Part I

The Voice and Face of all Evil

Chapter 10: Meeting with Hackett

"So you're telling me Shepard that the Reapers are back?" Hackett asked, his hands clenched into fists as he leaned over the war room's holo table. The Commander had told him everything. Well, everything Relevant to the current war at least, which was the Reapers, The flood, who the covenant were, and to an extent had tried to explain Flood were with Thran's help but stopped when Hackett had cut her off from it since she herself still was confused on their history.

Shepard sighed internally. She was frustrated that out of everything she had just told him that the thing he was really concerned about was the Reapers. Then again could she blame him? Only ten years ago had they almost destroyed the galaxy, and in comparison he barely knew anything about the Flood, so why would he worry about them? In fact so did she, but she had seen what they were capable of and she wasn't going to risk it. Especially after what Reluctant Promise had told her.

"Yes. They are back, but Admiral you need to realize they are not the biggest threat anymore." Shepard stated keeping her voice calm and collected. She may be still slightly injured but that didn't dampen her political or reasoning abilities.

"Shepard I know what you mean, but now that the Reapers are here... We can't fight two wars. As it is Im already getting reports of Reapers ships attacking Alliance colonies."

"Already? They've only been back for a few hours or a day at most." Garrus stated in a slight state of shock.

"Yes unfortunately." Hackett replied. The group was silent. Thran' glanced between them wondering why they were so downcast. The Reapers weren't that bad in his eyes. It was the Flood they should truly be worried about.

"So what do we do?" Hackett asked looking up at Shepard. He wasn't directly asking her for advice but it was stated none the less. He was out of ideas and this war had barely been going for a few days to a week at most.

However before the commander or anyone around the table could respond a peppy voice, one that Shepard hoped wouldn't interrupt as she was trying to keep him a secret, interrupted them.

"Why you find the Last Reclaimer of course!" Reluctant Promise stated, loudly announcing his arrival.

The group turned to see the monitor and the Arbiter both walk in from one of the side doors.

"Great..." Shepard sighed more to herself than anything. She hadn't told Hackett anything about the monitor or the Arbiter as a matter of fact.

"And just who are they?" Hackett asked purely curious. As usual before the Commander could speak, Reluctant Promise be her to it.

"I am Reluctant Promise of Installation 345." He stated with much enthusiasm. The floating ball glided over to Hackett and studied him with his blue eye.

"You are Admiral Hackett of the System's Alliance correct?" The monitor stated.

"I am." Hackett replied his voice and posture steady.

"Interesting I have been wondering when the Commander would introduce us to you." The monitor replied. Shepard closed her eyes and bit her lip in frustration.

"Its a pleasure to make your acquaintance Reluctant Promise. Now may I ask who is our other guest." Hackett stated with a polite nod towards the Arbiter. The Elite had opted to stay off to the side, content with observing but now that he was addressed he made his way towards the holo table.

"I am Thel' Vadam, The Arbiter. Leader of the Covenant and of the Sangheli." The Arbiter stated with a curt nod.

Shepard noticed for being an extra terrestrial he was pretty well versed in human greetings.

"Admiral Hackett." Hackett replied with a curt nod of his own.

"Now." He stated turning back to Shepard. "As we were discussing I have no real option on how to defeat the flood or the Reapers. Conventionally we might be able to hold them off for a month or two, but our numbers are to small to start a war of attrition. We could lose before the year is out. Now you said something about the Last Reclaimer."

Hackett looked over at the monitor.

"Is the Commander aware of this option?"

"Why yes! That is why she saved me and meet with the Arbiter here." Reluctant Promise stated oblivious to the situation he had put Shepard in.

Hackett didn't respond and just turned to Shepard with a raised eyebrow. He had known the Commander well enough to know when she was keeping a secret she had a good reason behind it, but now he figured it was time for him to know about this. If only to help her out as best as he could.

"I was going to get to that part." Shepard said sending a pointed look towards the monitor.

"What the monitor here says is that a long time ago... There was an ancient branch of humanity that was to say the least powerful. There was a war a long long time ago between the Covenant and these humans who called themselves the UNSC." Shepard started.

Before Hackett could ask anything, the Spectre continued.

"Somehow this Last Reclaimer saved them and Reluctant here thinks he can save us from the Flood since he did it before." Shepard stating motioning towards the monitor.

"This Reclaimer defeated the flood?" Hackett asked hinting at his disbelief.

"Yes. With help, but ultimately yes he did." The monitor replied.

"It was mostly luck." Another voice suddenly spoke up. The heads of everyone turned towards the Arbiter, whom had spoken.

"I was with him, and we should've died. We were lucky. Nothing more. Now how do oyu expect him to defeat the Flood once again? We have no weapons to defeat the Flood." The Arbiter stated turning towards the monitor.

"The Reclaimers left certain secrets behind that only he can access. If we can get him to find these secrets they may be able to save us." The monitor replied.

"You're wrong..." The Arbiter said shaking his head.

"How is he wrong?" Hackett piped up.

"Because the Last Reclaimer was not awake during the final war that defeated his people. He was asleep as I was. He does not know of their secrets. He was not there. He only remembers the times of old." The Arbiter stated.

"But... No... I am sure he was awake then. I have reports of him and pictures." The monitor stated.

"Incorrect. They were falsified. To create hope in the people. To keep fighting knowing that he was fighting with them. He was asleep, long lost by his people." The Arbiter retorted.

"How would you know this?" Reluctant stated in disbelief.

"Because I'm the one who left him sleeping."

The silence that followed was deafening and the Commander could've sworn she heard every person's heart eating. To say the least this had been an unexpected turn of events.

A/N Hey guys! yes another short chapter but that mean you get another update sooner than expected which means I can update agin probably around Tuesday or Thursday this week. Anyway hope it was alright.

Also I need a BETA reader for this story. someone who can beta all the previous chapter ands all future ones. Its hard for me alone to find plot holes and spelling/ grammar mistakes. Send me a PM if interested.

Thanks for reading and God bless!