"Three years ago, you and your squad of Elites landed upon a once believed deserted planet to survey it's conditions to see if it could maintain Covenant life, and also house a way point for our fleet, much like planet Reach does so for the Humans. During the mission, the indigenous wild life there had killed four of your team mates, but then something happened. You ran into the one that that the Covenants fear. The Flood. The rest of your team continued through the lands, meeting more and more of the creatures, and one by one, each one of your team mates were captured by the Flood and quickly changed into one of them. You barely made it back to the ship before you were over run with the Flood, but you came back a different person, Halo. At first, you wanted revenge on the Flood, taking charge of command, and had the entire planet's surface carpet bombed with fission bombs. Our last reports from the scanners indicate that not even bacteria survived the assault.

For your bravery, you were to be promoted to the rank of Gold. An astounding feat. Surviving a Flood attack is quite the extraordinary abilities of a Gold the Elder's like to see, and your quick dealing with our sworn enemies. For that you were commended. But you may have left the planet without so much as a scratch, only to have your mind scarred by the incident.

I know about your dreams, Halo."

Halo simply stared at the Colonel, watching him explain a bit of the story, though blinked a few times and tilted his head. He didn't buy the story. The Flood? But the dreams.

"Yes, the dreams... nightmares, really. Nightmares so terrible you never slept a good night once in the last three years. And that, affected your battle performance. Against a group of Humans, of all creatures, you nearly got wiped out with your squad. Thoughts of your fallen comrades. Being pulled into the mass of infection, screaming and begging the Gods for mercy. How was it, Halo? To see the Flood's tentacles invade your comrades, twisting their bodies and their souls for its own purposes? You see them now, don't you!? What about the Elites and Grunts you led on their suicide mission. How did their faces look when they were annihilated by the Human forces because you failed to carry out your duty?"

Halo stepped back again, blinking a bit. He did see those faces in his dreams, faces he couldn't see clearly screaming and begging him not to let them die. Samantha just stared in shock. Halo had admitted to her the events in his dreams when he could, and somehow the Colonel knew about them too, but it was apparent he knew much more about why the dreams were there in the first place. Everyone was dead silent, listening to the story of the Colonel. None of which could believe their ears. The Captain also, silencing her quick gasps of breath as she clutched at her leg, stared in wide eyes as Halo was beginning to fold.

"It was because of this that you were under constant surveillance. Your wandering faith had the Elder's concerned. In short, we couldn't trust you. You underwent a procedure to wipe your memory, regarding past events, the Flood, and of course, critical information regarding our Home World. You were ready for your last assignment. The one that lead you here, on this Human ship. Do you know what the purpose of this last mission was?"

Halo merely shook his head, stepping back once again, his back almost against the glass.

"To retrieve the most valued possession of the Human fleets. It's A.I. Your wandering faith was disturbing to the Elder's, and they were concerned you wouldn't be able to serve our Gods any longer, so you were sent on this last mission. Placed into a situation where you would feel compassion for the Humans. And compassion you did feel. Your time in the soup was well worth it. We altered a bit of your psyche in the process, so you would react to a group of Humans being mindlessly slaughtered. Unfortunately, you reacted just too well. Your commander for that mission only a short while ago, was a good soldier, and I was sorry for having to sacrifice him. But his death is not in vain. Not when you carry the A.I. on you right now."

Halo placed a hand on his back, feeling the compartment in thought.

Hundreds of thousands Covenant had died trying to retrieve that little box you have right now, and I would have to say this mission was successful. Admittedly the hardest part was faking being a Human, but here I am now. It has served our people well. Luck would have it, that the Sword of Damocles was in the area as well, and in the confusion of the attack on Reach, we boarded that ship with little trouble. This is the gadget," the Colonel spoke, smiling widely as he tapped a small box on the side of his hip.

Halo stepped back again, panting a bit as he felt the glass behind him. He dared not move his gaze away from the Colonel, trying to piece together what he had said.

"You... used me," he growled, frowning slightly at the realization.

"Of course I did. You didn't think sending you to that Human colony for no apparent reason was a bit odd? Of course you did, but then again, you always followed orders blindly. Your faith was always in the mission. But did it suit you well when you were sent to that planet of the Flood? That one and only time you met the Flood and began your path of distrust to our Gods. That was the beginning of the Covenant's greatest plan yet. Years of work to produce the greatest Judas that Humans had ever known! And as I recall, you were more than happy to accept the assignment on Icenein to prove your loyalty."

Halo turned his gaze away, frowning visibly before the closed his eyes. That planet. Pieces, like a jigsaw puzzle, floated in his mind almost all of the time. He didn't know if he should believe the Colonel, but the pictures that he sometimes drew, made him think there was no reason not to.

" With your collapsing faith, we wanted to make an example of you as well. Those that betray the Gods, even despite acquiring the most important part of this war, would still not be shown an ounce of mercy. Your body displayed will be inspiration to the rest of our kind not to betray our Elders."

The Captain leaned back against a crate, holding her leg tightly before she swallowed, feeling a few beads of sweat fall down her face.

"Why the Sword of Damocles?" she grunted, gasping loudly before the Colonel looked to her.

"Glad you could join the conversation," the Colonel spoke, slowly turning his head towards her, reveling in the sight of her pain," The Sword of Damocles was quite a simple choice really. It could have been say... your General I would want to take the role of, but no no no, I wanted the ship, and it just so happened Colonel McPherson, commanded that ship. Quite the womanizer as well, and I admit I had to use the toilet more than once during my time as this wretched Human."

The Captain coughed a bit, shaking her head a bit, "That doesn't answer why you wanted the ship. It is tactically inferior to this ship."

The Colonel merely cleared his throat.

"There once was a king who's name is Dionysius. He was so unjust and cruel that he won himself the name of Tyrant. He knew that almost everybody hated him, and so he was always in dread, unless someone should take his life. But he was very rich, and lived in a fine palace where there were many beautiful and costly things. He was waited upon by a host of servants who were always ready to do his bidding. One day a friend of his, whose name was Damocles, said to him: How happy you must be. You have everything that any man could wish.

"Perhaps you would like to know what it is like." replied the tyrant.

"No, not that, my king," Damocles said, "but I think that, if I could only have your riches and your pleasures for one day, I should not want any greater happiness."

"Very well," said the tyrant, "you shall have them."

And so, the next day, Damocles was led into the palace, and all of the servants were ordered to treat him as their master. He sad down at a table in the banquet hall, where rich foods were placed before him. There was no want that could give him pleasure. He had all of his wants before him. The wines, the music, colorful flowers, the servants. Resting upon soft cushions, he felt like the happiest man in all the world.

Eventually, his gaze tilted towards the ceiling. A sharp sword hung above his head, nearly touching it, dangling by only one horse hair. The hair, could break at any moment. There were a danger that every moment it would do so. Damocles lost his smile, and cared not for the music, or the wine, or the riches or the servants or the beautiful flowers. He longed to leave the palace.

What is the matter, asked the tyrant. Damocles, pale in the face, cried, That sword! That sword!. He dared not move. The tyrant calmly walked up to his friend, and spoke: Yes, I know there is a sword above your head, and that it may fall at any moment. But why should that trouble you? I have a sword over my head all of the time. I am every moment in dread unless something may cause me to lose my life.

Damocles hands shook, and after swallowing his pride, said: I now see that I was mistaken, and that the rich and powerful are not so happy as they seem. Let me go back to my old home in the poor little cottage among the mountains.

And so as long as he lived, he never again wanted to be rich, or change places with the king."

"Fourth century B.C." the Captain whispered in shock, "how did you?"

"How did I know about it? My dear Captain. You of all should realize that good Commanders know as much about their enemy as possible. And I have a particular interest in history. An obsession, if you will. But, you couldn't know more about us than you could see from the outside, thanks to erasing Halo's memory. All you found out is a few tactics, a bit of his religion, a Covenants habits, and other miniscule things. Perhaps... hmmm, " he chuckled softly, "mating habits as well. Though I'm sure only one Human really knows about that."

Halo just turned his gaze away, Samantha going wide eyed and hoping no one saw her face turning red. The Captain just sneered at him, bringing something like that up at a time like this.

"You look surprised. You didn't think I would have let Halo board this ship on his own, did you? It was rather... interesting, to read some of my spy's reports. Oh, and you should meet him. He really is a charmer, once you get to know him." he spoke, looking around, "you may show yourself."

There was silence, the Colonel looking about, searching for the invisible Elite. The Captain and Halo both glanced about as well, the Covenant wondering if that was the one who saved him from the Humans. Many long moments went by, silence filling the air, before the Colonel frowned.

"It seems he may have been discovered and killed," he spoke quietly, then looked to the Captain, "but still, the knowledge he learned of is more than enough to justify his sacrifice. Regardless. I know your species quite well, and that story has always held a special place in my heart. It is exactly the reason why I wanted the ship named after the fool Damocles."

"Why? What does that ship prove?"

"Why indeed," he paused, then smiled cruelly at the Captain, "because Halo was your race's sword! In fact, your race and Halo share the same fate. I can see his sword hanging over his head at this very moment, as well as yours, Captain. You amount to the status of kings, but you all wear a crown of a bladed weapon atop of your heads that goes unnoticed until it is all too late. What more fitting image can there be? The weapon: Halo. Crafted into a Human weapon, hanging over each of your heads. And now, what was once myth, is now fact. The A.I. is mine, and soon the swords over your heads will fall."

The Captain just lowered her head, closing her eyes as the words struck home. It certainly seemed that way. Halo, oblivious to the harm he could do, has brought the destruction of the Human race. Every Human aboard the ship, had also heard about this, Panda and the ones working on the door having to stop to listen. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

"But, I'm afraid time is running out for me. We should finish things while we have the chance, Halo," the Colonel spoke, pressing the small module, the appearance of the Colonel fading, and soon an Elite dressed in gold armor stood on the small balcony. He growled lowly, his face contorting into a grin, while Halo simply stared at him in shock.

"J'Kress!" he spoke in disbelief.
"Yes, it is I," he spoke, flexing his hand as he pointed towards the shocked Covenant before him, "you know, I always wondered who was the better soldier between the both of us, Halo. Today is a perfect day to find out," he spoke, his arms parting out to the side.

The Captain panted softly, listening to the Elite's speech, still in Human. She wondered if he also had an advanced translator on his person. But just seeing that Elite made her hands tremble. This was it, what seem like the defining point in the Human races fate. J'Kress jumped from the balcony, landing with a heavy thud before the opening for the lift, then looked down, admiring the scenery for a moment before walking around the large square hole, his eyes fixed on Halo, and the Human figure he wore.

"Amazing technology. Accident would have it that Covenant and Human technology existed so well. I'm amazed no other Humans have figured out who you were. I am only slightly discouraged about our own attempts, having been seen through by you, and I now realize that what you have is far superior. I'm sure the scientists would be extremely grateful of me retrieving that piece of machinery."

Halo moved his hand in front of him, staring at the wrist and the watch around it. He rubbed it slowly, taking in a long breath before slamming his wrist against the glass. The device shattered into several pieces, the image of the Human flickering, and finally disappearing. Soon the black armor that Halo wore stood in his place. Every marine at the window quickly stumbled back upon seeing the second Elite, hushed whispers filling the air as Sam held her hands to her chest, locking her fingers.

"Halo," she whispered, her eyes wide as he moved from the glass.

J'Kress simply sneered, removing his helmet and tossing it to the side, lifting his hand and pointing at Halo expectedly. Katrina simply watched through the sensors, Halo's vital signs showing that he was debating something. Halo just held still, flexing his hand slowly before he started to reach up for his helmet.

"You can still run," Katrina whispered, finally speaking up.

"No... I have to fight," he growled, undoing a latch on the side, "or else... we all will die."

Katrina sighed softly, understanding the battle between the two.

"Thank you, Halo," she whispered before he removed the helmet, letting it clatter to his feet. He kicked it to the side, listening to it bounce before striking the tread of a near by tank. He slowly raised his hands, clenching them into fists, prepared to stand his ground.

"Oh, by the way, Kraa," J'Kress spoke, tilting his head and making a few cracking noises at his neck, "you're the one that planed this mission from the start."

Halo just lifted his head and stared at the Gold with wide eyes.