Chapter 37: Midnight City

I listened to the thunder roll as the lighting stretched in the distance. We were sitting on the beach and would point at the lightning bolts in the distant as we were huddled together. We gave out our ooo's and ahhh's as we watched nature show off its raw power to a captivated audience. Those outside at the camp watched the lighting stretch its arms across the sky as nature would always turn the tide of battles. I leaned my head against a shoulder not realizing it was Fang's but we all were distracted by the might nature was showing us.

Kulu walked up to the podium and looked at the faces around him as a series of planets appeared and they began their tactics meeting as Kulu explained and he listened to each Marshal speak and ask another for their insight.

I got up and suddenly pushed Tallas and ran, "Tag you're it!" I laughed as I became swift on my feet as we all spread out playing a game of Tag. Tallas pursued Oran as we ran through the jungle area using the field to our advantage. We stopped as the heavens boomed over head then Tallas tagged Oran and we continued our game ignoring the churning skies above.

Kulu sensed a topic that danced upon their tongues as the tactics were done but yet the meeting had not been dismissed. His hearts pounded as his eyes widened as Aeia became the subject of the meeting.

Aeia jumped over a log as Kra chased after her, she felt her feet rip up grass as she ran across a clearing but was soon tackled into mud. Laughter filled the turbulent air above as she pushed Kra off and into the mud as the two ignored the game of tag and were mudslinging. The others could not resist the temptation to join in.

Soon the discussion turned into a roaring match as some of the councilmen would get into and Kulu had enough. The Sangheili on the other side of those screens fell silent as he roared. With a few moments to gain his breath once more Kulu looked at their faces before letting the words fall from his mandibles as he defended what was his.

Aeia laughed as the rain poured and hit their flesh like tiny stings as she pounced while shoving mud in Tallas' face but soon that favor was returned to her. Inhibition was no longer present among them as she jumped upon Kra's back and rode the bucking bronco. Oran threw small balls of mud at his targets like the sharp shooter he was while Tama and Tallas wrestled kicking up mud. Here time had no value… no meaning and no place among them.

Aeia flew off of Kra's back and landed in Tul's arms as she watched the group as time moved slowly for a brief moment and in her heart she yearned for the comfort of her Spartan siblings wishing for them to join this group and let the world vanish. She and Tallas smiled at each other for a brief moment as this was a ceasefire between their constant fighting… and the rain continued to pour.

The room silenced for a moment as Kulu spoke his piece and another wanted to see the little human. Kulu discovered that she was not on base nor was Tallas and his team, he looked at the group of his peers unaware of the blissful time Aeia and the others were having. He finally sent out a probe to go look for the team.

Aeia ran over the slippery ground and gripping Tul's shoulders she successfully leapt over his head as the group invented their own version of leap frog. All of them completely unaware of the group watching them from the comfort of the dry indoors, their heads jerked up as lightning stretched across the sky and thunder roared. Their eyes danced as they watched the light claw through the clouds but their eyes also danced upon the probe and as Aeia smiled sadly they knew this moment was ending.

Aeia jumped over Tul again crying out over the thunder, "Catch me if you can!" and the boys accepted her challenge happily and Kulu watched them chase her all covered in mud and muck. Kulu turned to the other Sangheili and it was Rtas whom spoke first.

"If we should discuss this any further I suggest we include the Arbiter," he held up a hand stopping those stretching mandibles and intakes of air, "it is only fair as half of us here are high among the clans or are Kaidon's and it is only fair to include him… he is still recognized as the kaidon of Vadum and he has the right." They soon nodded but looked at the muddy human being nearly run into the probe as the others chased her.

The meeting was finished and Kulu looked at the screen where Rtas was still at and nodded his head. "Rtas I must thank you for this."

"Please Kulu do not thank me… there are thoughts among the veterans that are similar to your own. They are a weak species… females weaker but fighting them you see something burn in their eyes. They refuse to die a pointless death and they fight even when backed into a corner they refuse to die."

Those still lingering paused before bidding their farewells and the screens went dark. Kulu listened to the sound of his feet walking down the hall, the heavens opening their floodgates and the boom of thunder as it shakes the sky. Lifting his head he saw the six figures enter inside soaking wet and tracking mud upon the floor, among them Aeia sporting a smile upon her lips. Kulu caressed her cheek as he looked down at her muddy form and if she did not clean herself and warm herself up she might catch something.

"Away to the showers… all of you," Kulu ordered in his polite way of speaking. They earned their respective stares as they walked down the hallway feeling proud of behaving like children.

Aeia got her respective corner and privacy in the showers as she showered closer to those she considered her brothers now. The warm water was like a downpour as it washed her skin clean but she looked around every now and then. "Do not worry Aeia," Tul said softly though his soft words were like the rolling thunder as you listened, "no one will see you and they will see nothing unless you wish them to."

She smiled at Tul feeling the safest around him as it was like having Tommy around minus the Hunter and extra size. She hummed as he helped her get her back and she helped washed his back. The water turned off and a towel covered her form as she attempted to wear a shirt about 10 sizes too big and briefs 5 sizes too big… or was it the other way around. The boys had the night watch but they excluded Aeia as she was now laying on Kra's back fast asleep as he walked on all fours.

Their forms moved in the rain and darkness as even the Sangheili could never let their guard down. Fearless Triumph was slowly becoming the black sheep among the Covenant fleet and respected Sangheili the black sheep among their families. No one knew why but their missions had a higher survival rate now and sometimes you have to put tradition aside as you have to fight smarter against the humans. Those among her crew knew when the Field Marshal changed there was a change among the men as Kulu dared time and time again to be branded with a Mark of Shame.

Kulu time and time again accepted it even taunting his peers about it, but never the Prophets, the sad truth was what would be the point to brand a highly recognized warrior of his caliber the Covenant would only suffer with Kulu being removed from his position. Kulu was a Sangheili with a practically extinct clan… he could taunt fate all he wanted and if he was branded he would wear it with pride. To the men and possibly Kulu they had no real idea on what these thoughts opened up among the ranks as they ideas grew.

No one had any idea as to what Aeia had unlocked maybe these ideas would never have existed if Kulu had not embraced the child like he did. Kulu would still be the dark tortured spirit he was before. Rtas 'Vadumee still kept his young's team to guard Kulu but it was more of a favor to Kulu to keep Aeia among Sangheili she can trust. They had seen it… groups of Spartans hesitate for the briefest moment when one died and how they smiled when death looked them in the face. Aeia was a hot topic among the high ranking Sangheili as Kulu and her opened up a new way to think and survive.

Hey guys! I did say I would post the next chapter after a certain number of things but I said screw it. I decided to embrace the M rating I have on the story and heck if things get a bit Mature in the way a woman's mind works then I'll post the chapter on Deviant art or maybe even AdultFanFiction. I was afraid that I would lose readers if I continued the story the way I wanted to but heck it is how I wrote the story and I usually do massive edits along the way. Heck originally I didn't have this chapter but I decided to try something nice before what is going to happen next, that and I wanted to be ambiguous with how long they've been on the planet. Thank you all for bearing with the long wait's in-between chapters, along with the sudden change of writing style, and I hope you all love my story.

Aeia: Because we love you *she smiles and then reads the outline for the next chapter* wait… we're ki- *I cover her mouth*

Do not give out any spoilers Aeia!

Kulu: All original Characters belong to the writer

H'el: Halo belongs to Bungie and the Microsoft Corporation.

Tallas and his team: This Chapter is sponsored by the letter R!

Toma: I have nothing to say except happy Halloween everybody and don't worry there will eventually be a Halloween chapter… she's still typing up things from 2010.

Lycurgus: As always please Read and Review