A loud yet muffled bang rang through Jared's ears. He tried to cover them but the sound continued and went through his whole body. He looked up around him, he was back in his office. He stood and went to reach for his pistol in it's holster, his hand unable to meet the grip, he looked down and the magnum was missing. As he began searching on himself for where it could be, the door busted open. He looked up to see the same Elite in dark blue armour pointing the plasma pistol, fully charged at his head. Jared cringed as the sound of the ball released from the pistol. Before it met its target, everything fell silent. Jared opened his eyes again, he now stood in the family of Sangheilis house once more. Though there was visible destruction. In the common area lay 2 Sangheili, their son stood between the two. "You did this to us" he said before priming a plasma grenade, Jared stood and watched the child go up in flames as it exploded. As the explosion hit Jared he finally woke.
Jared looked around him, his pistol in his hands. After realizing he wasn't in immediate trouble, he holstered the pistol and took a deep breath 'I couldn't wake you, you were in too deep a sleep for me to do anything' Cato said. Jared looked around before responding. Seeing his second hand had left and the room was empty, he spoke out loud. "That was the worst one yet." He said and rubbed his face. He stood up and looked outside the window. The sun hadn't even begun to show over the horizon. "Any news on our guest?" He asked Cato as he stepped out and began walking towards the house he was kept in 'Corporal Barnes had brought in a makeshift mattress for him early in the night, assuming he had some sort of remorse for him' she responded. Jared sighed. "At least there's some sort of respect from one of them" he responded 'at least someone recognizes he's a useful asset you mean?' Cato retorted back. Jared chuckled as he neared the door "I suppose you're right" he said, admitting defeat in his own lies to himself. He looked at the guard and gave a nod to him as he approached the door.
Jared opened the door, seeing the Sangheili sleeping on what could be described as a mattress made of straw and cloth. He sighed, and approached him "c'mon wake up, I have a few questions for you." He said nudging the mattress which looked to nearly fall apart at his boot just touching it. "Cato, when I start, check him for any sign he might be lying" he thought, once again feeling the cold shiver down his spine.
Once the Sangheili began to wake, he sat up, recognizing how tattered his clothes were, he offered to bring him a clean change, he humbly agreed, now in proper clothing, Jared offered him a seat. "So, there were a few things we had retrieved while inside the base. While you had lived so close to the tower itself. Is there anything you had heard while there? Plans for change of shifts on the outer rim of the city, general layouts, even things not the average soldier should hear?" Jared asked. The sangheili leaned onto the table as he sat down. "I haven't heard anything, not of importance. I had to hide in the shadows just to get that close." He finally spoke. Jared crossed his arms "that can't be true, clearly you managed to get close enough to find your son or even his whereabouts." He responded, obviously agitated at his response. Zoso readjusted in the seat, realizing Jared's emotions. "I had heard word of some sort of thing made by the ancient gods." He responded, Jared shifted as well, he'd finally begun to take notice of his words "and what exactly is this 'thing'" Jared asked in return. Zoso scanned the room before leaning in, Jared seemed it was fit to lean in himself "They have found another what your people call a Halo ring, but they've been learning how to operate it." He said. Jared leaned back "why wasn't this your original idea to tell me this yesterday? When I could've said this to one of the other leaders of this resistance. Jesus fuck man, this is galaxy ending stuff." He said as his voice became more volatile, his mind began to replay the horrors of what he'd seen come out of the first one they'd discovered. He eventually looked at Zoso "wait here, I'll be back, someone needs to hear this." Jared said as he left the room. He turned down the street and sprinted to Englewood, calling him out as he neared their general hangout spot. "Sir!" He heard him call out, turning and finally meeting him "I need your cuffs, I'm gonna need 'em now and once 'Gozamee gets here" He asked, Englewood, without hesitation, handed the cuffs and the key to Jared "mind telling me what's going on?" Englewood asked back. "Walk and talk? I need to bring Zoso to the tower now" he said and began making his way back.
Jared explained what the newfound information was. Englewood's attitude changed, "I was there on delta halo, I don't want to go back there sir." He said, his tone changed, he was genuinely scared. Jared swallowed, "the situation is ever changing, and I've talked with a few about this, and many currently oppose the idea. But we may have no choice but to get ONI or even the UNSC." he finished as he opened the door, Zoso stood beside the window examining the landscape. Jared placed them on the table and crossed his arms. "Put these on, for the safety of you and others" Jared said, Englewood placed a hand on his hip. "He may trust you, but I do not, try something and you'll have eight rounds in you," he said. Zoso hesitantly placed the cuffs on him, visibly protesting the decision. "Follow me" Jared said, then looked at Englewood "'Gozamee should be here within the hour, once he does, bring him to the temple as well as Joro and the tablets." He finished and led Zoso out to the temple.
Jared stood and watched as the Sangheili prayed to whatever god he had in his mind, Joro stood beside Jared. Not short after. 'Gozamee entered with two guards, his guards in dark red armour. Their leader, 'Gozamee in a gold/yellow armour. Who didn't look happy to be there. "I hope you have a good reason to pull me away from my men." He responded as they approached each other. Jared extended out his hand, Vuto examined it before walking past him. "And who is this? The one you captured?" he asked. Jared approached and nodded. "We found him at Chaura, along with these" Jared handed one of the tablets to Vuto. "According to these tablets, they have found something of Forerunner origin, a weapon. And this one here" he said gesturing to Zoso, which was now looking at both of them. 'Gozamee gave a stare to him, Jared felt he was the only thing keeping Vuto from killing him on the spot. "Has given us information it could be another halo ring." Jared finished. He could tell that Vuto had served at some point during the battle of installation 05. Jared seemed easily disturbed to see someone who nearly cringed at the statement itself. "Which is why we're going to need more help fighting this war. This is no longer a Sangheili matter; they are threatening the lives of many." he said, the temple suddenly became silent and the people who sat towards the front turned to face them. Some confused, some had become visibly disturbed. Jared swallowed and realized how loud his voice had gotten. He leaned in and whispered to Vuto. "We have no choice, we need to tell my people of what they have and their power. Without their help this is out of our control." Jared said. Vuto sighed. He looked around the room before looking at Zoso "is what he says true? They have found another holy ring?" he approached him, who refused to look at his face. "Yes, they have found another sacred ring." Zoso said. "I know your reasoning, but we cannot invite them to our planet more than we have-" Jared cut him off before he could finish, "and we won't need to, but they're planning on attacking what is technically still considered a human colony. One your people glassed" Jared said. Both of Vuto's troops began to raise their weapons. As did Joro and Englewood. Englewood spoke into his mouthpiece. Words neither side could hear, Jared took a deep breath. "You could take our little settlement, the people we managed to save, we have worked to earn their trust, and I am not willing to give this up because you won't let us." as he finished the doors opened to the temple. Barnes and Dwight stood, rifles raised. "Don't even think about it," Dwight said, aiming ready to shoot. "Zoso, you're coming with us. 'Gozamee, this information needs to get to my people," he said, holding one of the data pads, Zoso stood behind the three at the front, beside Dwight, who gave him his own dirty looks to him.. "You will have doomed our species with the wrong things your people will do if you let ONI on this planet." Barnes approached Jared "there's five more, and a phantom outside, granted it'll be difficult to do, but it wouldn't be the first time we've fought like this sir." he whispered Jared looked at Vuto "tell your men to stand down. Nobody wants this fight" Jared said slowly placing his hand on his own magnum. "We cannot let you bring them here!" one of his elites shouted and fired, hitting Barnes in the shoulder and Jared in the shin. Piped with adrenaline, both dive behind the stone like pews. Englewood fired and hit both elites with stray rounds before getting behind cover himself. Chaos broke out inside the church and Jared could only think about his leg and the civilians within the church. He slowly began to black out from the immense pain.