Halo – Katerina Duran - "Make It Last: Of Trust and Friendship"
Location: Phantom Landing Pad, High Charity
November 3rd, 2552
"The Index?"
"Yes. The Monitor told them all about it."
"But… but if the Monitor told them about the Index then…"
"I know, Dar. The Prophets should have been informed of Halo's true power as well. And yet, they continue to believe in the Great Journey."
"My Goodness. They have lost it,"
"Yes, well, they never had it,"
Katerina Duran's new mission today was to retrieve the Index – dubbed as the 'Sacred Icon' by the Covenant – from Installation 05's Library. Upon learning this, she was at a great conflict, but she knew what had to be done to save the galaxy. Clad in her Arbiter armor and the violet scarf, she was about to relay her plan to her eldest son.
"Please, mother. Take care of yourself," Darius placed his hands firmly on her shoulders. "If we have learnt anything from the previous Halo's Library, is that the Flood are contained there. I do not wish for you to be traumatized any further."
Katerina tore away from that concerned gaze, and hovered on the edge of a faked smile. "That is a lot to wish for, darling. I must do what I must do and if I have to go through the Flood of all horrid things, then I must." She reached up to pat him left set of mandibles. "I will try to stay calm and not let my fear take over. I promise."
The fact that he could not accompany his mother – that disappointment was what she saw in his eyes. "I just wish you did not have to do this. Once the Prophets get hold of the Index, then that would be it. You cannot let them have it, mother."
That was when a smile made its way to her lips. "Who said that the Prophets would get the Index?"
"… Mother?"
"When have you ever known me to do something without having a plan, dear boy?" She asked, accompanied by a little laugh. Shifting her eyes behind her son, there stood Tartarus by his Phantom, waiting for Katerina to join up for the mission. "You see, I am going alone on this mission. Once Tartarus picks me up, I kill him and his pilot, take control of the Phantom and run. So once I leave, give yourself some time then make your escape from this wretched place. I do not know how, but we will meet up on Halo."
His mandibles parted slightly in awe. "Are you serious, mother? You are taking a rather huge risk here."
"Do I have a choice, Dar? This is the Index we are talking about. We know what would happen once it had been brought to the Control Center! We cannot let that happen. It is time." She got another quick glance at Tartarus, who was getting rather impatient. "I must go now, Dar, but you have to do it."
He gave her an assuring nod at that. "Consider it done, mother. Watch yourself, and I will see you on Halo."
A quick hug and she left her son's presence, wondering if she had made the right decision.
Location: Onboard the Phantom, en route to Installation O5's Sentinel Wall
The Covenant Carbine was not really a choice weapon for Katerina. She favored her Energy Swords, Plasma Rifles, Needlers and not forgetting Magnums, a weapon created by the humans. She had found that they were highly effective and that it was to her liking.
However, perhaps it was a good idea to have a weapon with some distance, because when dealing with the Flood, Katerina preferred not to be too close to them. In fact, not being in the same room with them was even better. How she hated them.
It was to her understanding that the Containment Shield needed to be brought down in order for the Sentinel Wall to be breached and to enter the Library. If it was Katerina's choice, she would leave it alone. In fact, she would be miles from this place. How blind (and stupid) can the Covenant get? Do they not understand that there is no Great Journey? That-
"Once the shield is down, we will head straight to the Library. I do not wish to keep the Hierarchs waiting."
That deep and unkind tone. Tartarus. She did not know if it was her she was talking to, but when there was silence after he had spoken, she decided to fuel a curiosity she had had since yesterday. "Tartarus. Do you have any clue as to who murdered the Prophet of Regret?"
She waited for an annoyed and frustrated reply due to the nature of her question and she did. "Who do you think?"
Suddenly, her bright purple eyes lit up. "You mean, the Spar- I mean, the Demon is here?"
He gave her what sounded like an affirmative snort. It sounded a little disgusting to her over her radio. "And he will pay for what he has done…"
Katerina was not listening. She was in beaming smiles. There was hope after all. Her little friend was here on Halo.
A/N: A little chapter before another one of my favorite Arbiter levels, "Sacred Icon"! :)