Leghilorn seemed to sense my distress, but he stood quietly, completely attentive to the speaking Prophet. I risked a glance to my right, and saw more soldiers standing behind a three-foot high wall. There was only one Elite, and I recognized him to be Ulerakath, though how I was sure it was him I cannot say. He was focused on me, but was speaking in a hushed voice to the tiny soldier beside him, a Grunt. Once or twice the little creature would nod, and cast a glance at me.

I turned my head away quickly, and one of the spikes on my collar caught the area under my chin. I felt a drop of blood fall.

"She is frightened," came a voice from the crowd. The Prophet stopped speaking, and looked toward the voice, clearly annoyed at the interruption. I also tried to find the source of the voice, and I did. To my shock, it was Ulerakath.

"And how do you know this?" the Prophet asked, his attention on Ulerakath. "Has she told you this?"

"No. See for yourself--she is trembling." To me, the way he said this sounded very disrespectful. I felt like a big spotlight has just been turned on me, and I stared at the floor. I could feel the Prophet's eyes upon me, along with every other member of the High Council. I didn't like the feeling.

One of the Honor Guards shifted his position when I looked just the tiniest bit to my left. The room had grown so quiet, I was almost afraid to breathe.

"Arisa," came the Prophet's wise old voice. I looked up. "Your fate lies in the hands of the High Council. You would do well to stay calm." I shook my head at him in disbelief. He was asking me to stay calm? His statement really did not help!

"My Lord," Leghilorn spoke up from beside me. "Being that she was brought here the commands of another and not my own, I should like to request that she not be put to waste." Even though he was completely changing the subject, the Prophet in the second highest chair answered him.

"Elaborate."

Leghilorn glanced around the High Council before continuing.

"This Council is entirely aware of the Human battle tactics," he stated in a loud, firm voice. "This Human, though young and obviously inexperienced, would have received some sort of training prior to her capture. Therefore, she would have knowledge of some of the tactics we do not understand, and could be of use to the Covenant Military."

"Possibly. This is all based on the assumption that she did receive proper training. What to do if she in fact, has not?" the Prophet asked.

Leghilorn looked around the High Council before answering. "I am confident that she received some level of training, judging by the fact that she was armed and under active camouflage during the time of her capture."

"Your confidence means nothing to this Council, Leghilorn," the first Prophet said sternly. "In the views of many, this Human is virtually worthless."

"However," the third Prophet spoke up suddenly, rubbing his chin with his hand in thought. "She could be used as a sort of...diversionary weapon. And I expect that our Brute scientists would be more than willing to take her in."

I understood that statement more clearly than I should have. Or wanted to. They were discussing my becoming a human lab rat!

"Any information she might have about the Humans could be forced out of her, should she refuse to tell. I suspect she would not withstand torture for very long. And when she is no longer of any use, she will be easily disposed of," the first Prophet said thoughtfully. I stole a glance at Leghilorn without his notice. He was clicking his mandibles in a fashion which I assumed to be similar to human nail-biting. He was nervous. Of course, so was I. Here they were, talking about my becoming a test subject, being tortured, and then 'disposed of.' But what did my fate matter to Leghilorn? Why was he nervous?

"Leghilorn," the second Prophet called, and the Elite looked up. His mandible-clicking stopped. "Since it was your request not to have her 'put to waste', perhaps you would like to become her trainer?"

He tilted his head. "Trainer, my Lord?"

"Yes. I should suspect that with a little time, she could be used to divert the Humans' attentions during combat. The High Council, I'm sure, would agree that you are the best choicefor her instructor."Leghilorn's eyes narrowed in what was unmistakeably thought, and then he nodded and bowed.

"I would be honored, my Lord."

"Very well then. It is settled. Leghilorn is to train this Human to fight...for the Covenant. However, I should also like to request that three Honor Guards be present at all training sessions--for safety purposes." The Prophets signaled three Honor Guards from behind us(whom I hadn't seen come in), and they moved to stand on either side of me, with one following behind me. Leghilorn bowed once more, and I would have done the same had I not been terrified to move. The Honor Guards' sceptors were deadly looking, and I was not particularly fond of the one that was pressed against my backside. Leghilorn moved in front of me, so that he was leading the way out of the room.

I caught the Honor Guard to my left glaring at me. I suspect it was the same one that had snorted at me at the very start of the Council meeting. He must have traded places with another guard. We walked through the same door we had entered through, and it rotated shut behind us, shutting out the sound of the meeting which had just permenantly altered my life.

Hey y'all--sorry for the late update. Once again, I had writer's block. I got my lab writeup in--but I doubt I passed it...oh well, screw it then. I wanted to say thanks again to all my reviewers--you truly keep me going, as I'm having a very difficult time with this fanfic. I'm not all that great with first person point of view, plus the fact that I'm trying to make it sound somewhat...official, like the Halo games. Anyone else agree with me that the ending of Halo 2 SUCKED?? Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter, and I'll try to get another up soon!

Rusty and the Rubix Horse