My grandmother has issued strict rules for me. I have to exercise one hour to earn one hour of computer time, so I don't get much time to write anymore. I'll do my best to update this as much as I can.

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Chapter 2: Unknown

Admiral Terrence Hood sighed. He was becoming old, weak of age. Hood picked up his pen and paused. His hand was shaking violently. That was new. His doctors hadn't said anything about violent shaking. Hood's eyes darted from side to side, and his hand automatically went from the table to his stomach, where he felt strange ooze. Hood brought up his still shaking hand to his eyes, and realized it was covered in blood. His eyes widened in horror.

"Hello, Admiral." A calm voice came from the doorway.

Hood looked up. Standing there was Jonathan Apathy. Hood then frowned. Apathy was holding a plasma concussion rifle, equipped with a high-tech Covenant silencer.

"Apathy, would you mind telling me what you just did?"

"Of course, Admiral." The dramatization of the last word hurt Terrence Hood. "I used this weapon here and disabled your spinal cords, and I also took out your stomach in the process."

Hood felt a surge of pain near the abdomen. His vision was blurring fast, and his mind was clouding, making it hard to think. He was dying.

"Apathy…" Hood slurred. He was losing his ability to speak.

"Let me fill you in, Mr. Hood. What do you think happens when you die? Hmm?"

"Pol…pol…agh…" Hood was struggling to control himself.

"It causes political unrest. You are correct, Admiral Hood. What would be the most reasonable thing to do? It's quite obvious. After a top-ranking admiral dies, the public blames the other race. In this case, it's the Covenant."

The Elites and their followers are no longer part of the Covenant, Apathy! Hood wanted to cry out, but his mouth wouldn't budge.

Apathy grinned. "You know I didn't kill all those other people just for fun. They all fit the conspiracy, like a chess game. Yeah, either that or a jigsaw puzzle." His eyes glittered.

You madman! Don't you realize what you have done! You sacrifice… Part of Hood's brain shut down, preventing him from using words.

Apathy walked to Hood's desk.

"I wonder what the old man is doing every day at his desk."

Apathy picked up Hood's half finished will. He smiled, and then proceeded to pick up the pen on the desk. He clicked it once, and then clicked it again, examining it.

"You know, I always had a talent to forge signatures. It should come in handy soon."

Hood struggled for his M6C pistol hidden beneath the desk. Apathy frowned, as if trying to figure out what Admiral Hood was up to. Then he smiled, activated the plasma concussion rifle, and aimed it at Hood's left arm, which was desperately trying to release the pistol from the straps. Hood stopped moving at once.

"Very clever, Mr. Hood, but not clever enough. I have studied your ways intently the past year, and I know every trick you can hide up your sleeve."

Hood smirked, then jerked the pistol free. He fired it, and blood splattered from Apathy's right arm. Apathy screamed wildly, and fired everywhere. Hood ducked, and activated the security cameras. Apathy was too busy cursing to notice.

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Observing Deck, Covenant vessel Divine Enterprise, orbiting Pluto

Ilya 'Emamee peered through the telescope. He observed the ice glaciers that were forming on Pluto's cold surface. He took out a blank datapad and started logging all he could see. Then, 'Emamee carefully turned the telescope around to catch a glimpse of the sun rising from the western hemisphere. The flaming star looked like a little bead, hovering over the vast surface of Pluto. It was hard to believe that hundreds of years ago, Pluto was as small as the Earth Moon. 'Emamee took note of that and logged it in as well.

"Enjoying your little science escapade, scientist?" came a gruff voice behind him.

'Emamee looked up, startled. It was Second Ship Master Soli 'Alumee. He appeared to be amused.

"It's science, yes, but it's fascinating science. Unlike the wars we have fought against the humans ten years ago."

'Alumee winced. He did not like to be reminded of the dark times, the times in which the Prophets had used the Elites to destroy the whole universe. The Elites had sided with the humans in a fragile alliance, defeating the Covenant and sending them scurrying away. But, it was just recently in which the Covenant started to show signs of activity. 'Alumee feared another war was about to erupt. 'Emamee cocked his head to one side, and then resumed studying Pluto through the telescope. 'Alumee scowled and walked off.

"What is that you're studying, Your Excellency?" came a squeaky voice behind 'Emamee.

'Emamee turned to see a Grunt standing there, head turned sideways in curiosity.

"What are you doing here?" 'Emamee said.

The Grunt looked taken aback, as if the answer was obvious.

"I clean this deck, Your Excellency."

"I see, and you can stop calling me 'Your Excellency'. I am no more than an observer."

"Fine, but what are you looking at?" the Grunt was now trying to get a better glimpse of Pluto.

"It's an ice planet, created billions of years ago." 'Emamee stopped himself just short of saying by the Forerunners. He forgot that the Forerunners didn't create planets. Not round ones, anyway.

"Why is it so huge?" the Grunt asked, eyeing the giant ice ball intently.

"I have a theory that the planet surface was cold, because it was far away from the Sun. The water vapor on the planet then froze, forming ice crystals. The ice formation grew larger and larger as the planet revolved slower and slower, thus creating," he gestured, "this."

The Grunt stared.

"You mean, all this started happening billions and billions of years ago?"

"It's only a theory." 'Emamee reassured the little Grunt.

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Command Bridge, Divine Enterprise, orbiting Pluto

Ship Master Fula 'Shozamee growled viciously. An Elite vessel approached, ignoring all requests for it to identify itself. 'Shozamee pivoted to his intel officer and snarled,

"Have you found the proper markings yet?"

"Yes, sir. The ship's name is Indecent Portage, and the database claims that the vessel disappeared a few days ago without a trace. Ship Master's name is Ikea 'Borlamee."

"Never mind the Ship Master's name." 'Shozamee turned to his communications officer, "Order all personnel to their stations. Prepare for boarding and possible space battle."

The comm officer acknowledged, giving the order to the Elites stationed throughout the ship.

'Shozamee turned his attention to the renegade vessel. The Indecent Portage was now attempting to connect to the Divine Enterprise. A call came in.

"Your Excellency, an unknown ship is appearing to connect to our docking bay via transport tube, should we attack?" a Grunt's voice echoed out of the transmitter.

"Not yet. Stay alert, and if they fire, return fire as you see fit." 'Shozamee paused. "Also, give a description of the occupants."

The Grunt acknowledged and signed off. All they could do now was wait.

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Ted Hunts typed on the keyboard frantically, trying to get everything down. He turned to Hal Grinwald.

"Hal, I got an unidentified vessel just outside of Pluto. Very close to us. It just latched onto an Elite cruiser."

Hal Grinwald ran over. He peered over Hunts' shoulder and read the data.

"That's strange." He said, "There's about 100 life signs on board, but they don't register as human, Covenant or Elites."

"I have a bad feeling about this," Hunts replied as he typed an emergency notice to the military.

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You may notice I didn't include the two farmers in this chapter. There's a severe thunderstorm here right now as I'm writing this, so I didn't have much time. Please R&R, and who knows, maybe one of your suggestions will be included into this story.