Hey-a, it's-a me! Mario!... Well, I tried.

Hey, guys it's me, Killed Streak (Not Mario) and I'm back with another chapter for you people. Now, I've been looking into your comments, and I've noticed when someone types this up.

Er, can we have some mature stuff, ya get my meaning?

I mean, a Brute overpowering Rhy, or something? Please?

Then I went back and noticed… that all my chapters lately have been getting soft. I guess it was my excuse of delaying the Halo 2 canon arc for much longer.

Seeing as this is the moment that, you know, the whole Schism thing happened, I guess I can let up some of my safety gloves and get to work. Warning though, if you don't like this violents, then you are free to either leave, comment, flame me.

Because this was what I originally planned.

Now, sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!

{High Charity.}

Lies sat where he was, shock was plastered onto his face as he Knudaree's image flickered on the hologram. The news that was passed to him from Knudaree was one he dreaded to hear.

"...He's dead." Lies spoke with sorrow lacing each word.

"As soon as the fleet arrived, we bailed out as fast as we could." Knudaree said, bowing his head so he wouldn't look Lies in the eyes - or the socket of where his eyes were. "We couldn't risk compromising our position."

The Prophet sighed with heavy heart. "I understand Shipmaster…"

"What do we do now?" Knudaree asked with desperation. "With Silversword gone, how do we fulfill what we set out to do?"

"... We proceed as planned." Lies answered, earning a surprised look from Knudaree. "Are the Shipmaster that joined our cause still ready to stand by our side?"

"Uh, I believe so." Knudaree said, confused. "But with Silversword gone, they may not be so convinced to do so."

"Then re-convince them, Shipmaster." Lies spoke with conviction. "Our entire lives work, our sacrifices we have made, and our brethrens that have fallen will all be for naught!"

Knudaree remained silent, nodding his head and did a salute to Lies - even though he might not see it. The image turned off, leaving Lies to the empty room. He sat in thought for a moment, before he spoke up.

"Guards!" two Elites appeared from behind the door that leads into his room. "Tell Du' Greya to send her ship here. And be quick about it!"

They saluted and exited the room to carry out their orders. Lies resumed his pondering, his empty eyes gazed onto the floor in thought.

'This is the day that will decide our fate. It can spell our doom, or our salvation. Let not our sacrifice be in vain.' he prayed in his mind.

{Lekgolo Facility}

Rhy Cortavee has been through alot in the past while. You would think that she survived training a couple of Covenant soldiers into defending Lekgolo facility, fought the mutiny among her warriors, fought in hand to hand combat against a veteran Zealot was unchallenged.

Let it be known that Rhy Cortavee may be skilled many ways, but her patience can only be stretched so far. Evil times can be trying to those who are not trained for it, especially for the Elites. While Rhy can be accounted as different from the rest, she is still an Elite.

And Elites can tolerate as far as their temper can be withheld from bursting during specific events.

Well, Rhy's patience is about to ran out right now due to the fact as she watched a couple of Brutes trashing the entire facility, scouring for the signs of rumoured traitors.

Many of her warriors and soldiers were being questioned as she sat in the war room, fuming beyond boiling point as she was being interrogated along with Thalos.

Many Elite would commend her right now for not bursting earlier. Same couldn't be said as Thalos was practically roaring to the top of his lungs against this so call Ares, the Brute who claimed to be the Prophet's Dagger.

"HOW DARE YOU QUESTION MY LOYALTY!" the Zealot loomed closer at Ares face, spits drip with each word. "I HAVE SERVED THE COVENANT SINCE I WAS MINOR!"

"That may be the case, but I was specifically ordered to leave no stones unturned," Ares sneered, enjoying the rage from Thalos. "Many of you have shown to be exceptional, I commend you on your service."

Rhy heard the sarcasm in his voice, which continued to fuel her anger.

"So let me ask you again," the Brute said. "Did you leave this Facility for your monthly leave?"

"YES!" Thalos shouted.

"There's no need to shout. What did you do on your leave?"

"I spend my time with my clan, training all the younglings." Thalos said but his voice was still angry. "Preparing them to serve the covenant, and make sure your kind are kept in line. By now they'll be able to take down your kind in a duel."

"Oh, is that so?... I will gladly await them when I thrust my dagger through their hearts." This earned a growl from Thalos, who nearly leapt at the Dagger for his threat. "Now where were you around the time when you had a one more day before being reinstated."

"That not of your BUSINESS!"

At this point, Thalos started shouting, again. He was so close to slicing something with his blade, or someone.

"Hmm, come now, commander," Ares said with a smirk. "Surely for someone who has served the Covenant, you don't mind giving out secrets, do you?"

"..."

"I thought so. Now, tell me… where was your whereabout at the time before departure?"

"I was… with my mate." Thalos said begrudgingly. This earned a curious stare from Rhy, but a unamused one from Ares.

"I see…" he said blantly. "Is that all?"

"She can account witness for me. I swear."

Ares then turned his attention to Rhy.

She could feel his gaze almost molested her body from the distance. The way his eyes rake her made her feel uncomfortable.

"Ah, Rhy Cortavee." she resisted to roll her eyes at the acknowledgment. "I've heard so much about you."

"Same can't be said for you, Ares," Rhy replied, glaring at him with her every last contempt. "But with the way you're treating my soldiers, my facility, you're already building your reputation here."

"That's good to hear," came the snarky reply. He then loomed closer to Rhy, invading almost every last personal space she had. Almost. "Now, I heard you became a recent commander of this facility, correct?"

"Yes."

"Well, guess a congratulation is in order," he said. Now, from my report, things didn't start so well with you and the Zealot. How did you manage to befriend him?"

"Me and Thalos had a… misunderstanding when we first met," she said, glancing a smile at Thalos. "But that's all way past behind us now."

"Reports of recent mutiny? How did that came to be?"

"Many of the Elites were not convinced with me being their commander."

"Why is that?"

"...Because I'm a female." she growled, not at herself but at Ares. "Apparently they were not so partial to the idea."

Ares chuckled. "I see. Explain to me how you manage to regain control from the mutiny?"

"I fought them, then spared them with honor." she said, her patience being tampered from his voice.

"I thought mercy and honor don't go together for an Elite?" he taunted.

Rhy growled at him, Thalos also snarled at the insult. Just because they're warriors, doesn't mean they are monsters. Many still mistaken that, especially the Covenant.

"Clearly, you don't know anything about us Elites." she said, narrowing her eyes in contempt at the Brute.

Ares nodded his head, his eyes never leaving Rhy's. His smile stretching even wider. "Now what about your relation with the heretic?"

"...Excuse me?!" she exclaimed, snarling at Ares. Her emotions were being messed with, shock and anger were the only thing that seems to made up these feelings.

"The one I speak of was once Thel Vadamee," he said, his smile taunting even more. "Your relationship with the heretics begs the question: Are you in leagues with him?"

"It was a mistake!" she snapped, her patience running thin. "He made a mistake to underestimate a single demon who destroyed the entire Sacred Rings!"

"And that mistake cost us our Great Journey." Ares said calmly, moving from her to pace in front of her. "And here we have a female who became a warrior for the Covenant, a Zealot. Who's to say that you won't do something that might cost us our Great Journey?"

"JUST BECAUSE I'M A FEMALE, DOESN'T MEAN I'LL FAIL THE COVENANT!" she roared, her patience disappeared from existence. Already her hands strayed to where he sword was. Her fingers brushing the hilt in temptation.

"Who will vouch for you on that?" he questioned, with the smile of a crazed predator. "From all I can say is that you're the daughter of Khan Cortavee, an Elite that was a friend to Silversword."

"What does Silversword and my father have to do with anything?!"

"...Everything." he said with frustration, the only sign of other emotion other than crazy. "Did you know that Silversword was once the Dagger?"

Rhy looked shock when she heard this. For all her time with her father's friend, she really didn't know much about his past. The fact he was a Dagger kinda change things.

"I'll take that as a no," he said, amused at her reaction. "As you can see, Silversword was once a personal favorite of the Heiarchs. Yes, I remember when he was adored for his skills, his resources, his….audacity to take matters into his own hands. But that all changed.

"As you see, years ago, Silversword was tasked into retrieving a prisoner that was a heretic that escaped. Silversword caught him and reported his success. As always. But he returned...changed. Different."

"What does that have to do with my father?"

"I'm getting to it," he chided her like a teacher to a student. "From that point on, Silversword was never the same. He began questioned the Great Journey." Ares paced, his hand straying to his grav-hammer's hilt out of anger from Silversword's past action. "When he was questioned, he denied ever to be conspiring with heretics."

Rhy's gaze never tore from Ares pacing form. She was still angry, but now she was wary at his pacing. She even noticed his hands already gripping onto his hammer.

"Heh, we all knew he was conspiring with heretics. We knew. They don't call us the Friends of the Heiarchs for nothing." he snarled, basically at the memory of this story. "When he was trialed, we were certain we had him… He was about to be either put to prison to rot, or had his entrails paraded around the city.. But then your father…"

Rhy noticed his glare directing at her, but his pacing didn't stop.

"Your father vouched for him… Your father protected a heretic!" he snarled, his hand fully grasping the hilt of the hammer. "That makes him a traitor!"

"My father is not a traitor!" Rhy shouted back, her hands onto her blade defensively.

"Oh, I beg to differ." he whispered menacingly.

Thalos saw how it was going to going off so badly, so he stepped in. "Dagger!" he walked in front of the Brute, hands stretched out to bar him from getting close to Rhy. "You have gone too far, Dagger."

"Your father is nothing but a cowardly traitor, a heretic that should be put down like a thorn beast," he taunted, his smile growing again.

Rhy was at her edge. She pulled out her sword but haven't activated it. Not yet. Ares was clearly taunting her, but the lies he's saying was enough to drive her crazy. The thing he says were personal, so that makes it personal for Rhy.

"I can't wait to put your father in his rightful place," he said, standing into a battle stance. "Maybe I'll be sure to let you hear him squeal as we placed the heretic mark upon him too."

"AAAAAARRRRGGHH!" Rhy activated her blade, her warcry piercing the room. She pushed aside Thalos and lunged forward.

Ares moved from the strike, his hammer posed into a guard to block the next. Rhy's blade clashed against his hilt, igniting sparks at the contact along with the smell of burned metal.

"Ah, you see!" he exclaimed with joy. "You are your father's daughter. Both of you have committed treasonous acts!"

"I will not stand idly by as you insult my father!" she proclaimed, maneuvering her blade to try and slice his arm off. "He is not a traitor!"

Ares saw it coming and dashed back to avoid contact. Rhy pressed her advantage on him, using her speed to overtake him. Ares was able to block all the attacks, dodging few that were nearly close to hitting him.

Thalos watched in horror as they fought in the room. Rhy, a Zealot, fighting a Dagger?! He wanted to help, but he didn't know who to help. Ares worked for the Heiarchs, to go against him would be traitorous, but Rhy was his friend.

He stood there, conflicted, with his hand hovering over his sword as the battle took place. He notice as the Brutes gathered at door watching what was obviously transpiring with glee. He didn't like what those beast were smiling about.

"Rhy!" he tried to call. "Rhy, stand down!" She ignored him, her anger clouding her mind as she attacked the Dagger. "Rhy!"

As the battle escalated, Thalos became more anxious on what to do.

Ares raised his hammer and brought it down on the floor, sending the a shock wave that sent Rhy into the wall. She collapsed from the impact, and land on the floor with a thud.

"Ha! Is that all?!" the Brute taunted. Rhy stood up and resume her attacks. Ares blocked the strike, then slammed Rhy against the wall.

"Rhy!" Thalos cried out, watching in horror as Ares crushed his friend between his hammer and the wall.

"AAAAAAAAAAGGGHHH!" she screamed in pain, her entire body flared in pain under the torturous weight upon her. Ares just smiled in glee as he pressed harder, planning to squish her in her armor.

"Dagger!" Thalos pleaded, walking forward to them. "Release her!"

"Whatever for?" he taunted, pressing again, inciting a cry from Rhy.

"You have no rights to kill her!"

There was a pause in the air, a menacing glare from Ares directing at Thalos. "...What? Are you... defending a heretic?! Do you know the penalty of such action?"

"What?!" Thalos exclaimed. "No- "

"What has this female done to earn such respect?!" Ares released Rhy, but he pressed his foot against her head onto the floor, threatening to squish it.

Thalos didn't answer. His eyes filled with worry for the female Eltie. Then he spoke. "She has earned my respect the day she proved herself a worthy warrior."

"It doesn't excuse her for conspiring with Silversword," Ares said.

"What- Silversword?!" Thalos had heard of Silversword, sure there was that time when he dropped off Rhy but he wasn't really friendly with him. So far he only heard rumors but hearing that outburst from the Dagger made him only believe in it more. But not so much.

"Her father,' he pointed at Rhy. "Is conspiring against the Covenant with Silversword. And I have my duties to male sure that no one interfered with the Great Journey."

"What proof do you have against Khan and his daughter?" the Zealot demanded. "Unless you have anything against them, I suggest you release her! Don't think I'll bring this up with the Heiarchs."

They both stared at each other, both having a battle of will with their stares. Then Ares blinked, and laughed out loud.

"HAHAHAHAAAAHHAHAHAHA!" he gasped for breath before he spoke. "It seems I have underestimated you. Well said, Zealot!"

Thalos could not comprehend if it was good news for his laughter or not. He remained silent but was wary enough to keep his hand on his sword's hilt.

Ares then stepped off of Rhy, who coughed up blood on the floor. Thalos rushed over to help her, but she shrugged him off and stubbornly tried to stand by herself. Her legs failed and she was about to fall when Thalos supported her. Rhy didn't have the strength to argue back, but she wasn't happy about it.

"Ah, Thalos," Ares chided. "I'm afraid your commander here has to be taken to the brigs."

"...What!?" he snarled, his arms wrapping around Rhy for protection.

"She," he pointed at the female Zealot. "Has attacked the Dagger; the Heirachs would not be so pleased about this."

Couple of Brutes came by and took Rhy for Thalos. The Zealot watched in horror as they dragged her away. Rhy tried to push them away. but their firm grips kept her in their grasp. Thalos was about to intervene, but Ares stopped him.

"You have other job to do," he said, grinning madly at Thalos. "Gather your warriors." Thalos only glared in a silent response. "NOW..." whispered Ares.

"Yes, Dagger." Thalos walked away, his anger unconcealed as he stomp off to do the Brutes bidding. But there was one thing that worried him: What are they gonna do to Rhy?

Hey, guys. Sorry for the slow update. There's only one word that can make you understand: College.

Yep, I'm officially having the stress of my life, yet I'm not allowed to drink coffee... Yay!

I only got one thing to say: WHY THE FUCK NONE OF YOU WARNED ME ABOUT COLLEGE!

Now that I got that out of the way, announcement: Many of my stories will have slow updates sooooo be warned.

Other than that, I'll see ya in the next chapter!

Peace!