AN: Well I would like to thank Spacefan for the review and as for the underlining, I think I've fixed that. Once again thank you for the review. Now to the story.
I awoke gasping for breath and stood. The dream was still livid in my mind which was odd, I usually forgot all my dreams when I woke. It was unbelievable, the dream had felt so real to me. I shook my head to clear it and looked at Recodo.
He was still sleeping, looking just like a youngling, but he snored so loudly I saw many other warriors around us with their pillows over their heads. I chuckled at this as I heard many of them snoring also. It must have been the sleep cycle for everyone, but me, was fast asleep. I sat down on my bed and cupped my head in my hands. All I could remember was that strange creature, it was almost familiar and yet totally alien to me.
I sat there for the longest time, thinking this over, when a loud siren wailed out. Warriors around me woke up and jumped from their beds frantically running to and fro. I called to one as he ran past me, "What's going on!?" He stopped long enough to reply, "Time for battle." before running off again.
A figure landed beside me and said, "Battle? Finally!" I saw Recodo's eyes, and the fire within them, and groaned. He looked at me, concerned, "What's wrong Ferdu?" I huffed in fake sadness, "Your all ready to go, I'm not going to get any kills." I joked. His ever-smile returned and he joked back, "Don't worry, I'll try to save you one."
We ran to Saderg and Jeradoo, who had quarters on the far side of the barracks. They motioned for us to follow before taking off at a dead run, us trailing behind. We ran through several halls, the alarm still going off, before finally reaching the hanger. Hundreds of phantoms were there all being filled with eager warriors. A zealot ran to Jeradoo, bowing his head in respect, before saying, "Commander, you and your squad are to be part of the primary wave so," his eyes wandered to Recodo and me, "the recruits can have some fun." The way he said "fun" made me shiver.
We quickly boarded a phantom near the bay door and sat down. Jeradoo went to the pilot, "What do you know of the enemy." The pilot turned slightly to look at him, "A large band of heretics, call themselves "The Revealing Hand." They've only recently become a threat by stealing ship, weapons, and supplies. We are dropping you near the main HQ to kill their leader." Jeradoo nodded thanks before returning to his seat.
I looked around the ship to see not all the warriors on the ship were Sangheili. Many Kig-yar and Unggoy were waiting to go to battle also. I looked at the back of the ship and used all my willpower to keep my jaw from dropping. We had a Lekgolo pair with us! This was incredible, but I didn't have long to reflect on this.
We all heard the loud voice of the shipmaster call through the battle com, "Attention first wave pilots, we drop out of slip space in five units. Warriors , prepare for combat and know the gods shine favor on your victory." That really didn't inspire my confidence. We felt the ship rock as we dropped to normal space near a small space station in orbit around a lush green planet.
The pilot fired up the engines and we stormed from the hanger with several others with us. I watched in fascinated horror as we drew near the space stations dock and their seraph fighters flew out to destroy us. I feared we were dead before we even touched down only to see our own fighters destroy the would be attackers. I looked and saw they outnumbered us, but our pilots were flying circles around them. It was going to be a close fight.
We had an experienced pilot as he dodged the many criss-crossing projectiles. Many around us were not so fortunate, and we watched in silence as several explosions lit the dark of space. We quietly mourned the passing of our brothers. They had died without even being able to fight back. Then we returned our attention to the approaching hanger.
I looked to the side of the room and saw some of the heretics. They were wearing a sick brown colored armor that made them look rotting. What really caught my attention though were the plasma cannons they were setting up. I pointed them out to Jeradoo, "Commander, look!" His eyes widened as he saw them too, "Pilot look sharp, port side!"
The pilot reacted quickly, he pushed the mounted turrets to fire at the threat, decimating them in seconds. We and seven more phantoms touched down in the hanger and we grabbed our weapons before we stepped off the gravlift in the ships belly, Sangheili followed by the Kig-yar and Unggoy and finally our Lekgolo pair. Jeradoo inclined his head and sprinted for a passage to our left. We followed quickly our rifles leveled for any threats.
Apart from our rifles Jeradoo and I carried swords and I noticed the symbols for "fate" carved on it. Recodo carried his beam rifle across his back and Saderg had a carbine. We sprinted down the hallway and I felt something was wrong so I stopped. They noticed, "Ferdu what's wrong?" I didn't answer. Just now I could have sworn I felt a disturbance in the air behind me.
I dropped my rifle and grabbed my sword, activating it in mid-swing. I felt it hit something and an anguished cry rang out. Blood splattered the front of my armor as a heretic appeared in time to look down and see himself in two halves. Some of the blood got in my mouth and I gagged before swallowing. Suddenly I heard the pop again and the voice, Now let's see what you can really do. I smiled and looked up.
I now saw the hall was filled with heretics, but it was more I could smell them and that gave me a picture of where they were. They all seemed to move in slow motion as I ran at them, their expressions showing surprise then fear. Before they knew what was happening I was in their midst, hacking and slashing at them. Blood flowed freely from each wound I inflicted.
One tried to raise his rifle only to have his arm cut off. When I had killed all but five one called a retreat. I wanted to go after them, to finish the job, they were going to hurt my sister! I stopped, why would I think that, my sister wasn't even here. It seemed like fire coursed through my veins, then and then rapidly cooled.
I turned back, deactivating my blade and placing it on my hip. I turned to see Recodo staring at me in awe while Jeradoo and even Saderg looked on in respect. I looked at the bodies lining the hallway, most missing limbs, and gagged before heaving. When I finished I wiped the bile from my mouth and walked carefully through the bodies until I was with them again.
Jeradoo nodded and I returned the gesture before we continued on. We ran swiftly and silently down long deserted hallways. We finally came to a large door that opened as we approached to let light in that momentarily blinded us. We blinked until we could see again and took the area beyond in a glance.
It was a room big enough to house a small carrier, but the only thing in the room was a bridge large enough for five Lekgolo to walk side by side on that stretched from the door we were at about fifty yards to another door. The door on the other side was twice the size of a regular door and had to heretics with honor guard helmets on showing something, or someone, important was in there. Jeradoo turned to Recodo and Saderg, "Two down wind, think you can take them." They nodded and crept through the door quietly.
Saderg whispered something to Recodo as he unslung his carbine. Recodo nodded setting his rifle down and grabbing his beam rifle. Both of them scoped and seemed to be swinging their weapons between the targets. I was about to ask what they were doing when Saderg yelled, "Now!"
Recodo pulled the trigger and I saw his shot hit the guard in the leg. It didn't kill him, but it dropped his shield and Saderg took his shot hitting that guard in the head as Recodo swung his rifle and shot the other guard in the eye. Both gaurds fell quietly to the ground, dead.
As the guards fell, I felt hollow inside, but didn't throw up. We took off running to the other side and reached the far door without incident. Jeradoo looked at Saderg and Recodo, "You two stay here, let no one in behind us." They nodded and took a place on either side of the door. Jeradoo looked at me, "Your with me Ferdu." he said before grabbing his sword and going through the door.
I put my rifle on my other leg and grabbed my sword also and followed. We found ourselves in a small room, about the size of a private room with a small table in the center and a bed in the corner. On the other side of the room stood A Sangheili heretic, but this one had honor guard armor on, except for the helmet.
The helmet was a council member type, but it was broken in half. It must have been purposely, because it was broken in a straight line. The side of his face visible was normal, but it's eye was blood red with a jet black pupil in the center. I knew immediately that this was the leader we needed to kill.
He saw Jeradoo and snarled, "It's been a while commander." he spat, glaring. His eyes roamed to me, "So the runt finally grew up." I was caught off guard, he spoke like he knew me. He returned his gaze to Jeradoo, "What lies have you whispered in his ears Jeradoo, that I am a monster who betrayed everyone I knew!" he said, his voice raising.
He started to laugh, a horrible laugh that made my skin crawl, "Does he even know how to use that sword," he turned hitting a button on the wall, "let's find out." The wall to my left opened and a heretic with pure honor guard armor holding an energy sword came charging out. I raised my blade and we clashed. I held it long enough to look to see Jeradoo in combat with their leader, but their leader was using an honor spear not a blade.
I returned my attention to the heretic I was fighting. He pulled back and I charged into the attack, tackling him. I smashed him into the wall and he was able to punch me in the gut and I backed off. He roared and charged me. The voice came again, What a pitiful fighter it said.
Again the pop rang out and the heretic moved slower. I dodged his strike by jumping to the side and brought my fist up to slam into his chest. I saw him double over in pain and quickly attacked his exposed neck. His head fell to the floor, followed by his body. I heard metal hit flesh and looked over to see Jeradoo be hit and fly across the room.
The heretic leader smiled behind his helmet as he walked over and raised his spear to finish Jeradoo. Jumping across the table I blocked his thrust by twisting the spear between the two points of my sword. I twisted my blade and the spear snapped in two. The leader turned his attention from an unconscious Jeradoo to me. His smile widened as he saw my eyes.
He laughed as he reached to his waste, fishing out the hilt of an energy sword that had two medallions strung to it with trip wire. Each had a different unfamiliar symbol on them which glowed as he activated it. He laughed as he swung in a chop at my head. Neatly, I blocked it, but he was over-powering me and forced me backwards. I jumped backwards over the table.
He continued to laugh as he threw the table out of his way and charged again. Again I blocked and swung around so I was behind him and struck. He allowed his blade to fall across his back and blocked my swing and grabbed my arm with his other hand. He pulled and threw me into the passage the honor guard had come from.
I landed heavily and stood just in time to block a sideways swing at my chest. Still he laughed as he continued to batter away at my sword. My hands were becoming numb as I was forced down the passage. Suddenly he swung around so he was toward the unknown destination. I looked behind him and saw a gravity elevator waiting. He smiled and growled as he ran for it. I couldn't let him get away so I ran after him.
He activated the lift as he reached it and it began to rise. He was NOT getting away! I jumped and reached out and my hand grabbed the bottom of the lift as it rose. I swung myself onto the lift and saw his look of surprise become glee, "At least you're a fighter." he chuckled. I was getting really sick of his laugh.
I felt light headed suddenly and he looked at me and smiled even greater, "Yes, let out your rage. LET IT OUT!" he shouted. A feeling I had never felt before began to run through me, I didn't know why, but I hated this heretic, I wanted him dead.
A far off roar shattered my thoughts and I was losing the ability to think rationally. In spite of all this he still laughed. His eyes grew completely red, swallowing his pupils and his laugh became even more sinister, "How's your sister Ferdu, still a bitch? That wrench never knew what was good for her." I snarled even louder, how DARE he say these things. I jumped at him yelling, "WHO THE HELL ARE YOU TO SAY THAT!!"
He grabbed my raised arm and I saw the strain he was putting on his arm to fend me off. He snarled at me, "You don't even recognize my voice, I'm deeply shocked you wouldn't remember your own father!" he spat. I stood stunned as we paused our fighting, the lift still rising. This couldn't possibly be him, my father was an ass to be sure, but he wasn't a heretic… was he?
"No," I said, "your not my father, my father is dead." A sad look came to his eye as the pupil retuned and he reached behind him. I stiffened, ready for another attack. He pulled out a small coin. I gasped. My families crest was on it! That could only mean one thing due to the DNA coded bomb inside the coin would detonate if touched anyone outside my family: he was telling the truth.
I gaped, mandibles wide as I whispered, "Why?" He looked at me, "Why did I turn heretic? Simple. I learned something the prophets do not." I stiffened, such talk was serious heresy. I roared and attacked. His pupil disappeared again as he blocked my attack and sighed, "Looks like your not going to listen at the moment." I merely renewed my assault.
We traded blows, but he seemed to only be toying with me. The hate grew to a blazing rage and the world started to turn red. I looked at this heretic, my father, and saw fear rush through him. The pop came again and the voice rang out louder than before, NO!, it shouted on my mind, don't be like him, be better than him. Let not your rage consume you. Use it, but command it, don't let it command you. You are better than him, now prove it, tame your rage!
The voice rang through my head and suddenly I felt calm and yet the rage was still there. However, now it only provided much needed strength while I started to think rationally again. I felt great, I felt invincible and my actions only seemed to improve the feeling. I was winning!
My father could no longer keep up on offensive and was pushed into a defensive stance. Each blow I struck only seemed to make me stronger while he weakened. The lift came to a stop and he turned and ran down a long hallway, as I tailed him. He looked behind him and saw me and not the pipe he ran into. He did a back flip and hit the ground hard.
I stalked over to him and grabbed him by the throat , lifting him off the ground. I looked into his eye and something didn't feel right, my father didn't have red eyes, so why were they now? I looked at his half-helmet and noticed a shiny silver hue emanating from under it. I reached over and grabbed it and pulled it away from his head. He screamed, "NO!" as it came free.
A small needle came out of my father's head that originated from the helmet. I watched as his eyes faded back to their normal color and he smiled a genuine smile, "Thank you, my son." his voice had returned to normal with his eyes. He reached up and clasped my shoulder.
"You released me from that cursed contraption. I'm sorry for attacking you." I squeezed his other hand gently, "Father if that thing is what made you fight I hold no anger toward you." I scowled at the helmet. He turned my face back to him, "I'm glad one of us was strong enough to control the rage. But now I am dieing." I looked at him in sorrow, "What? Why?"
"That helmet was the only thing keeping me alive, but as you said I was already dead. You are better than any I've seen with a sword, I die knowing my son will be great." Tears welled in my eyes. I had never been this close with my father, but the tears still came, "It's not fair father, I have become what you wanted me to be and now your dieing." I began to cry.
He looked at me, "My son… all those times I could have been your father and left… I let you down." I shook my head, "No father, you made me better, stronger." He laughed and this time I enjoyed the laugh, "Thank you for those kind words, but," his look turned stern, "there is something I must tell you. I wasn't lying when I told you I learned something the prophets didn't. I recorded it in this." He handed me a small hologram projector.
"When your ready listen to that… and… now… my journey… ends…" he took one last gulp of air and went limp. I howled in agony as I felt a piece of my heart die with him. Tears fell unbidden from my eyes as I hugged his body close. I stayed like this for several minutes until I heard footsteps. I grabbed my forgotten sword and my father's in each hand and waited for this new threat.
Jeradoo, Recodo, and Saderg walked into my line of sight and I relaxed. I quickly pocketed the projector and deactivated the swords. No one said a word as I placed both on my hip. Jeradoo pointed at my father's limp form, "Recodo, Saderg, please move the body somewhere else." They complied quietly and marched off. Jeradoo turned to me and sighed.
"I'm guessing he told you," I nodded and he sighed again, "how do you feel." I turned to him, "Like I need to get off this station sir." He nodded and Recodo and Saderg joined us as we walked to the lift, took it down, and headed for the hanger. As we approached, I heard a roar similar to mine when my father had died and ran toward the hanger.
When I reached the hanger I saw one of the Lekgolo standing over the other's dead body. I ran toward the Lekgolo, but a solider, cut me off saying, "It's no use, when one dies the other will stay with its body until it dies too." I pushed past him and ran to the Lekgolo's side. It didn't even notice me.
It let out another anguished cry and in spite of myself I found myself joining in. Both of us howled to the ceiling, letting all our emotions run free. I thought of all that had happened recently and howled just as loudly as it did. When we both finished I reached out and placed my hand on its shoulder, just above the spine on its back.
It turned its head to look at me and I saw the many worms that make up its body squirm together to "speak." The Lekgolo spoke in a male voice that was raspy and quiet, "You are Sangheili, why mourn one of my kind?" he asked. I looked into his face trying do distinguish his "eyes" as I spoke, "I too recently have felt the sorrow you howl with," I paused, "the warriors say you will stay here until you die… is that true?"
"I must, she was my life-mate, now I must die to be united with her again." he said. I looked deeply into his face as I said something that just happened to come to mind, "Would she want that?" He seemed stunned by this and he said, "We would never wish each other to die." I smiled, "Then don't, you are still alive, you can still be strong for her."
He seemed to think for several moments before he turned to me and bowed, "Sangheili, you have changed my mind away from insanity and for that I owe you. I am now your personal body guard and will follow you always," he stood, "What would you have me do, my lord?"
I chuckled, "First off call me Ferdu and second I don't like the idea of you acting like a slave, so let's be friends, now what do I call you, my friend." He seemed to "smile" as he said, "My name is Ungolko… my friend." Together we walked past the surprised warriors to board the waiting phantom…
AN: yay another chapter. I probably won't be able to update for a while because of some stuff happening, but please R&R.