Yeah, I'm like Freeman's Mind and Dragon Ball Z Abridged. I may take a while to put out new content, but it's always worth the wait. Or at least, that's what I like to think.
Also, looked up this fic on TVtropes (that page gives me such an ego boner, I swear), and i notice the "Arc Number" entry that mentions how this fic has, like any Halo-based fanfic worth its salt, numerous references to seven. Not gonna lie; first words out of my mouth were "Yes! Finally! Someone picked up on that!" I could've told you guys about it earlier, but I didn't want to spoil the fun of spotting all the seven references :)
That, and I think it might be bad form for authors to add tropes to their own fics' trope pages. Don't know what the etiquette on that is.
Anyway, yeah. It's good to have a tropes page. Now if only I had some fan art...
...
1234 Hours, March 2nd, 2683
Presidium Plaza
Citadel
Widow System, Serpent Nebula
...
After successfully rescuing Cortana, Master Chief, the Arbiter and Garrus all waited for the C-Sec response teams to arrive on the scene. They didn't have to wait very long. The Master Chief flashed them his spectre insignia and led them down to the labs. The spartan personally oversaw the disposal of all Flood infection forms. It was fortunate for Chief, and indeed for every sentient race in the galaxy, that Saleon's containment protocols regarding the Flood were exceptional. Every Flood-based life form they found was either in a glass environment or frozen in a tube. The teams found an incinerator on the bottom level, which was deemed a sufficient disposal tool. After making sure that every last Flood spore was burned to ash, Chief sent a formal report of the incident to the Citadel Council.
The Council was deeply disturbed that Saren's agents had managed to smuggle such dangerous life forms past C-Sec Customs. Chief strongly suggested tightening up security at Citadel customs, believing that Saren may try a similar plot again. The Council agreed, but added that security must be tightened fairly quietly; the general public shouldn't know just how close they came to total extinction. They would create a cover story about how a Turian separatist smuggled in some weapons but was caught by C-Sec before even leaving the port, hence the viewed need for increased security. Chief agreed with the idea, knowing that it was better if the public didn't know just how delicate the system was. Easier for them to go on with their happy little lives.
As for the Flood, Tevos and Valern praised the Chief for recognizing a threat and thoroughly making sure that it was eliminated. However, Sparatus criticized the spartan for ordering the disposal of an entire scientific facility's worth of life forms without authorization from the Council. Chief argued that he knew from the get-go that he'd get authorization from the Council to carry out the act anyway, so he didn't really need to wait on their word. The parasites were simply too dangerous to be left alive. He couldn't imagine a single reason why the Council would want to keep the Flood alive, and the Council honestly couldn't come up with such a reason.
The next morning, the Chief received a message from the Arbiter. It was an invitation to have lunch with him at the embassy lounge on the presidium. It had been well over a century since the two of them properly spoke, and it seemed the Arbiter was interested in catching up on old times. Also, he suspected that the Chief had many questions for him and this would be a good opportunity to ask such questions. Finally, Arbiter was expecting another friend of his to also attend, one that he feels the spartan should meet. Chief agreed.
As Chief ascended the elevator to the presidium, he couldn't shake off how strange this was. He was about to have lunch with someone he once considered a hated enemy. True, in the end the Arbiter tried to help the Chief and atone for his past misdeeds, but the spartan can't honestly say that he forgave the Sangheili race for everything they've done. He knew now that elites like the Arbiter and N'tho 'Sraom meant humans no harm, but whenever he talks with them, he can't help but think back to all the old friends he'd lost to the Covenant during the great war. He'd probably never be able to put that behind him. He wondered if every soldier in Human history had feelings like this in peace time, after their war was over. He wondered if, in the 1950's, an American veteran would sit down and have lunch with a German one. In the 2010's, would an Israeli have breakfast with a Palestinian? In the 2170's, would a Koslovic, a Frieden, and a UNSC veteran all sit down and share a meal?
Chief sighed. He envied the Arbiter in a way. He had well over a century to get over the war. But the wounds were more recent for the Chief.
He made his way up to the lounge, past the lobby, and spotted the Arbiter sitting down at a round table near the balcony. The old Sangheili nodded to the spartan as he entered. The Chief walked up to the Arbiter. They stared at each other for a second. Chief then looked at the chair. "Maybe it's better if I stood." he noted.
"These chairs are designed to withstand an Elcor's weight." Arbiter replied. "I'm fairly certain they can handle you."
Chief nodded and slowly took his seat, fully expecting it to collapse under his weight. To his surprise, the chair held. "I just realized...I never really gave you my name, did I?" the Arbiter began. Chief was taken aback at first, then shook his head. "My name is Thel 'Vadam. You were probably curious about that."
In all honesty, the spartan wasn't. He didn't tell Thel that though, out of prudence. "I already know your name, but I'll just address you by 'Chief' out of respect. In your eyes, I probably don't have the privilege of calling you by your real name." Chief nodded, both out of gratitude and in confirmation.
"Is the construct with you?" Thel asked.
"Yeah, but she's doing the smart thing and keeping quiet." Chief replied. "It would look suspicious if a woman's voice suddenly came out of my speakers."
"...You DO realize that I could have fun with that in certain situations, right?" the previously-silent AI quipped. Thankfully, it wasn't over the external speakers. Chief was about to raise his hand to rap the side of his helmet. "Shutting up." Cortana quickly said before the spartan had the chance.
"I hope you don't mind that I already ordered some food for us. Don't worry, I didn't order anything too exotic for either of us." Thel assured.
Chief looked around. "You said that a friend of yours would be here soon? One that I should meet?"
"She'll be here momentarily." Thel replied. "So. I imagine you have many questions for me."
"I do." Chief confirmed. "First and most obvious one is how you're still alive and well in this day and age, but you already answered that in the way I expected."
Thel nodded. "Sangheili typically live three times as long as Humans do, provided we take great enough care in battle." The Arbiter stretched and rolled his shoulders. "I'm 198 years old myself, so I'm hardly what you would call a young warrior anymore. Still, I have at least a few more decades left before my body becomes too brittle to fight."
"You're as young as you feel." Chief mused. He did some quick number-crunching in his head. "198, huh? That would make you about 67 years old by the time you and I met."
Thel nodded. "I was actually considered to be unusually young for a supreme commander at the time. Most fleetmasters do not become supreme commanders until at least 100. But my skill was ahead of my age, which is not an unheard of occurrence among our warriors."
Chief could believe that. N'tho was living proof of it. Skill alone had to be the only explanation behind N'tho being spec. ops. instead of just a minor. He then briefly wondered if Thel was as obnoxious and foolhardy as N'tho was when he was N'tho's age. "I think that might've been part of the reason why I was made into a...'scapegoat' as you Humans call it, for the destruction of Halo." Thel went on. "It's easy to put the blame on a young upstart who allegedly did not have enough wisdom for a task as sacred as protecting the holy rings."
Chief nodded. Politics. It's the same in any culture, really.
It was at that point that an Asari waitress came by serving food. The Arbiter was served a plate full of some sort of meat chopped into cubes. Beside the small pile of meat cubes was a pile of what looked like berries. Thel ate a few of the meat cubes with a pair of chopsticks, his mandibles quickly and skillfully manipulating the bits of food down his throat. He then grabbed a bottle of water with a very long neck and took a swig from it, the end of the bottle right in his throat.
Chief looked down to his meal. Beef soup.
"I ordered something simple for you." the Arbiter explained. "You do not strike me as a man with expensive taste."
"I struck you well then." Chief said as he took a mini canteen out of his pocket and used it to suck in some of the soup. He then hooked up the canteen to his suit so it would feed the soup directly into his armor's liquidation system.
"You could just take off your helmet you know." Cortana pointed out.
The Arbiter made a sound resembling a chuckle. "You don't take off your armor often, do you?" he asked, apparently also amused that the Chief wouldn't take off his helmet for something so simple.
"Do you?" Chief asked.
Thel observed himself, noting that he was indeed still wearing the ceremonial armor of the Arbiter. "Point taken." he noted.
"Okay, next question." Chief moved on. "How did you know I was in trouble?"
"I'm the Arbiter, Chief." Thel replied. "I have some good connections in the field of intelligence. When I heard that it was none other than you that had become the first Human spectre, I thought it wise if I kept a close eye on you."
"How close of an eye are we talking here?" Chief asked.
The Arbiter paused, his mandibles shifting together in thought, as if looking for the right way to phrase his answer. "...Close enough to know where any and all of your crew members are at any given time so long as they are on the Citadel...and possibly other places..."
"...You've been spying on us." Chief concluded. "You stalk us. Track our movements."
The sighed. "Shamefully underhanded, I know. But it is necessary."
"Why?" Chief asked.
"To make sure Saren isn't doing the same." Thel replied. "To make sure his forces or anyone else's forces do not interfere with your mission."
"Anyone else's?" Chief asked. "You mean Saren isn't the only one I should be worried about?"
Thel paused again. No doubt to mentally scold himself for that slip of the tongue. Or slip of the mandibles as the case may be. He then looked around the lounge. Chief saw that look in the Arbiter's eyes before. It was the same look he'd get back on Earth, a century and a half ago, whenever he'd crouch down behind a bush or rock, looking around for Kig-Yar snipers. "...I don't know if I should talk about this with you here..." he said at last.
"Talk about what." The spartan demanded. "What is it you're not telling me, Thel?"
The Arbiter turned his gaze back to the spartan. Good. Chief hoped that addressing the Arbiter by his first name would grab his attention.
The Arbiter elicited a sound that that was half-sigh, half-growl. Both from frustration, most likely. Whether it was frustration at himself for keeping secrets or at the Chief for being persistent, the spartan didn't know.
"...Have you ever played Chess, Chief?" Arbiter asked after a couple of minutes of silence.
"Yeah." Chief replied. He was hoping that the Arbiter was going somewhere with this.
"It has become a very popular game on Sangheilios. It is a good game. One that emphasizes strategy and tactics. Careful thinking, careful planning, and an acute awareness of each and every piece on the board." he paused. "From the moment the galaxy learned of your reawakening, you became a very important piece on the board."
"And I take it you and Saren aren't the only players?" Chief asked.
"No." Thel replied. "Have you heard of a group called Cerberus?"
The spartan shook his head.
"Black operations group. Para-military." Thel elaborated
"How do you know of them?" Chief asked.
"I've recently had dealings with them. About a month before you were found in your frozen slumber on the Forward Unto Dawn." the Arbiter explained. "It all started when Fleetmaster 'Zyrael asked me to investigate the disappearance of a team of Rangers under his command. Shortly before they disappeared, they discovered the body of a Human named Armistan Banes on a ship floating in the Chavam system in the Artemis Tau Cluster. Anyway, I eventually found them on the surface of Edolus, a planet in that same system." the Arbiter paused. "They were dead."
"From what?"
"Thresher Maw." Thel answered. "They were lured into a thresher nest by a distress beacon."
"Who sets up a distress beacon in the middle of a thresher maw nest?" Chief asked.
"Someone who was setting bait for a trap." the Arbiter replied. "I reported the fate of his men back to Fleetmaster 'Zyrael. Needless to say, he was very distraught."
"Okay." Chief said. "So Sangheili Rangers turn up dead in the same system they find a dead body. And you think someone wanted to shut them up?"
"More or less." the Arbiter assented.
"What makes you think that someone is Cerberus?" Chief pressed.
"'Zyrael told me so himself." the old Sangheili explained. "A week after finding their bodies, I received a transmission from the Fleetmaster. He said that he did some investigating and found out that Banes was somehow connected to Cerberus...and now, Cerberus was hunting him. He gave me coordinates to one of their bases. That was the last I ever heard of him alive."
"The coordinates led me to a very well fortified base on the planet Binthu in the Yangtze System of the Voyager Cluster. I led a squad of zealots and a pair of Mgalekgolo in an assault on the base. It was hard fought, but we eventually emerged triumphant." he paused. "As we swept the base for stragglers, we eventually found 'Zyrael's body, strapped to an operating table. He was a good warrior. He deserved a better death. Since that day, Cerberus has made an enemy of the Sangheili Empire."
"What else can you tell me about Cerberus?" Chief asked.
"Not much, I'm afraid. As I said before, they're a black operations group. Your people, the Alliance, has told me a bit about them during my investigation." Thel replied. "They are essentially a rogue offshoot of the Human Intelligence branch, ONI. From what I've been told, they've been a thorn in the Alliance's side for years."
"How so?"
"The Alliance wouldn't share details with me." Thel answered. "But they told me that Cerberus was a big enough problem to be considered one of their primary enemies at the moment. And as of Fleetmaster Zyrael's death, they're one of the Empire's primary enemies as well."
Chief paused as he thought over his next question. "You said that I was an important piece on the board. And Cerberus is one of the players." the spartan said. "What would they want with me?"
"Well, as far as I know, they haven't showed interest in you specifically." Thel replied. "However, the nature of the research they were conducting on Binthu may...unsettle you."
"Hit me." Chief said.
"They were studying various things. Cybernetic implants. Hormones to enhance muscle growth and tissue density. Reconfiguration of the Human nervous system." The Sangheili paused for what the spartan could only assume to be for dramatic effect. "Does any of this sound familiar to you?"
Indeed it did.
"...They were trying to make spartans." Chief realized.
"I suspected as much." the Arbiter pointedly replied.
"I thought the data for the augmentation procedures was lost in the Fall of Reach." Chief said.
"It was." The Arbiter responded with a nod. "But that did not stop Cerberus from trying to replicate the formula themselves."
Chief paused in thought. This was unsettling. Cerberus is an enemy of the Alliance and is trying to create spartans. The notion of such powerful soldiers fighting against the Alliance was not a pleasant one. Not to mention that, if Cerberus was indeed interested in making spartans of its own, then the Master Chief would be a tempting target for them. He was essentially a walking blueprint for the SPARTAN-II program. They could learn a lot from dissecting him. Saren had his henchmen try to kidnap him for that very reason.
"...What does Cerberus want?" Chief asked after pondering the implications behind Thel's discovery. "What are their goals?"
"I do not know. No one does." Thel said. "The Alliance told me that Cerberus is a very pro-Human organization. They claim to do what they do for the benefit of their race. But beyond that, their exact goals are unknown." He paused. "Their motivations make me wary. Too often has the glory of one's species been used as justification for acts of villainy."
Thel no doubt knew what he was talking about. He killed a lot of Humans in the great war, thinking he was right to do so simply because they were inferior heretics before his own race. Fighting Cerberus must've been like looking into a twisted mirror for him. "I haven't heard of Cerberus until now." Chief said. "I take it the Empire and the Alliance are covering them up."
"Indeed." Thel said with a nod before taking another swig of his drink. "What little information regarding Cerberus is released to the public is usually downplayed."
He took another mouthful of his food, looking pensive for a moment. He hung his head and then shook it. "Cerberus filth...didn't even give Zyrael a proper death. He had needle marks in his arm. He died strapped to a chair...Gods forgive him." He looked back up to the Chief. "Officially, he died fighting off an attack on his ship by brute raiders Revealing the truth to the public could cause an outrage or a panic. Also, it meant his family would not be ashamed of him."
Chief nodded in understanding. In Sangheili culture, death while fighting was the only acceptable way to die. Anything less would be a mark of shame. The truth about the Fleetmaster's death couldn't reach the public either way, but the Arbiter figured it was better to spare Zyrael's family that humiliation. Chief didn't blame him. Every family who loses a loved one wants to think they died a hero.
"Sometimes I think it better if we just tell everyone the truth." the Arbiter went on. "Of the enemy we are fighting and all that they have done. Cerberus fights from the shadows, after all. By casting light into the shadows, we could be denying them their greatest advantage." he sighed from weariness. "But no. This is a war that must be fought in darkness. We cannot fire blindly into the shadows, for they would simply slip away beyond our notice. We cannot give them the satisfaction of that. We must fight them carefully, cautiously, and precisely."
"So what does Saren have to do with any of this?" Chief asked.
"If you're asking if Saren and Cerberus are cooperating with one another, the answer is no." Arbiter answered. "He and Cerberus are separate players at the board. They both have their agendas, but I doubt they coincide. I am merely letting you know that Saren may not be the only one watching you."
"Yeah. There's also you." Chief pointed out.
"Yes, and I apologize for that, Master Chief." the Arbiter said. "But you and I are playing a dangerous game. There are more demons in the galaxy than you realize." He smiled. "Think of it as me...'watching your six,' as the Human warrior saying goes."
"Alright." the spartan said. "I'll stay focused on Saren. I'll let you worry about Cerberus."
"A sound plan." Thel agreed.
"So, aside from the fact that I may or may not be unwittingly wrapped up in a galactic conspiracy, is there anything else you wanna tell me?" Chief asked.
Arbiter looked off to the side. "Yes. Our third has arrived." Chief turned to where the Arbiter was looking.
Approaching them was an Asari. Her face was a particularly bright shade of blue while her...scalp? Tentacles? Chief didn't know what they were called, but whatever they were, they had a blotchy pattern to them, giving them an almost scaly look. She had full, inviting pink lips and wandering silver eyes. She wore a long white robe-like dress and walked with a dignified grace. She walked over to the Arbiter and smiled. "Hello Thel. It's good to see you again."
"Likewise, Sha'ira." Thel replied with a nod. He gestured to the spartan. "You no doubt know who this is."
The Asari, Sha'ira, turned to the Master Chief and smiled warmly as she took a seat at the table. "Master Chief." she said. "I knew from the moment I saw you on the vids that we would meet."
"And you are..." Master Chief opened cautiously.
"I am Sha'ira. The Asari Consort many call me." she replied.
"Asari Consort?" Chief asked.
"I'm a...well, describing what I am is not easy, I suppose." Sha'ira said. "I am many things to many people."
"Explain." Chief said.
"I provide advice for some, comfort for others." Sha'ira cryptically answered. "My list of clientele is large and full of many important people. Diplomats, politicians, even spectres like you." She reached over and put her hand on the spartan's. "Thel said that I should meet with you when the opportunity next presented itself."
Chief instinctively pulled his hand away from the Asari's. "How do you know the Arbiter?" the SPARTAN-II asked. "He one of your clients?"
"Actually, it was I who sought him out." Sha'ira said. "A few months ago, I had a certain problem that required his expertise."
"Some business involving a Turian general and an Elcor diplomat." Thel pointed out with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Hardly the most exciting thing I ever did."
"But it made me no less appreciative." Sha'ira replied. It was here that a waiter arrived with more food, something that looked like calimari, and set it in front of Sha'ira. The Asari Consort nodded her thanks and began to eat.
The next few minutes were filled with conversation that was nowhere near as interesting as a para-military conspiracy. The topic eventually drifted toward the cultural exchange between the Humans and Sangheili that took place in the aftermath of the great war. Several Human films had become quite popular among the Sangheili, one such film being A Soldier's Tale: Rainforest Wars, the 2283 film adaptation of the 2164 classic military novel about the Rain Forest Wars of the Human Interplanetary War. Not the first film adaptation of the book, but definitely one of the best. Another Sangheili favorite was, oddly enough, Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. The Sangheili didn't really see it as a comedy though, but rather as a grim cautionary tale against mindless eagerness towards war and putting faith in unwise leaders, something the species no doubt had experience with. One of Thel's personal favorites was Sergeant York. The Arbiter found Alvin York fascinating not because he was a worthy warrior, but because he was a pacifist with no interest in battle, but turned out to be a worthy warrior anyway. The film proposed, Thel felt, that you did not need a lust for battle or glory to be a great warrior. You only truly needed strength of heart and conviction. Alvin York did not fight because he loved to fight. He did it because it was his duty to defend both his nation and his brothers in battle. He even openly hoped that his effective fighting would hasten the end of the war, minimizing the killing. The Arbiter found it odd yet fascinating, how someone who is so deserving of glory is so quick to decline it.
The Unggoy meanwhile, had taken a shining to not only Human film, but literature as well. The Autobiography of Malcolm X was a particularly popular book in Unggoy populations, going so far as to inspire the race to stand up for itself. Even after the Great Schism and the Separatist Unggoy were treated with relative respect, they were still viewed as being inferior to their Sangheili masters, and had gotten tired of being treated like second-class citizens. The Second Unggoy Rebellion emerged as a result as protests erupted on Balaho and other Unggoy worlds, demanding social justice. The Empire tried to quell the rebellion through force, but the protests simply would not stop, no matter what lengths the Empire went to. It seemed as though the harder the Sangheili tried to silence the Unggoy, the louder the race's collective voice became. It eventually became clear to the high council; the Unggoy had found their warrior hearts. And so the council passed numerous laws, forever cementing the Unggoy's place of honor alongside Sangheili within the Empire; no longer as slaves or inferiors, but as equals.
During this enlightening conversation, the Master Chief couldn't help but notice that Sha'ira was looking at him. Hard. As though she wasn't just looking at him, but also through him. It wasn't a sensation he liked.
Eventually, the Arbiter payed the check for the meal and got up out of his seat. "My apologies. But I'm afraid I must be on my way." he said.
"Arbiter duties, huh?" Chief asked.
"Something like that." Arbiter replied. "It was good seeing you again, spartan. Good luck in the fights ahead."
"Same to you." Chief returned. With that, the Arbiter walked out of the lounge, leaving the Master Chief alone with the Arbiter.
"He considers you a friend." Sha'ira said, earning the spartan's attention. "It was good of you to agree to come see him."
"I guess." Chief said with a shrug.
"Thel is one of the most resolved men I have ever known." Sha'ira said. "He has seen many battles. He is the voice of his people. He is the Arbiter." she paused. "But there is always a risk that he might lose himself to that role."
"What do you mean?" Chief asked.
"As the Arbiter, he shoulders many duties." Sha'ira said. "His species was deceived; used as tools by a tyrant. Their entire reason for being was revealed as a lie. In the wake of the Great Schism, unsure of their future purpose, many Sangheili turned to Thel for guidance. It is a heavy burden for anyone to bare. Even now, over a century after the end of that horrible war, his species is still looking for its place in the galaxy. Sometimes, he feels it is all too much. He has even doubted himself on occasion. I worry that Thel may drown in a sea of his own responsibilities."
She turned to the Chief. "I advised him to take the time, every once in a while, to remember who he is. Not who the Arbiter is. But who Thel 'Vadam is. How it was Thel 'Vadam, not the Arbiter, who took down three assassins who made an attempt on his life without even a scratch. How it was Thel 'Vadam, not the Arbiter, who discovered the truth and lead his people out of ignorance. He was a man. Not a title."
She smiled. "When we take on many responsibilities, we can lose track of who we are as people. We must occasionally remind ourselves of who we are."
"Words to live by." Chief said. He used his armor's liquidation system to drink more soup.
"I have been observing you. Reading you." Sha'ira said. "You have similar burdens as Thel, and I may be able to advise you."
"That so?" Chief asked, suspicious.
"It's actually why Thel asked that I speak with you. He thought you could use whatever advice I might have for you." Sha'ira explained.
"...Alright. I'll bite." Chief said. "What've you got for me?"
Sha'ira looked into Chief's visor with those deep, penetrating eyes of hers. The spartan felt on edge.
"You are strong." Sha'ira began. "Stronger than any other Human I've ever met. Not merely in body, but also in mind and soul. Your will is nothing short of indomitable. Your ferocity is legendary to friend and foe alike. Your wisdom could rival that of many scholars, were you not already so committed to the warrior's path." She smiled. "And of course, fortune seems to favor you whenever possible."
"See?" Cortana asked. "I'm not the only one who notices."
"These are the things that make you seemingly invincible on the battlefield. These are the things that bring hope to your allies and dread to your enemies." Sha'ira went on. She then leaned forward and gently put a hand on the spartan's armored chest, right over his heart. The spartan tensed up, but otherwise didn't react. For some reason, he didn't get the feeling that this Asari was going to hurt him.
Her expression softened. "And yet, deep beneath all this armor, beats a sad and lonely heart. Many of your friends are now dead. Some of those deaths, you have witnessed yourself."
Chief's own expression softened under his helmet, despite himself. A lot of names suddenly came to mind. Soloman. Arthur. Sam. Kelly. Linda. Fred. Kurt. Will. Jorge. Avery Johnson. Both Captain Keyes and his daughter Miranda. Mendez. Dr. Halsey.
She dipped her head a bit. "Yet you have never once shed a tear for any of them, due to the bitter knowledge that no amount of tears could ever bring them back. You simply acknowledge the sadness and carry on, believing that in the end, that is all you can do." Sha'ira said with genuine sadness in her voice, as though she were ready to weep herself.
She looked up, somehow meeting the spartan's gaze, even through the visor. "You think you are the last of your kind. You think you are utterly alone in the universe. But you are wrong. Though you've yet to fully realize it, you are surrounded by hearts much like your own. Hearts that are as willful, fierce, and wise as your own. You only feel alone because your own heart is so heavily guarded, like every other part of your body."
She took her hand off his chest and began sitting more upright, regaining her formal composure. "I would advise you to keep yourself guarded on the battlefield." she said. "But when the fire and the explosions and the death stops, and you instead find yourself in the warm company of these other hearts, lower your guard. Let them bond with you. Let them ease your sadness. Then you will no longer feel alone. You will not feel so much like the last spartan."
"...That all?" Chief asked.
"That is all." Sha'ira finished. "I should be going. I have other clients I need to see today. But I'd like to leave you one other gift before I leave."
The Asari reached into her purse and pulled out something. It was a rectangular prism made out of what seemed like stone. Embedded into one end was an upside-down triangle, the base facing outwards. In the center of the triangle was what looked like a green gem. She handed it to Master Chief. The spartan observed it in his hands and could tell right away that it was a Forerunner artifact.
"Where did you get this?" Chief asked.
"A seedy Kig-Yar merchant a couple of decades ago." Sha'ira answered.
"What is it?"
"A small mystery." she cryptically answered with smirk. "I have never learned its use or purpose, but I sense it is time for me to pass it on."
"How do you know all these things?"
"I simply do." she replied simply and matter-of-factly. She got up from her chair. "And now I must go. Take care, Spartan-117. Remember my words when doubt descends." And as mysteriously and suddenly as she entered the lounge, she left it. Chief examined the Forerunner trinket more in-depth. He turned off his speakers.
"What do you think?" Chief asked Cortana.
"Don't know." The AI replied. "Though considering it's a handle with a shape at the end and is only a foot or so long in length, similar to the Index, I would guess that it's a key."
"To what?"
"Uncertain." Cortana said. "Maybe you should keep it. We now know Saren is interested in the Flood, so a Forerunner artifact might come in handy later on. Call it a hunch."
Nodding, Chief slipped the trinket into a slot on his utility belt. "Hold on, got a message from Anderson."
"Patch it through." Chief said.
"Chief? This is Anderson." Anderson's voice crackled through the spartan's suit radio. "Meet me in Ambassador Udina's office. We might have a new lead on the Conduit."
...
Master Chief scrutinized the holographic model of the planet that took up about four cubic feet of space in the center of Udina's office. The three major landmasses were all grey, with only a spec of green here and there if that. Chief wondered if that meant this planet was mostly arid desert with grey sand and rocks. But upon closer examination, he realized all the grey wasn't rock, but concrete. Virtually half of the planet's surface was one big metropolis.
"One hour ago, our colony on Feros dropped out of contact." Anderson explained. "Several hours before-hand, our observation satellites reported Geth activity in that cluster. We have to assume the worst. Feros is being invaded."
"You sure it's Saren?" Chief asked.
"Has to be." Anderson resolutely replied. "The entire planet used to be one giant Prothean city. Mostly ruins now. But some of the infrastructure is still intact. The colony tried to build on what the Protheans left behind."
"Saren most definitely believes the Conduit to be Prothean in origin." Udina added. "So it stands to reason that he'd view Feros as an excellent place to look for clues. Perhaps even the Conduit itself."
Anderson shook his head. "We should've seen this coming. Feros is a gold mine of Prothean history. In hindsight, I'm surprised Saren didn't attack it sooner."
"Can we take military action? Retake the colony by force?" Chief asked.
"Negative." Anderson said. "None of our fleets are anywhere near that system. They're already on their way, but if you leave right now, you can beat them there by days." he turned to the spartan. "You're that colony's best hope Chief."
Chief nodded. "I've already sent the message out across all mission channels, Chief." Cortana said. "Everyone is on their way back to the Normandy. Shoreleave is now officially over."
...
It took roughly forty-five minutes for the whole crew to get back to the Normandy, which was about forty minutes too many as far as the Chief was concerned. Feros was in the middle of a full-scale invasion by the Geth, so time was of the essence. Once all crew were present and accounted for, the ship immediately embarked, setting a course for the besieged Human colony.
According to Joker, the trip would take roughly sixty-five hours. Chief wasn't looking forward to yet another long trip, but at least it would guarantee him more than enough time to prepare. And he needed to prepare. This wouldn't be an impromptu emergency extraction mission like Eden Prime or Therum, with resistance being merely a possibility. This time, Chief knew well ahead of time that he would, beyond any doubt, meet Geth resistance. He knew that the invading Geth force was going to be big and he was going to take advantage of that knowledge to plan accordingly. He called his squad down to deck 3 soon after the Normandy left port.
Two bread-and-butter, albeit extremely competent Alliance marines, one of which was a nervous fan outside of the battlefield. A former C-Sec agent with authority issues. A Krogan bounty hunter with a loose sense of ethics. A Sangheili spec. ops. warrior who shot first and then cheered about it. And as of Sharjila and Trebin, a feisty Quarian engineer and a Prothean archaeologist who also happened to be a biotic powerhouse. This squad was still too rag-tag for Chief's liking. He needed organization and cohesion. He needed a team. Nothing less will be acceptable.
Kaidan, Ashley, Garrus, Wrex, N'tho, Tali and Liara all lined up by the small armory where Ashley could often be seen polishing rifles in her down time. Chief stood in front of them all. According to the shore leave logs, they all found ways of keeping themselves busy while Chief, Garrus and the Arbiter were all fighting Saleon's goons. Kaidan helped out a C-Sec agent who was working undercover at Chora's Den. Liara managed to resolve a dispute between a Hanar preacher and a C-Sec officer on the Presidium. Wrex did a little community service by scaring off a fellow Krogan who was shaking down Dr. Michelle's clinic (though not without a price in the form of free medical supplies. Wrex was a merc, through and through). N'tho managed to earn some extra credits by helping some Salarian inventor scan some Keepers, which lead to an awkward conversation with Ashley after she found out said inventor was allegedly trying to kill his partner. It ended up being a misunderstanding that was quickly worked out. Finally, Tali helped a pregnant woman and her brother-in-law see eye to eye on some kind of gene therapy issue.
All interesting stories, none of which Chief cared about. He was focused on the mission at hand.
"Alright." Chief said. "I understand that, during the last two visits to the Citadel as well as our brief stay on Therum, we acquired some equipment that might be useful to us. Lawrence."
"Sir?" Requisitions officer Lawrence walked up to the Chief and saluted.
"Show us what you acquired on Therum." Chief instructed.
"Yes sir." he said. He jogged over to some weapons cases by the armory table and laid out several different Sangheili-made weapons. Some familiar to the Chief, others very new. The first weapon he grabbed off the table was a long, narrow, purple rifle. "First off, we have the type-55 special applications rifle. AKA, the focus rifle." Lawrence explained. "Sniper class weapon, high-powered zoom, directed energy. This won't get you headshots, but it will get you a hole burned into an enemy's chest."
Chief looked to his first immediate choice, N'tho. Being a Sangheili, it would make sense that he'd be the first choice for any and all Empire weapons. He looked to the elite expectantly. "Er, yeah." N'tho said as he raised his needler shotgun. "I'm more of a shotgun guy."
Chief looked at Garrus. "Not a fan of directed energy." The Turian said.
"Hell, I'll take it then." Ashley immediately volunteered. She took the rifle from Lawrence and looked down the sights, smiling with approval. "I've never seen these used in person. Any advice, N'tho?"
"Pretty simple point and shoot." N'tho replied with a shrug. "It's very bright and very loud though, so it's not recommended for stealth. But if you want to suppress or support, it's a good gun."
"Next we have the type-43 directed energy support weapon, or the plasma minigun." Lawrence said as he hefted the large weapon. Chief remembered the type-42's that saw much action in the Human-Covenant War up until the Type-52's came out. "Don't let the long, slender shape fool you." Lawrence warned. "It may be more compact than the 42, but it's still very heavy and very powerful. Especially in close quarters. Packs a kick too, so be ready for that."
"Think that one's right up your ally, Chief." N'tho pointed out.
Chief shook his head. "I prefer lighter weaponry most of the time. You take it."
N'tho jerked his head to the spartan with wide eyes that had an almost child-like glimmer in them. "No foolin'?" he asked. Chief gestured to the gun, as if to say 'it's all yours.' With what could only be described as a giggle, N'tho took the large plasma weapon in his hands. It was then that Wrex raised his hand.
"I've got something you might find interesting." the Krogan said.
"Do you now?" Chief asked, though it was more of a statement than a question. Wrex walked over to his locker and took out a duffel bag. He walked over to the Chief and tossed it at his feet. Chief knelt down and examined its contents; type-2 antipersonnel fragmentation grenades.
"Spike grenades?" Chief asked as he held up the axe-like explosive.
"Looks like someone bolted some machetes to a table leg." Ashley remarked with a raised eyebrow.
"That's Jiralhenae weaponry. Illegal in Council space." Garrus pointed out. He turned to the Krogan. "Where did you get those?"
"I know a guy." Wrex answered simply. He turned to the spartan. "Been saving them for a special occasion. If our next mission is as fun as it sounds, it'll be just the occasion." The Krogan battlemaster smiled with predatory glee.
Chief was familiar with how these grenades worked. They would often stick to enemies, similar to plasma grenades. The blast radius isn't that impressive, but that's not what makes it so deadly. Upon detonation, the grenade would send spikes flying in all directions, some of which would fly into other enemies with any luck. Each spike could be as long as two feet. Having one of those things fly into or even through you at a few hundred miles an hour is definitely not a clean, painless way to die. Still, it was no doubt an effective weapon that should serve the squad well on Feros if handled properly.
Chief zipped the duffel bag back up and tossed it back to the Krogan. "Congratulations, Wrex. You just volunteered to be the team grenadier."
"Grenadier?" Wrex asked. "So my job will be to throw explosives at the Geth?" The old Krogan paused in thought, then smiled. "I'm okay with that."
"Which brings us to our next topic; team roles." Chief said, neatly segueing to the next order of business. "I'm team leader, obviously. Kaidan will be my second-in-command."
"Aye aye, Chief." Kaidan said with a crisp salute.
"Ashley. You're our master-at-arms. Weapon management will be your responsibility. Make sure everyone's using the right mods for the right job."
"I won't let you down." The marine said, also with a salute.
"You're a no-brainer, Garrus." Chief said as he shifted his gaze to the Turian. "You're the designated marksman. I don't think I need to explain that to you."
Garrus nodded in response. Chief turned to N'tho next. "There's a reason I let you have that plasma minigun, N'tho. Your...'enthusiasm' will make you an ideal close-quarters combat expert. I'll be relying on you for heavy weapon use and diversionary tactics."
"Alright! I get to use the big guns!" N'tho cheered. The joy immediately left his face and was replaced with caution as he fully processed the spartan's last sentence. "Wait...diversion?"
"Maintain the enemy's attention on yourself, allowing the rest of us to maneuver ourselves more easily." Chief explained.
"...So I'm basically going to be making myself a target at all times?" N'tho asked, suddenly no longer keen on his new role.
"Shouldn't be too different from your usual fighting style. Don't worry about it." Chief assured.
N'tho had the feeling that Chief was still mad about Trebin.
"Tali."
"Chief." the Quarian said as she stood erect.
"You're our combat engineer. You'll use your technological expertise to help maintain equipment as well as act as a support unit in combat. Weaken enemy shields, short out enemy weapons, do anything you can to make the fight go smoother for us." Chief instructed.
"I will." Tali promised with a nod.
"Liara." Chief said as he finally turned his gaze on the Asari.
"I'm...I'm not sure how useful I can be in a fight." she said as she began to nervously wring her fingers.
"Which is why you're going to get a crash course in battlefield medicine from Dr. Chakwas." Chief replied.
"Pardon?" the scientist asked.
"You're the team medic." Chief elaborated. "You're going to be the one holding all the spare packs of medigel and other medical supplies. In addition, you're also a support unit in combat, same as Tali. Your biotics are definitely more powerful than those of Wrex or Kaidan, so I'll be counting on you to incapacitate priority targets."
Liara rubbed the back of her neck. "I do not know." Liara said. "Questionable combat skills aside, I am not so sure if I can be made into an adequate healer in just two days."
"Don't worry about it." Ashley said. "I mean, didn't you hear him? You're going to be a medic, not a doctor. You're not actually going to heal anyone. You're just going to make them more comfortable while they die."
Judging from the look on Liara's face, the young Asari was horrified by the prospect of someone dying in her arms. And judging from the look on Ashley's face, the marine was endlessly enjoying Liara's shock. "You'll do fine." Chief assured Liara. "Alright. We all have our roles. Now let's continue going over our equipment options. Officer Lawrence? I understand that you also want to show us the type-33 guided munitions launchers?"
"Ah, the type-33." N'tho mused. "Classic."
...
Saren observed the holographic layout of the battlefield. Geth armatures and entire platoons of Geth troopers patrolled the skyway and the ExoGeni building. Said building was currently serving as their command post, and with its impressive height, solid walls and winding corridors, it made for a good fortress. The colonists were, naturally, holed up in Zhu's Hope, defending the Thorian with their lives, as per the Thorian's orders. The Geth would occasionally attack the colony, looking for an easy way in. Thus far though, the colonists have been successful in fighting off these raids, but Gark told Saren that fifty of his best men and a whole company of Geth have situated themselves in the tunnels beneath Zhu's Hope and would carry out the raids from there. Maybe even find a way to the Thorian itself.
The initial attack on Feros couldn't have gone smoother. He had his ships destroy the communication satellites on the way down. One of their colonies in the traverse suddenly going dark would no doubt grab the Alliance's attention. Then, he landed on Zhu's Hope and asked to be let beneath the colony, saying he had something to offer. The colonists didn't understand him, but the Thorian did. The colonists then allowed Saren beneath their colony and Saren met and negotiated with the Thorian. The trade was simple; one powerful Asari biotic for the Cipher.
The Cipher. Something that was vital to Saren if he wanted to make any sort of sense of the vision from the Prothean beacon on Eden Prime, or any other clue he could find. Truly it was the glue that held the other clues together. Without it, all the visions in the galaxy would mean nothing.
After he got what he came for, he ordered his Geth to attack the Thorian. However, the Geth were quickly dispatched by the colonists, who then proceeded to drive Saren and what was left of his Geth entourage out of Zhu's Hope. They then shored up the colony's defenses and they've been holed up there ever since. After that, he ordered an all-out attack on the ExoGeni building, whose security forces were definitely not prepared for an invasion of this magnitude. He then ordered an all-out attack on Zhu's Hope as well, but it seemed that Saren underestimated the ferocity of the Thorian's thralls as they managed to push the Geth back. Now, patrols had begun on the skyway as well as probing strikes against Zhu's Hope. What was planned to be a fairly simple attack had now become a battle of attrition.
Saren and Gatatog Gark were in their command room in the ExoGeni building, both observing the holographic map of the building, Zhu's Hope, and the skyway and tunnels in-between. The Krogan warlord growled. He was getting impatient. Not surprising. He was a Krogan after all. "You sure he'll show up?" he asked.
"An Alliance colony hopelessly under siege from a Geth invasion?" Saren asked. "Oh don't you worry. John-117 will come running."
The acquisition of the Cipher and the destruction of the Thorian were simply two of the three goals of the invasion of Feros. The third goal? The acquisition of the Master Chief. It was a perfect trap. Saren knew that the Alliance's observation satellites saw his fleet on the move, and he knew that losing communication with Feros would immediately garner their attention. They'd put two and two together, correctly assume that Saren was attacking another one of their colonies, and they'd send their 'Master Chief.' Afterall, a colony under heavy attack by forces that were obviously under Saren's control was a target too tempting for a Human spectre. Not just one whose actual mission was to bring in Saren, but one who also had a personal vendetta against him.
It amused Saren, just how easily offended the spartan got simply by being called John. He must be even more uptight than a Hanar.
"I think you can handle it from here, Gark." Saren said. "I need to be on my way back to Eletania. I still need to find those ruins. You keep the pressure on that colony. Do whatever you can to kill the Thorian. We can't risk allowing the Cipher to fall into John's hands."
Indeed he couldn't. John already had that vision from the beacon on Eden Prime. The last thing Saren wanted was for John to acquire the very thing needed to comprehend it. The original plan was to acquire the Cipher and then kill the Thorian right away. Then wait for John to show up, and spring the trap the moment he stepped foot outside his ship. However, given the surprisingly effective defenses set up by the colonists, the colony could still be intact by the time John arrived. No matter. Saren was confidant that Gark would find a way in soon enough. So long as the Thorian was dead and John was in their possession by the time they get off Feros, the mission would be a success.
Hell. Perhaps the colony still being intact, and thus, capable of being 'saved,' might give John even more incentive to move deeper into Saren's trap.
"Just one question." Gark said. The Krogan then smiled evilly. "You want him dead? Or alive?"
"Either will do." Saren answered.
"Dead it is, then." Gark replied with a chuckle. Saren nodded in approval. It probably is better to bring John in dead. A corpse can still be dissected and studied, without the risk of it fighting back, breaking out, and killing you in the process.
...
After debriefing with Gark, Saren boarded the Sovereign and left Feros, returning to Eletania. Geth troopers, Krogan warriors, and even a few Asari commandoes passed by him as the rogue spectre walked through the corridors of the massive ship. He quickly sensed Matriarch Benezia's presence beside him.
"We've received word from our contacts on the Citadel." she reported. "When they arrived to pick the Chief up from Saleon, they found Citadel Security crawling all over Saleon's lab. John broke out."
"Why am I not surprised?" Saren sardonically asked. "Don't worry. He'll meet his end on Feros."
"Are you certain of that?" Benezia asked.
"Very." Saren replied. "Feros will not be like Eden Prime or Therum. John won't be an obstacle this time; he'll be an objective. The Geth army currently stationed on Feros is well over twice the size of the Eden Prime invasion force; seven thousand Geth strong. That should be more than enough to deal with 'Humanity's Greatest Hero.' Even a super-soldier like him cannot defeat an army of such magnitude."
"...And my daughter?" Benezia asked. Saren stopped walking, as did the matriarch. "I know she is with him now." she added.
"...Then she is now an enemy." Saren said. "I'll order Gark to take her in alive if possible...but I can't promise anything. Liara may force his hand." Saren turned to face Benezia, placing both hands on her shoulders. "Too much is at stake here, Benezia. We can not turn back now after coming so far. We're almost to the Conduit. And we must get to it first...no matter the cost."
Benezia looked down, averting her gaze from Saren. She looked sad for a moment. She then looked back up to him with determination in her eyes. "I will take no joy in Liara's death." she said. "In fact, I pray it will not come to that. But if it does, I will not sway."
Saren smiled. "Good."
...
Codex Entry (Aliens - Non-Council Races): SANGHEILI: BIOLOGY
Sangheili are easily one of the most physically fit species currently residing in Council Space. They can reach heights of eight and a half feet tall, weigh up to four hundred pounds, and have life spans of three hundred galactic standard years. Features such as digitigrade legs, a double set of pectoral muscles, and a binary vascular system all play a vital role in giving them strength and agility superior to most other species'. Most of these traits were adaptations developed in order to out-compete rival predators in the harsh desert-prairie environments located in the northwestern hemisphere of their homeworld Sangheilios, where the Sangheili originally evolved before spreading across the rest of the planet.
Their quadruple-hinged jaws originally evolved to grip smaller prey and swallow it whole. However, once their brains got bigger and they began learning how to craft and use tools, the Sangheili began hunting bigger game, using their jaws to rip off large chunks of flesh. In absence of a tongue, their throats are lined with taste buds. Additionally, they sport a highly water-efficient digestive system as a consequence of having evolved in an environment where fresh water is scarce. The intestines absorb almost all the water from any food item. Their waste products are very dry, and they do not urinate at all.
Sangheili females are typically shorter, thinner, and slightly curvier than their male counterparts. Being reptile analogues, Sangheili typically reproduce by laying hard-shell eggs. A female usually only lays one egg at a time, with more eggs than that being rare but not unheard of. Due to their longer-than-average life spans, it is possible for a female to have dozens of children before menopause sets in.
...
So now you know why I wanted to know about Sangheili eating habits. Big thanks to Colonel-Mustard1990 for suggesting the chopsticks, smart grid for suggesting that they get most of their water directly from their food (which to me suggests they evolved in a harsh dry desert environment, which is an idea I really liked for some reason) and everyone else who just suggested they ripped off chunks of flesh and swallowed them whole. Also, I'm taking a Biological Anthropology course this quarter. Hopefully it showed a bit in today's codex entry. Learning a lot about the evolution, biology, and resulting culture of your own species can help you put together the same for other species.
So yeah. Feros next! Well, actually characterization on the way to Feros next. THEN Feros