Halo: The Beginnig of the End
By Chief Ratchet
Chapter 1: The Capture of 'Zamamee:
'Zamamee and the Arbiter ran forward. They both knew that they had to retrieve the Sacred Icon for the Prophets. With it they could begin the Great Journey, the goal for all of the Covenant. However, the Flood stood in between them and the Great Journey.
After dropping the Arbiter a Spectre, as well as a team of Sangheili, 'Zamamee had moved on. Unfortunately, on the way to rendevous with the other combat teams, their Phantom had been shot down. Curse the Parasite and their use of weapons, thought 'Zamamee. Luckily, most of the other SpecOps members had survived. Unfortunately, the Parasite was closing in on his position. Fast. He had ordered the team to move to the building, when a explosion occurred. Two of the team were killed by the explosion, and another was wounded.
When they moved in, they found that the Parasite had entreched themselves. The Flood had set up human turrets along the top of the smaller building. They had been fighting off the Flood for a long time now, and their weapons were beginning to run out of energy. 'Zamamee cut off the head of a Combat Form, and sliced it apart moments later. Being a Commander had its advantages, such as acess to high class weaponary, such as the Energy Sword. How long was it before the reinforcments would arrive, he wondered. Not much longer… he kept repeating to himself mentally.
Then, there was an explosion as the Flood controlled human tank that had been prowling around outside exploded. His enhanced hearing picked up the sound of a human tank, and despair filled him. They didn't have the firepower nescessary for destroying the tank, and the sound was getting closer and closer… there. The vehicle rounded the corner and he saw the distinct dark green colouring that a human vehicle possesed, and 'Zamamee prepared himself for the end, when the turret mounted on the tank fired.
There was an ear-splitting explosion above him, and the Flood controlling the turrets above were blown to oblivion. When 'Zamamee opened his eyes, he was amazed at the site in front of him. The Arbiter was disembarking from the tank, and the four Sangheili riding along on the sides hopped off as well. Having met him, and fought with him on the mission to destroy the Herectic, 'Zamamee knew that the Arbiter was an experienced and seasoned fighter. The Arbiter walked up to him. 'Zamamee nodded to him as a greeting, then proceeded to talk to him. "Greetings, Arbiter. I thank for the timely assistance. Quickly! We must get to the Icon!" The Arbiter then proceeded to run up the door behind the make-shift barricade that had been set up.
'Zamamee followed the Arbiter up the steps and ramps to the gondola. They both study the controls for a few seconds, then a noise starlted them both. Another one of the gondolas launched. "More humans?" 'Zamamee exclaimed. "They must be after the Icon." He concluded. Out of nowhere, they both hear the un-earthly shrieks of the Flood. Along with the cries of the Sangheili that had stayed behind. "On your way Arbiter. I shall deal with these beasts." 'Zamamee said. Leaving the Arbiter behind, he ran off in the direction of where the cries and shrieks were originating from. Activating his sword while he did so, he heard the gondola behind him shudder, then start moving.
'Zamamee started to sprint as fast as he could to the battle. While running, he quickly acessed the BattleNet. "'Nogamee? 'Novamee? Respond." He urgently ordered into the communications network. All he could hear was the firing of Plasma rifles and Carbines, as well as the howls of the Flood. When he arrived at the site of the battle, all he could see was the pack of Flood Cambat Forms, and the two Sanheili valiantly battling against the Flood. The rest were all dead. Roaring a battle cry, 'Zamamee tossed a Plasma grenade into the Flood, and takind satisfaction in their destruction, he quickly leapt into the fray.
As soon as he was in the pack of Flood, he started the hack and slice the Flood surrounding him into tiny, miniscule pieces. Mid way through the battle, he picked up the sound of a plasma grenade detonations, meaning that the Flood were accidentally detonating the grenades with other explosives or Carrier Forms. Most likely it was the Carrier Forms, he thought. After the battle was over, he noticed that the two other Sangheili were still alive. Good, he thought. We will need all the help we can get, he concluded. Keying the numbers needed for acessing the main BattleNet, he quickly spoke into it. "This is SpecOps Commander Zuka 'Zamamee. We will need to be evacuated now." He spoke. Then, the network buzzed again. "Commander 'Zamamee. You request has been heard and approved of. A Phantom is on its way to pick you up." The voice spoke back. 'Zamamee quickly responded "Acknowledged. Many thanks."
"Commander 'Zamamee? Excellency? What will happen now?" a voice spoke up. It belonged to one of the other Sangheili.
"We are to wait hear for a Phantom. It will evacuate us from this cursed place." Answered 'Zamamee.
Soon, the Sangheili heard a Phantom approach them. It hovered close to the ground, and the miniature gravity lift activated. A squad of Jiralhanae floated down the gravity lift. One of them had a red flag on his shoulder, signifying his rank as a Captain. The squad of Jiralhanae approached 'Zamamee and the two Sangheili. One of the Jiralhanae spoke up "Special Operations Commander Zuka 'Zamamee, you and the other two Sangheili have been found guilty of heresy. The price of heresy is death. The Prophets have stated that you are to be taken onto High Charity. There you will be executed." 'Zamamee was suddenly at a loss for words. Heresy? Executed? He couldn't believe it. Then, he started to raise his Energy Sword, but all the Jiralhanae levelled their weapons at him, and he suddenly thought better of it.
So, with his shoulders slumped, he walked forward onto the Phantom. Behind him, the other two Sangheili were herded towards the lift. As he boarded the Phantom, he could only wonder if the Arbiter had known of this development, and if he was even alive. For the first time in a long time, 'Zamamee felt nothing but despair and hatred of the Jiralhanae and the Prophets within him.
(A.N: I hope you have enjoyed this chapter. In case you didn't know, 'Zamamee was an Elite in the novel The Flood. Although he died, I brought him back to life for this fic. Read and review please! Thanks)
