Halo: A World's End
Chapter 5
"That information cannot be given in your presence," The Oracle stated after he, the Arbiter had asked where the Ark was.
"Exactly why can't he be around when we receive that information? After all he wants to stop the Prophets as well as we do," questioned the female human. These Humans were, interesting. After fighting a nearly three decade long war they were willing to go along with their temporary peace. Knowing how the remaining Covenant would react to this new peace and all the information he had found out about the Prophets treachery he had decided in advance to keep the Humans away from all Covenant contact. Well his most trusted commanders and he were allowed to see them but, no one else was to find out about them. Trusting his resolve not to kill another Human while he lived and his commander's loyalty, together they would round up the last Covenant. After all the Lekgolo, Unggoy, and the rest of the Sangheili were found they would commence the search for the Ark and their now sworn duty, to kill the Covenant. The other Human that stood beside the female was a male. He was a soldier that the Arbiter would have trusted his life in that mans hands. He made top Kig-yar snipers look like amateurs when he handled a Beam Rifle. A Beam Rifle in his hands was like watching artists paint. Every shot precise and correct down to the millimeter. He had fought on the first Halo the Humans had found and, he had also fought against and with the Arbiter very recently. Knowing the male only by his reputation on the battle field the Arbiter had great respect for him.
"Because Reclaimer he is not of the Human species. This so called Arbiter was very recently on a mission to find the index and activate the Halo. This is unacceptable and against protocol. He is not qualified to activate the installation. Sees how he has already tried to activate this installation, he is unfit to hear the coordinates I am going to give you. Does that satisfy you?" replied the Oracle in its droning voice.
"Now you listen hear tinker bell. Whether you like it or not we're probably just going to share that information with him as soon as we leave. Now you can tell us now with him here or we can wait and tell him later, your choice," the male put in nastily.
"You seem to be right Reclaimer. Although something you should know is that this Arbiter used to be the very commander that had attacked Reach,"
"Tell me something new," replied the Human his face getting darker with anger.
"His name is Aki Forlumee', he is the son of –"
"I don't need to know any of that. There is a thing in this world I call sarcasm and I use it a lot, alright. I don't want a life history but give me something us Humans can use and he will leave," interjected the female Human. Annoyed that the Humans weren't going to ask for his input he opened his mouth to speak but, was interrupted by the Oracle.
"Very well Reclaimer you have me stumped, the coordinates are R.A. 17h 39.3m, declination -28°55. If you can't remember that, it's at the center of this galaxy,"
"Well looks like we got a one long ass trip ahead of us. Ma'am we should probably go round up the remaining Marines on the ring before the Flood or the Covenant get to them,"
"Alright Sergeant, lead the way," with that all three left the Control Room, for once not to kill but to save.
Heading out of the Control Center and taking a quick look around as he started to go around a corner, but his gaze fell on three Jiralhanae's guarding a drop ship. Pushing the Humans down he whispered to them, " Humans there is a drop ship around the corner. I will –"
"Well let's go get it Arbiter," interrupted the male.
"I will go clear it out for us and will come get you once I'm done," Aki stated barely controlling his rage.
"In case you didn't know I still got this little baby right here," he said gesturing to the Beam Rifle in his arms, "And you know as well as I do I can handle this big boy," he said grinning with a cigar in his jutting out of his mouth.
"Very well, you may come," he replied reluctantly. Even though he would trust this Human with his life he didn't want the Human there to help him do a job he could easily do himself. Inching along the wall to the corner he saw the male crouching behind a storage box with the rifle ready. Pulling out his Carbine he nodded his head to the Human. Standing up and firing off two shots at the first Jiralhanae the Human dispatched of it. Rolling around the corner and coming up in a crouched firing position, he shot two rounds at the second Jiralhanae's head. The shots, clipping it's head, removed the helmet, only to be followed up by a single round to the now unprotected face. The Humans Beam Rifle, now done cooling down from the plasma overcharge, appeared right over his head. It's barrel fired two bright purple streaks of light at the last Jiralhanae. The first was dead on in the beast's face. The second beam was a little high and proceeded to take off the top of the Jiralhanae's head. The beam, which had been super heated, cauterized the skull shot leaving no trace of blood anywhere. "Well done Human. We need to leave," the Arbiter stated. Before he could suggest to the male to get the female, she came up with what looked to be a radio, "Sergeant Johnson there are some Marines still on the ring! We might be able to save them," she said turning to Aki, "Arbiter there are some UNSC forces still on the ring. We might be able to save them if we hurry," she said, her voice pleading with him.
"Human we have more important things to do. First we must get a ship with a Slipspace drive and get the rest of my brethren. After that we must stop the Prophet of Truth before he gets to the Ark,"
"First of all the lady has a name Mr. Arbiter. It's Commander Miranda Keyes. Second off those are my Marines out there. Were going to go get them whether or not you like it, understand? Third, why would go get your buddies and leave ours out. What happened to the whole the enemy of my enemy is my friend. As far as I know you don't leave allies out in the cold," the male declared angrily.
"Human-"
"And don't call me Human either I got a name too. It's Sergeant Avery Johnson and you'd better know how to use it,"
"Sergeant, my brethren are most likely in need of help too. I'm sorry if you're offended but my own species comes first," Aki retorted.
"Well we'll just get both groups but, my Marines are just over that ridge Arbiter. So unless your buddies are closer we get them first,"
"Agreed."
Five minutes later in a now cleansed drop ship Aki sat peacefully for the first time in a month. He being the Arbiter was due to the Demon. Back on the first Halo he had been the Supreme Commander of the Holy Ring's defense. He had failed when he had attacked the Human stronghold Reach because the Demon escaped. After the attack he journeyed back to the ring only to find war raging across it. The Demon was desperately trying to destroy it while his troops were busy dealing with both the parasite forms called the Flood and the Demon. When the Demon had destroyed the ring the High Council had slated him for execution. Once the Mark of Shame was burned upon his breast the Prophet of Truth saved him. Deciding to turn him into the Arbiter he, the Prophet of Truth, began to manipulate him immediately. His first mission was to kill the Heretic leader. Not realizing it, he had killed a comrade. He had killed someone who had found out the truth and acted upon it. Once he met the Demon in Gravemind's lair he learned the truth himself. When the Prophets found out they cast the entire Sangheili species out of the Covenant. The Lekgolo and the Unggoy had followed the Sangheili. Stopping the Jiralhanae chieftain from activating a ring capable of destroying all sentient life had led him to be allies with the Humans. Now he was going to rescue what had bee his enemy for the last 27 cycles.
Rounding the ridge and looking through the view screen he called to the commander, "Commander your forces are pinned down at the narrow edge of that sub-valley," he said indicating a small branch off from the main valley. At the far end in an ancient structure were about half a platoon of ODST's. Situated around the top of the structure were five or so turrets all spewing out lead that could be seen were they were at, a mile above structure. What astonished Aki more than the amount of fire power they had a t hand was what they were firing at. Flood. An entire wall of the yellow-green xenoforms was rushing at the Hell jumpers. Turning back to the commander he spoke, "We must get to them before the Flood onslaught does. Any suggestions?"
Stepping forward the Sergeant spoke, "They're ODST's they'll hold out. Ma'am it would probably be best if you contact them and tell them it's us. Arbiter, loop around and set down at the back. Once they're in we'll be able to start the search for more Elites. Agreed?" he asked.
"Nice plan Sergeant. Arbiter, can you please show me the communications gear?"
"This way Commander," he said as he led her to the front of the drop ship. These Humans were indeed strange, he thought. Once he had taken a class on their military structure to pinpoint which officers he should attack first he remembered where the Sergeant stood compared to a commander. Very low. If a Sangheili had done that he would be executed on spot for trying to unseat his commander but the Sergeant stepped up and made a plan his commander approved of. Another thing troubling him was the Commander. She was a female. For the Sangheili, females stayed home to take care of the kids. His own mate, whom he hadn't seen since the war had started was still at home raising children and taking care of their dwelling. Sangheili honor would never permit a male to take orders from a female. It was unthinkable yet, the Sergeant had done so willing. Upon reaching the communications gear in the front of the ship he decided he'd brood over it later.
Point to the holographic display he told her how to use the gear properly, "Commander, the display on the left indicates who you're messaging. The one below it is how you send the message and if you want a live communication hit that button there,' he said indicating a button that looked like a speaker next to the gear. Continuing on he said, "The rest of this is navigation. If you want to know how to use it, wait till we're done here, okay,"
"Got it," Leaving the Human to send her message Aki walked back to the troop bay. Finding the Sergeant still looking out the view screen gazing at nothing in particular, he decided he might as well get into friendly enough terms with them. With a minute till show time he spoke up, "Human, is that natural for a subordinate to give orders to a superior officer?" he asked.
"No mister Arbiter it's not but, I have more experience than she does. Where we come from experience is more prized than a position of power. One other thing though, we don't give'em orders, we give'em suggestions,"
"That's doesn't make sense. Look at it through my eyes. You have more experience than the commander yet, she has a higher position of power. Why?"
"Well Arbiter or Aki or whatever it is I didn't want the position. Once I get past my current rank I am no longer able to fight the good fight. I want to be in there face to face with my enemy not sitting around signing this and that. You must have felt it yourself. The quickening of your pulse and its pound in your head, adrenalin racing through your blood. I guess I do it for the thrill not the glory," Having no need to reply he looked out the window. These Humans were more confusing by the minute yet, he strangely felt a connection growing between him and the Sergeant. They both would rather fight face to face rather than doing the administrative part. The more he had found to separate the two cultures, the more he found to connect them. These Humans have all the things his own Sangheili had: honor, duty and self-sacrifice if need be.
His musings were cut short when the other Human keyed the ship's internal comm system, "Alright we got ten seconds till the ODST's are in position. Arbiter I don't think it'd be a good idea for you to be done there when they come up. Johnson, brief them when they arrive. Under no circumstances are they to fire upon Elites, Grunts, or Hunters. Keyes out."