**SHRESS LA'VDAMEE POV**

Shress ran through the human building clutching her bleeding stomach. She should be in pain, but at the moment she was filled with cold rage. The images kept running through her head. The demon mercilessly cutting into Nodam's throat, right before running Kluan through with their own weapon. The most disgraceful way for one of the Zealot class to die.

Now here she is with the same demon chasing her through the human's metal labyrinth of a building. Deep down she couldn't help but be amazed. This demon just took on two Zealots on his own, received injuries and no doubt he fought through their wave of Grunts and Jackals, and yet here it still stands. If she was a spectator and this was happening in a Zealot match, she would have been impressed, but here when she's the one being chase, she has no doubt that she'll be this creatures next victim.

At the words chase and victim, her thoughts flashed back to Kluan's furious outburst 'We will ambush these creatures, and finish this mission. If you are not too much of a coward to complete it.'

She felt her pride recoiled and her anger boiled inside once more. Kluan may have been wrong about them taking on a group of demons on their own, but here she didn't have many excuses. The demon was hurt and bleeding, probably tired; whereas Shress was injured as well, but she wasn't in too much pain and she had a weapon while the demon has none. As those reasons clouded her thoughts, her run came to an abrupt stop.

She was a zealot, and zealots don't run, especially from a weaker race like the humans. She growled as she remembers her comrades being killed. Kluan wasn't much, but she did feel pain over Nodam's demise and as a Zealot, she was duty bound to her comrades to avenge their deaths, even if it meant her own.

With the resolve in her head, she switched on her active camouflage and slunk into a shadow by the door she just came in through. She didn't like dishonorable ambushing's, but when face with a monstrosity like the demons, it was necessary.

She unclips her sword and readies it for use. She cast a quick glance around. She was in a narrow hallway. No cover and the far entrance doorway appears locked, with her prey running headlong towards her. This was the perfect trap.

She heard the pounding of heavy footsteps approaching and got ready for the attack, crouching in a low launch position.

"For you my brothers." she whispered when she felt the moment of action coming.

No sooner did she finish her silent promise a blue blur passed by her and came to a screeching stop no more than a foot away from her. Shress had to fight to keep herself from snarling the word "demon."

One of the creatures that has brought her and the other Zealots great shame in the past years of the war now stood in front of her. It was dress for battle, the armor was clearly human, it lacked the natural curves and pulsing power of Sanghili battle armor, but it did have some sort of power of its own generating from it. The clouded glass that replaces the demon's eyes was a bright blue, just like the rest of its body, save a few spots that were colored white. She couldn't help but feel a bit curious when she notice the alien's blood was red, just like the humans.

'Maybe their two races are closely related.' She thought but she shook her head. This was no time to get distracted, now was to strike while the alien was looking away from her. She took one last deep breath before jumping from her cover and made to slice the head off the killer monster. Suddenly, it turns and in one single motion caught Shress's sword hand. Wasting no time, her other hand formed into a fist and with a sudden burst of anger, she punched the demon where the blood stained its armor. It didn't go down, but the pressure that was holding the sword back decreased. She jerked her hand out of its grasp and kicks the creature again in the stomach, hitting the wound. This time the demon went into a low crouch. Wasting no time Shree threw herself at the monster and they both crashed and slid down the hall about a meter from where they started.

Shress was panting heavily, but that did not prevent her from feeling the thrill of victory as she gazes down at the creature caught under her. The demon pushed, kicked, and squirms as it tried to get away, but Shress won't let it. She finally caught one of the monsters that has plague the Covenant for years, and she had the pleasure to be the one to destroy it. She repositions her body, one arm kept the demon's arms down while her right raises her sword.

The demon suddenly stops squirming, and instead the ghastly eyeless creature looked Shress in her face. She couldn't help but feel a chill run down her spine, even when captured this demon still had an effect on her. But now, it'll no longer trouble her again.

As she raises her sword, the images of this very demon gutting her friend Nodam once again flash in her eyes. How strange fate works, it took her friend Nodam away from her, now fate has delivered her his killer, obviously for revenge. She felt proud and wished Kluan was still alive to see this.

Risking a gloat before sending the monster to oblivion, she lean forward and said in a cold voice. "I'm going to kill you demon, I'm going to give you a slow, agonizing death." She finished before raising the sword to strike when she was interrupted.

"So what's stopping you?" A voice taunted.

She looked up and around the room looking for the source of the voice. Who was it? Was it one of the Sanghili sergeants from outside? Did Nodam or Kluan survive after all?

"Down here split lip." The voice said again.

Shress's eyes widen as she process the words and very slowly, she looks down at the demon. Its clear blue glass that it must use for eyes stared back. Did it speak? It couldn't have, no human knows the Sanghili language, so surly their allies the demons don't know either. The demon shouldn't even be talking, it doesn't have a mouth!

She heard a strange cackling sound emit from the demon as it stared up at her before speaking again. "If you're wondering, it's not too hard to learn Sanghili. Especially if you spent the past twenty years studding your encrypted messages."

Shress shuddered. The demon was speaking. Most of the words it said didn't make much sense to her, but one thing did stand out. The humans has been studying them and learning from them. Could the Sanghili in turn study humans and the demons?

'No!' She mentally shouted. 'What you speak is heresy. Kill the demon and leave before its comrades comes along.'

Shress steeled herself and growled. "It does not matter demon. I'm about to kill you, and I am a true warrior. A being of my word. I promised you I'll make your death as painful as possible." she raised her sword to make a point.

The demon continued staring up at her before replying. "I thought your kind didn't murder."

She was taken aback by this. "What do you mean. I'm not a murderer."

"Really?" It asked in a mocking tone. "Well correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't your law say to not give a fellow warrior a fair and honorable duel was to be seen as a crime equivalent to the crime of murder?"

Now Shress was really surprise. Not only did the monster know her langrage, it also knew their laws as well.

When her silence continued the demon said. "Well, are you going to murder me or not Ms. True Warrior?"

Shress let out a snarl, both to shut the demon up and to express her frustration. She was loathed to admit it, but the demon has the makings and skills of a warrior. 'For a monster.' she thought to herself. It was using her own words against her. Her own laws that she took an oath to follow when she became a warrior was now preventing her from destroying the most dangerous being in the galaxy.

The demon watched as if it was fascinated with her frustration. It spoke once more, "Tell you what Ms. True Warrior, why don't we follow your law?" it said in what she guesses was an innocent voice. "Let me up, give me an honorable duel and we'll see who kills who."

Shress snarled again, hating the creature for making sense. Every logical fiber of her being was telling her to destroy the creature now, but her honor argued that to do so would conflict with her oath. Yet, as she told the demon, she was a true warrior. A being of her word.

'You're a fool' She thought to herself. She then slowly got up and stepped away from the demon. As soon as it was free, the creature jumped to his feet and got in a ready fighting stance.

Shress took a fighting stance as well but paused and regretfully threw her sword away from her, leaving herself unarmed just like the demon. The hall way she chose to attack the demon in was perfect for an ambush, but for a duel, it was a terrible place to fight. And yet she didn't move or ask to change their battle ground and neither did it.

Units seem to have passed as she waited for the creature to move and vice versa, the demon didn't move either. Finally wanting to break the tension, she let out a roar and charged at it, and in turn the demon charged her. They both clashed into each other, Shress used her longer arms to hold the demon back as she tries to figure a way to attack. Suddenly the demon lashed out with a violent kick to her wounded abdomen, causing her to hiss in pain. Her hands slowly fell away, letting the demon to quickly jump out of her reach. Before she could retaliate, the demon put a foot on the wall and pushed. It flew from the wall, then its feet made contact with the opposite, it pushed and sailed over Shress's head. Shress tried to turn, but the narrow hallway prevented her from making sudden movements. Seizing the initiative, the demon jumped once more, pulled its legs up to its chest and kicked with both its powerful legs. Shress felt herself being lifted from the ground and land on the ground, dazed.

The demon jumped and land on top of her, seizing her throat and began squeezing. Realizing its intentions, Shress flailed around in an attempt to dislodge the creature, but it would not let go. Already her vision was getting dimmer and her lungs started burning. She tried to grab the demon to throw it off, but her muscles already grew too weak and she was struggling just to stay awake. Her body started to go limp and her gasping was growing weaker.

'This is it.' She thought. Realizing her end was upon her. Shress closed her eyes and waited for the cool embrace of death that has taken so many of her friends from her. She felt she was about to lose consciousness when the pressure on her neck suddenly vanished.

Her eyes open and quickly began searching for the demon. It was off of her and was walking away as if nothing has happen. Curiosity biting she called out. "Wait! What are you doing? You didn't kill me."

The demon stopped. It did not turn around but it answered. "I'm offering you mercy, that is customary correct? If the winning warrior let the other live, then the other must be the winners servant for as long as he wants." It turns and saw the look of disbelief on her face. "these are your laws. I should not have to tell you how they work, do I?"

Shress wanted to kill the demon. To growl, to roar, to try and rip it limb from limb, but she couldn't. The demon was correct. To lose in a duel was a disgrace. One that has to be paid through servitude. To learn from her successor till she could challenge it again. She never wanted to be indebted to another warrior, especially the demon. Her people's law states that she has to obey or be disgracd. Already her spirit was shrinking at these thoughts.

Shress looked up and saw the demon staring at her waiting for to speak. She snarled at it, but she lifted herself from the floor, stood tall, places a fist over her heart and bowed. She asked in a cold voice. "What is it you require me to do now…sir." She finished bitterly, deciding to call the demon sir since its deep voice was sign of a male gender.

The demon didn't respond, obviously thinking hard. 'Maybe he's trying to figure out how to lock me up as a prisoner.' She thought.

Than he said the last thing she was expecting. "Can I release you from your servitude?"

She was so startled that she actually felt the room tilt. "What?" she asked thinking she misheard the demon.

He shrugged. "I have no use of a Sanghili following me around and I'll already have a hard time explaining this to my commander." He said rather sheepishly.

Shress continued staring in shock. Why was the demon letting her go? Why wasn't she being taken prisoner? Why is he not making use of her? Then she realized he was waiting for a reply. She knew the answer to his question but wanted to ask her own. "Why." She asked in a soft voice.

The demon turned around and stared back at her before replying. "You have a strong heart, a fighting spirit that I can see it in your eyes. You are an honorable warrior for giving me a chance to duel for my life, and you should be recognized as one."

Shress was speechless. She has been working for so long to hear those words, but she never thought she would hear it from her enemy, a demon no less.

The demon continued. "Well I'm not sure if this is how it's done, but I release you from your servitude…however I have one request for you."

"Yes?" she asked, now unsure what to expect from the demon.

"If we ever meet again in battle, please spare my life, and the life of my team, or any humans if possible, you do owe me a debt for letting you go." He finished.

Shress couldn't argue with that. However there was no possible way that she could avoid killing humans in the war, and he must know it too, but all she could do was just nod.

The demon nodded back and replied. "Don't take this the wrong way, but I hope we don't see each other again, otherwise it'll be quite awkward." He finished with traces of amusement in his voice. The demon turned to go, but paused again and looked over his shoulder. "Another request. What is your name?"

Shress was again astounded. She should never tell the enemy anything about herself, but there was something different about this enemy, this demon. He was treating her with more respect then she has received most of her life.

Maybe that was the reason why she answered him. "My name is Shress La' Vdamee." She said with pride at hearing her family name at the end. "It means 'Meant to Be'."

"That's a unique name." the demon said. "My name is Six."

"Six?" Shress asked, "That's a human numeral. It's not a name." She said rather accusingly at the lack of personal information that he refused to share with her after she willingly shared her name. The demon, Six, must have felt it too. His head turn so she couldn't see the blue glass. A unit passed before he turn back and said. "My name is Michael."

"Mic-heal." She tried the unfamiliar word on her tongue before asking. "What does that mean?"

Again he turns away as if he wasn't use to talking about his own name. "I…don't know, but it's the name of God's archangel."

"Archangel?" Shress asked, unsure what the word means.

"In one of our religions, our God had servants called angels. One of them turned evil and was against God and all he stood for. Michael the Archangel, the…" here he seems to be groping for a word. "Commander of the angels. He led his fellows in a fight against the evil one and threw the evil out of heaven. Michael, I guess, was the first hero warrior and that was whom I was named after."

Shress nodded along with the story. She captivated by the human's or demon's religion and what they believed. An awkward silence hung in the air before the demon, Michael, turn one final time and said. "I really must be going." He walked a few feet before stopping and said. "Farwell Shress La 'Vdamee." He then walked out of the room.

"Farwell…Michael." She said before turning and going her own path. Picking up her fallen sword along the way. Strangely, despite her being hit, kick and nearly killed by the demon, by Michael. She actually felt hopeful that she would see him again. Her only explanation for this feeling was because it isn't often that she meets a friendly demon.

**SIX POV **

The large doors open and Six was staring down the barrel of Jorge's massive M247H machine gun. Upon seeing Six, Jorge lowered the weapon and asked. "Did you get it?"

Six thought carefully before answering. "No it escaped." It was the truth he supposed.

Jorge continued staring at Six as if he could see through his white lie. It made Six feel uncomfortable. Finally he turns around and started walking. After a moment, Six rushed forward to keep up with the giant, but stayed behind in an attempt to avoid being asked questions. They picked their way through the throng of corpses, both marines and aliens when Six paused. Looking around he found the marine who he promised to return to. Silently he took his dog tags and again whispered "I'm sorry" before catching up with Jorge again.

They walked in silence for a while before Jorge spoke again. "Carter was asking for you. Told me to remind you that you promised to do more Lone Wolfing."

Six couldn't help but feel ashamed. His first day on the team and he disobeyed his officers first order. 'Too many years of being a lone wolf.' He thought to himself. For some reason Lieutenant Ambrose, the commander and trainer of the Spartan III's singled him out and gave him intensive training in being a lone wolf. Said he had a gift that only one other Spartan has; the ability to make his own luck. He spent years fighting both covenant and rebels this way; on his own, even among his fellow Spartans he still clung to his old skills, his old way of life.

In the end though Six had no excuse, so he asked. "What did he say about me taking off?"

Jorge replied. "He said no more lone recons."

"Recons?" a confused Six asked. He heard Jorge laughed quietly. "I might be many things Spartan, but I am not a snitch."

Before Six could offer his thanks they reached the command room and Jorge spoke into the comms, "We're back, coming in."

Jorge grabbed the handle and pulled the door out of the way, allowing Six to walk in. The room was the same except for the new addition of Energy slices left behind. The girl Jorge found earlier was huddled by the far wall, unmoving as if she was asleep. Emile was there standing guard while Carter was speaking to Kat while she works on the damage computer terminal.

Emile was the first to notice them and said. "Well it's about time, does it really take that long to kill a Covie?"

Six didn't say anything while Jorge asked. "Anything new?"

"Aside from Carter getting mad at Kat for working too slow again? Nothing major happen when you left." Emile finished.

"Well actually the Covies are gone." Jun voiced said through their comms network. "They pulled out a few minutes ago, some were picked up by phantom and some ran into the forest."

'A few minutes ago.' Six thought. 'Could it have been Shress who called them back? Zealots were commanding officers after all.'

At the thought of Shress Six began to wonder if it was a good idea he let her go. Zealots were some of the most deadly adversaries in the Covenant's arsenal. Every regulation in every military manual screamed at him to terminate the threat while he had the chance. Yet he couldn't bring himself to kill Shress. He had no idea why, maybe because he felt indebted to her for letting him live. Either way he was hoping he didn't doom humanity by letting the female zealot go.

He started to wonder if he should inform Carter, but decided against it. He might already be in hot water with him already; no need in making it worse, and besides what Carter doesn't know won't hurt him.

Carter then turned to face him and his faceplate looked at Six's, conveying a silent message that Six understood before looking away, acknowledging the look. Seeing Six accepting the message, Carter turns to Jorge and jerked his head in the direction of the girl. "Find out what she knows." He ordered.

Jorge turns to the girl and tried speaking to her but she instantly started acting hostile again, causing Emile to make a small sound of amusement. Six watches as Jorge tried a new tactic. He removes his helmet, revealing his greying hair and mustache and spoke in the local language again, preventing Six from eavesdropping. Six couldn't help but chuckle, he was trained to memorized the Sanghili language and speak it with ease, yet here he is having trouble knowing a human language that he grew up hearing during his early days on Reach. Pure irony.

It was clear from the gestures Jorge and the girl was making that they were talking about the elderly man still lying on the floor. Maybe she knew him in some way. Noticing Six watching, Emile said. "Big man forgets who he is sometimes."

Jorge suddenly came out of nowhere, leaned towards Emile and hissed. "She just lost her father." through gritted teeth; Emile playfully leaned away, totally absent of terror. Jorge then turns to Carter and said. "She needs a full psychic reading, not surprising from what she just told me."

Emile chuckled, "And I wonder what it was she did tell you." Under his breath, but was loud enough for everyone to hear.

Before Jorge could say anything Carter spoke. "Lock it up, both of you." He turns to the massive Spartan. "She'll come with us. The body stays here."

Jorge inclines his head. "Thank you sir." He gave Emile an evil glare before turning to talk to the girl again. Six return to scanning the room for only a moment when he heard Carter. "Noble team, move outside. I need to speak to Holland." He said while removing his helmet and turning to the monitor. Six turned and the team, plus the girl, filed out of the room, but not before he heard Carter. "Sir they're not rebels. They're covenant, it's the Winter Contingency."

Six was out the door when he heard Holland's reply. "God help us all."

**SHRESS LA'VDAMEE POV**

Shress watches from the cover of the trees as the strange human flying machines came in. They didn't use electromagnetic technology like the Covenant, and the spinning circles on top seems to be helping it stay in the air. The pilots were hidden by glass, but in the middle of the craft were seats for people to sit. A green demon was seated in one already and was scanning the area for more targets. Shress let out a growl at the sight of the monster.

Or was it? After meeting Michael she was no longer sure what to think of the demons. Were they the destroyers of life as she has seen on the battle field, or were they really soft hearted and kind? She needed to archive this event and talk to the shipmaster of this strange revelation, maybe he can tell her more of these demons.

One of her sergeants growled and Shress turned to see what he was looking at. The group of demons emerges from the structure; she was surprise to see there was a young female with them, where did she come from? Her focus immediately found Michael, who walking alongside the girl, scanning the battleground for threats.

The Sanghili soldiers around Shress began to twitch and grow restless, despite hearing the horrific tale of their mighty Zealots being killed by a single demon, they were still eager for battle. It took all of Shress's diplomatic skills to order them to fall back earlier. Logically speaking they no longer had surprise on their side and would easily be slaughtered if they do an open assault. Her words made sense, but that does not mean the troops accepted it, especially when the orders were coming from a female. She was a Zealot though and by honor, they have to follow her.

The demons spread out around the two flying vehicles while the biggest demon, the one who shot Shress, placed the female human in one of the machines. Michael was at the corner closes to the forest. His gaze searched the trees for threats when he saw her. Shress tensed, thinking he was going to attack, but he just stared at Shress, and she stared back into his blue face. One of the demons, another demon that was a light blue color, spoke to Michael, who turned back and replied. After that he looked away from Shress, astounding her that he didn't tell his comrades of her position.

Shress then notice a darker blue demon emerge from the building and approach the others. He made a strange hand gesture and the other demons got on the vehicles, the leader following suit. She watched as the humans ascended into the air, and she again found herself looking into Michael's face as he was lifted up. He then made a strange sign. He held his hand up, low so his comrades wouldn't see, and shook it from side to side. A warning? A sign? Before she could ponder any further, the vehicles flew away, taking the friendly demon with them.

Shress stood in the same spot for a while longer before turning back to her brothers and the few remaining Covenant troops.

"Fall out." She ordered. "We are heading back to the Holy Retribution."

All the soldiers started moving except for a Sanghili sergeant who asked. "Zealot, was the mission successful. Did you find the location?"

Shamefully Shress shook her head. The sergeant grunted and started walking after the troops, leaving Shress with her thoughts for a moment.

She failed to retrieve the much needed data. She turned her head and looks in the direction where the flying vehicles headed to. But maybe she found something more interesting than that.

She stored away the thoughts of the demon Michael before turning and followed her brothers back to their campsite.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Thank you to all of you who have reviewed, fav.'d, or followed this story.

The plan for this story is around once a week, may be more, I will have a new chapter to upload until it is back up to were christian left off. From then on I will slow down to around once a month and create my own chapters. If you have any questions do not be afraid to pm me. I will get back to you as fast as I can. Until then stay sharp.