(Thel 'Lodam)

Installation 06 Timeline.

[DATE]-[November 10, 2547]

[TIME]-[1004 Hours - Standard Military Time]

[LOCATION]-[Aboard Pelican Dropship Charlie 4-2, Entering Charon-Class Light Frigate: UNSC Kryptonite's Aft Hanger-Bay, Installation-06]

A loud, grinding thud signalled the landing of the Human dropship, and the end of a long, irritating journey.

The gags coming from the wounded Human soldier, White, was enough to drive my mind to abandon me. Humanity showed too much compassion towards their weak, and it sickened me. Surely Vale Nar 'Sarasee saw this as well.

Craning my head around to gaze at the ramp of the dropship's bay as it lowered, I saw the light from the hanger-bay flood the bay of the drop-ship as the ramp got lower and lower. Another loud, grinding thud told me that the ramp had lowered fully, and I rushed out of the drop-ship's bay, snapping my head around to get my bearings while also checking where the other drop-ship landed.

Spotting the other drop-ship, I rushed towards it, the clattering of Unggoy, a Kig-Yar, and Sangheili hoofs, claws, and feet upon the metal as they followed closely behind.

The Demon was the first one to walk down the drop-ship's ramp followed by two more Humans who had each of Vale's arms over their shoulders. They may had been helping him, but I instantly became disturbed at the site.

I snaked my head around, pointing to Freyn and Suras before turning back around and pointing to the Fleet-Master "Freyn, Suras, relieve them of their transgression."

"At once, brother." Freyn complied, trotting along with Suras towards the ramp. Freyn pushed the Humans away while Suras calmly gestured for them to leave. His belief of the Humans being the Reclaimers, and blinding respect was present, and it was making me feel more and more like I could not count on him being there for me when I needed him.

Suras and Freyn began to carefully escort Vale down the ramp, the rest of the Human warriors coming down the ramp behind them, quickly carting White and lifting him onto a portable medical table, and carting him off to a nearby lift.

I watched as the cart disappeared into the lift before turning my attention back to the ramp. As soon as I saw Anve, I approached him. I would do my best to avoid showing the anger flooding through me, but it would not be easy. But the last thing I wanted was to offend Anve, and it was shaping up to look as if I would. "You allowed the Humans to touch the Fleet-Master. Why?"

Observant as ever, Anve noticed my aggression and anger, and proceeded to reply with caution. "Forgive me, brother, but I drifted to slumber. I only woke up but mini-moments ago, and I, too, was shocked to see the Humans transgression," Anve lowered his head in shame. "Please forgive me."

Ever so carefully, I released the air I was holding in, and I swore that the air was steaming. The beating of my hearts calmed down, and the rage in my eyes dispersed. "Be more careful. Falling into slumber around Humans speaks levels of danger."

Anve bowed his head in respect and shame. "It will never happen again. I..."

"Go on." I gestured for him to continue, eager to hear what he had to say.

"...I thought I could trust the Demon to not allow harm upon me," Anve glanced towards the Demon before turning his attention back to me. "His outburst at Jol's death spoke volumes to me about a possible loyalty-"

I quickly interjected, not wanting to hear that one of my closet friends had some type of respect for the Demon. "There is a reason for the Demon's outburst, but it is not in our favour. He did it for another reason that is not related to us in any form."

There was a glimmer of sadness in Anve's eyes as he bowed his head again. Truthfully, I felt bad. I too trusted the Demon, but I quickly learnt that it was a ploy -for what? I did not know.

Adrenaline rushed through me when Anve snapped his head back up, looking beyond me with anger flashing in his eyes. It only turned out to be what I suspected when I snapped around to see at least a dozen fully armed Humans approaching Vale, Qrs and his operatives, their weapons raised.

This was obviously inevitable, but I did not see it coming. I was enraged, and I slammed my armoured hooves down as I aggressively approached Vale, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder and moving in front of him in to protect him while staring down the Humans.

The rest of the Humans that were in the drop-ships started to surround us as well.

"This was foolish!" One of Qrs 'Jaragsai's operatives snapped his mandibles as they all began to draw their blades. A red light shone in the corner of my eye as Qrs' signature red energy sword was activated. Hisses of the other blades sounded off, and I too pulled out the plasma rifle holstered on my right hip and aimed it at the Human with the biggest weapon.

"What is happening?" Vale asked, trying his best not to fall out of Suras' and Freyn's arms.

"You and your assassin buddies are going on a trip to the brig, split-lip." One of the warriors sadistically growled. His insult almost took it out of me, and I clenched my fist.

"This farce will not-"

"Thel, stop," Vale interrupted me, voice composed despite the circumstances. But it was always so with him. It added to my respect for him. "There is an unneeded violence being readied. They will not harm me as my knowledge is of value to them."

I did not lower my weapon. "They cannot be trusted."

"We shall watch over him," Freyn reassured me, hefting Vale back up after he slipped down around his shoulders a bit. "The Humans can allow that, surely."

There was an all too familiar humming and whizzing sound, and I craned my head around to see the Monarch hover into the hanger and float over to us. I was instantly relieved. The Monarch always acted neutral in these situations, so I was confident that this farce would be dealt with in our favour in a matter of moments.

"What is happening here, Reclaimers?" The Monarch asked in its metallic voice.

I was not about to let the Humans try to manipulate the Monarch over its loyalty to them, so I spoke up first, keeping a calm anger in my tone. "The Humans are subjecting the Fleet-Master to their filthy brig!-"

The Monarch interrupted. "Unacceptable. The meddlers vitals are deteriorating. He must receive medical attention immediately!"

A sigh of relief escaped me. It suddenly became obvious to whose side the Monarch was on.

"He'll get his medical attention," The leader of the armed group told us, his voice full of that pathetic authority that gave Humans an annoying amount of arrogance. "We have all that shit set up down there already. Happy?"

I hissed at the Human, but the Monarch, unfortunately, reconsidered its side, and spoke up after translating what the Human said to Sangheili for Vale. "Excellent! I shall oversee the medical attention to make sure everything is up to par with what is recommended by protocol! Continue, Reclaimers."

That hiss turned into a growl, and I moved in front of Vale, plasma rifle ready to fire. The Humans replied to the aggression, and moved forward, weapons raised. Some of the Sentinels in the bay began to surround us, and the Hybrids that had assembled nearby -this hanger-bay being their new zone of free movement- started moving in too.

Before I could sentence us all to death, Vale's hand grabbed my shoulder. "The Humans are either doing this for two reasons: They have trust issues, or they find some type of victory in subjecting me to a cell. If it is the latter, they are weak. Allow them to continue being weak, rather than letting a weak emotion such as pride blind you."

Scolding myself, I holstered my plasma rifle and waved for my and Qrs' warriors to stand down. The Human warriors moved forward and began escorting Vale, Qrs, and his operatives to the lift they came out of with Anve, Suras, Freyn, Kri, and the Unggoy closely behind.

Instead of following suite, I turned my head around, looking for the lift to the bridge. Finding it almost immediately, I marched towards it. To my surprise -and somewhat relief- no Human came after me.

The Captain would receive my anger on a platter, and I savoured the thought on venting my anger on her as I walked into the lift, slammed the biggest button that I assume led to the bridge, and turned to face the doors as they hissed shut.

Unlike the more comforting ding noise the doors of the false Covenant vessels made, Human ships were more along the path of a hissing sound.

The hissing that sounded off as the door to the Human lift opened was deafening, and I had to squint my eyes at the irritation, slamming my mandibles together and grinding my teeth out of the annoying sensory affecting my mind.

This just added to my anger, and I stormed out of the lift and through the corridor, arriving at its end with yet another damn door hissing open. This time, my anger was not so easy to contain, and I hissed along with the door, storming through it and onto the Humans' primitive bridge.

I did not get far onto the bridge without eyes peering my way, and the bridge officers pointing me out to the higher ranked individuals. Apparently the Captain had not announced my imminent arrival -that the Associated Intelligence would had told her about- to her bridge crew

I walked up a few steps to an elevated section of the bridge, and began approaching the command seat when the Human Second came out from behind a wall with terminals on it, and stood in my way. "Ultra, it's best if you turn around and leave." The Human warned me, his irritating accented tone only irritating me further in a day already full of too much irritation.

"My arrival was announced -surely-, and I have not been halted on my way here, so I will not be leaving now." I explained to him, my voice becoming somewhat muffled as I began gritting my mandibles so hard together that drool began to dribble from my teeth.

"Cortez, it's fine." The Captain told the Second from her command chair, her usual tone sending more sparks of irritation through my mind. Why did Humans have to sound so damn annoying?

Complying immediately, the Second stood aside, gesturing for me to continue on. I hissed at him, passing by him while also purposely bumping into him. I heard him let out an angry grunt before moving on, but I did not pick him up on it as I was the one to show aggression to him.

Letting the Second go, I continued up a few more steps until I came around the side of the Captain's command chair, placing my hand on the metal of the large seat as I moved right around it and in front of it to look the Captain directly in her pathetic green eyes. She returned the gaze, and I felt disgust. She was looking down on me!

Enraged, I began my protest. "You are despicable, unfaithful, and disgusting!" I snapped, slamming my clenched fist into the metal of her command chair, having the armour around my fist protect me from any damage. I once slammed my fist into a metal surface without armour protecting it, and it did not end well. "I bring aboard one who will provide your pathetic race with absolute salvation, and you lock him into your primitive prisons with the bastard mutineers!"

A smirk appeared on the Captain's ugly face. "I'm sorry, I don't remember sending the Monarch to the brig."

I roared in rage at her pathetic and arrogant jest, slamming my armoured hoof into her command chair, making her instinctively lift her legs up into the seat. "YOU DARE INSULT THE FLEET-MASTER?! HE ACTUALLY WANTS TO HELP YOUR PATHETIC RACE WILLINGLY, AND YOU MOCK HIM?!"

"Don't bullshit me, 'Lodam. There's no Elite out there who'll want to suck our dicks for anything but their own benefit."

I was taken aback by her crude words. Sucking the sacred seeder? What provocative nonsense was this? "Never underestimate Vale Nar 'Sarasee. The Prophet of Pity did, and he lays dead." I hissed as I continued. "And do not doubt my words -the Fleet-Master does in fact want to help your race out of pity. It is a weak motion for one so strong, but understandable-"

She broke in, her voice full of authority. "I'll judge for myself later. Right now, he and these 'assassins' will remain in the brig-"

I took a heavy step forward, making some of the bridge crew around me ready themselves for a possible fight. "You will speak to him now!"

"I'd like to, 'Lodam; it'd shut you up, so it's a win-win situation, but I'm needed here."

I shook my head in annoyance, clattering my mandibles together, wiping away the drool from the exposed part of my helmet, near my jaw, to prevent any signs of weakness. Humans did not drool out of being more evolved in that sense, but what they were evolved physically in replaced evolution of intellect. We may had been more animalistic, but we were more intelligent. "You are not needed here. Cease these excuses, now!"

"I am actually needed here, 'Lodam." The Captain shook her head, amused. "The Monitor's calculations were off by a few hours -we're approaching the exit, now! You guys only just made it back on-board, so I'm kinda glad to see you, but that gratitude quickly pissed off."

I mused on her words. According to Qrs -who I spoke with on the drop-ship while it traversed through the all-service tunnel and back to the Human vessel- Ship-Master Yexyn 'Sarasai had been overthrown and executed by the crew of his ship, the Sinful Wind, after they discovered his plans to help out the Fleet-Master. Qrs quickly escaped the ship not long after, already being watched closely by the crew.

No doubt Qrs would inform Vale of this soon, and I felt regret for not being there with him in the brig to offer him support upon the news. But I was here, and I needed to think of how to act next.

With no more possible allies among the fleet, negotiation options were not available. There was absolutely no way we could safely commune with the fleet, so it was best to leave them behind. But if no vessels had Flood Spores on them -as the Monitor had stated upon completing a scan of the fleet per my request- then why not let them escape? True, the fleet not trapped in Halo's orbit would attack the Human vessel -that was oddly named 'Superman's Weakness'; likely a miss-translation- as soon as it left Halo's sky sphere. But why not only destroy the ships that threatened us? And why not deactivate the gravity well indefinitely, allowing the rest of the fleet to escape safely?

I turned my attention to the large window covering the front of the bridge. In the far distance, there was the enormous hatch that would soon open. A thought suddenly arisen in my head. The Monitor would be here soon to coordinate with the Captain to ease our escape. When it arrived, perhaps I could express my concern. Whether it listened or not made me fear for the fate of those I once called 'brothers'.

"Ma'am, ETA to E-P is five minutes." One of the Humans at their stations informed the Captain. All of the bridge's stations were occupied save one that belonged to a mutineer who was contained to the brig.

"Re-route all power to the engines -get us as much speed as possible. And get the Monitor up here." The Captain began ordering, pulling up a terminal connected to her command chair where she began pressing holographic buttons which did tasks I cared not for.

"Power being re-routed, ma'am. Speed's increased by one hundred and thirty-six percent. ETA is now minus two minutes."

"We're going home, boys!" Someone cheered with everyone else joining in their cheers. Humanity's ignorance in celebrating so soon bought about an extreme amount of irritation.

I was about to leave the bridge when I started to lose my balance. "'Lodam, hang on to something!" The Captain urged me. Normally, I would tell her to go and die painfully, but her warning had merit, and I grabbed onto her seat as my feet began slipping back. The angle of the ship was going from straight to vertical. The gravity controls in the rest of the ship would prevent any of the crew from losing balance, but it was different on the bridge. Humans did not seem to be able to put in that extra effort. I found it understandable -to some extent as whenever a manoeuvre like this was to happen, most of the crew would be in their stations, and moving would be forbidden. That was at least what I thought to be fact, but then I realised it may had been something else. Maybe there was gravity controls in the bridge, but the Captain deactivated them to annoy me.

"Ma'am, the Monitor's already on-route. He'll be here any second!" One of the bridge operators informed.

Adrenaline started flooding me. The chance of saving so many from death was close, and I would not let it pass. I decided to utilise this adrenaline, and used to try and stabilise and balance myself. This was in vain for adrenaline could not beat gravity.

"You holding on tight?" The Captain laughed. She seemed to be enjoying herself. Both my comfort being absent and the thought of going home made her 'joyous' But for me, I just found it unneeded, unprofessional, and annoying. So I replied with a hiss.

Ironically, I was not the only one to hiss. The doors to the bridge hissed open, and the whizzing movement of the Monitor made me turn my head around to see him hover around the same wall I came around earlier with the terminal connected to it, and come up beside me. "Apologies for my miss-calculations, Reclaimer."

"I'm not bitching." The Captain replied, joy still in her voice.

"Monitor, I must beg a request of you!" I panted, trying to balance myself.

The Monitor turned back around to face me, its centre eye twitching in curiosity. "I will do anything I can to assist you. Please designated your request!"

"All of the Covenant ships are clear of the Flood, no?" I questioned, keeping my voice calm, but getting somewhat fearful when I saw the Captain turn her head in interest.

"Yes," The Monitor confirmed. "And the vessels have not had any access to the surface of this Installation since my last scan, so there are no possibilities of the statistics changing."

"Then allow them to escape!" I pleaded, keeping my voice calm as to not show my desperation. "And only destroy the ships that threaten us directly! Do not end the existence of any others!"

The Monitor seemed to consider my pleas, by before it could reply, the Captain broke in. "Not going to happen. We have a chance to take out one of the most dangerous Covenant fleets out there, and I'm not gonna let that chance go!"

I snapped my head in her direction, lightly hissing. "There is NO need to! Absolutely no need! Have you been deceived into not remembering the Monarch's inbuilt device?" I Hissed louder, almost glowing. "It may take us a segment to return back to your world, but it will be a few rotations for the rest of the world! Why are you so damn foolish, you pathetic fungus!"

The Captain let out a sigh, rubbing her forehead. "You're right."

"Of course I am!" I snapped, twitching my mandibles uncontrollably, totally enraged.

The Captain began chuckling slightly. "If you'd shut up a moment, I'd like to break your hearts."

My eyes widened, and my hearts began beating at an alarming rate. What I was about to hear was not going to be easy to digest. Despite my agitation, I let the Captain continue. "Now, while you're right, there's a small overlook on your part," The Captain spent a few mini-moments pressing in a few orders on her terminal before continuing "We may be back at Earth in a matter of days, weeks, whatever, But, it's more than likely that it'll still be a while before the war ends fully. And during that time, this fleet could be fucking over dozens of planets. That's not gonna happen -not on my watch."

The hatch began opening. The sound of the giant metal doors opening could be heard from inside the Human ship. I had to act very fast if I was to prevent this unneeded massacre. "You do not understand!" I protested, getting more and more agitated and aggressive. I could not contain it, nor did I care. "When High Charity arrives, every commander in the fleet will be executed for allowing Halo's destruction! Such a refitting for every ship will take over a segment!"

The Captain craned her head around, and lowered her gaze to me. "There's still the chance-"

"THERE IS NO 'CHANCE'!" I roared in rage, drool leaking from my mandibles and onto the ground. It caught the attention of the Captain, but I cared not; I actually hoped this animistic aspect of me would intimidate her.

The Captain shook her head, turning her attention back to the Monitor. "Consider this retribution for being a dick, 'Lodam."

My mandibles could not move for I was in too much shock at her even considering such a barbaric act -let alone actually do it. "Kill them, and your race is doomed. I will do anything and everything I can to make sure your race begs for mercy under our boot!"

The Captain scoffed in disbelief. "Yeah, ONI's not gonna let any of you assholes return to your shit-hole of a 'home-world'-"

"I do not plan on asking for their permission!" I growled. As I responded, the ship passed through the hatches, and the blight light of the sun flooded the bridge. It was both refreshing, and intimidating.

"Ma'am, we've been spotted!" One of the operators reported.

"Multiple Covenant SDV-Class Corvettes and Frigates are rerouting to our position," Another added. "Ma'am, what'd we do?"

"Watch the fireworks." She replied.

The ships in orbit around the ring that were visible began exploding as the weapons of Halo opened fire. Whether they were attacking us or not had no matter -they all suffered the eternal darkness.

"Gravity well is deactivated, Reclaimer," The Monitor reported. "You have five minutes before I reactivate it."

"Thanks. Okay, boys and gals, full speed! All power to the engines!" She ordered.

I almost tumbled over as the ship began speeding forward. "Ma'am, speed increased by another hundred percent!" A operator reported.

"We're going to make it!" Another added. The Human's enthusiasm was misplaced and irritating. A bridge was meant to be a place of quiet concentration -not unneeded chatter. I had spent my fair time upon a bridge, and I had stricken down on those who would defy such customs, but this was the Humans' ship, not mine.

Such concerns as chatter was put aside by me when a more real and alarming reality came to mind. I looked out of the window covering the entirety of the front of the Human ship, and saw a dozen ships full of those oblivious to the Prophets' lies be blown asunder by the weapons of Halo. And these were just the ones visible from where the Human vessel was faced -there were many more being destroyed outside my vision.

It was hard... Too hard to watch so much needless death unfold in front of me.

"Fleighted, is Halo on a collision course with the sun yet?" The Captain questioned the Monitor.

"Affirmative, Reclaimer. The estimated to of collision is twenty minutes."

The Captain let out a sigh of relief. "Good enough. Come on, boys, let's get to orbit and watch the show!"

The crew whooped in agreement. "Fried Covies, awesome."

I decided to instead feed back an offensive jest and not respond with aggression. I could play the Human's pathetic and cruel game as well. "You like watching your enemy burn as well?" I questioned, forming my mandibles in a sadistic smile. "I do too. I oft than not stood on the bridge of the ship I served on, and watched with glee as your worlds were burnt to glass!"

Disgust and anger sounded against me.

"Fucking split-lip!"

"COCKSUCKING ALIEN FREAK!"

"Get outta 'ere!"

"That was uncalled for." The Captain shunned me.

"I gave what I received, you filthy little Nishum!" I snapped back at her, my tone full of hatred, and my mandibles twitching in anger and hate beyond comprehension. Was the Captain a fool? Or did she not hear the Human's remark?

"Just leave, now! Before I have you kicked off the bridge." The Captained warned me, adding a threat to extend the warning.

"With pleasure!" I snapped back, letting go of her command chair and tumbling around on the unbalanced ground. I suddenly managed to regain my balance, and suspected that the Monitor reactivated the bridge's gravity controls to assist me. I still did not forgive it for its blinding loyalty to Humanity.

With my balance being returned to me, I stormed out of the bridge, through the corridor, and back into the lift, ignoring the hissing doors all the way. Once in the lift, I slammed my fist onto the button that led to the deck with the Human 'officers' lounge' on it.

As the lift rumbled and began its descent, I struggled to remain composed. A part of me wanted to break down and let tears flow from my eyes, but I needed to remain strong. And there was the Associated Intelligence that would had been watching me. Shedding tears out of weakness was not something I would do; indulging the Humans was not something I would.

But, after everything that had happened over the past couple of segments, learning that my entire meaning for existence was a lie, Rek, Jol, and everyone else's death, and after just witnessing a fraction of a fleet familiar to me being obliterated, it was too much. I managed to light gag as emotion tried to escape me before I scolded myself, and quickly recovered just as the doors to the lift opened. I marched out, clenching my armoured hands into a fist of anger.

I continued to move through the corridors and junctions of the Human ship until I arrived at the familiar officer's lounge. My eyes widened as I entered. Outside the large window -that covered the entire wall that stared at me as I walked through- was the raining of debris from the distant vessels of the fake Covenant being destroyed.

Before I collapsed out of grief, a shutter whirled down and covered the window. Turning to where the shutter controls were, I saw a Human clad in Imp armour -save the helmet- standing near them, liquor in hands. This one's name was 'Morgane' or 'Morgana'; I did not remember, nor care. I just wanted him gone.

"Leave, now." I ordered him, keeping my voice low and cold, but hinting my anger.

"You looked like you were about to collapse, so I technically saved your ass. Show a bit of appreciation." He replied in a calm tone, going over to a Human long seat and seating himself on it, taking a sip out of his bottle of liquor.

I hissed in reply, preparing to remove him forcefully when he apologised. "I'm sorry -it's been a long day, I just need a beer to relax with," He turned his head over his shoulder to look at me. "but I'll leave -if you want me to. Doesn't seem like I'm wanted anywhere, anyway, so being told to piss off by an Elite won't shock me." I noticed tears coming from the Human's eyes, and I was instantly disgusted.

"YOU SHED TEARS?!" I growled at him. "You, murder and shame young females, yet you shed tears for being outcasted?!"

The Human turned to look at me, tears coming out of his eyes in an alarming rate, but face remaining composed. "You know?"

"It is the talk of the ship!" I replied aggressively. "I cannot go to any place with your race present without hearing the tale of your exploits! While I thoroughly enjoy thinking about the pain you inflicted on those little bastards, I cannot perceive you as anything other than an animal!"

The Human got up off the long seat, leaving its glass bottle of liquor on the low table between the long seats. "Yes, I am an animal. And yes, Humanity is a pathetic as you've been calling it. But, I want to make Humanity stronger in a chance to redeem myself."

I rolled my eyes in disbelief. "There is no way Humanity can become 'stronger', so do us all a favor and rid yourself of existence. But first, GET OUT!"

The Human jumped back a bit at my rage, but quickly hurried out, breathing heavily. The Human was obviously very tormented, and I was rather glad at the prospect.

Letting a sigh wheeze through my mandibles, I took a seat on one of the Human long seats, and relaxed. I then remembered that relaxing would bring about reminiscing, and reminiscing would bring about the emotions of everything I have been through. I would not allow myself to become consumed by emotions, so I leaped out of the seat, grabbed the glass liquor bottle the Human left, and tossed it across the room to see it shatter against a wall.

Unsatisfied, I charged over to the bench, scaled around it, and began grabbing other bottles of Human liquor and throwing them across the room. The shattering of glass bought as much pleasure as mating did -more, for the moment.

After the bottles were gone, I scaled back around the bench, and tore the Human tall chairs from the ground and smashed them against the ground. Unsatisfied still, I bought out my energy sword, swung my arm up in the air, and snapped it down, activating the blade.

With the blue blade at my disposal, I started cutting apart the bench, cleaving through the metal and wood as if it were nothing. Once the bench was done, I continued with the tall chairs, cleaving them apart before shifting to the couches.

Left, right, left right, I swing my blade and cut apart the objects of the Humans. Soon, I would cut apart Humans, yet again.

(Courtney Jsarez)

Installation 06 Timeline.

[DATE]-[November 10, 2547]

[TIME]-[1047 Hours - Standard Military Time]

[LOCATION]-[Charon-Class Light Frigate: UNSC Kryptonite's Bridge, Orbiting Installation-06]

"Really?" I asked Timmy, disbelief in my voice.

"Affirmative, ma'am. Ultra Thel 'Lodam is throwing a temper tantrum." Timmy confirmed.

I scoffed in disbelief. The Great and Powerful Ultra was cutting apart my ship out of anger. This was priceless! "Timmy, you recording it"

"Affirmative, ma'am."

I smiled. "Send the recordings to all the crew's datapads later. It's the prefect gift for the Marine's 772nd birthday. It'll give the men a laugh while also pissing off 'Lodam, so it's a win-win for me."

"Affirmative, ma'am." Timmy complied. If 'Lodam was gonna cut up my ship, then he would pay the price.

The hissing of the bridge door opened made me turn my head around and lean out of my command chair to see who it was. Upon seeing that it was Red, I smiled and turned back around, now facing the window that covered the entire of the front of the bridge, and outside of that window was Installation 06 getting closer and closer to the sun of the system we were in.

"Come to watch the show here?" I asked Red. "Because I had Timmy broadcast the external camera view across everyone's' datapads."

"I haven't watched a show with you in years," He explained. "Just wanted to change that."

"And?..." I urged.

Red sighed, stopping next to my seat. "I'd like to be with you when the pain starts."

"Pain?" I questioned.

Fleighted Fire then deemed it necessary to join in. "Yes, Reclaimer. The Flood may be mutations of biological lifeforms, but they can feel pain."

"Shit!" I growled. "This is going to fucking suck!" (You do not say? You lose half the pain to your sibling, I experience it all.) The thought of the Gravemind getting a shit tone of pain injected into it made me smile, but a flash of pain went through my head, and I stopped, letting out a yelp at the same time as Red did.

"Nai!" He growled. "Please, don't piss the Gravemind off."

"Yep." I simply grunted, rubbing my forehead to relieve the pain.

"A wise decision, Reclaimers." The Fleighted Fire remarked, almost happily.

"You seem joyful." I observed, ceasing rubbing my head as the pain died down.

Fleighted Fire turned its attention to me. "Oh, indeed! I have been meaning to tell you that I have decided to travel with you back to Erde-Tyrene."

"You're allowed to do that?" I asked it, joining my tone in with its at the good news. While the Monitor coming back to Earth with us wasn't really a priority, I could just use him as another hostage against ONI.

"Yes, Reclaimer." Fleighted Fire confirmed. "I have always been allowed to do so, but never mentioned out of necessity. I have the choice to return to the Ark and await the construction of Installation 06B, or serve you until Installation 06B has been issued into a state of functionality. I initially chose the first option out of eagerness to see the Ark, but reconsidered as assisting in Humanity's war with the meddlers in a larger priority, and initiates an overdrive of any protocol that contradicts assisting Humanity -as going to the Ark would."

I took it all in before replying. "That's great news, Fire, I can sure use you in the future." I tried to keep any sign of me thinking deviously out of my voice, and succeeded. I, at first, didn't like using the Monarch -now both the Monarch and Fleighted Fire- as objects to trade with ONI, but they weren't only machines, but machines that had pissed me off way too much, and my tolerance for them had ended long ago.

"It'll be nice if you mention you being able to come with us," Red said. "Just in case we needed you."

"Protocol dictates I judge myself before acting against protocol, and informing you of the first choice went against the protocol that stated that I did not have to inform you if I deemed in unnecessary."

I frowned in confusion, that was a mouthful that I didn't want to hear ever again, so I didn't persist. I thought Red might've, but he didn't, and I saw why. Halo was already entering the sun, and I was suddenly starting to feel really hot.

The heat from the sun would destroy all life on Halo before swallowing, but the Gravemind was still a ways away from the part that was being burnt up, but the heat was increasing.

It didn't help that I wasn't able to sweat since I wasn't physically hot, but Red holding my hand tightly did help.

At a time like this, my hands would usually twitch out of control, but that stopped yesterday when I recoiled with Red. It must had been a mental thing, and I would talk to Joyce about it. But now, I had to suffer through the Gravemind being burnt to death. It wasn't going to be like an explosion where the blast would likely kill you instantly, but the air getting hotter and hotter. First, I would likely stop breathing, then I will start to feel the Gravemind blister up, and I could only dread about the rest.

(Pain is but mental, I am mental. Consider this your reward for complying with my plans so far.) The heat suddenly disappeared, and my mind felt odd. Red felt it to, and I heard him let out a sigh of relief.

I didn't have to ask Red to know what the Gravemind meant. I let Red on the ship, so I helped in its plans -of sorts. And for that, it decided to shield us from the pain via its connection to our nerves. I couldn't help but be grateful to the Gravemind. Despite everything it stood for, it had the ability to show compassion -apparently.

Red, me, the Monitor, and all of the command crew watched as Halo was swallowed up by the sun. All that remained from Halo was the debris of Covenant ships that were orbiting Halo that were quickly destroyed by Halo's defences before we even broke orbit.

I smiled at the carnage. The Covie bastards had it coming, and I felt no pity for 'Lodam, or the other Elites, Grunts, and Kig-Yar aboard the Kryptonite.

(Pain is a tactical foe that I have yet to conquer. With all I can do in existence, I cannot resist pain until one that can, joins their conscious with mine.) Both the Monarch and Fleighted Fire said that the Flood evolve with consuming different species of organic lifeforms. Consuming a Human gives them that Human's abilities and memories, and the same goes in a universal format. So until the Gravemind consumed a species that could resist pain, it was screwed to continue feeling pain.

I almost found the thought amusing, but decided to not dwell on it. The Gravemind may had spared us its pain only as a 'reward', but it still saved me from more pain than I needed, and so I would show the Gravemind some slack -for a bit, at least.

After a few moments of dwelling on the fact that Halo was gone, I came back to the present, and began typing in orders on my personal command terminal. "Fleighted Fire, are there any Covenant ships still in the system?"

"No, Reclaimer. All meddler ships have been destroyed in various methods. I will give you a detailed list of the methods-"

"No thanks," I interrupted. "Just needed to know if we were home free."

"Looks to be that we are." Red remarked.

"Yeah..." I agreed, musing on what to do. We could either go straight back to Earth, and make the slight risk of being followed -which was very unlikely-, or we enter a random slip-space vector, and follow the Cole Protocol to the book. "...But I don't think we should take the risk."

"Yeah, I suppose you're right." Red agreed.

I smirked. "When have I ever been wrong?" I asked, turning my attention to my Navigation's Officer, Lilly Gantant, "Gantant, set a random slip-space trajectory -try and make the distance as minimal as you can. And give me an ETA."

"On it." Gantant replied, and a few moments passed before she added, "Ma'am, vectors entered. ETA: eight days."

I turned my attention back to Fleighted Fire. "How long will it take with the Monarch's time thingy?" I asked.

"Approximately sixteen hours, Reclaimer," The Monarch responded with his estimated time, adding, "But the time is dependable on multiple parameters-"

"That's fine," I broke him off, and began rubbing my chin as I added, "We can do sixteen hours. Just, inform the Monarch of the situation."

"There is no need to, Reclaimer," Fleighted Fire replied, and began explaining what it meant immediately after, leaving me little time to ask what it meant. "The Monarch's Point of Local Transendor is always active."

I let out a sigh of relief. "Perhaps you damn robots aren't totally inconvenient," I let out another sigh, turning my attention back to Gantant while sitting up straighter in my command chair. "Lieutenant, initiate slip-space sequences," I then summoned Timmy whose 21st century dressed avatar appeared on the holotank connected up to my command chair. "Timmy, inform the crew that we're entering slip-space."

"Affirmative, ma'am." Timmy immediately replied in his bland, emotionless voice before disappearing a few moments later.

Hearing the iconic sound of a slip-space portal opening, I turned my attention to the large window covering the front of the bridge, and saw the large slip-space portal appear off bow of the Kryptonite.

I stared at the enormous dark blue and black portal as we got closer and closer to it. There was nothing but silence as we entered it, and once we did, the crew began cheering.

Being in slip-space often scared me. The surrounding space was nothing more than pitch black, and the darkness often freaked me out. Inside slip-space, there was nothing. It was like walking through death.

Looking for an excuse to leave the bridge, I quickly found one, and summoned Timmy again who immediately reappeared on the holotank. "How's the Fleet-Master doing?"

"He's stabilised, ma'am, and he's waiting to speak to you." Timmy told me, adding a stern warning. "And ma'am, 'Lodam's gone down to the brig and told him about your actions -he's not impressed, so be careful."

I let out an amused sigh. "Just as long as he remembers whose ship he's on, things'll be fine," I told Timmy, who nodded and disappeared upon me gesturing that he was no longer needed. After Timmy was gone, I turned my attention back to Red, and got out of my command chair while also asking him, "Wanna join me?"

"Sure. I'd like to see what makes this Elite tick as well." He replied, following me off the bridge.

We went through the corridor and arrived at the lift, and entered it. Red was about to press one of the holographic buttons when I placed a hand up for him to halt, and put a finger up to my earpiece. "Timmy, where's what's a good place to hold the meeting?"

"Someone made the officer's lounge a no-go, so I'll have to re-analyse for potential-" Timmy halted for a second before adding his suggestion. "The amidships' hanger bay's a good bet, ma'am."

I waved for Red to press the appropriate button to take us to the deck. "That'll work. Get him escorted there pronto."

"Affirmative, ma'am."

The lift began rumbling as it descended a few floors. But the rumbling was quickly replaced by the cries of a baby.

I turned to face Red who was hearing it too, and the cries became more present until I heard it echoing throughout the lift. Turning to the sound, I saw the figure holding a crying baby in its arms.

Seeing what I was freaked me out. The figure wasn't shaped like Eric, so this wasn't related to my own aborted baby, but what did it mean. As was usual with me when I was a kid, I turned to Red for a bit of light on the situation. "Red...?"

"I have no idea, Nai. This is... messed up."

The figure smiled its demonic smile before both it and the baby in its arms disappeared into the air. As it did, the doors that it was in front of hissed open. Lynda was standing there, and she noticed the shocked expressions on our face.

"The fuck's wrong with my face?" Lynda angrily questioned us, pointing to her face which began to frown.

"Nothing more than usual." I joked, keeping the shocked expression on my face.

"Courtney," Lynda took a step forward, eyeing Red suspiciously. "Are you okay?"

Both Red and me quickly shook out of it, and I nodded in reply to Lynda's inquest. "Just... something," Lynda was about to say something in reply, but I continued before she could. "It's a... a problem both me and Red are having, but we're gonna talk to the robots 'bout it later."

"They're not replacing me or anything?" Lynda asked, smirking. Despite my obvious discomfort, she still joked. I knew she wasn't being rude -this was just how she acted. She always tried to cheer me up, and that's what made her a good friend. But recently, the roles had been reversed with her family being killed on Atmosus.

"No," I chuckled, placing an arm around her shoulder as I led her down the corridor with me, Red at my rear. "They're annoying, but not enough to replace you as the most annoying little shit in my life."

Lynda made a joking sizzling sound, following suite with a laugh. Red also chuckled somewhat -which reassured me that he still had his sense of humour.

Once Lynda started joking, it was hard to get her to stop. She continued to lead on with jokes connected to the previous ones she just did until we reached the hanger bay. It was full to the brim with Sentinels and Marines patrolling the area with Vale and the assassins in the centre of the bay, surrounded by both Marines and the Diverted -save the Grunts, who were sitting nearby, preparing for the show, joined quickly by the Jackal who relaxed next to them.

Lynda tapped my shoulder and pointed over to a small portable cargo lift that was being manned by Sergeant Major Jeff Woods. I nearly missed it being Woods since it appeared he shaved off his rough beard, but the energy sword scar going across his forehead and the combat knife tattoo on his face gave him away.

Woods was actually a member of the ODST Fireteam that went with Red back on Quaint to the Forerunner facility that Red disappeared at. Woods said that he was an ass to Red, and that he was one of the reasons Red ended up on Halo. I didn't care. He knew he fucked up, and he had a shit ton of mental fuck-ups come out of being the sole survivor of the ground forces assigned on the operation to the facility. He was being punished already, so there was no need to add to that.

Hating him to some extent, but not willing to show it, I didn't even glance at him as both me, Red, and Lynda hopped onto the lift, and turned to face the Fleet-Master, and waited for Woods to raise us up.

(Vale Nar 'Sarasee)

There was a creaking sound as the ramp raised the Humans up to a height that I guessed was to show authority.

A primitive tactic, it was. So long had the Covenant stood over Humanity, they must had found pleasure in standing over us. Was it not enough that so many just died out of their rage? Did I have to be looked down upon? I did not care, but it came to me as a weak motion that reflected negatively on my opinion of them.

I felt slightly nauseous. I was never good at being in the void, and the fact that Human vessels traverse the void slower than our own vessels bought about fear for a long, and uneasy journey. I had no doubt that I my nausea would conclude with me forcefully spilling, and I did not look forward to the time when it occurred. But who would look forward to such a time as a discomfort rises over them? My mind often spoke illogical words, but I never did.

Standing up straight, I placed my hands behind my back. If the Humans were going to use posture as words, I would act along. Qrs and his operatives did the same, and stood up straight, but did not copy my posture. "Tell me, Human, are all of your race so sadistic to act as you just did?" I questioned the Human, keeping my voice calm and stoic. If I knew Thel enough, then they perceived Sangheili as being nothing more than aggressive. Thel could remain composed at certain situations, but he was prone to outbursts of aggression.

The Human female leaned against the railings of the raised platform, and I could see a smile on her face. Thel gave me a device that connected around my right eye which translated Human words into subtitles that would display across the bottom on the HUD of the device. These were apparently created by the Huragok. I could not help but be amused by the amount that the Huragok could do that they never told us they could do. They hated us as much as I thought.

The Human turned her gaze to me, and answered. "I don't know my own race enough to be able to answer that."

"Then perhaps there is honour in your race," I mused out-loud. "But you are not among them -unless honour is conceived differently in your race, and this was honourable in your eyes-"

"Nope," The Human Captain cut me off. "What I did was more than messed up, but I found joy in doing it, so, yeah, whatever."

I heard Thel hiss behind me, and heard him slowly approach me, and whispered to me, "See? They are without honour in their own military."

I slightly nodded in reply to Thel, considering his words, but not a lot. I knew he had become blinded by emotions towards the Humans. Whether this was always, or it occurred after being harmed mentally by a Human was a question I would ask him later.

Finally letting out a sigh, I realise what words I must speak next. "My brothers have informed me of everything. The plan to return to your homeworld, this 'Void Transendor', how you are the Reclaimers, the truth behind Halo and the Parasite. I know everything. So, if you would please explain what I must do to indulge you, I would like to retire and muse on the deaths of thousands of my brothers."

"'Thousands'?" The Captain asked, amusement in her voice. "I was hope that it would be tens of thousands."

Thel and Qrs' operatives started hissing in protest, but both me and Qrs remained composed, but the resentment of the Human words were there, I just did not show it. "You are weak. You find joy in tormenting us, and that makes you weak."

The Captain nodded. "That's right, I'm weak. But I don't care. If being weak means I get to pleasure myself in fucking around with you, it's a fine sacrifice. But, aren't all Humans weak in your eyes?"

I shook my head, bringing my hand up to my bandaged chest to try and suppress the pain that was rising in it. Feeling the pain of the energy blade that I have used so much before, I felt some remorse that the Humans had to feel so much pain. Eventually, the pain subsided, and I turned my attention back to the Captain. "Most of us do, yes. But not me, no. I never saw your race a pest that needed to be wiped from existence, but simply a foe I had to crush out of existence under the orders I was given. But I always questioned the motive behind the war against your race -even if I did not speak it."

Qrs added, "Reasons there were for the war against you, yes. But those reasons had little merit in my mind as you were not the first." I noticed how the Captain seemed taken back by the dread in Qrs' tone, she almost seemed to be intimidated. Qrs had that affect as if it were natural, and nearly nobody could resist it.

I decided to add in on Qrs' words. "The Lekgolo, when we first encountered them, had caused the destruction of Forerunner relics as well. Yet, we indoctrinated them into the Covenant because they showed strategy that caused difficulties for us in our genocide against them. Your race, too, showed strategy that caused stress against us. Having you, your tactics, your culture, and implement Covenant technology into it all would make your race a worthy asset to the Covenant. We initiated the war because we, at first, had no idea how powerful your race was. But even so, peace, could had been an option -as was with the Lekgolo."

"And none of you dumbnut split-lips decided to question them?" The Captain growled, anger clear in her voice. And rightfully so.

"Questioning the current Hierarchs has not been as easy as the past. These three, they were volatile, cunning. Many initially questioned them, and they shot them down, accusing them of heresy. These days, questioning a Prophet is nigh impossible. So, all those who had doubt in their heart -me included- had to work in the shadows."

"But your race deserved the destruction we wreaked!" Thel snapped at them. Even from here, I could hear the hissing in his words.

"I hope you are wrong," I remarked, not looking at Thel whose eyes I knew were not me. I clattered my mandibles together as I added, "I hope the Humans are not the disease we have been led to believe."

"I can't give a damn what you think of us," The Captain said aggressively, tapping her hand against the railing of the raised platform she was on before continuing. "It's you that needs to have consideration put into. Thel's so far played nice, but I'm septic with you and your assassin friends."

Thel was about to protest when I quickly, but calmly, interjected. "I have no such desire other than to remain neutral in relations. I would actually like to help your race, but I do not know if I can trust you. The Ultra has emphasised that you have made a multitude of threats towards his life, so, I will comply, but no such threats are to reach my attention, understood?"

The Captain finally dropped her weak act, and started acting how I imaged she would. "I don't trust you, Nary boy, but you're shaping up to be a hell of a lot better than 'Lodam, so I'll give you free reigns," The Captain pushed up from leaning on the railings where she continued to address me. "As for the threats: I'll make it clear that threats are forbidden, and whatever opinions people have are to be kept to themselves, but if you do get threatened or insulted, come straight to me."

I nodded. "Understood. Thank you for you level-headed speech approach, and if you could maintain that approach, I believe our cooperation will be increased greatly."

She waved to the warrior at the controls of the ramp, and that warrior pressed a button that made the ramp lower. "That'll be fine since you now passed my test." I narrowed my eyes at her words. 'Test'? I was impressed by the Human's strategy. She was attempting to see how I would react out of insulting me, and I remained composed, so I passed. How cunning of her.

The Captain, Demon, and other female walked off of the ramp, nodded for the Human warriors around us to stand down, and began walking to a nearby lift. I kept my eyes on the Human, awaiting any possible further tests. After the three of them entered the lift and disappeared, I turned around to face Thel. "I can see where her provocations come from."

"Where?" Thel questioned.

Before I answered, I turned around and saw Qrs and his operatives -named Nrex 'Jqunelai, Vinra 'Attlenai, and Krnat 'Xerosai- follow Anve and the rest of the so called 'Diverted' to another lift. "She finds pleasure in provoking you to anger," I told him, going after the others with Thel right behind me. "Ignore her actions; ignore the actions of all the Humans, and they will halt in time."

"It is hard." Thel replied, and I could tell that it was hard by just listening to his tone, by just hearing his mandibles twitch and coil together as he spoke.

"I have little -if not no- doubt. But the amount of challenges you have overcome, brother, this should be no hard task. I will be here, if you need anything." I reassured him.

"I had help overcoming those tasks..." Thel sighed, he was reluctant to continue, but he did, nonetheless. "help... from the Demon."

"And yet, you despise him." I observed, rubbing my lower mandibles in curiosity, but stopping shortly after as the pain from my beating at the hands of Careekius earlier came into play. It was still hard to move and touch my mandibles, or any part of my head, and this grew on me for I often enjoyed massaging my lower mandibles out of pleasure.

"It was not so, once. The Demon had honour, and respected us as warriors. But it was a lie. He... changed, and now He is not the same as He once was."

I halted, turned to face Thel who too halted as I did, and placed a hand on his shoulder. "There is always a reason for a change of mindset. Think, brother, why would the Demon be different?"

"...The Gravemind?"

I nodded. "Correct. If what you told me about the recent occurrences, then this is the reason," I tightened my hold on Thel's shoulder, and calmly added, "You think you were betrayed by the Demon, and now that betrayal has blinded you into thinking all Humans are similar, and are all the same -Nishum."

Thel growled lightly as he protested. "No, my eyes have been opened! The Demon that had honour, had respect -it was an illusion! The Demon did not change, it was reconstructed! No Humans have the honour and respect that we have! None!"

I could tell Thel was broken, to an extent. He was unhealthy, mentally, as I was. I could see Skae, who had never left me. Standing behind Thel, looking at me with a plain expression. Was he angry at me for allowing him to die? Did he want to speak to me, but could not? I had mental issues, but I would not lose my mind over it. Thel was too close already, and I had to sway him from the path.

"How well do you know any Humans to be able to make that judgement?" I questioned him, placing my other hand on his other shoulder. "Give them a chance. I have, and I am optimistic of the future."

Thel lowered his head, and kept it lowered for a moment as he mused. Once he was done, he slowly raised it up. He may had been wearing a helmet, but I could see the rage in his eyes through the eye visors of his helmet. I saw aggression that was unnatural for him, and I was afraid for his future. Finally, I heard the sound of Thel's mandibles parting with his saliva making a slimy sound as it moved around in his mandibles. I even saw the saliva drip out of the bottom of his helmet and onto the ground at an alarming rate.

Finally, a hissing sound came from Thel, and he coldly said, "Never."