Chapter 29: The Ancient Ones
Sanctum of the Hierarchs, Covenant Home world…
"Your Excellency, the campaign on Earth is moving forward a little bit slower than anticipated because of the unfortunate losses of the Planet Killers. But reports are saying that we have secured landing zones and are awaiting the rest of the cruisers and dreadnoughts to drop their payload." The gold Elite had his head almost to the ground as he was reporting the current situation of the battle at Earth.
"Thank-you, I am pleased to learn that our forces are not going to let the infidels defeat us again," the Prophet of Truth said, his underlying meaning not being lost on the Elite. He shook his head, stood up, and walked past the Master Chief. As he passed the Elite gave a low snarl.
"The infidels have been quarantined and are under heavy surveillance," he said when he arrived near the Prophet.
"Good, good, what news of the artifact and the mysterious fog that was surrounding it?" the Prophet asked with anticipation in his voice.
"You mean this?" the Chief outstretched his arm and showed a black gauntlet around it; "It's mine now."
"What!? We have not been able to study it and find its true power."
"I know exactly what it does." The Chief pointed to the door and in walked two creatures in armor that was blacked than any abyss. In one of their hands was the head of the Elite who had just left the room. The creatures wore a helmet that covered their faces completely. Three spikes protruded from it and covered their metallic like hair. The shoulder plates rose like two great spires into sharp points that glistened in the bright light of the Sanctum. Two more blades emerged from their shoulders and rose up as if wings. One of the two creatures flicked his wrists and two energy swords materialized, they're humming amplified by the gargantuan room. The other creature dropped the Elite's head to the floor with a wet thump.
"Meet the Ancient Ones. Or as you like to refer to them as, Forerunners. They were geniuses in their technology, but even better at combat. How would it look if your guards returned and saw these two standing over your body? The gods that you so deeply worship are the downfall of the Covenant Hegemony. That won't on one condition. I am given full control of the Covenant. Now."
"Why are you doing this? I gave you more power than you could imagine, but you want more!?" The Prophet spit out, "You have two warriors against the three hundred honor guard. They wouldn't last a second."
"Want to test that? You kill these two with three hundred Elites and you punish me as you wish, if they do survive then you obey my terms." The Prophet lowered his head to his hand and closed his eyes, the corners of his mouth twitchingly slightly as he thought.
"Alright, I'll do it. If you lose you must relinquish the artifact and suffer a punishment to be determined at a later date."
"Let's do it." The Chief turned around and watched as the two Forerunners turned on their monstrous legs and hunched down, their swords humming with energy. The stone blast doors opened and in walked three hundred Elites in black armor with gold trim. Some started to fire on the Forerunners but their shots were deflected by a blue circle around them. Suddenly the Forerunners leapt at the Elites and started to spin in circles, their blades leaving a faint blue trail behind them. The sound of entrails spilling to the ground was mixed with the loud roaring of the Elites as the vainly tried to outdo and outmaneuver the ancient creatures. Purple blood splashed against the glass walls as torsos were sliced open and head cut off. In less than a minute the three hundred Elites had been reduced to a pile of purple meat and a large puddle of blood. The Chief turned around and looked at the Prophet in the face.
"I believe you just lost." The Prophet's face had lost all of its color and his head slowly rocked under the gravity of what he had just witnessed. His head sank down and the headpiece slowly slid forward. "Again, you lost and we had a deal, if you want to-"
"DO NOT GIVE ME AN ULTIMATUM! I WILL NOT SIT HERE AND WATCH AS MY CREATION SLIPS THROUGH MY FINGERS," as he said that his hand gripped together tightly and he slammed it onto the arm rest of his chair, "I WILL NOT TOLERATE THIS INSUBORDINATION!"
"I told you what I wanted and you are now breaking your word. I suggest, for the safety of your life, that you concede and give me control of the Covenant."
"Why!? So that you can dissolve it and safe that god damned Human race? NO! I will not let you!"
"If that is your decision, then you will have to live with it." When the Chief finished he pointed his right arm towards the Prophet and walked away. All he heard was the sound of the energy sword being swung and a crashing sound as the Prophet's headdress fell to the ground. He touched the crystal on the gauntlet and was enveloped in a cloud of black.