Chapter Three
Memories B.C.E.
[[\REVISE DATE\ RECOMMEND SYSTEM REBOOT
Images flooded his head: training, tactics, memories of battles. James visibly twitched as a memory crossed over him. It was a courtyard lined by deciduous trees and marble buildings; small children running were running around with their smiling parents watching over him. The happy memory was stolen from him and changed with fire. Pain induced him as civilians were infected by the flood. Flames filled the homes as Jirlhanek poured their plasma into them. The war was so brutal, so desperate. How could the prophets start something like this?
A different memory passed over him. The Forerunners had arrived on Earth… and had given everything to the humans, and in turn they fought for them with passion and their life. The Reclaimers were the most peaceful people he had ever witnessed. But they had no problem picking up the sword and defending the forerunners. James was ready to fight; his mind was awake, but his body or muscles did not respond. He was asleep for now.
The Prophets will pay for what they did.
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James was so quiet this time, his toned body was pale as ever with the exception of blood stains scattered on it. Chrosenthis looked over his body, up his torso and to his…
Artificial arm; Chrosenthis had completely forgotten about it. The Metal-plastic compound would snap in milliseconds under the weight and stress of the armor.
So much to do, so little time. Chrosenthis thought.
The Forerunner grabbed a scalpel from the medical tray nearest to him, and cut a piece of skin from his other arm. He scanned his finger prints, sampled his blood, and accessed the files on his muscle structure and bone marrow.
He walked to the other side of the room, and powered on the machine that lay before him. It was a rectangular, clear metallic box. A central meter long tube hung in the center of the box, supported by smaller branching tubes which led to containers on the outside.
Chrosenthis placed the blood sample in one of the containers, placed the scans and file reports into other containers. The Machine rumbled with energy, blowing off the dust that covered it. In a short few hours, new bone, muscle, and tissue would be cloned into James new arm, another thing that would cause more pain for the soldier.
The Forerunner left the medical room and entered a small room with several terminals lining the walls. He walked up to one and accessed the Halo system stats.
Installation 04 had been destroyed, installation 05 had been put in stand by mode after the index was removed during firing mode, and the flood had been released there. One final problem to add to the list was the shield world being activated. With the Setprovies guarding the core, and those who were in the core, no one could enter the system without being annihilated.
Unless, of course, they were Reclaimer. James's body was still going through some drastic changes. His height grew to 30.5 meters, and his core and muscles had grown to an inhuman size. Those wouldn't slow him down though.
It was the Reclaimer's neural reaction time that was their deadliest weapon. They could anticipate and dodge an incoming sentinel blast, also process the movements and strategy in milliseconds. The Sentinels were no match. No one was a match.
The Reclaimers were still prone to the flood though. Several had been infected by infection forms and they to became Graveminds. Once the flood completely manipulated their minds and accessed their memories, they learned at a considerable rate. Critical intelligence was accessed, and the locations of their bases, tactics, troop movements were given away to the flood. It ultimately gave the flood an unprecedented advantage.
So many fallen... He cringed at a memory.
He banished the thought and focused at his task. As soon as James was combat ready he would have to be sent to Installation 05 to meet with Penitent Tangent, to assess the situation and try to contain the flood so they wouldn't have to activate Halo.
Then, he would be sent to the shield world to extract those who were in it and to find any useful items for the protection of Earth and the Ark.
The thought of Earth surfaced another memory. He had been a part of the expedition force to find the Humans. When they did find them, they were so…barbaric. Countless wars with no end, medieval technology, and they hadn't even made it to the other side of their glorious planet.
It was amazing how much they had changed.
Chrosenthis left the room and traveled up the lift. He longed for a body again and being an A.I. was depressing. Why was he tasked with training the next Reclaimers? He would've preferred to have died with his family.
The Forerunner stepped off the lift and onto one of many floors of the training complex. The building was built eons ago with the strongest and most durable alloys. After this long time, not one piece of it had been rusted or corroded away, nor had the structural integrity been compromised. Even when the flood came and attacked it, they had not been able to get inside.
The door parted for him and the lights winked on automatically. The room was one of several armories located in the complex. It held all the essential weapons for the Reclaimers. It also held training weapons for the trainees.
The Forerunner walked up to one of many glass cases, and in it, were rows of Jalen's and the Sehk, a high powered long range rifle. It used Quantum energy to emit a lethal particle beam in a split second. One shot would vaporize a flood host, and the nature of the shot would pass through one host and into several others.
Chrosenthis grabbed one of each and left the room. He went down the same lift and walked into the room that held James's armor. It stood there, stoic and motionless, but so powerful. The anti-matter containers, which looked like wings, made the armor look like something of an angel. Once the Prophets see it though, fear will be stricken into their hearts. Nothing will stop the revenge that makes its way through James' blood; the revenge for his lost Reclaimer siblings, and Spartans.
He lay the weapons on a table next to the armor, and left the room. The A.I. walked into the medical room, and sat, and waited.
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Eighth Cycle, 54 Units (Covenant Battle Calendar)/
Joyous Exultation, system Salia.
The council chamber was filled with the highest ranking Sangheili leaders; the air was thick with hate and treachery. The Prophets had betrayed their kin, and they would pay for it. The Imperial Commander stood upon the podium, his body appearing no less then of a god. A hologram of him was projected so he was nearly three times his size, and five of his faces appeared, seeing over, and intimidating everyone.
His voice engulfed the room "The Fleet Master has failed us, council members! He has lost in his holy task to obtain the Forerunner treasures from the human world Onyx. We must send the fleet to sweep it of the human vermin."
A ripple of talk amongst the council members filled the stadium. The stadium itself was several centuries old, and with only the most important places reinforced for the safety of the occupants. Otherwise, it was old and rotting. The noise was abruptly stopped as the chamber doors opened, and the least expected person had entered.
The Arbiter was flanked by a Gold armored Fleet Master and a white armored Sangheili officer; they casually walked and his voiced echoed throughout the chamber. "You will do no such thing!"
The five faces of the Imperial Commander changed expressions to one of shock. The rumors were true, The Arbiter had survived. "Arbiter! You grace us with your presence, but your tongue speaks treason!" His voice was filled with a hint of anger.
The arbiter continued forward without a reply. The Imperial Commander casually stepped off the podium and whispered. "Choose your words carefully, Arbiter." He snarled.
The Arbiter glanced at him, "Xytan Wittinree, I expect you to do the same."
He stepped upon the podium and took in his surroundings. He was only going to have one shot at this, "Members of the Sangheili council, I come to you with, more but a message," he took a pause, it was all or nothing now. "We have been betrayed by the Prophets, discarded as if we were nothing. We must kill them for this treachery!"
The room filled with growls of approvals.
"Not only did they betray us, but they lied to us! The Halo's will not save us, or propel us to salvation! No, the prophets would have us killed before the machines!" This time the crowd erupted into frenzy; shouting curses at the Arbiter.
"Listen to me!" He demanded, "I know the truth, and so the Monitor will tell you!"
The White armored officer stepped forward and unfastened his cloak. The glowing sphere floated into the air, and looked cautiously around. The Arbiter gestured for it too come but was grabbed by Xytan.
"We will not hear your heresy! You speak the words of the humans!" he cursed. The crowd favored him with shouts.
"I have learned the truth!" He repeated, "If you will not listen to me you will die!" The crowd was unwilling hear his words.
"Let him speak!" a fragile voice said from the crowd.
All eyes turned to the speaker, and was recognized as the Supreme Councilor 'Razotee. His elaborate headdress stood out amongst the crowd, and his old warrior's body moved slow and graceful. His two honor guards flanked him on both sides, with their energy swords hilts secured on their legs.
"My son," he nodded to the Fleet Master in Gold armor.
The Supreme Councilor raised his hands and calmed the crowd, and stepped up towards the Arbiter. "They are not ready for this yet. But we must ally ourselves…I saw the two outside."
"Yes, councilor."
"If you will not hear my words, I will not tell you them." He whispered into the mic. "But I must tell you! We must ally ourselves with the humans, and together we will banish the Jiralhanae into the depths of the universe!"
Uproar of disapproval deafened the room; and the Supreme Councilor rose to the stage. "I have experienced the humans in combat, and they should not be discarded to the side! You are all experienced warriors; you know their tenacity and skills in combat. If it weren't for our-"
"That is enough Councilor!" Xytan roared over his voice. "We will no longer open our ears to your heresy! You wish to ally ourselves with our enemies, and fill our chambers with lies of deceit!"
"By your stubborn blood we will lose everything in our proud Sangheili race! We will ally ourselves with the humans because they are the rightful heirs to the Forerunner Empire! And they are our brothers in arms!" The Arbiter bursted in frustration.
The crowd abruptly became silent; and Xytan walked up to the Arbiter. "I will give you one last chance to stow your tongue. Leave now, before I take your head."
The Arbiter glared at him, hate, and betrayal glowing in his eyes. He held his anger within him, and growled at his companions. The four proud Sangheili walked from the podium and back to the doors. The chamber was silent save for the Arbiters heavy footsteps; the eyes of all were upon them.
But they held their heads high, knowing that there was nothing they could to convince the elders; and that would lead them to their deaths.
A/N: Well, there you go. Sorry for the long wait…shit came up. I'll do my best to keep this going longer. Reviews are always welcomed.
