Chapter 2
"We should make camp or our friend here won't last long," said Commander Zulfar.
"But sir," started Kurr, but he quickly caught himself. Unggoy had no power with in the Covenant. Defiance of a superior officer meant a quick and brutal death. And yet the commander didn't quickly slay his subordinate. In fact, he seemed curious. Kurr was risking his life with what he said next. "The Jiralhanae still look for us, sir. Are you sure it wise to stop?"
"Normally, I would say to keep moving. But the sub-commander is badly hurt. She took the shot almost dead on. She needs to get warm or she'll die within the cycle."
"Yes sir," Kurr swallowed.
"Do you disagree with my order?" the commander asked.
"Of-course not sir," Kurr gasped. "I never dare question you. Never dare."
"You're shaking," Zulfar noted. "Calm down. I won't hurt you. Do you disagree with my order?"
A perplexing dilemma lay before the frightened Unggoy. It was forbidden to lie to a superior, such a crime could was punishable by death. Yet, he couldn't say that he disagreed with the Sangheili, for even a defying thought was punishable with execution.
"If you disagree with my order, that's fine. It is terrible how you are treated in the Covenant. Any soldier who is brave enough to die for our ideas, to go charging forth into battle against the humans, deserves their own opinion. So you think it is foolish to make camp, you are right. But I will not allow another of my soldiers to die. Leave if you so desire."
"No sir, I will stay," Kurr said.
"Then stay with her," Zulfar said, gesturing to the unconscious Sangheili.
"What will you do sir?"
"She's going into shock form the loss of blood. I was able to plug up the wound, but she needs to get warm. Some fire wood should help."
The Spec Ops Commander was…Kurr searched a while for the word, finally settling on unique. He was a veteran soldier, so his skill on the battle field was undisputed. And despite a sometimes unorthodox demeanor, he was a vicious fighter. Perhaps it was part of his plan, Kurr decided. The Unggoy with out a doubt felt comfortable around the commander, more so than with anyone else, even his fellow Unggoy. The commander just had that effect, he could lure even the toughest into a sense of familiarity and security.
Commander Zulfar disappeared into the trees, and Kurr was left alone with the woman. Her name was Sindal Shara, the Unggoy remembered, one of the higher-ranking Sangheili at the base, approximately one level beneath Commander Zulfar. During the battle with the Jiralhanae, Kurr and the commander had stumbled onto the female, unconscious and on the brink of death due to a close range blast of the Jiralhanae's Brute Shot. Commander Zulfar had valiantly saved her, but it seemed doubtful she'd last the night.
Kurr chewed at the mouth of his breathing mask as he looked over the female form. With the extensive body armor all Sangheili wore, it was difficult to tell her gender from afar, but now the subtle curve of her hips and extension of her chest was visible.
Generally, females were kept out of combat positions in the Covenant. With in the Sangheili cultures, sharp lines were drawn based on gender. For a woman to reach the rank of sub-commander, she would have to prove herself as an amazing fighter, a brilliant tactician, and a cold murderer. And now she was here, helpless, after the violent betrayal of the Jiralhanae.
Kurr poked at the Sangheili's armor breastplate carefully. Nothing happened, save the clanging noise as claw collided with metal shell.
Kurr poked again, and again only the clanging noise. The third time, his nail touched a spot of her bare skin. Sub-commander Shara's hand suddenly lashed out, her fingers wrapped around the Unggoy's neck. Kurr was forced to the ground, the steely touch intent on choking the life from him. By instinct, he lifted his Needler and prepared to fire.
A reflex, he realized when he saw the Sangheili's eyes were still gently closed. He dropped his Needler and instead worked to pry the grip on his throat loose. When he finally succeeded, he crawled away from the woman, and decided he would wait for Commander Zulfar to return.