Disclaimer: I don't own Halo.


Chapter 11

//FIRST CYCLE, 57 UNITS

COVENANT BATTLE CALENDAR//

(OCTOBER 26, 2552 UNSC MILITARY CALENDAR)

COVENANT OFFENSIVE SQUAD

COMMAND CENTER

FORERUNNER COMPLEX 002-481-A7275

(COVENANT DESIGNATION FR324-881-78962

PLANETARY BODY GH-00987)

(UNSC DESIGNATION BEVROREN)

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE

85 PEGASI 194A STAR SYSTEM

Lumeria was pushed up against the back wall of the elevator for the short trip, Vanas shoulder-to-shoulder with her on one side, Oris on the other. His two majors were nearest the door.

"What's going on?" Lumeria questioned. The Ship Master gave her the tiniest of glances, something akin to annoyance in his gaze, but did not answer as the lift stopped and the door parted. They stepped out into what the contents identified as a control center, ringed as it was with terminals and too many displays to count. The screens were dark, but a few dim, blinking lights suggested dormancy, not power loss.

"Keeper, activate," 'Rymeristee called as the two red armored Sangheili spread out, searching the room, and it dawned on Lumeria that they had done this many, many times before. Unease rose inside her, and she motioned to Vanas to keep close to her as she stepped out of the lift. The minor followed closely on her heels.

The lights, a soft glow not unlike the sourceless ones that lit the rest of the facility, came on, and with a faint buzz the terminals sprang to life, the display screens lighting up. Oris had continued around the consoles while she took in their surroundings and was now standing before a large table similar to the one in the conference room on the Shadow of Intent. A moment later, it glowed a bright blue and a life size hologram rose to float above it, the avatar of an AI, she assumed. It had taken the form of a male Sangheili, she noted. A program that adapted to whatever race accessed it? The Forerunners were intelligent indeed. How had the Ship Master known it was here?

"Status report, if you please," the Ship Master said briskly.

"No one has entered since your last visit," the hologram reported, confirming Lumeria's suspicions. "The Reclaimers had not gotten past the first levels before you drove them out." His tone was almost accusatory.

"Are we alone in the complex?"

"Except for a group of 24 individuals three levels above, and your teams in the Reclaimers' hanger bay, we are alone for precisely 200 kilometers, the limit of my scanning capabilities."

"Excellent." Oris turned, hands behind his back, and looked at Lumeria. "What have you discovered about this facility, Commander?"

"I know only what I was told: that there was a parasitic lifeform rampant in it, which is obviously not true."

"Unless you count the humans in that category."

She inclined her head in acknowledgement.

"This was, at one point in time, inhabited by our glorious forefathers, the Forerunner," 'Rymeristee continued, spreading his arms and looking around. "A marvelous structure. It is very extensive and goes quite deep into the planet." He paused, watching her bewildered expression for a moment. "Ahh, you're beginning to put the pieces together. Good, very good. You inherited your father's wits, it seems."

Lumeria blinked, taken aback at the mention of her deceased parent. "What does my father have to do with any of this?"

Oris laughed. "Everything! All of this was discovered because of him! Without him, my eyes would have never been opened!"

"I...don't understand."

"Majors, would we you please be so kind as to escort the Commanders' minors back out of here? I will follow in a moment. The commander and I need to have a heart to heart discussion."

Lumeria turned. "No, Julo, Vanas--" Oris grabbed her arm, preventing her from moving, and the majors seized her minors, easily overpowering the younger warriors and throwing both back into the lift. The ship master released her as the door locked shut and the lift powered up.

"Please pay attention," 'Rymeristee began, drawing her attention back to him, and she slowly turned to face him, resigned. He moved away as he spoke, pacing slowly around the room, and she rotated slowly to continue facing him. "The Forerunners used this complex as a research center to study an organic lifeform. This your father and I discovered when Keeper ushered us in here all those cycles ago. Indeed, numerous specimens of this lifeform are still here, contained in what Keeper affectionately calls 'the Vault'. But your father was blind to the weight of this discovery. He wanted to destroy it immediately, not use it to further our cause." Oris paused, then turned to look at her.

"You see, this lifeform isn't a parasite, at least not in the negative light of the word. It does require a host to support it, for it to reproduce, but it doesn't kill the host. No, it makes it faster, stronger, better. The Flood would give us an enormous advantage over the human vermin, allow us to finally end this war! Hence it has become my mission to see to it that this great gift the gods left us reaches those worthy of receiving it!"

Lumeria stared at him, deadpanned as the weight of what he was saying settled on her, her hearts pounding, her throat so tight she had to swallow twice before she could speak. "You...you want to release the Flood?"

"I want to make the Sangheili into something greater than what we are now, give them the power to conquer the galaxy. Perhaps," he added, ambition gleaming in his eyes, "perhaps even surpass the San'Shyuum." He chuckled with delight. "Who knows what this gift will do, what blessings will be bestowed on us!" In that moment, Lumeria's wits returned to her. Words burst out of her, powered by fear, shock, and disbelief.

"Do? The Flood would destroy San'Shyuum and Sangheili and vermin alike! Devour Unngoy and Kig-Yar without noticing the difference! Rings, that is a disease I would not wish even upon the accursed Jiralhanae! You would release a plague among us! You would wipe us out!"

Oris tsked pitifully. "That is how your father viewed it, unfortunately. You are quite like him." He grinned, gaze flicking over her form. "Except that you are far better on sore eyes." He nodded to himself. "Yes, your father sought to stop me. Hence I had to stop him. I did hope you would not make the same mistake."

Lumeria's eyes narrowed, his words stopping her like a cold knife through her belly. "'Stop him'?"

"It was not Flood that killed your father."

She stared at him as the meaning of his words dawned on her. Oris simply stared back at her, then turned back to Keeper. The hologram had been watching them the entire time, head swiveling back and forth.

"Display the hanger bay, if you please." The hologram's eyes narrowed in annoyance, then one of the wall screens lit with a view of the conquered garage, the nine Phantoms in a line across the cleared floor. "Magnify the first quadrant, please Keeper," Oris said, and Lumeria started as Rtas appeared onscreen, Rotn beside him. Both proud figures were on their knees, hands bound behind them, and surrounded by a group of Sangheili.

"These two will not survive this mission," Oris said with fake sorrow. "You, and 'Leetomvenee above us, might have a chance. What do you say, Lumeria? Will you help me complete my task?"

She stared at him, a curious mix of emotions rising inside her. Shock and disbelief were foremost among them; how could he even think of this? Her eyes strayed back to the screen. Rtas had told them what he had seen and heard and what he had been forced to do aboard the Infinite Succor. He was the only survivor from that mission, the only witness, as Oris was from his, but Rtas sought to teach others from his experience. Oris' ill-fated mission was very much still a mystery. One spoke of the Flood as a parasite, the other as a blessing. The Forerunners had kept specimens alive, had they not? Was this part of the Great Journey? To follow in their footsteps, would they have to subject themselves to the Flood? They still knew so little about the Forerunners. She closed her eyes. Oris spoke easily of bringing glory to them, completing their task. Wasn't that desireable? They had all taken an oath to do all they could to further that end. Was this the way to do it? Was the Flood all a misunderstanding?

Lumeria looked back at him. "Why are you telling me all of this?" she asked softly, stalling.

Oris nodded in acknowledgement. "An excellent question," he said. "I have worked tirelessly to safeguard this secret from those who wish to destroy it, as far as to appeal directly to the Council and have the planet declared off-limits. I must protect it at all costs, even if that means sharing it with a few of you earlier than I planned. Your prescense here is regretable, but not unfixable."

But what about the events Rtas had spoken of, about his subcommander Kusovai when the Flood had corrupted him? He had turned on his friend and commander, cared nothing for the Great Journey. And the others--Unngoy and Sangheili both--had screamed as the parasite consumed them. Rtas firmly believed the parasite to be a parasite. Oris firmly believed it a gift. They both were solid in their beliefs. Who did she put her faith in, who did she trust the most? This genius in front of her, searching for new paths to quicken their ascent to glory? Or her fellow commander, slaving beside her to win back a world fallen into vermin's hands? She saw them both in her mind's eye, comparing. Oris was older, more experienced, a higher rank, quite willing to tell her everything. He hid no secrets. He had revealed the truth she had sought about her father's death a few moments before. Anyone who defied the Great Journey, sought to undermine it, had to be removed, even if it was her father. And Rtas. He was younger, hence less experienced, her own rank, not so sure with his words, not trusting of her. But he tried, harder than anyone she knew, to do what he thought was right. He was utterly devoted to his cause, would have given his life if that had been mandated. Oris was cunning, collaborated, saw the whole picture. Rtas was thoughtful, contemplative, dealt with the here and now but always mindful of where it took him. She realized, quite suddenly, that she really did like the man, despite her curtness eariler. Trusted him with her life. And knew he trusted her in return.

She looked up at the Ship Master, hardening her resolve. "You would condemn us all, and that I cannot allow." She freed her hilt from its' customary place on her hip. "I will do everything in my power to oppose you, Ship--Oris, and tell the true story of what happened here."

One side of his mandibles pulled up in an amuseless smirk. "He didn't fight, you know," 'Rymeristee said. "Never could harm one of his own, and flesh and bone do not defend well against plasma. He could not defeat me. Do you think you will?"

"I will because I must," Lumeria said firmly. This mission had suddenly become so much more. Her father had died because he was unwilling to go against his beliefs. She would create him a legacy, by doing the same: she was fighting for what she believed now, and no matter what, she could not lose. Victory or defeat, she would have held out to the end, stood for her faith. All of the tumbling emotions fell away, and she felt peace as she ignited her sword. Slowly, with grand movements, he retrieved his and did the same. Lumeria gathered herself and charged.

His blade met hers halfway.

Lumeria broke contact and whirled a full circle to her left, striking at his right side. The ship master parried easily and attacked with a flurry of movements, driving her back as she stuggled to deflect his strikes, and then leaped as his sword moved to sever her at the knee, coming down with a sideways cut at his open side. Oris, however, expected the move and rolled forward, turning to face her as he came up. They both charged, Lumeria slashing right to left. He blocked her blade and knocked her arm out wide, driving his sword back towards her exposed chest. Lumeria dropped to the floor, swiping a leg across to collided with his ankles in an attempt to wipe his feet out from under him.

Oris, caught off guard, snarled as she kicked him and staggered backwards in an effort to keep his balance. Lumeria completed her turn and sprang to her feet, swinging her blade vertically in front of her to knock his to her left as she turned her body side on to him. She drew back as he slashed at her right side, and she sidestepped left, dropping her blade arm under his, close enough to feel the heat, and then dropped to the floor again as he struck at her chest.

This time he was prepared and expecting the move, however, and leaped over her kick, stabbing down at her head. The commander brought her blade across her body, catching his inches from her skin. Oris growled and leaned his weight on the locked blades, and she ground her mandibles together as her arm shook, then she slid right, causing his blade to stab into the floor beside her shoulder. She disengaged her blade and swung up at him, delivering a glancing blow to his upper arm, removing the armor plate and cutting him. He roared and reared back, and Lumeria slid out from under him, deactivating her blade as she hurried across the floor away from him.

But she misjudged his speed. She heard him start to follow and whirled, throwing her back against the wall and using it to level herself to her feet. Seeing his strike, she threw herself right, back onto the ground, in an effort to avoid it. She wasn't fast enough.

One prong of his energy sword stabbed through her bodysuit and ribcage on her left side, slipping between the plates of her armor, and her dodging movement served only to drag it through and out her side, ripping a long gash. The commander choked out a gasp as the wave of pain washed over her, one hand going to the injury. Above her, the ship master rocked back on his heels, leering down. Lumeria could hardly see him through the pain as she forced herself to her knees, blood beginning to dampen her fingers as she jostled the wound. A hand roughly grabbed her bottom mandibles then, twisting her head to look up at him.

"It seems a pity to waste such talent," 'Rymeristee said, almost sorrowfully. "But you are so like your father that I would have been surprised if your response had been different. Still...you are a great loss. But if sacrifices must be made for the good of the whole, I am more than ready to comply." He released her jaw, and Lumeria tightened her grip on her blade. She had to get up. Even as she thought the words, however, her muscles seemed to go slack and relax, refusing to listen and shaking from the exertion of holding herself up, and she lowered herself back down to the floor, blade slipping through her fingers. From a distance, she saw a gold-armored hand reach down and retrieve it, but it was as if she was dreaming, watching everything from the end of a long, dark tunnel instead of experiencing it.

XXXXX

Lekl turned with the other warriors in the corridor as he heard the lift arrive again, arms crossed over his chest. His brow furrowed in confusion as the ship master, alone, stepped out.

"Where's Lumeria?" Lekl blurted, hurrying to him and ignoring the soldiers who had regrouped around their commander. "What did you do, 'Rymeristee?"

"Ahh, Commander 'Leetomvenee. Out of all the commanding officers on this planet, you have the greatest chance of getting out of this alive," the ship master said. "Do as you're told, will you?"

"Where is Commander 'Rolomee?" he demanded forcefully.

"She committed heresy and had to be dealt with, I'm afraid," 'Rymeristee said dispassionately. "A great pity, but nothing could be done."

Lekl gaped at his gold armored superior. He didn't move, eyes wide with shock, as minors appeared, their cloaks unraveling, training weapons on him. Lumeria? A heretic? Impossible! Her faith in the Forerunners and Great Journey was the center for everything she did!

"Now then, Commander, why don't you surrender your weapons?" It was not a question. The words drew his attention back to the present situation. The ship master held out a hand expectantly. His majors had ringed around him again, hands on their weapons.

"As you wish," the defeated commander said, resignation heavy in his tone, forcing calmness into his voice. He handed over his carbine and sword handle. Oris hung the ceremonial weapon on his belt--beneath a smaller, delicately shaped one--and handed the rifle to the nearest major. Lekl noticed then a small cut on his arm, cauterized shut. The wound was recent. Had he fought Lumeria? "Now then, there is one more task to complete before we can leave." And Oris quickly moved across the stretch of corridor to the closed hatch through which they had come, inputting the code. As the minors motioned for Lekl to follow, he had no choice but to tag along. He did manage to exchange another look with Verk, and saw that he was not the only one housing suspicions.

The ship master led them even deeper into the complex, causing Lekl wonder exactly how large it was and how deep into the planet it descended. Only after several more doors, three lifts, and a maze of hallways did 'Rymeristee finally halt at a hatch that appeared more locked down than all the others.

"Keeper!" the ship master called. Lekl watched in surprise as a blue hologram sprang to life beside him. "Open the Vault."

The hologram clicked his mandibles. "You do not have clearance to access that."

"What? Open the Vault, now!"

"You see, I, on my own, cannot. I require assistance in this task. A hand, to be precise."

"I have two," the gold armored Sangheili said indignantly, holding them up. "What must I do?"

"You cannot do anything. A Meddler's hands will not work. It must be a Reclaimer's. And you have chased all of them away," the hologram said with fake sorrow. "A pity."

"What!?"

"A Reclaimer is required."

"I realize that, you worthess machine! Why did you not tell me before?"

Lekl swore the AI was enjoying itself. "You did not ask," it replied, as if the answer were obvious. "And I am an artificial intelligence, not a machine."

Oris swore colorfully, pacing back and forth. "Are there any humans left on the planet?" he demanded, seething.

The hologram clicked his mandibles as he computed. "Yes."

The positive answer startled 'Rymeristee out of his pacing. "What?"

"In fact, the nearest Reclaimer is hidden only a few meters behind you," the AI jovially continued as the entire squad whirled.

The ship master immediately marched through all of them, shoving the warriors aside. "Where are you, human!?" he bellowed, voice echoing down the empty corridors.


Author's Note: I apologize for the delay in posting this chapter. To anyone still watching this story, thank you for reading, and an especially big thank you to everyone who reviewed. Hopefully the next chapter will be up sometime in the next two weeks. I couldn't resist the cliffhanger, hehe. :) This story is certainly turning out very differently than how I had envisioned it.

Please review. They are very inspiring and motivate me to write more.