, Half-Jaw."
With that, Telek took off, running for a Banshee that was down on the ground. Before anyone could stop him, he got into the Banshee and flew off heading for High Charity. Johnson and Manda knelt down to help Rtas up off the ground.
"He—didn't have to punch me that hard," Rtas grunted as he got to his feet.
"There's something wrong with Telek," said Manda.
"No, really?" Johnson asked. "There's always something wrong with him."
"No, I mean—he's not himself," said Manda. "I didn't notice it—that is until before he left the Shadow for the Citadel. I began to suspect something about him. I think Telek's mind has been compromised by King Ghidorah."
"What?" Rtas asked.
"Oh, hell no…" Johnson shook his head, his cigar shifting to the other side of his mouth. "That's all we need—a Horror-possessed, drunken squid!"
"Horror-possessed?" Rtas asked. "What exactly is that?"
"It's like being infected by the Flood," said Manda. "Only—you don't turn into a rotting zombie. However, you become King Ghidorah's lackey—your consciousness becomes a part of his. In a sense, your consciousness becomes overwritten by King Ghidorah's and you're now an extension of him like the Flood are an extension of him."
"And he's going back to High Charity," said Rtas. "We have to stop him and kill him…"
"How the hell did Squiddy become Horror-possessed?" Johnson asked.
"Sometimes just being in contact so closely to King Ghidorah's cells can do it," said Manda. "It happened once in Britain 500 years ago—two years before Kiryuu destroyed Ghidorah's body. The scientist was studying Ghidorah's cells and King Ghidorah possessed him. Even Kiryuu was Horror-possessed at one time. And look at us—we're battling Flood forms—a virus created from Ghidorah's cells. Any one of us could have been possessed by him either through the virus—or just by getting some of the Flood's flesh on us. But no doubt it's even easier if you had it inside of you. Telek's medical records state he has the Flood Super Cell in him but it cannot mutate him because his nervous system has been damaged due to ethanol abuse—his drinking. He has ataxia and so some parts of his nervous system is damaged because of it. But just because he can't be mutated into a Flood Combat Form doesn't mean Ghidorah can't possess him. He probably was just waiting for the opportune time to do it."
"Why Telek?" Johnson asked.
"Telek is a military strategist—and a genius at that," said Rtas. "This Gravemind creature would have an advantage against us in battle if he knew how not only we Sangheili battle—but the Covenant as well…"
"And the UNSC," said Johnson. "Squiddy knows them both."
Ghidorah has Kiryuu as well," said Manda. "And with that, various military secrets such as—strategic knowledge of weapons of mass destruction owned by the UNSC. Telek's military prowess, Kiryuu's knowledge of top secret information, and now the only thing he lacks is someone to build seed perhaps deceitful trust between either our two governments. Kiryuu he has that for the UNSC, but now—he needs another." Manda glanced back at Rtas. "Someone who is on the Sangheili High Council, maybe."
"Me?" Rtas asked. "Gravemind will try to—possess me?"
"He knows that a Flood Combat form of you won't do," said Manda. "You have to look as you did prior to possession. This is how the Hydra works. He finds the people he can use as—what he calls Acolytes—slaves to serve him in order to hide his motives. They butter up the populace and make them ready for Ghidorah to consume. The Flood finalizes his body and once he has that, he'll use his Acolytes to soften the 'Cattle'. Sucks, doesn't it?"
"I assure you I'm not possessed," said Rtas. "By Flood or any sort of unseen demon."
"We'll know soon enough," Manda sighed. "You should get back to your ship. And I'm gonna keep an eye on you."
Rtas' green eyes narrowed at the statement as he walked back towards the purple curtain of the gravity lift. Manda followed him.
"I'll secure the Dawn," said Johnson. He glanced back up at the unfinished Halo and sighed. "I hope you're right about this, Cortana."
0
The landing was anything but soft as Telek pulled the Banshee into a hole in the canopy of High Charity. Getting out, he stepped down onto puss-covered ground. Telek felt almost ill to his stomach when he came out onto the fleshy landscape. He took a sniff of the rancid air and nearly choked on the thick mist around him. Flecks of gold Flood spore dust filled the air, falling like putrid snow flakes all around him. He glanced around the darkened auditorium that he managed to land into. Some golden rays managed to shine through translucent areas in the ceiling and through holes created from the crash itself. Though this served little to light his way. Depression areas filled with milky pools of slime and tendrils of flesh dangled from ledges above. Telek glanced over and saw a wall pulsating with Flood sacks similar to what Carrier Forms carried. He had the strangest feeling that popping one of these sacks would release thousands of Infection Forms upon him. Though his ataxia granted him some immunity to the virus, thousands of them could overcome him while others would alert the combat forms to his presence. So far, he did not see any combat forms to bar his entrance. Telek gagged at the foul, rotting air as he slowly moved down a slimy slope. He suddenly lost his footing on the slippery side and began to slide down to one of the milky, slimy pools down below. He fell in with a splash and rose up out of the foul liquid, spitting and choking the stuff out of his mouth. It was cold which added more to Telek's growing discomfort. He swam himself out, struggling against the rather thick substance and took hold of a dangling tendril. Climbing out, Telek shook the slime off as best as he could.
"This place is disgusting…" he whispered, shivering from both disgust and the chill he felt from being in the pool. "I better find Kiryuu and the Chief fast. I don't think I can stand being here longer than I have to."
Pulling out his shotgun, Telek's eyes roved over to the darker areas where he suspected Flood could hide and he kept a constant vigil on his progress. Then, he jerked up when he heard a feminine voice suddenly cry out in agony. He knew that voice.
"Cortana?" Telek asked. "Cortana!"
Another voice echoed through the walls, causing them to tremble. That voice too he knew all too well—even if he had only heard it once.
"I granted you safe passage, and yet you have come," the voice snarled at Telek. "For this trespass, I shall shatter your sun!"
"Where's Kiryuu, Gravemind?!" Telek called.
"He is here with me, his mind is now my slave," Gravemind/Ghidorah replied. "She is here too—we exist together—three corpses; one grave."
Just then, several varieties of Combat Forms spilled out from a flesh-like valve in the wall. Telek's eyes widened just as they all came out, armed with various Covenant and UNSC weapons.
"Uh-oh…" Telek breathed. "Wonderful, I just had to make the three-headed dragon mad…"
He felt the pelt of a Needler, the sting of a Spiker, and the jolt of an assault rifle pelt against his shields. Telek rushed them as best as he could, firing his shotgun at them. He swung around, taking hold of one Flood form by its tentacles and swung it to the wall—smashing it. Telek growled as he realized his reactions were slowing, his strength not exactly what it used to be as he fought his way through the Flood. His illness was hindering his movements, making him sluggish. Clacking his mandibles, he swung the shotgun across his back and took out his sword. Telek swung around, his sword ignited. He sliced his way through the hordes of Flood, crawling now through narrower passageways that were covered over by Flood-stuff. Then, Cortana's voice cried out again.
"I'm just my Mother's shadow!" she shouted. "A pawn in my Grandfather's game. She created me, and he used me. Don't look at me! Don't listen! I'm not what I used to be…"
"I have not used you…" called another familiar, and rather pained voice. It was Kiryuu this time. "I have never used any of you…"
"Kiryuu!" Telek called. But before the voice could reply, suddenly Telek's world was filled with stars. He was thrown back against the wall by a powerful force. With an aching head, he glanced up to see who hit him. He saw a Pure Flood Tank Form standing over him. The form contorted and shifted, taking on the Flood version of King Ghidorah's draconic form. Kneeling down, the Flood avatar of the Golden Terror took Telek's throat in its claw and raised him up. He brought the Sangheili Zealot close to his central head.
"Such animosity for me," King Ghidorah began. "Yet, I have not wronged you in any way. I don't recall ever meeting you before. Why do you feel this way?"
Telek gripped the forearm and then thrust the plasma sword into the Flood creature's chest. He heard a loud roar and a gurgle from the Flood form just as it reverted back into the Tank Form again. Telek pulled up, cutting all the way through to the head of the creature until it was split opened.
"I do not understand your hatred," he heard King Ghidorah's voice echo again. "But I would like to know the source of this acrid. Perhaps it is not me who you hate, but someone else…"
"I've killed the one who I truly hate," said Telek. "You know that."
"Now you deceit yourself," the voice chuckled amusingly.
"You're disgusting," Telek called. "Foul, a creature that lives off of rotting corpses and tormented souls. Why should I not hate you?"
"To hate me for what I am is hypocritical of you," King Ghidorah began smoothly. "Or have you forgotten the reason why you bid the Covenant adieu? You disagreed with them because they slaughtered creatures who did nothing wrong and loudly you tried to get the Prophets to sing your song. But all along, you found out the irony of Truth's name as Tartarus branded you with the Mark of Shame."
"Shut up!" Telek bellowed.
"The truth hurts, doesn't it?" the voice continued to rumble as Telek began to run down the slimy corridor.
"I won't rest until every last one of your Flood virus is eliminated," Telek called.
"Perhaps it is not Truth who holds your heated ire," King Ghidorah continued as he probed deeper into Telek's memories. "But instead the one who you consider your sire. He was your friend and you his pupil—that is until, he handed you over to the Great Liar. It seems you still harbor some of that heated emotion for the one who never believed you about the false Land of Goshen. And so, you use me as some sort of escape-goat for the feelings for him you still tote."
"Telek!" Kiryuu's voice called out again. "Don't listen to him. Don't fall for his spell like I did."
"Kiryuu?" Telek asked. He turned around and heard another cry of pain from Cortana.
"Don't worry about her…" Kiryuu said. "The Chief can find her."
"The love of your granddaughter is the same for your son," Telek heard Gravemind's voice call out again. "I wonder if he could forgive you for the love he was shun."
"I—did what was best for him," Kiryuu said.
"Kiryuu, where are you?" Telek asked.
"If the reason you came was to see him," Telek heard the voice echoed once more. "Then look no further than beyond that rim."
Telek passed over through a valve door. He stepped over to what looked like a grand hall of audience, an enormous chamber that looked all to recognizable to him. Telek glanced around, seeing the Flood-stuff covered pillars and walls, and even bleachers sitting across from each other. In front there was a large stage where at one time three Prophet Hierarchs once reside before, floating in their hover thrones. This was the Council Chamber. Telek glanced around as he heard the faint sounds of voices cheering, but they were not cheering for him.
Heretic…heretic…heretic…
Telek spun around when he heard that word being shouted. He shook his head, thinking his mind was playing tricks on him.
"Kiryuu!" Telek called again.
"Here," replied Kiryuu as Telek turned once more to an enormous, Flood-covered raised area at the side. He saw a shining, metallic toe that was nearly the size of him. Glancing up further he found that toe was attached to a gargantuan, armored, saurian body tied to the wall—bound in Flood flesh. It was Kiryuu. Kiryuu's head was free and he glanced down to peer at Telek.
"Alright," Telek began. "This may be a bit harder than I thought. How the hell am I supposed to get you out when you're—bigger than a fucking Scarab?"
"You—shouldn't have come," Kiryuu said.
"Really," Telek crossed his arms. "If I don't save you, then who's gonna pin the medals on all the one-legged Marines out there after the war is over, huh? You've got two months left of your term and I'm here to see to it that you survive long enough to live out those two terms."
"I appreciate the effort," Kiryuu said as Telek grabbed hold of a tendril hanging down and climbed himself up onto the bleachers. "But this isn't necessary. Destroying this place, that's what you need to do. Don't worry about me."
He watched as Telek scaled high enough to where he was up at the mecha's shoulders. He brought out his sword and began slicing through the fleshy binds.
"Is it me, or does Gravemind have some sort of kinky, disgusting fetish about you?" Telek asked.
Kiryuu rolled his eyes at him: "This reminds me of Erica and her kinky—twisted fetish she had for me."
"Ah," Telek grinned. "Some hottie at the office wanted some mechanical lizard action, eh? What was she, a secretary or something? I've read about certain Presidents giving some fun with filing girls in your planet's history."
"I haven't looked at another female in centuries, Telek," Kiryuu growled. "And no, Erica wasn't some lady I was into—she was…it's very difficult to explain. But without her, I wouldn't have been able to fight against King Ghidorah the first time."
Telek managed to get through the flesh and some of Kiryuu's binds snapped back away from him, freeing a part of his arm.
"That sword is sharp," he said.
"Well, it's good for cutting things," said Telek.
"If you want to know how a machine like myself managed to become telepathic…" Kiryuu continued. "Erica was the one who gave them to me."
"I don't even wanna know how she did it," Telek snorted. "And I don't wanna even know how you two got it on either. Robot fetishes, I swear…" He shivered. "It probably would give me nightmares."
"Telek," began Kiryuu. "Just get out of here." He glanced around and softly whispered. "He's in here…"
"Listen to you," Telek sighed as he cut at some more of the binds. "60-meters tall and you act like a damned ant when Gravemind is around."
"King Ghidorah," Kiryuu began. "Gravemind isn't exactly a force that forgives easily. I foiled his plans last time we met. He can't forgive me for that."
Telek glanced around again, looking at his surroundings: "You know—this is the place. This is where they sentenced me and branded me."
"Don't think about that," said Kiryuu. "That's what King Ghidorah wants you to do. You think about that and he'll use your thoughts against you. That's how he takes control. That's how he took control over me." He glanced up when he heard another pained cry from Cortana. Suddenly, she started to laugh.
"A collection of lies; that's all I am!" she sobbed. "Stolen thoughts and memories! I am nothing like you wanted me to be…"
"I hear her calling you," Gravemind rumbled. "She wants you to end her torment. Kiryuu…will you end it? She hides something from me. I want to see what she hides."
"You think I'll tell you?" Kiryuu asked.
"Though time has taught me patience," Gravemind began as tentacles grew out from the floor. Kiryuu glanced down as the wall itself began to morph, a maw of a creature that looked similar to a Venus Fly Trap rise up from the Flood-stuff covered wall. Kiryuu chuckled uneasily at the creature.
"You look worse than Audrey II, Ghidorah," he said. "I don't know if I should kill you or prune you…"
Gravemind reared back and faced Kiryuu eye to—trap.
"You make light of my appearance," Gravemind began.
"Let's just say, you looked better when we last met," Kiryuu said.
"Otto was right, you are ugly," Telek swallowed.
"Then perhaps this is more appealing to you," the Flood-plant creature chuckled. Just then, the creature exhaled and out flowed several glowing, golden specs, particles and dust from its mouth. As the particles flowed up, lowly taking form, the plant-creature fell backwards, its body slowly dissolving away. Kiryuu and Telek took in a breath as the glowing dust and particles took shape of a quadruped, golden dragon with three heads and broad bat-like wings. The monster looked almost three times the size of Kiryuu.
"Oh—shit…" Telek breathed. "Harodihg!"
Kiryuu was not as impressed with the being that stood before him.
"You are still not completely yourself," Kiryuu said. "For that matter, you're not complete at all. I can see right through you."
Telek saw just what Kiryuu meant. The three-headed monster before him looked ghostly, transparent as if he was not all completely there.
"I am very patient," he said. "And time is on my side. And soon you will tell me what your granddaughter hides."
Kiryuu glanced away, closing his eyes to his captor.
"Very well, then I will find another," King Ghidorah began as he glanced over at Telek. "This room holds much pain for you because you knew things that were supposed to be taboo. There is so much hate that you try to burrow for the Arbiter who calls himself Otto. He was once your teacher, but in this room, he became your betrayer and you were left to wallow in sorrow."
"Telek, don't listen to him…"
Telek began to hear those words cry out again echoing from crowds long since gone from this room.
Heretic, heretic, heretic…
"Can you hear their voices shouting that word?" King Ghidorah asked. "While to the gallows you were chauffeured? 'Heretic', they cry. 'Heretic!' I hear their voices every night when I sleep in this room, though I never figured as to whom…"
Telek began to feel groggy just as the ghoul continued to rhyme, his world swam around him. He had not even had a drink once and yet he felt very drunk. He fell to his knees and leaned down breathing heavily. His sword dropped from his hand and he collapsed onto the Flood-covered ledge.
"Telek!" Kiryuu cried. "Wake up!"
Tentacles rose up and bound his mouth shut as Ghidorah chuckled.
"You have forgotten what had caused such chagrin," he continued. "If only you knew what it is that truly lies within. I shall make good use of it."
Kiryuu winced and grunted, trying to free himself from his binds. He glanced down as a single spec of gold dust fell upon Telek's unconscious body.
"You have the ability to fight my power," Ghidorah continued, looking back at Kiryuu. "But soon your friend will have that all familiar glower."
"You will not take him!" Kiryuu called. "You won't use him like you used me."
"The 'son' and his companion are troublesome," Ghidorah began giving off a deep and wicked chuckle. "I think the pirate will prove to be an entertaining distraction. The one of flesh and faith, whose mind was once deluded, and the one of machine and nerve with a mind concluded shall battle with another whose reality is extruded!"
0
"It was the coin's fault!" Cortana's voice called out. "I wanted to make you strong, keep you safe. I'm sorry, I can't."
The Master Chief paused when he heard that statement. He began to remember what it meant, the coin, his luck. That was what he had most of the time, luck. Though he wondered if his luck was running out now. They managed to take a small breather, hiding behind a Flood-covered corner where he found that pedestal. The Arbiter informed him that the room they were in was rather close to the Council Chamber and where they were going towards was the Mausoleum of the Arbiter. Being back in High Charity brought back some old memories of his own. It was here he was brought before the Council for his failure to safeguard Halo, and here he was branded for his heresy. To the Covenant it was heresy, to Telek—it was necessary. Otto remembered the day he cursed Telek's name for what he had done. He glanced up at the ceiling remembering what Telek cried out when he was being dragged away by Tartarus and his Jiralhanae guards. Then, he recalled that maddened laughter Telek had when he was being tormented. The pain that he felt physically was nothing compared to the pain he felt emotionally. Telek had been betrayed. Otto often wondered whether or not despite the fact that they had renewed their friendship if Telek still harbored some of those emotions for him.
"Returning here…" began Otto. "Brings back a lot of hurtful memories."
"You don't have to worry about that much longer," said the Chief. "No doubt, we may have to destroy this place."
"Back then, I would have tried to stop you," the Arbiter sighed. "But now, I'll be happy to see this place gone. It is a memorial to the mistakes the Covenant has made—my people have made by joining it."
Then, he glanced back when he heard the sound of feet slowly walk towards them. The Master Chief and the Arbiter raised their weapons, ready to shoot whatever creature was on its way. Otto paused for a moment when he saw the shadowy shape of a Sangheili appear over the rise. The Sangheili warrior's armor flashed gold—it was a Zealot. At its hip was a sword and on its back was a shotgun.
"Telek!" Otto gasped. "Telek, you should be on the Shadow of Intent. We're fine here. We'll just get the construct and leave."
The shadowy form did not reply and slowly moved into the light. The Chief lowered his gun when he found it really was the Admiral.
"Telek, go back to the ship," said Otto. "We're almost through here."
Then, like lightning, Telek leapt out, racing with an unnatural speed toward Otto 'Gamam. The Arbiter heard the sound of a plasma sword ignite and a swing down towards him. Otto swiftly ignited his own plasma sword and blocked the blade coming in, shocked to see that it was Telek's own. The Chief raised his shotgun again, ready to shoot Telek for attacking the Arbiter.
"Telek!" Otto cried. "What's wrong?"
Telek withdrew and sliced down again. Otto dodged the slice and blocked, his sword clashing with the Zealot's.
"Telek, stop this!" Otto called. He heard the sound of bullet fire and his shields fluctuated. Telek's shields fluctuated as well and the Sangheili pirate swiftly dodged away using that same unbelievable speed. Otto could not believe how fast Telek was moving. The movement almost seemed to make Telek wink out of site. He seemed to recall someone else having similar speed—Kiryuu Knight. Otto swiftly turned again when he heard the Chief fire his assault rifle.
"No!" he called. "No, Spartan. Please! Stop shooting."
Otto glanced back when he saw Telek's form again. He noticed that the Zealot was not Flood-infected, though he was acting like he was.
"Spartan," said Otto. "Something's wrong with him. Go and find your construct, I'll handle Telek."
"You sure?" the Chief asked.
"I am," Otto said. "Telek is my student. He's—like a brother to me. I must figure out what's wrong with him."
"Okay," said the Chief. "Don't take too long."
With that, John ran off down the hall towards where he hoped to find Cortana and leaving the Arbiter to deal with his student and old friend. Otto's sword once more blocked another downward cut from Telek.
"Please, Telek, tell me, why are you doing this?" Otto asked. He was suddenly thrown back by a powerful roundhouse kick from Telek. Otto came crashing up against a Flood-created pillar, landing on a metallic, bare floor. He gasped and glanced up, seeing Telek slowly walk over towards him. Then, Otto's old student knelt down and the Arbiter got a good look at his eyes. Telek's eyes gleamed with feral rage. Otto could not help but to notice the color as well. They were not blue, they were red! Then, Telek spoke in a voice that was not his own, a voice that was sinister and dark.
"Now, you shall see what your end will be," he began, his voice riddling out in a peculiar and horrifying familiar canto. "Your mortal coil you shall be freed…"
