Chapter Five – Capture
"So, what'dya think of her?" 'Meramee asked as they left the Bandwidth.
"Well, she was... different." 'Lytamee admitted. He had been slightly unnerved by her lack of visible fear of him. She was definitely different from every other human he had ever seen.
"I have to agree. Why do you want to bring her with us?" 'Meramee asked curiously.
"There's something about her... Oh, I don't know. If she were a Sangheili I'd have no problem with sending her back to High Charity. But somehow I can't bring myself to stick her through when she's a civilian who has the dignity to stand up to me. The first chance I get, I'm sending her back to human space." 'Lytamee said.
"How will we be able to sustain her in secret? Even if everyone agrees, there's still the risk of her being caught by other Sangheili." 'Meramee said worriedly. "And we can't let too many people in on our plan."
"No. We will cover it with the Ship Master, and then we'll section off a part of the ship, saying we have orders from the Ship Master, who is transferring something for the Hierarchs. Then, when we get into human space, we will deploy with her and release her into her space. That would work, no?" 'Lytamee explained his plan.
"It should work. I'll see if the other Konuelo will agree." 'Meramee said.
"Thanks. I'll clear it with the Ship Master." 'Lytamee said, clapping a hand on 'Meramee's shoulder. "You're a great person 'Meramee."
"Oh, it's nothing." 'Meramee replied. The dropship flew through space towards the Covenant ship Great Prophet, each of its two occupants lost in thought.
Well, it's been an interesting day. 'Lytamee showed up yesterday saying that he was willing to help me survive in his society, where it seems if I were to be found, I would be killed or tortured or something. I hope they accept me. 'Lytamee said he'd come today. If he does, I need to be more prepared. He is really scary! And I hope he doesn't bring that creepy bug friend of his.
Oh well, I'll write again when the encounter with 'Lytamee's done.
Jessie
Jessie toweled herself dry and grabbed the dry pair of clothes from the rack. She hung up the ones she had just washed for tomorrow, and slipped into the dry set. Feeling clean, Jessie strode out of the bathroom and down the hall towards her room. She turned the corner and almost fell over with surprise.
Standing before the door to her room stood 'Lytamee and his insectoid friend. 'Meramee was nowhere to be seen.
"Oh... hi." Jessie nervously ran a hand through her hair. She realized she didn't have her headset on, so she swiftly fumbled it over her head.
"Hello. Did I startle you?" 'Lytamee asked coolly. He was nothing like he had been the day before. He seemed more friendly and more comfortable with talking with her.
"A little." Jessie ran her hands down her sides, trying to calm herself. There was a pause as each expected the other to speak.
"Are you willing to live on meat and soup?"
'Lytamee's question caught Jessie off-guard. "Um... yeah."
"Good. What we're going to do is bring you with us on the Great Prophet and section off a part of the ship where you can live. I or 'Meramee will be with you most of the time, at least in the beginning. Once you and the Konuelo get used to living together we will not stay with you." 'Lytamee eyed Jessie's clothes, the same ones she wore every day. "Should we get you new clothes?"
"No. Human clothes are fine with me." Jessie replied, touched by the unorthodox offer.
"Well, we're going to need to leave now. The dissection teams are itching to get aboard." 'Lytamee said.
"Dissection teams?" Jessie asked nervously.
"Yes. They take the ship apart to search for a weakness." 'Lytamee explained. "We are at war, after all."
"Okay. I take it I should get everything?" Jessie asked.
"Yes. We should leave within the hour."
'Lytamee stepped aside, letting Jessie into her room. She quickly grabbed a bag and gathered up her belongings. Finally she slipped her laptop into the side of her bag and stepped past 'Lytamee to get her other set of clothes from the bathroom. She returned to 'Lytamee, who waited patiently for her.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
"Yeah." Jessie replied. She slung her bag over her shoulder and her hand fell to her side, where her pistol was still hidden.
"Then we should go." 'Lytamee started off, his insect friend with him. Jessie fell into step behind, keeping her distance from the creature.
"Ah," 'Lytamee said as they walked, "I should probably introduce you to Korajyra. He has been my best friend for a while now. It is because of me that he was able to join the Konuelo."
"Hi." Jessie said. Korajyra turned back to face her and acknowledge her greeting. Knowing his name and that he was 'Lytamee's best friend did little to dissipate the discomfort he caused.
'Lytamee led Jessie to the hangar, where she beheld a Spirit Covenant dropship. It was much less imposing sitting here in the Bandwidth's hangar then the news had made it seem. Here it just seemed like a big piece of junk. The Sangheili, Yanme'e, and human entered the cockpit, and Jessie marveled at the Covenant technology.
"Those are all holograms?" she asked in amazement.
"Yes." 'Lytamee closed all the hatches and powered up the ship. Korajyra took the copilot's seat. "You may want to grab hold of something since you don't fit in our chairs. I usually don't fly."
Jessie grabbed onto a rod near the ceiling, and her grip held as 'Lytamee rocketed out of the hangar.
As 'Lytamee flew to the Covenant ship nearby, he sent out the message - the OK for the dissection teams to take apart the Bandwidth.
Jessie was whisked through the interior of the Great Prophet, for both her safety and the safety of the Covenant's secrets. She was not able to see the way to her section of the ship, and no other aliens could see her. It was slightly uncomfortable, being wheeled around and hiding in a crate pretending to be a secret weapon.
When she finally got out, Jessie found she was in a huge purple hallway, and she was surrounded by similar-looking light-blue armored Sangheili. Jessie could only pick out 'Lytamee and Korajyra, as she had spent the last hour or so with them in the dropship. That ride had given her a new understanding of the Covenant's inner workings, as they had received many hails of various types, and 'Lytamee had been kind enough as to grace her with an explanation.
Jessie was starting to get to like the guy, as he was nothing like the rampant killing monster the news made him out to be. He reminded her of a guy she had dated in high school. That thought made her realize she was beginning to think of him less and less of a monster. She didn't know if that was a good thing.
"You are the human called 'Jessie'."
One Sangheili stepped forwards. At first she hadn't noticed him, since to her all the elites except 'Lytamee looked the same to her. Then she noticed that his armor was gold, and blushed as she realized how obviously unique he was.
"Yeah." She said nervously. Just because she was warming up to 'Lytamee didn't mean she liked other Sangheili any more than before.
"I am Ship Master Zula 'Bobonsoree. Welcome aboard my ship. You are to be under the supervision of 'Lytamee or 'Meramee at all times. There are sufficient living quarters in the areas sectioned off for you, and there is a mess hall and other useful areas. The illusion is that the Stage 1 Konuelos are living here. They will be, but so will you. I have given you a sub-room separated from the rest of the sangheili. I will tell you now that the first chance we get to send you back to human space we will, so don't get too used to living here. I can't imagine you would." The Ship Master looked down on her coldly, obviously not as welcomingly as his words made it sound. "And I want you to never -"
'Bobonsoree was interrupted by a ping from his comm unit.
"Yes, what is it. This is important."
"What? The Truth and Reconciliation has arrived, and they have demon prisoners? We must meet with them. Send word that I am sending Erpa 'Lytamee Konuelo and some others to check on this. Soon the Konuelo should move back to the - never mind." The Ship Master turned back to 'Lytamee. "Pick five men to accompany you. And Korajyra, you'll have to stay here. Despite the fact that you are a Konuelo, you are still Yanme'e, and this is a task only the Sangheili may undertake in."
With that, 'Bobonsoree left.
"'Meramee, 'Terashee, 'Mubelee, 'Underasee, you're coming with me. Korajyra, you know the layout of this ship, and Jessie's boundaries. Show her around, and get to know her. We don't want to be strangers. With these new improvements, we may have more to deal with than just returning her home." 'Lytamee dished out orders, much to the dismay of Jessie and Korajyra. Both were incredibly uncomfortable around each other.
With that, the Konuelo dispersed, leaving Yanme'e and human alone.
"Um... I guess I have to show you around." Chirruped Korajyra. He began to head out towards the barracks. Jessie followed, humming a song to occupy her mind and distract her from the discomfort caused by being shown around by an insect.
"What is that?" Korajyra asked after a time.
"What, music?" Jessie said, surprised. "Don't you guys have music?"
"Well, yes." Korajyra began.
The five Sangheili sat in the spirit, their pilot flying them to the Truth and Reconciliation. 'Terashee finally spoke up.
"I agree with 'Bobonsoree."
"About what?" 'Lytamee asked.
"About the human." 'Terashee said the word with utter contempt.
"What, Jessie? You already agreed to help her get home." 'Lytamee said.
"But why not kill her? It'd be so much easier!" 'Terashee exclaimed.
"Would you kill her if she was Sangheili?" 'Lytamee asked.
"You can't make that statement!" 'Underasee entered the discussion. "She's an infidel, and so she must die. I don't know why I agreed to do this in the first place."
"Do the scriptures of the Forerunner not speak of fellowship and harmony?" 'Lytamee exclaimed.
"Yes. They also teach of the eradication of sins." 'Terashee said.
"And the Hierarchs were right about the humans. They are infidels, and must be cleansed." 'Underasee added.
"So you would simply kill a frightened child who fell into the hands of her worst nightmares." 'Lytamee said.
"Yes, if the Gods willed it." 'Terashee said with conviction. "We should just kill her and be done with it."
"You black-hearted bastard." With those surprising words, 'Lytamee stood up and went around to the other troop bay, where he could be away from the rest of the Konuelo. As he sat fuming, he heard 'Meramee approach.
"Don't worry. If you keep Jessie safe, I can help keep them from betraying us to the Prophets."
"Thanks 'Meramee."
'Lytamee and 'Meramee were a good four meters in front of the other three sangheili, not wanting to get into another argument before the Ship Master. When they reached the bridge, however, they found Zeka 'Paumee and his Unggoy in the bridge. 'Paumee's armor had nicks and scratches to show after the battle he had fought at Sigma Octanus.
"'Paumee! It's nice to see you again. I take it your raid of the human planet was successful?" 'Lytamee greeted the Zealot with kind words, belaying the fury that still hovered inside him from the argument on the dropship. Before 'Paumee could answer, alarms went off all over the bridge.
"What the hell?" 'Lytamee asked, looking around wildly.
"The prisoners are escaping, and we have human invaders in Hangar Bay 7!" a Sub-Commander cried.
"Oh no!" 'Lytamee drew his plasma rifle and turned to the other Konuelo. "Come, we must help defend this ship!" turning back to 'Paumee, he asked, "I will be back, but I must know. Did you get the Ancient's artifact?"
"Yes. Now go and kill the infidels with the Ancient's blessing."
The words stung at him, but he shrugged them off and dashed down the hall towards the hangar bay. He slipped into active camouflage with the rest of his squad, and they slowed. There was fighting up ahead. 'Lytamee rounded the corner and found - Covenant fighting Covenant? There was a huge platoon of Covenant around the next bend, and taking advantage of the cover was a Sangheili and a Demon.
"What is going on?" 'Lytamee said to no one in particular. The two spun around and the rest of 'Lytamee's Konuelos opened fire. Sensing the direction each was coming from, the Demon and sangheili opened fire. The Demon's needles were useless now, as all of their enemies were invisible, but the Sangheili's plasma rifles were deadly. 'Underasee screamed as plasma washed over his face. He collapsed, his camo fading away.
"Fall back!" 'Lytamee cried, narrowly avoiding a plasma bolt himself. Once they were all safely behind cover, he holstered his plasma rifle and drew his plasma sword. Keeping it inactive, he snuck around to the Demon and Sangheili, who were watching closely for their foes.
"What's going on?" 'Lytamee asked the Sangheili. "Why is the Demon aiding you?"
"Uhh, haven't you noticed the Demon has turned Heretic? Those Unggoy and Kig-Yar were trying to kill him earlier, I tried to explain to them that he's our ally now. But they did not listen and tried to kill him and then me." The Sangheili replied. She surprised 'Lytamee – she was female.
"Excellent. There's humans up ahead, we should go flush them out." 'Lytamee said quietly. He double-tapped his comm unit to signal the other three Sangheili. "The Demon has defected to our ally. Let's move forward."
The four Konuelo ghosted past the Spartan and Sangheili, both of who never noticed the scowls the Konuelo gave them.
Covenant had formed up in the corridor, and 'Lytamee and the three Konuelo moved through, searching for humans. Finally, after failing to find them, he asked a nearby Sangheili where the humans had gone.
"They've holed themselves up in the brig. We're having trouble getting them out."
'Lytamee thanked him and made his way to the brig. There he found the blast doors sealed and locked from the inside. "Well, they have to come out sometime." 'Lytamee muttered. "'Meramee, you and I will take the left, you two take the right. We'll ambush them when they try to leave."
Plasma charges were planted near the doors to the brig and the four Konuelo backed out of the way. The door went up in a great green explosion, and Covenant and human traded fire. Before 'Lytamee and his men knew what was going on, the humans had slipped past them and made for the hangar bays.
"Konuelo, follow them!" he muttered into his comlink. The four Sangheili dashed down the hall, following the sound of gunfire and plasma explosions that announced the place of the well-armed humans.
'Lytamee burst into the hangar just as four Spirits blasted from it. He dashed to the last spirit, the one they had come in, and powered it up.
"Is everyone in here?" he asked. Three green lights winked on, and 'Lytamee blasted the Spirit from the bay.
'Lytamee and the Konuelo stared in shock at the spectacle before them. The humans who had freed the prisoners were fleeing the Covenant ship – and were setting down in High Charity's hangar bay!
Finally the Spirit neared the bay. He looked inside, but saw it overrun with humans and a single sangheili who definitely looked to be helping the humans. He recognized the Heretic Sangheili after a moment.
"That lying bitch!" With no thought of the consequences, he accelerated the Spirit into the hangar, opening fire on the female Sangheili.
"Um... sir? What are you doing?" 'Meramee asked nervously, recognizing one of 'Lytamee's blind furies.
"Killing a heretic." He replied maliciously.
It was hard to tell what came first; the deafening explosion of a massive plasma ordinance, or the horrifying roar of a Lekgolo hunter; however, the explosion was the equivalent of a Wraith tank entering the battle, sending humans flying through the air as cargo crates were sent flying into the bay, dangerous projectiles hurled at incredible speed by the blast, smoke billowing forward as the roar grew louder and louder, a bright blue light flickering to life within the dark cloud, bouncing with heavy steps that thundered on the deck, even as the Spirit drove in its attack.
Automatic weapons fire immediately trained on a massive silhouette, those farther from the doors watching as marines moved into what cover remained nearby, only for their silhouettes to be burned on their retinas; an eerie after image of their fleeting existence as plasma fire washed over them, vaporizing metal, flesh, and bone.
"It's a HUNTER!" Screamed a marine, but others knew better; this was much more than a Hunter, as he drove forward from the ruin he had caused... gleaming white immaculate armor shimmered under the purple haze of Covenant lighting, bullets pinging off of it's mighty shield, unable to even scratch the canto of Truth. A cyan eye of artificial make burned with his hate, his roar shaking to the very core of one's being; the skulls of heretics clacked upon his back, as well as the helmet of a Spartan...
"BEHOLD! DELIVERANCE IS AT HAND!" it roared, as from behind it the smoke contrails resolved themselves into wisps of shadow, coalescing around the bodies of de-cloaking Demon Hunters, Inquisitors, and fearsome Black Templars, wicked green energy blades hissing fourth, all of their helmet's ocular receivers flashing with the same fire as they leapt forward with incredible speed and agility, fire belching fourth from their left hands upon any nearby.
They were greeted by gunfire, especially the horrifying hunter; one marine attempted to put him down with well placed rounds in the back, the bullet-proof overlay crumpling under a burst, before with a simple sidestep; spines removed the soldier's head and torso from the rest of his body, the plasma cannon leveling on a Spartan, glowering with white fire.
"See the price of HERESY!" With that, the enormous weapon boomed a shaped plasma ball, screeching forward in a shimmer of white light.
The heretic dove aside, rolling to avoid 'Lytamee's plasma blasts. She noticed a human rocket launcher on the ground she stood up and grabbed the rocket-firing weapon. She held it with one hand, and in the other she held her plasma rifle.
She trained the rocket at the leader of the Covenant Inquisition; if it hit him that would be great, but at least throwing his aim off would be good enough. She fired.
'Lytamee spotted the rocket as it lanced away from the heretic, heading for the Inquisition leader, the Hand of Truth. He sprayed plasma at her again and she dodged, going into camouflage as she evaded out of the way. Getting frustrated, 'Lytamee activated a thermal reading. Suddenly the heretic appeared on the readings...
...and so did her second rocket.
"JUMP!" was all he had time to yell; he accelerated the Spirit at the last moment and failed to swerve. The rocket slammed into the bulk of the ship, blasting it apart and sending the cockpit flying to the ground. 'Lytamee lay stunned in his seat a moment, then turned back, searching for the other Konuelo. They had been caught in the apex of the blast.
"NO! 'Meramee!" 'Lytamee screamed in grief and anger. He stood up and stepped out of the ruins of the dropship, looked around at the chaos and death, and activated his camouflage. This heretic would die today. He slipped out into the fight, his plasma sword at the ready. As humans got in his way he killed them, and as he scoured the hangar he finally spotted the Sangheili, who promptly reactivated her camo. But she had been spotted.
"You will die today traitor, for all the lives you have ended."
The heretic moved up to the second level, closely followed by 'Lytamee. She grabbed a Covenant beam rifle and fired upon a pair of Kig-Yar jackals, downing them just before she was swarmed by Unggoy rebels. The cursed vermin had the nerve to begin a second Rebellion! 'Lytamee would have to fix that. He grabbed a nearby human body, and draping it in front of him he moved towards her. She glanced at him, but in passing he appeared to be only another marine. Then she did a double-take. The marine fell to the ground at her feet.
"Now you will die, traitor."
He activated his plasma sword, his Konuelo camo still holding firm.
She spotted his glowing sword and raised her rocket launcher. It was aimed near his feet, as she didn't know exactly where he was. She took a few steps back so she wouldn't be caught in the possible blast. She then appeared as her camo deactivated. 'Lytamee almost jumped at the sight of the heavy weapon pointed at the ground below him.
"Well, I think you're out-gunned." The heretic said. She took a quick second and took the plasma rifle from her belt in her other hand. She fired, spraying 'Lytamee's position with plasma bolts.
Plasma flashed past 'Lytamee. His sword betraying his position, the plasma hit his armor, temporarily weakening his cloaking. 'Lytamee dove to the side and side-handed an active plasma grenade at the heretic. He hit the ground in an awkward roll, the pain from the plasma bolts searing forth. He slipped back to his feet, letting his cloaking retake effect as the plasma burned the ground where he had stood a moment before.
The heretic vanished as her camo activated; she took a slight blast from the grenade. She fired the rocket launcher... but 'Lytamee easily dodged it, instead sending it soaring into a crowd of Heretic Unggoy and a few Jiralhanae. The explosion from the rocket colliding with a Jiralhanae caused a massive boom and balls of flame erupted from the Unggoy's Methane tanks.
She played Lytamee's game, but she had the advantage since she had no sword. She saw the slight shimmer and fired. Instead of Lytamee a completely different Sangheili was blown away, a Sangheili Sungheisa. The Sangheili soared through the air, firing his needler to his death.
Oh god... 'Lytamee thought, standing back up. His cloaking was useful, but with the plasma sword he had trouble evading vision. Switching tactics, the Sangheili deactivated the sword and drew his plasma rifle.
"Come out, come out, traitorous wretch!" 'Lytamee opened fire, slamming plasma into a human nearby, slaying the surprised man. He sidestepped a plasma stream coming from the nearby air. 'Lytamee dove to the side. He opened fire on the invisible Sangheili, but she was gone already. He quickly moved from his current position, so the Sangheili could not find him.
The heretic must have spotted his tactic, as suddenly she faded into view, a rocket flying one way and plasma spraying wildly the other way. 'Lytamee spotted the rocket and dove to the side as it blasted at the ground next to him. Suddenly plasma splayed over him, two bolts hitting his breast. He fell onto his back, his plasma rifle skidding across the ground. His cloaking failed temporarily as the bolts overheated his cloaking device.
"Gotcha." The heretic leveled the rocket launcher at him, her strong figure capable of leveling both launcher tube and plasma rifle at 'Lytamee. 'Lytamee lay there a moment, waiting for his camo to reactivate. It didn't.
"Aw crap."
She put her hoof on Lytamee's chest and kicked the plasma rifle away with her other hoof. "Are you going to play nice now, or am I going to have to finish you with this little friend?" She said, aiming the rocket launcher down at Lytamee's chest with a smile, knowing she had bested a Stage One Konuelo.
"Oh, I would like your sword too. Will took mine." She said as she leaned down, the launcher's 102mm barrels staring Lytamee right in the face, so close the barrel's touching his mandibles.
"So, how 'bout you give up. You're free of penalties if you surrender here and now. Later, well, let's just say the humans kinda want revenge..." She smiled maliciously.
"Interesting..." 'Lytamee said. He looked up the rocket launcher and his hand went to his plasma sword. "I must say, you must need to be caught up on antiques. Ya see," 'Lytamee indicated the plasma sword, "this here is an original plasma sword. It has some nice functions, but the only one you're worried about is the fact that it can't work for anyone except me.
"By the way," 'Lytamee continued, "you're forgetting something. You're empty." He flicked on the sword and severed the rocket launcher tube. The empty halves fell to the ground as the sangheili ran his sword through the heretic's leg.
She kicked his sword arm aside. His blind determination had made him miss the part where she had adjusted her leg at the last moment. The cauterized wound went a full third of the way into her leg, but her leg was not severed as he had expected. The plasma sword slid across the floor in the other direction, and 'Lytamee found himself staring at a now slightly-more-than-pissed-pissed off Sangheili with a plasma rifle.
"Nice try." She whacked 'Lytamee on the head, knocking him out.