Chapter 15: Newcomers
Covenant Home World "Step of Silence", High Charity, Sanctum of the Hierarchs, Karok System
The Prophet of Truth was waiting anxiously for the Human to give him a report of what they had found on their way back. Something called a Chiroptera had been found with two Humans aboard it in a state of cryo freeze. He tried to keep calm but from the sound of the Human's voice it was important. Then the large doors leading to the Sanctum opened up and the Human along with an entourage of Elites walked in. They all kneeled down and waited for the Prophet to acknowledge them.
"Rise great warriors," he said. The sea of black armored soldiers rose and moved forward. "What did you find…John."
"We found a presumed derelict Human craft with two Humans on board in cryo freeze. We are reviving them as we speak."
"Good, is there anything special about these Humans?" the Prophet asked.
"Yes your Excellency. One of them is a Spartan, like my host…and the other is the creator of the Spartans," the Chief replied, removing his helmet.
"Most interesting, and what of Syphon?" he asked even though he knew the answer.
"We failed in taking control of it. But we did inflict heavy casualties upon the enemy until a Special Forces armada arrived. Most of our vessels retreated and withdrew our forces, your Excellency."
"That is okay, it does not concern me. But I'd like to know about your encounter with the other Spartans." The Chief drew a deep breath and began.
"I infiltrated their evac point and wounded both of them. I would have won if I was not pre-occupied with the other one, she is no challenge," he said with anger in his voice.
"That is okay also, now go and oversee the revival of the Humans."
"Yes, your Excellency," the Chief said. He bowed deeply and left the Sanctum.
Kelly looked around the cryo-tube and only saw white clouds of evaporating Nitrogen. She couldn't remember how long she had been in cryo freeze but it had to be a long time. Her body started to loosen up so she tried to move but couldn't. Some of the mist cleared and she saw that there was a pulsating blue energy all around her body. She looked out of the tube and looked at an Elite square in the eyes. Her training immediately kicked in and she tried to escape to a better position but it was impossible. But when the tube opened up that is when she started to panic. The Elites around her started to grab her arms and pull her out. Kelly looked around and saw something that made her heart sink. Two Elites were holding Dr. Halsey with an almost death grip on her arms. She looked into her face and saw a great sadness. Kelly decided she wouldn't stand for this. She yanked the Elite on her right arm straight into the one on her left. Quickly picking up their weapons she pointed them at Halsey's captives. They tried to grab their Plasma Rifles but were immediately shot and killed.
"Dr. Halsey! Get behind the cryo tubes," Kelly yelled.
"Okay," she replied and got behind her tube. The Spartan rushed up against the wall and was finally able to take a look at her surroundings. The room was about fifty feet by fifty feet and quite bright in comparison to the Covenant's choice of dimness. The door to her right opened up and a small group of no more than five jackals came in. They chirped back and forth to each other, curious as to what had just happened. Then they noticed Kelly against the wall and squawked loudly along with raising their shields and firing. Anticipating this Kelly gracefully ran toward her cryo tube and rebounded off it, headed directly for the Jackals. The Jackals were amazed at her athleticism but quickly recovered and started to fire again. Hot plasma sizzled around her as the pistols whined from the heavy firing. The huge Spartan landed on top of four of the Jackals and sent them to the ground. The two that took the full force of her attack hit the ground with the sickening noise of organs and bones being crushed beyond their limits. Kelly quickly got up and shot the Jackal who was standing in the face, his purple blue blood spraying the wall. She then spun around and did the same to the two who were critically wounded from her body slam. It was hard to get up due to the large puddles of blood beneath her feet but she did so in time to see an Elite reactionary force enter. They quickly got to her and threw her to the ground restraining her with some kind of energy coils that crackled with her own shields. The Elites also looked for, and found, Dr. Halsey but gently held her. Kelly was forced up on her feet and put the same energy coils onto her feet with enough slack between the two so she could walk. But instead of moving they just waited. Then they heard another set of heavy footsteps that were very familiar. Kelly's mind started to race, The Chief's coming, we'll get outta here with the doctor, she thought. But when he entered it was she was punched in the stomach. His olive green armor was now black with Covenant symbols etched in gold all over the armor. He quickly removed his helmet and nodded to a group of Elites who had just arrived. The Chief waited for the doors to close before speaking.
"Hello Kelly, Dr. Halsey," The two of them said nothing, " Might as well cut to the chase. The Chief as you know him is no longer here. I guess I could say he was 'deleted'?" Kelly looked into his eyes that used to be a vibrant dark brown but were now cloudy and glazed over.
"So who are you now John?" asked Dr. Halsey.
"I am technically no one. The great Prophet of Truth is my master. But I am my own person." Katherine Halsey just gave a quick chuckle and closed her eyes. "Enough with this, take them," he said, directing the last part to the Elite holders. The Elites shoved Kelly forward and led her out into the dim hallways of the High Charity complex. Eventually the quite large column of Covenant soldiers arrived at the ornate door of the Sanctum of the Hierarchs. Outside there were at least fifteen Brutes standing guard. They looked at Kelly and just snorted, trying to resist the urge to take her head off with one swipe of the huge scythes connected to their weapons. The huge doors opened with a groan and the column entered the Sanctum. At the far end sat a small creature slumped in a chair that was floating about three feet off the ground. He moved his small claw and Elites descended upon Kelly and started to strip her armor off. The Mark V armor was much heavier than the Chief's Mark VI, which she had just noticed. After the armor had been removed the Elites left the Sanctum and didn't return.
"Come forth John, and bring the prisoners with you." He walked forward, the small phalanx behind him followed.
"Release the prisoner, they are no threat in here," the small creature said, his voice amplified by the mirrored walls. Kelly felt the strong hands release her and she rushed to Dr. Halsey, keeping her behind her.
"Do not fear me. Look at my frail form I am only a servant of the gods," as he said this his voice started to become stronger and more commanding, "Look at the Chief here. He has gone to a whole new level, along with you…Kelly." The Prophet raised his right hand and pointed it towards Kelly. A blue glow enveloped it that instantly shot at Kelly like a bolt of lightning. Kelly hit the ground with a loud crack, she groaned a little but didn't stir. Dr. Halsey rushed to her but froze halfway. The Prophet had his claw towards Dr. Halsey who was trying to resist.
"What is your choice…Katherine? Service or Death?" the Prophet asked her with a malicious smile.
"I will not serve the Covenant," she forced out.
"You must not of understood me. You are going to live no matter what, what about this Spartan?"
"I will not let her become the twisted form of the Chief," but then something crawled into her mind. She remembered a sentence that she said years earlier. She remembered how she'd made a promise to herself to save every person she could. Even if Kelly were controlled she could be saved eventually. The Human's best weapons were becoming their worst enemy.
"Let her live," she said reluctantly. Once Dr. Halsey said that Kelly started to stir and then got back up. Then the same glowing blue energy enveloped the Prophet's hand and a bolt of white light struck the Doctor, throwing her to the ground.
"You'll be pleased with their service your Excellency," the Chief assured him.
"We shall see, we shall see."