A/N: I don't own anything from Halo.
Chapter 28
The door slid open and the soldiers raced though it. Omis, who was in the lead, swung her grav hammer at the first thing she saw. The weapon slammed into the control panel and after a second the glowing panel disappeared plunging the great alter into darkness.
"What have you done?" Rezarun shouted trying to get away from the motion near him. He was sure it was Artom and Ahce firing and he didn't want to get between them.
A light flashed on behind her and Kada stepped forward. "Let me fix it."
In the darkness of the hall and energy sword flared to life. It slashed up though flesh, feathers, and fur. The holy spirits were scrambling in the dark to find their pray. As soon as a hand grabbed him Xece struck out with his sword until he had hit the foe enough to kill it. A hand grabbed his shoulder but before he could turn around the griffin's other hand came down leaving slashes down the back of his armor. A foot slammed into his back causing him to hit the wall. He spun around to face the griffin. A flashlight snapped on reveling the enemy before him. The Holy Spirit reached toward Xece but the elite grabbed his wrist holding the claws at bay. He tried to keep the griffin away from him but the foe was quickly over coming him. Xece knew he wouldn't be able to keep the knife like claws away for longer. He kicked out connecting his foot with the griffin's stomach. It was pushed back out of the light and out of sight. Xece was suddenly plunged into darkness once more as something moved in the way of the light. The elite deactivated his energy sword, right now it would only give away his position. He fell silent waiting for anything to give away the position of his enemy.
There was an odd sound to his left and Xece turned to it. He had just started to move toward it when claws ripped through his right shoulder. He roared in pain before the second hand slammed into the side of his head pinning him against the wall. Xece struggled but could not shake the griffin's grip. He moved his arm placing his right fist against the griffin's chest and activating his weapon. The blade flashed to life stabbing though the griffin. Xece shifted ignoring the protest of his shoulder. The griffin fell to the ground. He moved forward past the corpse.
Xece was hit from behind by something slamming his head against the wall. "Coward." He accused as he gripped his head waiting for the world to stop spinning. The griffin grabbed the back of his helmet. The creature suddenly stopped looking over its shoulder.
"Feathers, yes." Omis said delighted before swinging her hammer. The force impacted the griffin's side sending it flying in a dead lump of feathers and fur. The hammer happy elite flicked on her flashlight. She looked down at the other elite. "Oh, hello there Xece." She said pleasantly.
Xece pushed himself up using the wall. "Ahce?" He asked as he steadied himself on his feet.
Omis understood the meaning of his one word question. "I don't know where she is. Probably still fighting that other griffin." She answered. Xece nodded and then moved forward into the darkness.
Max was not about to fight in the dark. He had terrible night vision and he didn't know how to work the night vision on his armor. He snapped on his flashlight illuminating both Xece and the griffin he was fighting. He watched them struggle before a griffin stepped in front of him. He panicked for a moment not sure what to do. He then struck out slapping the griffin. It was successful in stunning the enemy, mainly because the griffin had never been slapped before. Max then removed his sniper rifle from his back connecting the butt of the gun with the griffin's chin.
The griffin stumbled back a few steps stopping. It tried to turn but there was no escape. The force of the point blank shotgun blast ripped through the creature, killing it. Amanda stood, shotgun still at the ready. "Good to see you again Sarge." Max said relieved.
"Is that all of them?" Amanda asked looking around in small lit area.
"All of the spirits, yes.' Omis answered. "Kada is trying to fix the lights. Ben is assisting, and Chief and Saco are guarding them."
"What about Xece?" Max asked as he wiped the blood from his visor so that he could see.
"He went to find Ahce." I don't hear them so she and that griffin must have stopped fighting." Omis replied.
"Let's get back to the others." Amanda said before Omis lead them back to the others.
Ahce cursed her luck. She was sure the griffins had better eye sight in the dark then her. She didn't even have the help of her blades as the black energy failed to illuminate anything. Now she was only trying to keep her foe from cutting her to pieces. She slashed into the darkness wherever she caught any hint of motion. She would have to come up with some kind of strategy if she was to keep her vow. Ahce stopped dead in her tracks standing perfectly still. She would just have to wait for him to come to her. She didn't have long to wait until she felt the sting of Artom's claws slashing though her side. She reached out and grabbed the griffin's wrist. IN retaliation Artom grabbed Ahce's sword wrist keeping her from stabbing him.
"Give up vile creature." Artom demanded as he struggled to get the upper hand. They moved back and forward in a dance of power through the darkness in an effort to out do the other.
"Never, you are delusional and must be stopped." Ahce replied in a low growl. She twisted to the left causing her to loose her grip on his wrist and dislodged him from her own wrist. She lost him in the darkness once more. "Come fight me." She challenged no longer caring if she acted foolish, as long as he died. She roared in pain as claws tore down the exposed part of her back. The elite spun slamming her elbow into the griffin's stomach. He took a step back then ducked as Ahce swung her left fist around trying to hit the griffin. Ahce retreated back as she felt Artom strike her stomach cutting light gashes into the flesh.
Artom was no longer trying for stealth. As far as he was concerned he was just playing with a pray that had already lost. He jumped forward slashing out at the elite. Ahce heard him coming and was ready for him. She swung her blade at the leaping griffin in one last attempt. Blood spilled to the ground as flesh ripped open. Artom fell to the ground dead as blood poured from the large cut on his chest. Ahce stood over him stunned letting the energy blade fall from her hand. She reached up quickly to cover the large cuts along the right side of her neck. She felt the warm liquid seeping though her fingers as she tried to stop the bleeding.
"Ahce." Xece said close by. He nearly tripped over the griffin's corpse as he made his way to the other elite.
"Xece." Ahce said taking a step toward him. She fell forward and was caught by the male elite. "You must get them out of here. Keep them safe." She ordered. "You'll be in charge. I know you'll do fine. I taught you well." She assured him as her eyes slowly closed. Ahce slipped away silently leaving Xece holding the limp body.
The lights kicked back on bringing light back to the great alter. "Knew I could do it." Kada said pleased as she stood up. She fell silent as she spotted the male elite and their fallen leader. Everything fell dead silent for a moment as they took in the sight.
"We mustn't stay here longer." Rezarun spoke up. "There will be time to morn later. Now you must leave." He instructed.
"And leave you to pay for our actions?" Amanda asked frowning and turning toward the griffin.
"I will say that I convinced you to leave peacefully. That because of Artom that you were going to destroy our kind for the death of one of your and for his foolishness but I convinced you to spare us. You all will be treated as holy soldiers who came to rid us of the mistaken views. Remembered, thanked, and sacred." Rezarun replied. "Your kind must leave. In years to come they may come back, and I hope you are with them, and be welcomed as friends."
Xece lay Ahce's body down and turned to the others. "We go." He said bluntly.
"You can't honestly be saying that we leave her behind." Saco said surprised and slightly outraged.
"Yes." He replied looking to Rezarun. "Take care. Be kind." He said glancing back at Ahce.
"I will see that she is buried with our heroes." Rezarun assured him. "Take that hallway to the elevator. It will take you to the surface."
Xecen nodded and without a word moved off. The others followed behind him swiftly and silently down the hallway to the elevator. They boarded the elevator and rode it up to the surface. They came up to the sight of a team of pure black griffins waiting for them. "Your ships are waiting for you in a clearing there." One of the griffins said pointing to the forest. Xece nodded leading the team out into the forest.
They found the clearing and two phantoms waiting. "Took you long enough." Ckje complained turning to his own team. "Get on board and let's get off this dirt ball." He ordered. The multicolored elites boarded one of the ships while the others boarded the second ship. They remained silent as they all took seats in the ship.
After a moment Max spoke up. "So what now?' He asked looking around at the sulking figures around him.
"Whatever we're ordered." Amanda replied leaning back against the seat. "Well sleep first, then whatever we are ordered." She corrected.
~End~
A/N: I hope you enjoyed this fic. I'm thinking of writing an epilogue and a companion piece to this that tells a bit more about the elites of the team and the humans.
