Chapter 9: Pandora's Box, Zion's Revival, and The Second Apocalypse

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            John woke up quickly to a thumping in his ears that was very loud. He spun around the small, three-walled room he was in. In front of him was a rippling blue shield that was the entrance to his jail cell. Then he realized that he was in a Covenant brig. He got up slowly, his right arm incredibly sore and stiff. When he looked at it, it was bruised and swollen. The brig was empty except for an Elite standing on a small raised platform next to a holo-panel. It reminded him of the Truth and Reconciliation's brig that he had saved Captain Keyes and a small group of marines three years earlier. The cell was quite warm which felt good considering he was only in his bio-suit. He looked around the cell and found that it was barren except for a bed, a small raised section with a hole he assumed was a toilet, and a small sink. Right as he was about to sit down the large doors outside and to his right slid open and a group of black armored Elites and on gold one entered the brig and headed towards his cell. The blue shield dropped down and two of the Elites grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him along. The Elites formed into a phalanx with three in front and three behind the Chief and his handlers. The gold Elite turned around and walked backwards, staring John in the eyes. Even with out his MJOLNIR armor the Spartan was only an inch or two shorter than the Elite.

"The almighty one had requested your presence infidel," the Elite said in a deep voice, "If you want to live very long I suggest you hold your tongue and treat him with the utmost respect."

"Is this the same Prophet that captured me?" replied John honestly.

"The almighty one is not the one who captured you." The Chief did not reply mostly because the Elite wasn't giving him much info. He was led out into the dark hallways that were filled to capacity with Grunts screaming words in their own language, Jackals chirping to each other and Elites roaring at him. He realized that the Elites leading him around weren't to keep him restrained but to keep the tides back. But in spite of the verbal attacks he kept his head high and walked with impunity. The small group took a right and entered what seemed to be a hangar for transports. They entered one and stood patiently. There was a jerk and the transport disconnected from the airlock. Immediately the sides of the transport melted away and showed an amazing and yet horrifying site. The Covenant cruiser he thought he was on was actually one of three large orbital defense rings. Covenant crafts of all sizes traveled to fro crowding the space. The two Elites let go of him and he walked around the small transport. He came up to the walls and saw that they were projecting a holographic image of the outside space. All around there were cruisers and carriers being built at large space docks and smaller crafts coming out of the bulges in the orbital rings. He heard a grunt from one of the Elites and he spun around. They were all staring at a patch of space that was shimmering. Instantly he saw what was so important. A monstrous shipped had appeared, at least 7 km long. What was surprising was that it didn't follow the normal Covenant design of bulbous sections. It had two large prongs each at least 5 km long, and then set back was what looked like bridge that was raised but still had a low and streamlined profile. On the sides, next to the bridge, were two wing like sections that looked like they could move.

"One of the planet killers is here, Zion's Revival right?" asked an Elite.

"Yeah, here come the other two," replied another. Sure enough two more patches of space started to shimmer then suddenly materialize into the huge crafts.

" Pandora's Box and The Second Apocalypse," said one Elite to no one in particular. John felt a strong hand grab his arm and yank him away from the side. As this happened the Elites got back into their spots and stood rigid again. The shuttle jolted a bit and the airlocks slid open with a hum. He looked out of the doors and saw a long hallway that was brightly lit and teeming with Elites and Brutes, all in black armor. They headed down the hallway not attracting more than a mere glimpse from a passing alien. John's legs were starting to ache as he tried to keep ups with the Elites' fast pace. It also didn't help that his legs were stiff from being cramped up in his prison cell. The whole time the Elites only barked once or twice to each other. They arrived at two large ornate doors that didn't open when they reached them. They stood for seemed to be an hour before they opened up revealing a room that shimmered every time you moved. The walls were covered in glass shards and the floor had a holographic display of multiple systems and planets, all with information written in the Covenant common language. Sitting in the middle of the room was a small creature floating a few meters of the floor. The Elites that were restraining him let go and immediately left the large room.

"Come to me John," said the Prophet. John obeyed and slowly walked towards him. He thought that the room was very large but seemed to be an optical illusion, seeing as he arrived in less than ten seconds.

"Why didn't you kill me?" asked the Spartan.

" Many reasons, but I have to kill you now seeing as you saw some our fleet being assembled."

"Your fleet?"

"Ah, yes. You didn't really believe we would just let Earth remain 'alive' if I may say so. The Humans are a plague upon this universe and we will kill every last one of the," he paused as if contemplating something, "No, we will let one male and one female live so we can breed them and use them in our conquest of the universe." Rage started to boil up inside of John at the Prophet referring to the humans as breeding tools.

"Who do you think you are?" he asked with a clenched jaw.

"I am the Prophet of Truth, vessel through which the gods control the Covenant." The Prophet stirred at this, his red and gold robes shimmering in the bright light. "You may have some purpose after all." John immediately felt a kind of tingling in his brain, as if something was probing him. The Prophet just nodded his head and raised his right hand as it started to glow blue and shake. There was a burst of light and the Chief fell backwards. He tried to get back up but his limbs did something else. He got on his knees and leaned forward putting his forehead on the ground. Another presence took over his body and he was pushed back into oblivion.

            The Prophet stared at the Human on the ground. He got up and stood rigid his face was expressionless. He looked into his eyes and saw that they were glassed over. The Elites walked in on his command carrying parts of the MJOLNIR armor that had been repainted black with gold trimming.

"Put it on," the Prophet commanded.

" Yes master," replied the mind slave, his voice both the human's original voice and a new deeper voice all mixed together. The slave put the armor on and waited.

"You will be my new military commander. Go now." The slave only nodded and walked off. 

*Sorry about the delay in updating, I'll be gone for a few days before I can start Chap 10