The sharp yellow eyes of Bev'em Lorm'ee met Carter as he walked through the door to the brig. His long arched neck stuck out and with his angled head shape, gave him the look of a predatory bird sitting on a perch while dressed in his dark blue Sanghelli flight harness minus the helmet. It nearly made Carter attack the Elite until he remembered that they were on the same side.
"Where's Ensign Shields?" interrogated Carter
"He is currently working on re-routing and repairs. Sergeant Walker is currently recovering the bodies of those who died on the bridge accident. I was a part of the team that went aboard freighter Ishimura and assisted in recovery." Responded the Elite in his deep booming voice
The two stared at each other for a long, tense moment as Carter milled the answer in his mind. Eventually he nodded and the two walked down towards the brig as maintenance crews ran past them.
"So what did you find aboard the freighter?"
Bev'em handed Carter a holo pad that contained video of the boarding party. The darkened freighter looked more like a killing floor then a transport ship with rotting, twisted inhuman limbs spread over the main storage deck. Black streaks of plasma lined the walls that signaled a fierce battle had occurred.
"Dismembered Necromorphs. All of them were severed with what looks to be plasma based weapons. Hardly any bullet casings. Once we secured the area we discovered the pilot, a lone survivor. He identified himself as an engineer." Said Bev'em
"Nice handy work for an engineer. Was he hurt?" Responded Carter
"No. The biggest mystery was harness the engineer was wearing. It looked like neither human or Covenant. Almost like a Holy Relic."
"You mean he's a Forerunner?"
"I do not know Spartan." Said the Elite solemnly
Both stopped in front of a jail cell flanked by two Masters at Arms who saluted. Carter returned the salute and looked into the cell where an athletic looking man sitting on a bench facing the wall. He was dressed in a dark, skin tight suit with various straps, electronic nodes and thin plates with a heavy piece chest piece that jutted out. Carter didn't recognize the armor type but from the configuration, he could see the components covered vital areas of the body, meaning it maybe a combat suit. Between his shoulders was a metal hump that contained a glowing aqua blue line, its purpose remained a mystery.
Only the man's face was exposed. He looked to be in his late thirties or early forties. His hair was cut close all around with a slight gray tint to it. Dark half circles sat beneath his tired intelligent eyes. To Carter, the man didn't seem to have the look of an ONI agent and seemed much more of a plain looking civilian. The stranger got up and walked over to the energy barrier that separated them when he saw the pair.
"I got it from here. Dismissed."
The two guards turned and walked out, leaving only Carter and the Elite standing in front of the cell. He looked over at the Sanghelli who stared back at him.
"Thanks for the escort. I'll call for you if I need you." Said Carter in the most diplomatic voice he could muster for a former enemy
"Actually Spartan, I am under orders from Sergeant Walker and Ensign Shields to be here for the interrogation. Ensign Shields thought his harness maybe of ONI origin, which is why he called you."
"Well I'll be sure to fill them in. What this man has to say maybe sensitive information. You're dismissed. I'll let you know if I need you." Carter commanded firmly
Bev'em lowered his head and moved closer to Carter. Narrowed blues eyes returned the look of defiance the Elites issued to him. Bev'em leaked a low almost inaudible growl as his dark purple mandibles twitched. Carter relaxed his body, taking deep breathes as he readied himself in case of a fight.
"I would not be so reckless where you tread Spartan. Even my patience has limits. You may not trust me but there are those who do and I will not dishonor them." Growled the taller Elite
With a grunt, Carter relented and turned his attention back to the matter at hand.
"How are you feeling?" asked Carter
"Like I've been run over by a truck. Thanks for the pick-up but can you fucking let me out of here now? I'm not a damn threat and I'm not infected. And we're losing time." He answered
"What's going on?"
"We have to get to the Titan station!"
"Let's slow down now. What's your name?" asked Carter
"My name is Isaac Clarke. I'm a CEC engineer. I came from ONI platform Titan off Aegis 9."
"We'll see about letting you out Isaac but you need to give us some answers to what's been going on."
"Please we don't have time!" yelled Isaac desperately "I'm sorry about what happened with the Pelican earlier but that wasn't my fault."
"We'd like to help but I'm not going to put anymore in danger until we get some answers."
Isaac's head dropped down to his chest as he closed his eyes. He took several deep calming breaths before re composing himself and looking back to Carter and the Elite. The look in his eyes reminded Carter of Troopers and Marines who had seen too many battles with not enough rest in between but still wouldn't quit.
"A year ago the CEC was mining the surface of Aegis 9 when we were attacked by Sentinels like on the Halo rings. They managed to destroy them and continue mining when we found some Forerunner relics." Explained Isaac
"Finding the holy relics is not so uncommon." Said Bev'em
"These were." Said Isaac "What we dug up could give us an advantage against the necromorphs. Put them away forever."
