The Esteemed I

Escorted from the Aegis now that her her role was done and favour repaid, for now.

There were some scowled looks from the creatures that called themselves pirates, zebes, a species of no true origin, nomadics, always naming themselves after the world of their last conquest, they had nothing natural about them, any sense of home was long gone. They were wanders following the scent of their next kill, their travels through space and transcended them into a biological terror to where they all biologically engineered, augmented for evolved purpose, and to serve a leader whose ideology was that war was always on the move.

Despite being an alien, the zebes commander, their "God" who they long feared had a striking human mentality, a forged mindset for dominance. Ilsa returned the glare back to the pirates that hated her. Was it because of her strength? Did they fear downgrade? oblivion? In survival of the fittest there was no rest or equality, there was constant evolution, competition to see who be on top, only for it to continue. Survival was constant, it created the best and buried the lessers.

'Demon' said one cursedly. Too far to be close it was a pirate another freak of the stars who muttered it to her. He was far from her to where she would had to march upto it, but she wouldn't be baited and returned the long stare back. They say hatred has its roots in fear, maybe not in all cases because she could tell from the creature's small eyes and spiteful tone that he feared her because of her future. So long as she had a future here, it will not.

There were screams and shouts of panic, her eyes could barely be bothered to look at the commotion only to see if that coward she dragged with him was there and he probably was, that poor Amir, and like all those selected whose value was in building and maintaining, their skills were to put to better use within the marauder. In all her life she had not envisioned a ship like this, just like the pirates inside was a workshop nothing that any of the UNSC or even the covenant could muster. Large enough inside to convert planetary resources, build ships within and more. The ones who slack in their new role or protest too much will soon find out other things this marauder housed within it's dark interior.

It wasn't impervious though, given it's high value it was protected by other ships but it had it's weapon that the Aegis had lately found out itself, but while yet to see the weapon in detail it apparently wasn't space pirate or seemingly related to the remains of that race found at the surface of Oorme II. The weapon used had a very different origin given how different it's function was, wondering if it even had anything to do with that group that was sent onto Oorme. She hadn't seen them but heard that someone other then the pirates were sent to sort out the Aegis crew on there.

Despite being alone in the lift, ascending to her new employer, did not breathe a sigh or relax a little after that challenge. The capture of non combatants, releasing that 'thing' it was that which remained stuck in her head the lift gave a hum signalling its ascent. It, that energy of something, like an ever expanding glow of deadly mist.

It could had come back to her, could have broken through the barriers and consume her but instead it flowed away from her. Submersing all those that fired on her and for some reason her hands twinged, and for another darker mystery her veins briefly shown a darker colour coursing through her hand. Somehow it felt she signalled something it, maybe.

Raising her own hands she wanted to see if she actually did imagine it but again she saw just briefly, a rise of a darkish colour before it delved deep and hid beneath her pink skin. She examined her hands, they no longer trembled, the adrenaline was under control but seeing her hand activate that light from the pod, what did he do to her exactly? She did not feel stronger, yet, but there was a certain feel of destiny about her actions. Her future.

No coincidence this was connected by the unusually patient pirates, despite her failing she was allowed to more or less live on here serving the "Commander" who in turn took it upon himself to further conditioning her "perspective" on things.

It was not the first time that he had taken a liking to her attitude, if anything it was her actions that caught his attention to begin with. Back before her attempt on Infinity and not long after she had undergone the prototype stages of IV Spartan program and fooled them was when she got the attention.

Her allegiance at the time was with the Colonial Alliance under an admiral called Drake. Held quite an opinion of himself, even quixotic at times, she had seen him once or twice. He was nothing remarkable but he got supplies, intel and "spare ships" from someone, enough to get her involved and more than enough to last longer than the failed group run by robert watts who got taken out by Spartan kids. She wondered if he was ex ODST, it would explain a lot.

She never knew how Drake got to where he was but she had her suspicions that she would find out sooner or later.

Over the months of her augmentation she was given "tasks" when in fact they were just free reign for her to use her abilities to justify the means, very soon she had adopted a very indiscriminate approach to violence. She wondered if the extent of violence used would be counter-productive, but she surprisingly found herself uncaring about that. To those who weren't augmented could not fathom the sheer liberation of not being measly restricted, there was so much she could do now. Her inner anger, her own personal sense of injustice at those who crossed her and to gain that feel of retribution was...remarkable.

What was more surprising is that those were her orders, kill Lanis, Kill Javren, Kill, Kill and Kill. All within the colonial alliance and all who crossed her, smeared her and she did it without a sense of remorse, because being remorseful was fear of being caught. Her orders coming from Drake removed that fear, orders from the highest head meant, to her, she was simply following the law. Even so it was the augmentation that made it certain and the impunity made it all the more satisfying to know their friends could so little about it, the augmentations removed that doubt, she felt...stronger.

Still, it was very much unlike Drake to do this, she doubted he knew her enemies personally, the people she felt wrong her, but the transition from orders to answers was quick and in a few days she was summoned to his office only to now know Drake was in fact relaying orders from something else, everything stopped when she walked in and saw the holographic representation.

'What is this?' She remembered being unable to keep that in her head and the creature simply chuckled in knowing that.

Drake tried to join in the conversation, an attempt to assert his presence.

'Ilsa you kept us waiting, I and my associate were.'

'Shut up' Snapped the "associate" it suddenly became clear that despite the standing there was no equality between the two. The creature looked at Ilsa, his eyes glowed, he showed intelligence with a look and spoke of his voice implying he knew her quite well without having to have met.

'Hello, Mrs Zane. I am happy to see your augmentation has brought you here, your prowess and indiscriminate approach to violence has been...remarkable to say the least.'

'And you are?'

'Just a simple arms dealer' Was the claim 'One that has spent some considerable and time and effort helping prop up this "colonial alliance" prepping distant colonies with some defence, for a fee of course. A respectable one. Drake is a good face for my business. I am indeed different but I do not wish to see you suffer another colonial massacre on the scale like…' He paused, he seemed to be toying around he was forgetful, it might had been because he was a being that could act like that with no consequence. Only later in life were her earlier suspicions right.

'K-2L' He said with a click of his clawed fingers 'It was a long time ago, but still a very savage event, who would had thought the covenant be capable of that?'

At the time she could never fathom the significance the creature held over the admiral of the colonial alliance, later on there were some truths, Drake was indeed a face, the alien's own being too terrifying for other civilians to respect, his charisma fale and his terror all too real. It was also true that he did deliver covenant weapons to some colonies but they were prone to break in a short time to prevent reverse engineering. And it was also true even upto now that he never revealed how.

What she was to learn later on was no one was ever asked into a partnership with the creature, they were either roped into it or worse. It left questions about Drake, why the colonial alliance existed and, what couldn't not be avoided, did Drake have a future once the alliance ran it's course?

'Is there a problem?' Asked the creature.

'It's a fanciful story, an alien who values our humanity'

'I wouldn't assume that far' The veil of his politeness had almost dropped entirely, the tone was strong, he was for a moment reactionary offended to her comment. Though his tone softened a little where there was a sarcastic streak to his words. 'but my credentials have more merit a lone admiral setting up a colonial rebellion all by himself.'

The holographic depiction stared hard at her and Ilsa back in turn, the message from the creature was silent yet heard. There would be no underestimating to him.

'But you are right, this is not all about values, it's about establishing new ventures. And I can be a worthwhile ally if you did this favour for me.'

'Nothing is beyond me'

'Ah confident? Good. There is a ship, a prototype like no other. I have know about this for years as well as my associate. He very much like the ship for himself, waiting patiently on the sidelines till it was close to development. From what I've been told that time is almost now'

'What does the colonial alliance get out of it?'

'Get? I think there's been a bit of miscommunication here. The alliance is a scam, this insurgency represents breakaway colonies on the outside but the truth is it's heavily geared and devoted to the capture of this ship. Within rights I can stop my generous support, and we'll see what the "alliance" really has to offer once my stock on your shelves is gone. You however will be rewarded and whoever you wish for your reward to be shared'

'I have no one to share with'

'So that's a yes? Good! You have a promising, strong personality, with an admirable trait but be warned any who take on my offer I expect to keep'

'What should I call you?'

'I am normally called by many titles, usually insincere...but in your case you can call me...Ridley'

'Ridley?'

'Yes a name a friend once gave me. Don't disappointment me. "Friend"

That was her thought at the time, however as the lift reached it's destination, stepping out she saw the bridge, the servitude pirates made of differing variants of the same kind who were busy operating the ship and co-ordinating commands, their heads were down focused at work as well as avoiding the impression giving their "commander" a look.

The bridge had immense space, and a long staircase, with equally large portions, for the giant to move and glide about when he wanted to. He expected all others to call him by Commander but she had been allowed to call him by a more personal name that was Ridley, she wasn't sure if the friend part was true and it felt strange a creature, an alien that wasn't remotely humanoid giving something to "humanify" him by. She him watching intently at an asteroid cluster, she saw only his back but the gripped knuckles of his hands at the back hinted a restrain of a old anger.

She had seen his anger before when she had failed to obtain what she initially promised, her traumatic recollection was silent, as was her own self-suffering. The eye twitched briefly and her mind relived the moments when she last saw that look from that creature's face.

She was close to complete control till that spartan pretender, who they called Palmer kicked her off and left her for dead in space. She could hazily remember the rescue, picked up and taken to some kind of large room. As her mind wrestled the daze to be fully awakened she something sitting down, waiting to rise, shadows hid it's size, injuries but she could see visible anger from the darkness. She gasped.

'You'

She hadn't expected Drake's hologram to relegate the creature's height by that much. The creature, Ridley, towered over when kneeling down, he snarled standing to full height, the large room barely fit his entire frame. He looked over and Ilsa remembered the fear, a dread of terror that scarred her self-belief as Ridley took a step forward, there were wounds that dried, his face purple at the time was badly scarred, he looked to be hit by something or someone.

'I gave you a simple task' He said, reminding her. 'All I wanted was a ship, one ship traded for another.' Then he snapped, stepping close his face coming close with teeth showing.

'AND YOU FAILED TO DELIVER THAT!'

'It was a Spartan..Palmer!'

'I NEVER MET HER! WHY SHOULD I CARE?'

Ridley's voice boomed across the room, while it was large it couldn't diminish the strength of his outburst almost ripping apart her eardrums with his deafening scream from his gaping mouth. For a terrifying moment she feared she would be chewed and swallowed in one go. She didn't feel any warmth in her face, as if all her blood had raced away from her face leaving her white and terrified, she must have screamed in panic amidst because her throat felt dry and felt nothing else. Her rapid breathing escalated till she found herself almost hyperventilating.

Ridley leaned in closer and all she kept thinking that this was it, and as for Ridley he kept those eyes on her but moved away slowly, observing her, Ilsa noted some characteristics of self-restrain from Ridley, her barely existing rationale concluded the creature was carrying a different kind of anger. An anger of defeat, a burden that must have tempered his urge to shred her body apart with his teeth. Did it mean he needed an ally or something else? For now her panicked eyes did not blink, out of fear she was showing all signs of listening. Ridley's tone cooled somewhat but he still growled out his words.

'You have ANY idea how this will make me look to my associate? To everyone?

There was no way she could answer that, she didn't know what to say or if even saying sorry would anger it even more, this thing nearly matched the height of a Pelican, a fighter craft of all things and was knelt down! Just how in her frantic state of mind would saying sorry change the mind of something like this thing!

So she said nothing and just looked in fear at Ridley, perhaps in the end that was all the thing wanted, see the fear and helplessness, to let him know that he had the right to end her if so wanted to. Ridley said nothing and the signs were there of him readying to let loose his anger but it was, refrained. Barely.

'You disappoint me, but you haven't failed me'

'...I haven't?'

'There may be use of you.' He quickly added, hinting he did not take kind to the interruption. 'I had some trouble' He admitted, confirming but not saying he was attacked, Ilsa paid attention carefully. '...I normally don't admit to such things but despite of your mess up you still have promise and I would hate to see that be wasted'

'Of course' She just instinctively found herself agreeing without thinking. just tell me what i have to do'

No word was said and somehow on cue two bio suited humanoids came in, in fact they were human with the colonial alliance logo on, were these the same ones that brought her onboard originally? Was Drake here as well and she was the scapegoat already?

Shhh

She looked back at Ridley, she could had swore that she heard that in her mind, no she was insisted she was hearing things but at that point there was a smirk on the face of this dragon like creature. Then she had to wonder or dread. It took her mind off the men in bio-suits long enough to not realise several tiny black crystals shunted in some kind of injection gun, when she did it was already stabbed rather painfully into her hand.

'ARGH!'

She felt the eyes of Ridley look down on her again.

'I need to know if you can think alike'

What the hell did he mean by that? But even if she had said it, would she really got a response?

With no warning the two bio suit men came back dragging in something before giving a heavy throw and retreating quickly. What they threw in was a man, naked not far from herself and Ridley, he was scared once he started looking up and he had a face she immediately recognized.

'Drake?!'

The once admiral Drake looked back at Ilsa with the same fear in his eyes that she had.

'Ilsa, please you have to help me!'

That was when he fell deathly quiet, subdued to a measly whimper as the towering Ridley knelt down.

'Shh' He said with mocking reassurance. 'Drake…'

'No please!'

'Drake, Drake. You shouldn't be afraid…'

Upon this the man felt something stroke round his cold back, he felt greatly disturbed and flinched to see it was in fact the creature's tail encircling him, with the tip being a sharp metal, an replacement for the old. Slowly the encircled tail tugged him closer, Ilsa could Drake's eyes, pupils dilated with that knowing certain of horror. An evil that was perfectly personified in the form of a god, not a merciful one but one that was a God of cunning and death.

Ilsa clenched her fists, she was too afraid of trying to make a break for it, it would mean death but to not respond would be death. What was this creature expecting of her?

The seamless tug continued, making Drake constantly trip over his chubby little toes when Ridley's face came closer and closer to him, Ridley's eyes towered over him, the long mouth closer, the hot breath with a strange sickening and burning smell was harsh and even scolded his skin.

'...do you remember our first conversation Drake? When I first saved you and then made you...do you remember what was said?'

'Yes! Yes I do! You said you be my friend...I am your friend! I'll always be your friend!'

'Oh…' The tail slithered away from Drake, a brief respite of reassurance, but that was a lie.

'Well that's unfortunate you see'

'What do you mean by that?' The last cry of denial and ignorant plea that he meant something better.

And seemingly on cue came the answer Ridley had been waiting to give, despite his size he stood up in frightening speed, exposing his bloody gums and the dark yellow coating of teeth. His eyes were not just wild but alive with sadistic fantasy, almost as this was an reenactment for him. Then the mouth widened, Drake could barely scream and with a crunch his body was mangled within Ridley's mouth. He was still screaming and Ridley tilted his head back to deliver another crunch, followed by a heavy gulp of a swallow. With a claw Ridlet traced the process of that bag of flesh he devoured down into his throat.

Ridley didn't hear it because of all the screaming but when he looked down he had noticed that Ilsa had been laughing for quite some time, he gave a smile back. The response was satisfactory.

Ilsa could see this but still carried on laughing, it was she could think of to stay alive to amuse the sadistic, be startled like a rabbit seeing those headlights, or embrace the change. Whatever it was that was stabbed into her hand had embolden her to take a pleasant delight in what she saw. She was terrible herself but Ridley was worse and somehow something inside was making her appreciate the murderous act she saw, almost as if she was starting to think on the same lines as Ridley himself.

That was when Ridley turned,as if hearing the thoughts, his grin hinted on something more, but he wasn't telling. At least for now. He turned his gaze to the sight of that cluster with Ilsa standing by his side, she had learnt much of the pirate including when he expected someone to pay attention.

'Did I tell you about this world?'

'No' Lied Ilsa, Ridley had in fact told different accounts of the world she now saw but it was the first time she had seen it herself. Ridley had a habit of saying an event relating to his type of emotion, the things he were fond of he spoke with prideful malice, when talking about human history, it's wars he had a genuine tone of fascination.

When it came to the once Zebes his tone was of a restrained anger. Anger at how things were now wasted or lost all because of some "misguided hunter."

'This was my world' He claimed. 'One I got fairly' Hinting on conquest 'So much promise there was..I don't think you met my associates have you?'

'No'

Ridley on a rare occassion was telling the whole truth, he never did tell her about his associates, at least in detail and she imagined they were the ones that were the suppliers of covenant weaponry he bragged about. and Ilsa did partly suspect these 'associates' were in the fact the suppliers of his covenant weapons, the puppet masters were at last stepping out of the shadows.

'Their down at Oormine...they have a more experienced ground force, but yes they have been a useful faction to get involved to help position my influence when I first arrived.'

'Faction? The Kig-Yar?'

'Them? Hah! They had nothing to offer, a collection of dull minds in weak shells. No, the associate I was fortunate to have found was a warrior like myself, bloodlust...almost like my own. Though we haven't been on speaking terms of late'

That was when the eye looked at her, there was no forgetting of her failing to capture the Infinite but that transgression was past though even she felt uncomfortable at how fast the his mood had changed to and back. Instead Ridley stroking his neck, showing intrigue with he said.

'He has been kind enough to send some representatives...Siblings' Saying that made Ilsa wonder if Ridley was being sarcastic, so far as suspecting he was intentionally being given a burden as a petty means of payback.

'You're not offended by brutes are you?' Ridley was straying off topic, expressing a somewhat casual xenophobia tendency, simply because he wanted to toy with ilsa's reaction 'I know they have low hygiene standards, low impulse control and well all that...but you're not all bothered are you?'

'Brutes? No, but since when did they had a faction?'

'Since they were banished' He said with a smile. 'Their leader "Atriox" is a renegade. He was allied to no one but knew the worlds that mattered. He knew where there was forerunner technology and I was more then happy to get it, I keep a few of his pursuers off his back and he repaid the favour. A good mix of power and cunning. Despite the technology-' There was a lack of intrigue or respect he had towards forerunner technology, in his mind he was convinced he could do a better job with it. '-it was his discovery that allowed me Zebes.'

He looked again at the ruins in space.

'Well when it was something at the time.' An unappreciated reminder but he continued.

'Zebes was heavily defended by some uninteresting natives, but the forerunners had artifacts things that could manipulate gravity and engineer ships to unassailable sights. Even larger than this one. Atriox never had the resources for something like that at the time but I did.' There was the same arrogant pride in that..

'But you lose a ship and I find myself without a planet, and the funny thing is it worked out for the better. And you're still here because of it'

'Why was this?' A gesture to the asteroid belt 'Something, you never told me about these "natives" is that the relic you told me about, couldn't you find another forerunner world?'

'This is about more than just the forerunners Ilsa' He said with a glare and Ilsa backed down quickly with a bow of the head.

'I learnt some things after my world was attacked, I learnt that after seeing both the natives and the forerunners that neither of the two acknowledge each other.' He then smiled 'But they have words for the same thing. The forerunners had a word; Reclaimer. Those natives also had a word "entrusted" I never put one and one together, but that was than.' Boasting.

'Now I see the picture and view things differently. You're here Ilsa because I hold you in high esteem.' He then walked away, his interests elsewhere, mainly on the start of the Lian assault but he left left one one last remark 'I hold you all in high esteem'

And the answer as to why he kept to himself, and one way or another she knew she be involved, but she had always been her failure, she just learnt to accept it.

AN: Backstory and additional information in regards to Ilsa and Ridley, Ilsa waking up to seeing an off frame figure did happen, and that was last time I checked on Ilsa before deciding to use her as a character for this.

There are some hints also here as well.

Also I know very little about Drake, I know Hood doesn't have much of an opinion of him, but like Ilsa their part setup Ridley's "claim" to be in the neighbourhood. Like wise I there has been developments since but I haven't followed them as this was where I decided to use the comic characters. Also I think it's very likely that insurgents won't appear in halo 6 so I don't think the death of Drake is going to cause ripples. Then again this is a crossover also.

Next chapter we go straight back to Lian.