Chapter Ten

I laid in a small crevasse in the control room, looking at the screens that showed what slipspace truely was. It was interesting. Some might call it beautiful and others might call it abstract. All I knew was it looked like a bunch of strings.

I was restless as we traveled. My wings were still hurting but thankfully not as much as before. I shifted into a small black kitten and walked over, leaping gracefully and carefully up onto the Arbiters shoulder. The human Miranda looked at me and then to the Arbiter.

"So do you have a different name?"

"Not anymore. But it was once Thel 'Vadam."

"What did you mean by 'not anymore'?"

I stood and spoke this time. "When he became the Arbiter he was stripped of everything. Rank, honor, name and place among the Covenant."

Miranda looked at me again. "And you. Might I ask what the writing along your arms are?"

"They do not matter anymore. They used to mean I was the guardian of the Prophets and keeper of the sacred rings." I leapt to the floor and shifted back into my normal form. I opened my hand and then balled it up into a fist, closing my eyes and growling low under my breath.

"Relax. Here is not the best place to lose your temper." I glanced to the Arbiter and replied, oddly glad to use the language I had known for six years.

"I know. But I was so stupid and blind. They never even held true to their promise to help me get home." I was ready to slam my fist into the ground but I reluctanly relaxed, intead choosing to make sure I still had the two energy swords attached to the tops of my boots. I reached onto my back and then began to look around as I could not find either of my swords.

"What's up with her?"

"She's lost her swords."

"You mean the two that look like the anceint samurai swords?" I looked at her in confusion.

"They have black blades and the hilts are in-inl-inla-inlaid with gold." I stumbled over the word and growled.

"Yeah. I think they're in the pelican." I thanked her and ran down the corridor towards the loading bay. Once inside I found six Huragok all making minor repairs to the pelicans and two phantoms that I hadn't noticed before. I walked to the pelican I had been on then snuck over to the phantoms only to find one empty. I wandered to the other one and leapt in with an energy sword in hand. I saw four injured Sangheili and three uninjured. Sitting at the front of the phantom was a Jiralhanae weilding a Plasma Rifle. I stowed the energy sword and reached for the human pistol that I had returned to my pocket. I cursed myself for not grabbing the long-gun. It would have been more useful.

I raised the pistol right between the eyes of the Jiralhanae and fired off a single round. It struck it's mark and bits of blood and bone were sprayed all over the wall behind the monster. I growled and the Sangheili began to assist the injured ones. Luckily they were only minor and would heal. I didn't want to have to witness the killing of another one. I understood their ways and followed them as well. Only I would allow some people to help me. But only if I didn't have a choice.

I looked up to see one of them walking towards me. He wore the blue armor of a minor. "Are there anymore Sangeheili aboard this ship?"

I nodded. "Yes. The Arbiter is in the control room." I turned and walked of with them following. I noticed one was limping and pulled back to speak with him. "Are you sure you should be walking? Your leg looks as if it is troubling you."

"It is nothing serious. I will still be able to fight." I nodded and walked ahead of the others, soon aproaching the control room. I tightened the straps to my swords and walked through the door. Immediatly I heard both human and Sangeheili raise their weapons. I held up my hand and the Sangeheili grudgily lowered their weapons. I directed my words towards the humans.

"If you do not harm them then they won't harm you." Slowly the humans lowered their weapons. We knew this ship better than them and could easily defeat them. No matter how many there are.

Miranda's p.o.v.

I watched the girl and her actions. She was a natural born leader. She seemed to show no emotions or any other weaknesses. A battle hardened soldier indeed. I began to wonder how much she had gone through. How much she had lost and how confused she must be. I turned my head to the others who had their weapons still in their hands.

"Put your weapons away Marines." They glanced at me and then put their weapons back where they belonged. Most of them were only pistols but they still packed a big punch.

The girl looked to me and then turned and walked off, leaving me with a few former enemies and the Marines. I could feel the tension building up so I turned towards the Marines.

"Return to the pelicans and see what weapons and ammunition we have left." They all nodded and walked off. I turned back to the screens and watched the slipspace go past us. I sat back and waited for the journey to end. As I began to relax I noticed a few of the Elites walking out and following the direction the girl had gone. I turned my attention back to the screens and hoped the journey wouldn't be much longer.

Shade's p.o.v.

I rested in a dark corridor and examined my swords. Before long Iwas submersed in ancient memories.

100,000 years ago

"It is for your own safety." I sat in front of the Forerunner leader and wiped away the tear under my eye. It had been seven hours since the attack and since Bloodhearts death. Already they wanted to put me in cryo so that they could fire the rings.

"And the pain?" My wings were unbandaged. I prefered to allow them to heal naturally.

"It will be gone by the time you wake." I should have heard the uncertainty in his voice. Did he mean that I was never supposed to awaken? I glanced around Instalation 00, a.k.a. the Ark.

"Alright. But can you promise me one thing?" He nodded. "If any of my kind survive then please. Either keep them here in cryo or send them back home."

I saw the doubt in his eyes as he whispered quietly. "No one but you survived." I nodded sadly in understandment and looked to the cryo chamber.

"Alright. Let's go." I climbed into the chamber and closed my eyes as the door shut. It seemed like only a moment later when I felt it unfreeze. I counted down in my head. 3...2...1. The door opened and my eyes flicked open.