Hello again, everyone, and welcome back to my Halo - Mechwarrior/Battletech crossover. I am amazed by the amount of feedback I am getting for my Halo - Terminator crossover. Thanks to your feedback, I'll be able to write up some more changes to the chapter that I have planned for the story. Thank you for your support. I really appreciate it. Also, I am uploading two chapters for my Halo - Mechwarrior/Battletech crossover as a treat. As always, leave a review and enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Halo or MechWarrior/BattleTech franchises. They are the respective properties and trademarks of Microsoft Game Studios, 343 Industries, Bungie, FASA Corporation, FASA Interactive, Catalyst Game Labs and Piranha Games Inc. Any material original to the franchises belongs to their respective developers and publishers. Any material not original to the franchises is of my own invention. I do now own any music listed in each chapter. Any music listed belongs to it's original composers and/or artists.
Covenant Holy City High Charity
Near Delta Halo
20th Age of Reclamation
Walking down the walkway to the meeting room ahead, Thel could see signs of the new orders that had been given to the Jirihanee and the Sangheili. Brutes on either side of the walkway roughly stripped the Sangheili of their armor and weapons, with a few fighting over the best gear. A loud, meaty THUMP prompted Thel to look to his right, just in time to see a Brute fall to the ground, courtesy of being whacked in the head by another Brute.
Thel sighed sadly as he thought about the reason why this was happening. Just a few minutes ago, he'd learned that the Demon known as the 'Master Chief' had killed the Prophet of Regret, silencing one of the leaders of the Covenant. The loss of one of the greatest leaders of the Covenant had sent shockwaves throughout the Covenant, with many doubting whether or not the Elites were capable of even being around the Prophets, let alone protecting them. As a result, many of the Brutes were taking the leadership positions that the Sangheili used to have.
Thel also thought back to their extraction back to High Charity. During that time, the Oracle had scanned Bero, in an attempt to determine the extent of the mutations the Flood had caused when the young Sangheili had been infected originally. According to the Oracle, Bero's cells and genetic material had been extensively mutated by the Flood Infection, though it was clear that he was still a Sangheili at the genetic level. The Oracle also determined that Bero's body was now composed of the Sangheilian version of the Flood's Super Cells, giving his body an unusually high level of adaptability and resilience; the Oracle even theorized that Bero, if he wanted to, could physically fuse with another living organism, thereby assimilating it's body and mind into his own, though this was speculation until evidence proved otherwise.
What really got the Oracle's attention, though, was Bero's brain. According to the Oracle, Guilty Spark as he preferred to be called, Bero's brain had not only gained more neurons, it had also grown a new structure between his hippocampus, which was responsible for short and long term memory and prefrontal cortex, the part of the Sangheili brain responsible for critical thinking and decision making. When Thel privately mentioned to Guilty Spark that Bero was now telepathic, the Oracle confirmed this by running scans when Bero telepathically communicated with Thel, as the Oracle detected a massive surge in that new growth's neural activity when Bero communicated with his mind. On top of that, the same organ also allowed 'Kusovai to shapeshift, as it used the endocrine and nervous systems to send signals to the Super Cells, allowing Bero to reconfigure his biology at will. Beyond that, the only other notable mutation was that Bero's body had a hyper-enhanced regenerative factor which, combined with his new Super Cells, meant that Bero had achieved, in the Oracle's honest opinion, biological immortality.
When he heard the news, Bero had been deeply shocked, with the young Sangheili sitting down and asking out loud what he had turned into. Thel, knowing what Bero was going through, had simply walked over to him, in an effort to comfort 'Kusovai. This, combined with the Monitor's reassurance that he was still a Sangheili, had helped the young Elite cope with what he had learned, though he did say it would take him some time to get used to the changes.
As he walked inside, he could hear R'tas 'Vadumee talking with Truth and Mercy. "This is unprecedented," R'tas told Truth. "Unacceptable."
"A Hierarch is dead, Commander," Truth countered.
"His murderer was within our grasp," R'tas continued. "If you had not withdrawn our Phantoms."
"Are you questioning my judgment?"
"No, Noble Hierarch. I just want to express my concern that the Brutes..."
"Recommissioning the guard was a radical step," Truth admitted, "but recent events have made it clear that the Sangheili can no longer guarantee our safety. I understand your concerns, but this is necessary for the continued safety of the Covenant. Have I made myself clear?"
It was clear that R'tas was upset, but he restrained his disappointment and said, "Yes, Noble Hierarchs. I will relay your decision to the High Council." Walking away, he looked at Thel for a moment, their eyes locking for a brief second before he looked away. It was clear to Thel that the loss of one of the Hierarchs had made R'tas angry, but he also saw a hint of sadness as well.
Looking around, he found Bero standing in the room as well, though the young Elite was just as saddened as Thel was by the loss of Regret. "Politics," Truth sighed, clearly disgusted with what was going on. "So tiresome." Spotting the Arbiter, Truth came over to him and said, "Did you know that the Sangheilians have threatened to resign. To quit the High Council, because of this simple… exchange of hats?"
"We have always been your protectors," Thel replied.
"Indeed," Truth replied. "Recent events have shown, though, that your kind is having trouble protecting us. Therefore, we have chosen to have the Brutes provide assistance, despite their more… animalistic tendencies."
"While the annihilation of the humans brought us satisfaction, the loss of Halo wracked our hearts with grief," Mercy added.
"I know," Thel replied. "My heart was also filled with grief as well."
"Indeed," Truth agreed. "However, many of us continued to faith in the prophecy that more Halos might be found. And now, look at how our faith has been rewarded." A moment later, he gestured towards Halo, which floated nearby their position.
"Halo," Mercy said, waxing more eloquent and poetic as he spoke. "It's holy wind will rush through the stars, taking all worthy of the Great Journey to salvation."
"Quite so," Truth replied, nodding in agreement. "But how to start this process. For years we have searched for an Oracle, one that would show us the way." Floating over to a nearby table, Truth continued to speak. "Thanks to your efforts, we have found such an Oracle." He motioned to 343 Guilty Spark, who was currently hovering in the chamber that the Hierarchs and Thel were inside.
"With great humility and respect, we plied the Oracle with questions," Mercy continued. "And, with clarity and grace, it has shown us the key." Moments later, a holographic image of the Sacred Icon appeared over the table.
"We have also learned the location of this Sacred Icon," Truth continued. "It is located in a Library, like the one that witnesses described on the first Halo. Be warned, however, the heretical Humans have surrounded the place, and are locked in a mortal battle with the Parasite, the foul creatures you encountered on your last mission."
"What should I do," Thel asked.
"You will travel to the sacred Library and retrieve the Sacred Icon," Truth replied, "but be warned, there is a barrier that prevents the Humans, Parasite and our own forces, from being able to get inside. You will have to disable this barrier before you can pass through the wall separating the Library from the rest of Halo. Tartarus and his Brutes will transport you to this area of Halo."
"Will I be going alone?"
"No, noble Arbiter. Zealot Bero 'Kusovai has agreed to come with you on this mission. His immunity to the Parasite will allow him to go into places that you cannot. His apparent telepathy, however, is quite shocking, but given how responsibly he has used it, we have agreed to allow him to continue using it. He has agreed to restrict his psychic contact to those he has already communicated with, such as you. Now go, and carry out our will, noble Arbiter."
As the Arbiter left, Mercy looked at his companion and said, "I heard that the humans have another fleet, particularly one from this new faction. We might have to consider keeping the Sangheilians in the Covenant in order to best them. I fear that we might not have the means of defending ourselves."
"A reasonable concern," Truth remarked. "However, it is clear that the Sangheilians are no longer capable of defending us from harm. We can defeat the new humans without the Sangheilians. The Brutes have been receiving special training for this occasion."
"You've been training them over the half-year we were forced to spend?"
"Yes. Many of them have become more experienced in ship combat, with some starting to rival the Sangheilians. Should things go wrong, we will keep the Sangheilians, but I do not fear the Humans attacking High Charity. No enemy has ever withstood our might."
"I hope you are right, my friend." With that, both Hierarchs continued to watch as the recommissioning of the guard continued.
. . .
A few minutes later, Thel and Bero were onboard the Phantom taking them to the Library. It was clear that Bero didn't like the Brutes, as he gave them what the humans called the 'stink eye' when they got close to him. As they flew along, Tartarus said, "Once we have reached the wall separating the Library from Halo, we will drop you off, Arbiter, and provide support. You will have to make haste, as I do not want to keep the Hierarchs waiting."
"The human that killed Regret," Thel asked. "Who was it?"
"Who do you think," Tartarus replied.
"The Demon is here," Thel asked.
In response, Tartarus growled at the mention of that very title. After a moment, he calmed himself and said, "Why do you ask? Looking for a little payback?"
In response, Thel pulled out his T-51 Carbine, checking to see if it was ready for use. "Retrieving the Icon is my only concern." In response, Tartarus laughed, before muttering something under his breath.
Looking at Thel, Bero contacted him telepathically. I don't trust him, he said. I have reason to believe that Tartarus will betray us in the end.
What evidence do you have of this, Thel asked.
Remember when I said I was telepathic, Bero asked. When Thel nodded, Bero said, Since I'm a telepath, I can do more than communicate with other living beings via my mind. I can also enter their minds, gaining access to their memories, thoughts and emotions and, with a little effort, dominate their minds and bend them to my will; it's how I defeated that one Heretic Elite back at the Forerunner gas mine. I don't do it very often, since it's an invasion of privacy, which I don't like, plus the idea of forcing a living being to serve my will unquestioningly is… frightening and revolting to me.
What about Tartarus, Thel asked. What makes you think that he will betray us?
It's the way his mind works, Bero replied. I can read Tartarus like a book. He's already sent a lot of Brutes ahead of us in an attempt to retrieve the Icon, only for his men to fall in battle. I think he'll expect us to fail, but if we succeed, he will attempt to kill us in an attempt to curry favor with the Hierarchs, which might push them to throw the Sangheilians out of the Covenant entirely. Given what I've seen in his mind, that's the best conclusion that I can come to.
Thel mused over Bero's words in silence. It was clear that, thanks to his telepathy, Bero knew a lot more than most Sangheilians did about the political workings of the Covenant, though it was certainly not by choice. Can you access any mind, he asked a moment later.
So far as I can tell, yes, Bero replied. I don't know about Humans, since I haven't actually encountered one yet. For all I know, they might be immune to telepathic beings, but like I said, I won't actually know until I meet one.
What was my mind like, Bero?
Your mind is orderly and logical, though it's clear that you can bend your honor code when you need to, Bero replied. The Parasite, when I sensed them, were like a collection of minds and memories melted together into a singular, feral consciousness. The Brutes are much more primal in their psychic workings, while the Grunts are a little more cautious and fearful than most, though they can be ferocious when they need to be. The Jackals are chaotic little things, jumping and flitting to one thought or another. The Drones, however, are like a single mind with smaller extensions of itself, each one singing in a single, melodious harmony.
I see, Thel thought. I wonder if it's possible to allow others to become telepathic.
Possibly, Bero replied. Moments later, any further conversation, telepathic and otherwise, ended, as they arrived at their destination. Moments later, both Sangheili exited the Phantom, landing on their feet before moving around.
The area they were in was an entrance to the kilometers high wall that surrounded the Library. Currently, they were on a platform that led to an alcove in the wall, with rectangular blocks and angular Forerunner architecture present throughout the facility. Inside the alcove, Thel could see what looked like small panels located above his head on the walls, with small lights underneath them. A single column with a glowing panel was present, entering a small depression in the floor of the alcove.
It was clear that the Covenant, and the Sentinels guarding the facility, had been locked in a battle. Everywhere he looked, Thel noticed craters and holes that were blackened, with glowing edges that indicated they were still very hot and fresh. With that in mind, Thel began to advance forwards, intent on getting into the alcove.
Suddenly, Bero shouted, "Look out," before tackling Thel, the two of them flying into cover. Thel was about to ask Bero why he did that when he saw the reason why. A massive Forerunner construct, which looked like a large robot with shields on the front, and pincer arms on the middle section, rose from beneath the platform.
Spotting the two Sangheilians, the machine was about to lunge forwards when plasma fire struck the Super Sentinel, causing part of it to detonate explosively. Moments later, Tartarus' Phantom flew overhead, with the Super Sentinel engaging in a pursuit. "Keep moving," Tartarus shouted. "I'll draw this beast away." Shaking his head, Bero got up, before helping Thel to his feet.
Continuing onwards, they entered the alcove that they'd spotted earlier. Now that they were closer, Thel could see smaller robots flying around in the air, most likely Forerunner maintenance drones that had kept the facility in excellent condition. Looking around, he was surprised to see a Grunt that was in a nearby corner, it's body quaking in fear as it covered it's head and eyes. He was about to act when Bero walked forwards and, communicating telepathically, said, It's alright, little one. There's nothing to fear now. The Arbiter and I have arrived.
Looking up, the Grunt spotted the two Elites and, with a happy laugh, walked over to them. Excellent work, Bero, Thel said mentally. I didn't know you could do that.
There are a lot of things I don't know about myself that I'm still learning, Bero replied. Still, that leaves us with a conundrum: how do we continued forwards. I don't see any obvious route into the wall separating us from the Library.
That is a good question, Thel admitted. Perhaps we must be patient. The answer may yet reveal itself. Moments later, Thel's words proved to be correct, as one of the smaller drones flew over to the column that they were standing next to, a small laser coming from the drone. Moments later, with a few mechanical sounds, the column retracted upwards, revealing a shaft that led into the structure. There's your answer, Thel remarked.
Nodding in agreement, Bero leaned over to peer inside. Just as he did, his right hoof slipped, causing him to fall into the shaft with a loud roar, his armor clacking and clunking as he rolled over ass over teakettle. Before Thel could react, the Grunt, thinking that was planned, simply waddled forwards and jumped inside, an excited shout coming from the small guy as he fell inside. Shrugging his shoulders, Thel carefully walked forwards before hopping inside, sliding on his back and buttocks in order to keep himself from being disoriented.
The slide down the shaft turned out to be a long, bumpy ride, as it changed direction constantly as it traveled downwards. When he slid down, Thel tried to rotate around, only to face plant unceremoniously against the next turn; before long, he too tumbled ass over teakettle, his arms wrapped over his head in order to protect it. The Grunt was laughing and shouting as though it was having the time of it's life which, compared to what had happened to it's comrades, was probably the case. Moments later, Thel came rolling out of the shaft, landing on the floor beneath him with a loud THUMP, followed by the Grunt landing on him moments later. "Oops. Sorry," the Grunt said apologetically as it hopped off.
Thel nearly screamed in pain, his leg spasming as pain flared in his left arm. Getting up, he checked the limb to see if it was broken. According to his suit's bioreadout indicators, his arm wasn't broken, which was a relief. Instead, Thel could see that it was dislocated, having popped out of it's socket when he landed.
Apparently, Bero could sense his pain, as the Zealot came over and examined his arm. Let me see if I can help you, he said to Thel. If we don't correct this now, your arm will be a liability. Taking a hold of Thel's dislocated arm, Bero yanked hard on the limb, causing the arm joint to promptly reset, the bones snapping back into place as they were relocated to their proper position.
Thel yelped when Bero pulled, the pain briefly flaring as a loud CRACK-POP echoed in the room. After that, however, Thel felt the pain vanish; testing his arm, he found that he could move it normally again, and that it wasn't in pain anymore. Thank you, Bero, he said to the Zealot.
It's the least I could do, Bero replied. I've found another piston similar to the one that opened up to the shaft we tumbled down. If we press the holographic panel on it, it should open up.
Agreed, Thel replied. We'll have to come up with a better strategy for going down those shafts. I do not want to dislocate or, Hierarchs forbid, break a limb. That would be disastrous.
If I envelop your body similar to how I did so back at the Heretic base, that might help, Bero replied. I can use my gelatinous form as a means of cushioning your fall. If we want to, though, I could grow over your body and extend tendrils from myself so that we can travel down the shaft without injury. It would be like wearing me as a suit, though I don't want to do that without your permission.
That would be best, Thel replied. Moving forwards, the two Elites spotted another piston, with Thel pressing the holographic panel moments later. True enough, the piston lowered, allowing them to enter the floor beneath them by simply jumping down inside. The room opened up to reveal an avenue that was dotted with more of the glowing panels. Support beams, columns and more of the rectangular blocks on the floor were present, along with open ports that showcased another part of the area.
As they moved forwards, Thel thought he heard something. Looking up, he watched as one of the panels opened, the light beneath flashing rapidly between red and blue. Moments later, a Sentinel popped into existence, with the drone flying forwards somewhat before turning towards them. Watch it, Bero shouted, with both Elites firing at the same time, destroying the drone in the process. OK, from now on, we shoot the vents, Bero decided. We don't want more Sentinels surprising us like that.
Agreed, Thel replied. Moving forwards, the two Elites proceeded cautiously, destroying any panels they found; they had to ignore the majority of the panels, as they saved most of their munitions for any fights that might happen up ahead. Finding another piston, with an accompanying Grunt inside, the now four member squad retracted the pistol, with each one dropping down inside.
This time, they found themselves in an avenue that was split down the middle by a chasm, with Sentinel Teleporters on columns in the middle of the chasm. Short bridges crossed over the chasm, with each side of the avenue having a symmetrical, rectangular layout. It was also occupied, as Thel spotted a Grunt and a Jackal fighting off a pair of Sentinels. Moving up, both Elites and their charges engaged the Sentinel, destroying each one.
"Oh, look," one of the Grunts shouted. "Arbiter, our savior!" When the Jackal said nothing, the Grunt said, "Stupid Jackal, say thank you."
"Not until we're out of here," the Jackal retorted. "I'll say thank you when we're not about to die." Looking at the Arbiter, he said, "My apologies for my comrade's behavior. We've been trapped in here for well over three hours now. Our weapons are nearly drained and we don't have any spare batteries. Can you help us?"
"Of course," Thel replied. "Here, take these spares. They'll allow you to continue using your weaponry. We're heading deeper inside in order to retrieve the Sacred Icon; you'll have to come with us, as there's no way back."
"I figured as much," the Jackal replied. "Alright, we'll follow your lead, Arbiter." With a nod, Thel and Bero continued forwards, with the Grunts and Jackal in tow. Moments later, another Jackal met up with them, bringing the count up to six people in the squad. Continuing forwards, Thel noticed that the avenues joined together to form a walkway to another, identical avenue up ahead.
"You're getting close to the shield generator," Tartarus informed the squad. "Many of my Brutes have fallen, attempting to take it out. Let's see if you fare any better."
Looks like you were right, Thel replied. Tartarus did neglect that detail. We'll have to be careful around him.
Agreed, Bero replied. Arbiter, with your permission, I would like us to communicate telepathically while we're fighting any enemies we encounter. We can coordinate our efforts and tactics without fear of the enemy listening in on us.
Good thinking, Bero. That will allow us to remain unpredictable. We'll have to communicate with the Jackals and Grunts normally, but that's a small price to pay. Reaching the new avenue, Thel said, "We'll split up to cover both sides. Bero, we'll take one of the Jackals and two of the Grunts and split up. We can cover each other in the event we're attacked." Nodding in agreement, Bero wordlessly complied, taking half of the squad with him in the process.
Moments later, more Sentinels appeared out of the teleporters, firing their Incineration Beam weapons all the while. Thel and Bero fired back, neutralizing the Sentinels on their respective side of the avenue. Neutralizing the enemy forces, they quickly passed through another avenue, with Bero finding another piston on the other side. Waving Thel over, he activated the pistol, allowing the Arbiter, and the Grunts and Jackals they recovered to drop down with them. Now, they were a fifteen man strong group.
Dropping down, Thel activated another piston before dropping down, with this room having an entrance into a much larger room. A large platform was in the center of the room, with four power couplings on either side of the platform. A control panel was in the center of the platform, with the panel being depressed into the platform's structure in order to save space. All around, Thel could see corpses of Grunts, Jackals, a few Skirmishers and Brutes lying around. Their killer was still present, as a Super Sentinel came down moments later, firing slow moving red needles at the group. "Take cover," Thel shouted. "We can't fight it from the front!"
Moments later, Tartarus chimmed in as well. "Another one of those machines," the Brute Chieftain growled. "It's useless to attack it from the front. Stay in the shadows, wait until the beast is distracted, then strike it's back while it's turned."
"I've got an idea," Bero shouted. "Arbiter, keep it distracted." Following Bero's cue, Thel fired on the Super Sentinel, drawing it's fire while Bero moved to the side. As soon as it was distracted, the Zealot struck.
Thel watched as Bero leaped into the air, his legs propelling him up and towards the Super Sentinel. At the peak of his jump, Bero liquefied his body, with his gelatinous flesh smacking into the Super Sentinel with a wet SLAP, while his armor clattered to the ground moments later. Moments later, the young Sangheili flowed inside, with the Super Sentinel turning around to see where the attack had come from. Moments later, Thel watched as Bero tore the machine apart from the inside, ripping off it's weapons and pincer arms before tearing out the power supply, causing the machine to fall to the ground with a metallic CLUNK. Flowing out of the machine, Bero flowed back into his armor, before regrowing into his normal form moments later.
The Grunts and Jackals were dumbfounded by Bero's move, with the Grunts cheering moments later. "Giant angry thing go boom," one Grunt shouted. The Jackals clapped slowly, clearly impressed by Bero's actions. With that, they exited cover, moving onward onto the platform.
"You'll need to release the power couplings," Tartarus informed the group. "That will allow you to gain access to the power core." After the group did so, he said, "Now, release the power core. That should disable the shield guarding the Library." Pressing the icon, Thel watched as the wall before him split open, revealing the exterior of the wall they were in.
It turned out, there was another wall up ahead, as the platform began to move forwards towards a similar entrance. Looking around, Thel looked up to see the night sky, with the blue glowing shield quickly fading into nonexistence as it deactivated. "Our path to the Library is clear," Tartarus reported, with his Phantom following the group closely. Moments later, the door on the other side opened, with a Super Sentinel attacking Tartarus' Phantom. "AAUGGHHH! Blasted machine. Make your way through the wall, Arbiter. I'll draw the beast away."
Just as he said that, the Flood made their appearance. Dropping down on either side of the chamber the platform had arrived in, Flood Combat Forms began to fire on the group, weapons blazing as Thel, Bero and the others retaliated. A few Combat Forms went down, just as Sentinels came out and began firing on both groups.
As he fired back, Thel noticed something odd about the Flood. Bero, he thought a moment later, knowing the young Sangheili would hear him, something's off about the Parasite. Each form appears to be acting in cohesion, rather than as a group of rabid animals. Can you see it?
I do, Bero replied as he used his Energy Sword to cut down a Combat Form. There's something else as well. I can feel something controlling them, an intelligence so ancient and powerful, that even I am afraid of what it might do if I interact with one of these beasts. We must be twice as careful as before, as I fear this intelligence is telepathic as well. I'll need to keep any telepathic interaction with them as passive as possible.
Understood, Thel replied. Moving in unison, the two Elites continued to fire on the Flood, while the Jackals formed a defensive barrier around the Grunts, allowing the latter to blast the Sentinels out of the sky. With the Sentinels down, they focused their efforts onto the Flood, killing each organism that got too close to them. Soon, all the hostile contacts were down.
As they moved forwards, Thel found the only way out was an opening in part of the wall, with part of the architecture arranged in a manner that would allow him and the others to climb up inside. Clambering up the block of Forerunner alloy, Thel reached down and hoisted Bero up, with the two Elites helping their comrades climb over the edge of the barrier before dropping down. Clambering over more support beams, they reached a piston moments later.
Just as they were about to open it, Bero said, "Wait! There's something wrong." With the others moving back, he opened up the piston, causing a cloud of what appeared to be Flood Spores to drift upwards. "Just as I thought," he replied. "The areas ahead are infested with Flood Spores. If you breath those in, you'll be consumed by the Flood, turned into more, mindless servants of those beasts. I don't have to worry due to my immunity."
"Rebreathers on," Thel ordered, pulling out a rebreather respirator that Bero had given him for this specific reason. The Jackals complied moments later, putting on rebreather respirators while the Grunts made sure their face masks were firmly sealed against their faces. Once the respirators were on, the Jackals and Grunts proceeded downward, entering the shaft moments later. "You ready," Thel asked. "I'm giving you permission to do what you have to do."
Bero nodded in agreement, activating his ability to shape-shift. Moments later, his body distorted, with the Elite's mandibles and face stretching towards Thel. Closing his eyes, Thel felt Bero's flesh flowing over his own, with the younger Elite flowing over his tech suit before enveloping his own body. It felt strange to him, just as it felt strange when Bero did something similar at the Heretic facility. Moments later, heopened his eyes, noting that Bero's appearance had shifted, with the young Elite now looking like his armor. This is strange, Thel remarked, but if it gets the job done, then I won't hesitate to do this again. You ready?
I've been ready, Bero replied. Proceeding over to the open shaft, Thel looked down, then hopped inside. As soon as he did, tentacles grew out of Bero's skin, allowing him to transport Thel down the shaft without dislodging his respirator. As they continued to move down, they soon reached the bottom of the shaft, where the Jackals and Grunts were waiting. As soon as they landed, Bero flowed off of Thel's body, reforming into his normal self moments later. Using many smaller tendrils, he put his armor back on.
"That's weird," one of the Jackals remarked. "I heard about a shape-shifter in the Covenant, but to see it with my own eyes…" He trailed off as he struggled to find the words.
"I know," Bero replied. "It is strange, but I'm glad that I can control it. Now, we must make haste." With that, the squad moved out, with Bero and Thel taking point, while the others followed, entering another long avenue that curved around towards another piston.
As they moved along, Thel thought he heard weapons fire, but it wasn't Covenant weaponry. Listening in closely, he immediately recognized the distinct sounds of each weapon firing. It's the Humans, he realized. They're here!
Apparently, the humans were currently occupied, as he heard one shout, "More Flood inbound. Open fire!"
"AAAAUUGGGHHH, GET IT OFF ME," another human shouted. Looking through the open viewports, Thel watched as a human struggled with an Infection form, just as another human pulled the creature off and stomped onto it, crushing the thing immediately. "Suppressing fire," the liberated human shouted. "We can't hold this position! Retreat to the exterior, let the Flamer units handle them!" With that, the humans left the area, just as more Flood swarmed inside.
Moving on, Thel and the others quickly found more Combat Forms, as well as a few Carrier Forms. Firing their weapons, they quickly terminated them, killing the Combat Forms and preventing the newly released Infection Forms from creating more Flood units. Finding another piston, they traveled downwards into another series of avenues. It was clear that the Flood was making itself at home, as Thel noticed large, organic growths on the walls, as well as more Flood spores. I'll thank Bero later for getting these respirators, he thought to himself.
You're welcome, Bero replied, having heard Thel's thoughts. The Arbiter merely shook his head, his mandibles forming the Sangheili equivalent of an amused grin, despite the fact he was still using the respirator. More Flood were present, forcing them to fire as they moved upwards. They traveled through many Flood infested corridors and avenues, firing their weapons while doing their best to conserve their energy and ammunition reserves. As they fought, Thel noted how there were no human Combat Forms, indicating the humans were exercising a lot of caution when it came to the Flood, which was a wise decision in his opinion.
Eventually, they found another pistol, leading to the same shaft system. Again, Bero repeated his actions, allowing him to transport Thel down the shaft without dislodging his respirator. This time, they exited the shaft into a large room that held another piston. The back of the area had an open air viewport, showing the exterior of the place they were at. Ignoring the view, the squad traveled down another shaft, with this one ending at a large door that deployed upwards.
This time, the area they found themselves in was different. Instead of a large room, Thel and Bero found themselves entering a large clearing which was separated into large, earthen bluffs that were covered in snow. Broken and partially destroyed walkways led to each bluff, with Flood patrolling each one. Pulling himself off of Thel, Bero said, Looks like we've got more trouble. I can sense more Elites coming our direction. R'tas is with them.
They probably don't know of our mission, Thel mused. We'll inform him once the enemy is dead. With that, they moved forwards, cutting down any Flood in their path. More Elites joined them as they moved forwards, killing any Flood before moving through a long, winding tunnel. The tunnel exited into a large clearing, with large holes glowing a teal color in the ground. A Covenant infantry tower was present, with Sangheili firing from the tower while R'tas manned a Shade Turret, killing any Flood that got too close to each them.
Spotting Thel, R'tas got off the Shade Turret and came over. "Arbiter, Zealot Bero, what are you two doing here?"
"Retrieving the Icon," Bero replied. "I was sent to accompany the Arbiter in his mission. We have a few survivors of some ill fated attempts to break through the barrier that was around the Library."
"I see," R'tas remarked. Hearing a loud, feral roar, he said, "The Flood are coming. We must hold this position until reinforcements arrive. Can you help us?"
"Yes," both Elites replied simultaneously, causing the two to look at each other before turning back to the mission at hand. Moments later, the Parasite attacked.
There were roughly three waves of Flood that attacked the group, each one consisting of Combat Forms, Carrier Forms, Infection Forms and a few Pure Forms. The Pure Forms were the most annoying combatants, as many morphed into large creatures that flung spines at them with lethal accuracy. For nearly five long minutes, both sides exchanged plasma fire, firing their weapons while trying to gain the upper hand. Thel leaped over a small barrier before him, flying for a few feet before plunging a Plasma Dagger into the Infection Form inside a Combat Form, killing the beast instantly. Whirling around, he fired his Carbine at several more, killing them as well.
Bero, in this case, proved to be the deadliest combatant out of all of them. Constantly growing and absorbing new limbs and extensions of himself, the young Sangheili was tossing the Flood around like foam. One Combat Form charged at him, only for a tendril to grow out of Bero's chest and spear the Combat Form in the chest, killing the thing instantly, Absorbing the tendril, Bero morphed into a Korovang, a Sangheilian predator that resembled a cross between a Komodo Dragon and a Crocodile. In this new form, he went on a rampage, tearing into the Flood with teeth and claws, while using his long, muscular tail to send more flying through the air.
Eventually, all of the Flood were dead, either incinerated by weapons fire, or torn apart by Bero's claws and teeth. Looking around, it was clear to Thel that R'tas had seen Bero shape-shift, as the Sangheili Ultra looked at the Korovang with an intense expression. "Bero, is that you," he asked a moment later.
He was surprised when a voice in his head said, One second. Moments later, R'tas watched as the Korovang began to morph and change, standing on it's hind legs after a few seconds. Moments later, it's chest expanded somewhat, while it's bones morphed and bent, changing into those of a male Sangheili. After a few seconds, the creature's head morphed and warped, as Bero's body finished the change from his previous form to his natural form. Smaller tendrils extended from his body moments later, with those tendrils allowing Bero to put his armor on.
R'tas didn't even make a sound, even after Bero finished shape-shifting. Even the other Sangheili around him didn't make a sound, nor did they move. "Bero, I think you broke them," Thel remarked.
"I've always wondered what it would be like to see my former Commander dumbstruck, even for a moment," Bero replied, examining R'tas, who continued to stare at him. "Definitely worth it."
That statement broke R'tas out of his dumbstruck stupor, as the Ultra's two mandibles, and the stumps of his severed mandibles, twitched and jerked out of shock. "What," he gasped, clearly still processing what had happened. "How-?"
"Did I gain this ability," Bero replied. "Remember when I was infected on the Infinite Succor, R'as?" When he nodded, Bero said, "When I removed the Parasite from my flesh, it mutated my DNA, converting my cells into the Sangheilian equivalent of the Flood's Super Cells, which is what the Oracle said the Flood are composed of. Sangheili Super Cells are not only more resilient than normal Sangheili cells, they have the ability to alter their biochemical structure when signaled to do so by willpower alone. As a result, I have the ability to alter and bend my physical appearance into any organism I simply touch.
"On top of that, the mutations caused a new structure to form in my brain. This structure allows me to send and receive information from other organisms without actually speaking. As a result, I have become a telepath, a living being that can communicate with other living organisms via my mind. Even now, I can sense your thoughts, memories and emotions as though I am reading a book."
R'tas seemed to try to say something, only for inarticulate noise to come out. After a moment, he said, "I don't know if I believe you. Prove it if you can."
I can, Bero replied, speaking into R'tas mind. The Elite's eyes widened as he heard the Zealot's voice in his own head. I can only speak with one mind at a time, though I can passively sense and hear other minds. Just think your answers, Special Operations Commander, and I will hear them.
Looking at Thel, he asked, "I mean no disrespect, Arbiter, but how long have you known this?"
"Since he revealed it to me at the Heretic base," Thel replied. "He asked me to keep it a secret from you in order to protect himself. Only the other Sangehili with me knew of my ability. You were concerned with the Flood and Heretics at the time, so you didn't see Bero using his abilities during that time, as you weren't paying attention like I was. I do not mean any disrespect, but that is the way I think of it."
"I see," R'tas replied. Looking at Bero, he said, "Normally, I would be wary of you now, but given that you are fully in control, and that the Parasite has no hold over you, I will do the best I can to pretend that this is normal. Still, this ability to communicate telepathically is… strange, to say the least. Is there anything else you can do?"
"Yes," Bero replied. "I can dominate the minds of other living beings, including Sangheili, but I don't do so because I find it to be repulsive, as I fully respect and revere free will and free thought. Beyond that, if any of the Parasites attempt to infect me, my body simply absorbs and consumes them, making me fully immune to the Parasite. Beyond that, I don't know if I have any other abilities."
"I see," R'tas replied. "I want you to demonstrate your ability to dominate other minds. You have my permission to do so with me."
"But-," Bero protested. When he saw that R'tas was serious, he said, "Very well. Just be warned, it's usually not a pleasant experience."
"And I thank you for that warning," R'tas replied. "Go ahead." Moments later, Bero did just that.
Thel watched as R'tas' body stiffened, as the telepath took control of him. Moments later, he had R'tas walking around, flexing his mandibles, moving his head while flexing his fingers, even reaching up to touch Bero in the face. A few seconds later, R'tas stumbled backwards, his eyes blinking as he regained control. After flexing his mandibles, he said, "I… I can see why you say that is an unpleasant experience. My mind was intact, but it was like someone else was in control, though I still retained my physical senses." Looking at Bero, he said, "I can see why you find it repulsive, Bero. You were apologizing to me even while controlling me. It's alright to use that ability, though you should only use it if your are in danger of dying. Still, thank you for being respectful."
"You're welcome," Bero replied. "As you said, I only intend to use that ability if I'm in imminent danger of dying. The one time I did so was at the Heretic base, when I dominated the mind of a Heretic Elite that had stabbed me in the abdomen. He didn't take it nearly as well as you did; in fact, he nearly went insane."
"I know," R'tas replied. "I could see your memories as though they were my own. What relieves me is that you weren't drawn to your new powers, even to this day. You were frightened, alarmed even, wondering if you were turning into a monster. The Arbiter helped you in that regard."
"That is correct," Bero replied. "He told me that what makes me a person isn't what you are physically. It's your beliefs, your morals, your upbringing and your choices that define who you are as a person. As a result, I intend to use my abilities in a morally responsible manner; I do not want to abuse them for my own benefit. I intend to use them to bring further honor and glory to our species, by helping protect our people."
"That is a noble goal," R'tas agreed. Looking at Thel, he said, "Bero 'Kusovai is lucky to have you, Arbiter. It seems that you are like a father figure to him."
"You are, actually," Bero remarked. "You helped me when I needed you the most. You helped the deacons and priests of the Covenant restore my mental health to it's current state. As a result, I just want to say thank you, for what you've done to help me."
"You're welcome," R'tas replied. Noticing that the other Elites were watching, he looked around to see if there was any negative reaction. Fortunately, it seemed as though they had overheard the conversation and had come to the same conclusion he had. "However, we cannot stay here for too long. We have other matters to tend to." Looking at Thel, he said, "As I was asking earlier, why are you here, Arbiter? I do not intend any disrespect. I just wish to understand why you are here."
"We need to retrieve the Sacred Icon," Thel told R'tas. "It is at the Library that the Humans and Flood are killing each other over. The Hierarchs are concerned that the Star League will attempt to take the Icon and secure it so that we cannot use it to start the Great Journey. They have also received reinforcements to carry out that goal."
"Agreed," R'tas replied. Rallying the others, he said, "Warriors of the Covenant, pay heed. The Arbiter will join us, cut through this infestation and retrieve the Sacred Icon. Let no enemy, Parasite or Heretic, stand in our way!" The other Elites roared in agreement as the Phantom left, having dropped off it's weaponry. Getting into the cockpit of a Revenant, Thel waited for Bero to get in before gunning the engine.