The Son of the Covenant

Disclaimer: As I said last chapter, I clearly do not own Halo. That's all Bungie. Oh yeah, I gave the Grunts much more personality this time around, just for warning. Anyway, here's chapter two, for all my adoring fans! waves to imaginary audience Err….start reading already!

Chapter Two: Decisions

1645 Hours, September 16, 2517 (Military Calendar) / Uncharted Regions/Aboard the Destiny's Blade/

A slow, metallic hum was the only noise Jack was aware of. He was huddled into the corner of his cell, tears sliding down his cheeks, head in hands. The drugs he had been given had long since worn off, leaving the small boy scared and lonely. He remembered being carried…then voices…then being thrown…and then he had awoke in this small cell, with no one around. And he had shouted, and screamed, and wept, but not one person would come to his aid. He had wondered if it was a horrible nightmare. So now, huddled in a corner, he had to decide what to do. He wiped the tears from his face, anger filling his mind rather then sorrow. Nobody was around, but if someone came, Jack didn't want to be seen crying. He went over to the door of the small prison, and studied it, hoping to find a weakness in its structure. It was quite more evolved then anything he had seen back on his home planet of Arian V, which in itself was a primitive planet. The hatch was circular and a purple shade, with a black circle in the middle. Jack stared at it, wondering what the hell to do with it, when he heard footsteps pounding, and coming closer. He took a step back, but didn't turn away from the door. The young boy wanted to meet this threat head on, with no fear. He bunched his hands into fists and waited for this thing to come. The footsteps came closer, closer, closer, until the thing was in front of Jack's door. There was a swish, followed by a beep and the hatch slid open. What the young one saw there froze his blood. There was a tall alien thing in front of him, and oddly it reminded the boy of the squid on his planet. It was clad in black armor, which seemed too loose for the beast's body, as though it had acquired the clothing just yesterday. From the parts that were showing, he could tell its skin was a dark purple in colour. But it was the face that disturbed young Jack the most. The monster's skull was hidden beneath a helmet, and its eyes were large and white, similar to a fishes. Its mouth was not a mouth, but rather four tendrils that flung about every which way, all connected at the center, forming the aliens mouth. Jack had no time to contemplate on this, however, so he flung himself at the beast, wildly flailing his arms towards the creature's chest. The alien caught the brown haired boy's arms with ease, and tossed him to a corner. Just as Jack was about to try again, the alien raised its arms in surrender.

"Easy there, boy! I'm not going to hurt you…yet…!" shouted the alien and in English, which scared Jack.

He took a cautious step back, arms still balled into fists, trying hard to suppress his fear.

"Where am I? Why am I here? Where is Arian V?" asked the small boy all at once.

The beast stared at him strangely, then angrily.

"Look, runt, I'm the one here asking the questions!" barked the alien. "Who or what are you?"

Jack took another step back. He put on a brave face, as though this was normal for him, and then answered the creature's question.

"My name is…Jack. I'm from the…peaceful…planet of Arian V. I...I…bring peace in the name of my planet." said the chestnut headed child, choosing his words carefully, hoping this alien was part of an overly cautious group of other aliens, simply checking to see if he was a threat.

The Elite stared at him oddly, and then growled dangerously. He was surprised the pup wasn't crying or screaming, considering the situation.

"Next question, runt," spoke the black armored figure, "Why were you on a military vessel?"

This question surprised Jack. When was he on a military ship? Unless…when he had that dream about being in a room full of boxes…wasn't a dream. But why would his parents send him away? Where was the crew of this ship? These thoughts flowed through his mind, making him want to weep, but he had to continue.

"I…I…I don't know what you're talking about. I don't remember being on any ship." answered the boy truthfully.

The monster, which in reality was the Covenant Elite Zregon, narrowed his eyes. The young one was proving to be not that helpful, always dodging around answers. No matter, as the medical tests would get all they needed to know. He turned, heading towards the exit, leaving the boy.

As the monster was about to leave, Jack cried out.

"Sir...er...person...er… thing..! Where…where am I?" asked the child weakly.

The Elite turned around, glaring at the child, using an ancient term he had seen in the ruins of a city his Covenant had conquered a time ago.

"Hell." he whispered, leaving the room which was now filling with a drugging gas.


High Commander Xeon Ravger stood in a camera room, looking into the prison cell which was serving as a home for Jack. Zregon stood behind him, finishing his report.

"And it said its name was "Jack", Commander."

finished the Sangheili, also watching the screen which showed an unconscious young one. Xeon turned around, nodding.

"Jack….? Foolish name…no matter, he will be dead in 24 hours once the Prophets have had their fun." stated the Commander dryly. Zregon simply stood, not really understanding why the Hierarchs wanted the kid so badly. Just then, a Grunt came into the room, clothed in black SpecOps armor. Zregon motioned towards him.

"Greetings Glim. Why is it you have come?" asked the Sangheili. Glim ignored him completely and went over to Ravger.

"Commander," said the Grunt, "We're closing in on High Charity. I suggest you take a seat."

Xeon complied, sitting down and strapping down onto a nearby chair. The other two followed his lead and sat in two more chairs, also strapping themselves in. There was a rumble as they broke out of SlipSpace, followed by a shake. In an instant the shaking ceased and the ship was stable once more. The three unbuckled and moved towards the bridge, never speaking a word. All of them were clearly uncomfortable with Truth's request of them and the boy, but each of the aliens were also too stubborn to admit it. As Zregon and Glim left to fetch the boy, High Commander Xeon Ravger moved down to the comm system to check if the landing officials were asking for identification. If they were that dense, that is. Even the lowest Unggoy knew a Commander's ship when he saw one, but it seemed the higher the rank, the more the ignorance. Sure enough, a voice came over the comm shortly after Ravger arrived.

"This is High Charity Landing Official Anoon Zraharrr, asking for identification from the captain of ship 345252, Destiny's Blade. State your name." asked the voice filtering through the radio. Xeon sighed angrily, and answered the foolish question.

"This is High Commander Xeon Ravger, replacing Zrenn Anorian, by order of the Prophets. If you do not let me land immediately, I'll personally see to your resignation from our Covenant." replied the Commander harshly. There was whispering coming from the comm, followed Anoon's quick response.

"Permission granted."

Commander Ravger smiled to himself. He absolutely loved it when he got his way


Jack tried to open his eyes, only to succeed in squinting one eye. He was being carried on the shoulder of something…it was the shoulder of the alien who interrogated him. There was a small alien next to him, something resembling a cross between a chimp and a lizard. It wore black armor, and had a tank on its back, and was talking to the alien that was holding the boy.

"Don't ask me what they're going to do with him! You're the big and mighty type, you tell me!" spoke the chimp lizard thing quickly. Because of the fact that Jack was slung over the beast's shoulder facing the other way, he couldn't see the expression that was on the larger alien's face. But the annoyed grunt that emitted from the animal gave the boy the impression that the big alien was used to such smart aleck comments. He tried to move, but found his bones were aching. This is familiar… thought Jack solemnly. After what seemed like a lifetime, the slow rhythm of footsteps stopped. There was a beep and a click as the door that had caused them to stop slid open. Oddly, the one carrying Jack did not move, along with the small one. Jack heard steps walk into the new room, so he figured there must have been a third beast at the front that he was not aware of. A few moments later, a strong voice came into the hall.

"Zregon, bring in the boy!" barked the voice. Once again this Zregon fellow started moving, this time into the room. Jack wished he could see what was happening in front of him, but he was too tired to make the effort. Abruptly, the child was dropped to the floor, coming down with a thud. This time the brown haired boy managed to turn around, and get a good look at his captors. What he saw, to say the very least, shocked him. Directly in front of him were three old aliens, sitting in floating chairs. They were like Jack's grandpa at home, though somehow more insidious. They looked quite frail, but their eyes were large and looked like they were plotting against Jack. They wore great head dresses and elegant robes. Jack turned away from them to look at the other one, the third alien. That one was very similar to Zregon, except this one wore gold armor that looked much more regal. Unable to take it all in, the boy turned back to the floor and put his head down. One of the old aliens in front of him spoke.

"Thank-you, Zregon and Glim. You are dismissed…You too Xeon." spoke the middle one. Jack raised his head to look at the old alien, hearing the chimp lizard, Zregon and the third alien leave. The middle of the three old aliens looked disgustingly at Jack, and then spoke in a soft sinister voice.

"Boy, you will listen to me now, for I will never repeat this. You are a disease, unpure and disgusting. Yet fate has given you another chance, a chance given to almost none. Fate let you live when other fully trained soldiers died around you. Fate has protected you, nurtured you, and now has brought you to my Covenant. That is why you will join our Covenant, become one of us. But do not think you are special in any way, shape or form, for you are not special. You are not some mighty being that will lead our Covenant to the Sacred Rings. You are filth, and we simply chose to use you for our own gains instead of kill you. Tell me, worm, what is your name?" spoke the leader. Jack tried to understand all this, but for now he decided to answer the question.

"…Jack…" mumbled the boy. The alien nodded, then spoke again.

"That is no longer your name. That was a different being, a being that did not belong to us. That being is dead. Your new dubbance shall be Wolvenge, Fate's Blade, the Son of our Covenant. I am the Prophet of Truth. To my right is the Prophet of Mercy, to my left the Prophet of Mercy. We are your Masters now. Now get up." finished Truth. It all seemed like a dream to Jack. He was expecting to wake up any moment, but he couldn't. Where was he? What was this Covenant? Who was Wolvenge? But he wanted to live, so he complied with the Prophet's request. The right-most Prophet called out the closed door.

"Commander! Enter!" yelled Mercy. As the Commander opened the door, the one known as Glim, and Zregon came after him. Regret looked at them with anger.

"What," asked the Prophet angrily, "Were you doing, soldiers?"

The Commander looked uncomfortable, Zregon was shuffling his feet, and Glim blurted out.

"My Prophets, we couldn't help but overhear what you were saying, and we though that m-" answered the Grunt, but was cut off by Truth.

"Eavesdropping? I thought you were better, all of you. Well since you're here…ahh yes, Unggoy. Please take Wolvenge to his new quarters. "commented the Prophet, in that angry, but calm voice. Glim looked confused.

"Umm," queried the Grunt, "Where exactly the b…Wolvenge's quarters, Hierarchs?"

Truth looked at the Unggoy in fake surprise.

"Why Glim! The Grunt bunks, of course!" spoke the Prophet, holding back a smile. Glim was about to express his disbelief, but then thought better of it.

"Right away, my lords." replied the Grunt through gritted teeth. He walked over to Jack, grabbing him by the collar, and yanking him out the door, past the smiling forms of Xeon and Zregon.

"Come along, runt..." grunted the Unggoy angrily, pulling Jack towards his quarters. Towards his life in the Covenant.


As Glim and Jack entered the Unggoy bunks, other Grunts already there and still awake (for it was quite late for them to be awake) stared at the newcomer in disbelief. They whispered among themselves until one of them, a large one in red armor came over and blocked Glim's passage.

"Well well, Glim… who have we here? An unpure trespasser? I didn't know you made allies outside our Covenant!" growled the Grunt, enjoying this. Glim shoved past him, responding.

"Ughk nalla utee sha Fuillya!" growled the black armored Unggoy. What he had said was a common insult in Unggoy language, meaning something along the lines of "I didn't know your birth father mated with a Fuillya!", which was a disgusting animal on the Grunt home planet that resembled a pig/frog. So the insult suggested that an Unggoy's teat mother was as ugly as Fuillya. Of course, all of this was unknown to Jack so he simply followed Glim to his new bunk. The SpecOps Grunt led him to an unused bunk that had a purple stain on it. The Grunt lying on the bunk next to him laughed.

"Sorry 'bout the mess…its last owner upset an Elite!" stated the Grunt, which caused much high pitched laughter through the ranks. Jack tried to ignore them, and sat down on the cot, putting his head to rest on the hard surface of the "bed". Glim went to the bunk in front of the boy, and closed his eyes, muttering something to Jack.

"Look…err, not like I care…but if one of these guys gets on your case, ya'know…just tell me and I'll beat him up…but I don't like you, or anything. In fact I don't like you…I just don't want to see a new recruit being…ya'know…beat up….err, I'm going to sleep. You just shut up and go to sleep…" stuttered the Grunt. Jack decided to take his advice and shut up. Glim wouldn't admit it, but Jack knew the Grunt would look out for him in the coming days. The boy still wondered where he was, and what these things were, but for some reason, he wasn't that sad anymore. He felt more…at peace. It was odd, but for the first time in a long while, Jack felt like he was home.