Disclaimer: I own nothing in the Halo universe, which is the property of Bungie Studios.
However, original characters belong to me.
Note: To people who don't like the story, PLEASE DO NOT READ THE FAN FIC, JUST LEAVE.
NOTE: As if its not that obvious I'm still gonna say it, This story is not following the
the original canon of the Halo series.
Chapter 23 The Elite Ring
Zen woke up and looked to the clock at the end table it said 8:00AM. He could still vividly remember that Nira had tortured him last night. But he had to admit it was mind blowing. It finally felt what it feels like to do it from a Sangheili's point of view. He looked to his right and saw Nira was still sleeping on his chest.
His thoughts wavered to the night before yesterday. He could remember that it was his last human night with her. His mind flashed images of the events that happened on that day. The trip they made to Vixofi Ruins. The symbols; the wall; the darkness; the chest he found; the ring...
The grogginess in Zen's body seemed to have been zapped right out of him. He clearly remembered that he wore the ring just before he slept. He was too damn lazy to take it off. How could he possible miss this yesterday! Maybe because he was still too shocked at what happened to him he easily forgot about the ring. He got out of bed, slowly, to not wake up Nira and went to the bathroom. He stood in the mirror, naked, and examined his left hand.
He scrutinized his fingers and saw at one of them had symbols that seemed to have been etched onto it. The symbols circled his fingers forming a ring. He tapped the area in his hand with his right, and then the symbols seemed to glow. It flashed faintly then the next thing he knew there it was. The golden ring he found in the ruins, sitting in his finger. He tried to remove it but it seems it was stuck. It then started glowing and his body started heating up He felt a slight shock pass down his spine and the ring stopped glowing.
He looked at the mirror and what he saw took the wind out of him. He literally saw himself melt in front of the mirror. His head melted like hot wax and was replaced by a familiar head. His face melted the same way. His eyes melted and were replaced by the familiar eyes of a human. His mouth melted revealing his one single jaw beneath.
The top of his head melted and hair suddenly started sprouting hair. He felt himself loose some slight height as his hooves melted being replaced by human feet. After the whole melting process which took about 2.5 seconds, he saw the familiar face of Zen Black staring back at him from the mirror.
He couldn't believe his eyes. He looked at the ring then the realization of what it was struck him. It made him shape-shift into a Sangheili. If he wears it he turns into one and when removed he goes back to being a human. Just to test his theory he placed the ring back into his hand. It glowed and he felt the familiar shock down his spine. Then he saw himself melt in front of the mirrors. His face melted and was replaced by the face of a Sangheili. He felt himself get taller as his feet melt and replaced by hooves.
After a few seconds, he saw the reflection of a black skinned Sangheili staring back from the mirror. The ring melted onto his skin and what were left in his finger were the symbols. He was flabbergasted as he found out that his theory actually worked. He walked back into the bedroom and started to dress up.
* * * * *
"What time is it?" asked Zide.
"Uh… Its 9:30AM." answered Stahn.
"Status?" asked Z'jo.
"The Sangheili male did not leave the house. It appears that he slept there." answered Zide.
"This is getting bad." answered Stahn.
The trio was outside, hiding behind a bush. They had agreed that they would stake out Zen's house to check if Zen were to come back or the Sangheili male that they nicknamed, 'X', were to come out of the house. It would appear that X had not left the house and they hypothesized that X slept there for the night.
"Where the hell is Zen?" asked Zide.
"Has me made any contact?" asked Z'jo.
"No, still no contact from Zen. It's like he disappeared starting from yesterday." answered Zide.
"You know guys, what if I go inside?" asked Stahn.
"No way, too risky." answered Zide.
"Well what are we gonna do?" asked Zide.
Then all of a sudden there was a scream that came from inside the house. All of them looked at one another. Then they all said in sync, "Nira." All of them bolted towards the front of the house. Z'jo's mind was racing as thoughts of possible scenarios crossed his mind that contains violence. He shook his head trying to repel the bad thoughts.
'Let her be alive. Let her be alive' he thought to himself.
The trio got to the door and kicked it open. Z'jo surveyed the room. The children weren't in the first floor; probably at the second floor trying to hide. He looked to his left and saw a horrific site.
He saw Nira hugging the back of the wall. In front of him was X. He had his hands placed on her shoulder. The 2 of them looked towards the trio. Z'jo saw the expression in X's face. He identified it as lust. Then he noticed the look on her sister's face which he recognized as fear. One word crossed his mind; Rape.
"Get your hands off my sister you bastard!" He ran straight forward toward X. It would seemed that he was two stunned at what he did that he didn't have time to react. He lunged at him and both of them toppled to the ground, rolling on top of each other.
"Stop it!!!" shouted Nira. But Z'jo didn't listen he was enraged with anger for what X tried to do. Both of them rolled onto the floor. Z'jo tried to land some punches but X had faster reflexes. X, using his feet, kicked Z'jo off him; this made him fly into the air and land onto Stahn and Zide who was too stunned at what was happening.
X stood up and placed himself behind Nira. Nira spread out her arms like she was trying to protect X. Z'jo stood up and was about to lunge again, but Zide, Stahn restrained him.
"What are you doing let go off me!" he barked at them.
"Dude chill out!" shouted Zide.
"Calm down! Z'jo, calm down!" shouted Nira.
"Don't tell me to calm down, Nira that bastard tried to rape you!" shouted Z'jo.
"Rape me?" asked Nira surprised. He looked down to Zen who was coughing on the floor.
"You ok?" she asked.
"I'm fine." answered Zen then Nira helped Zen up.
"Oh, sure help the guy that tried to rape you why don't you." said Z'jo sarcastically.
"Why would he rape me when he's my consort." said Nira.
"No he isn't, Zen's your consort woman. I can't believe your cheating on him!" shouted Zide.
"Yeah he is my consort. This is…" she trailed off. She finally understood why Z'jo, Zide and Stahn were acting like this. They had forgotten to tell them about Zen's mystery condition yesterday. They must have misunderstood what they had seen. She smiled slightly and turned to Zen whom was on the same train of thought.
"Care to do the explaining?" asked Nira to Zen.
"My pleasure." said Zen. He then turned to Zide and Stahn whom was still trying to restrain Z'jo.
"Guys its ok." began Zen. "Nira's not cheating on Zen. It's because-"he tapped his hand in where the ring was. It appeared and started glowing."-I'm Zen Black."
Z'jo couldn't believe his eyes. The Sangheili in front of him started melting like he was hot wax. His face melted only to be replaced by a human head. His hands melted, being replaced by human hands. The whole transformation lasted for 2.5 seconds. After that, there he was Zen Black, staring at them. He had a raised brow and was smirking.
Z'jo, Zide and Stahn thought their minds had just farted.
* * * * *
"AWESOME RING ZEN!" shouted Zide, from across the table. Zen had just finished explaining them to what the ring can do.
"Can I see the ring Zen?" asked Stahn.
"Here you go." said Zen handing out his hand.
"Dude where is it?" asked Stahn.
"It's in my palm." said Zen.
"What are you talking about? It's not there." said Zide.
"Huh?" asked Zen.
"Maybe Creators are the only that can see It." suggested Nira.
"Well that explains why you guys can't see It." said Zen. Z'jo sighed.
"I'm really sorry Zen." said Z'jo.
"It's ok, I know you were just being protective of your sister." said Zen.
"Well yeah." said Z'jo.
"Hey, why don't you guys settle down?" asked Nira.
"Well we're not prepared for commitment yet." said Zide and Z'jo.
"Well I gotta start cooking since its nearing lunch." said Nira standing up.
"Let me help you." said Zide.
The group dispersed from the table with Zide and Nira heading to the kitchen to start cooking for lunch. Stahn went to the living room along with Zen and Z'jo. Stahn grabbed a book from the bookshelf and started reading. Z'jo watched what the kids were watching, and Zen sat on recliner relaxing. Then someone knocked on the door.
"I'll get it." said Zen.
Zen stood up and approached the doorway. He opened it he saw Colde and Viper standing outside.
"What's brings you here?" asked Zen.
"Wait, before I tell you, can I come in?" asked Viper.
"Oh, sure." and Zen stepped out of the way to let the 2 enter.
"Colde!" cried N'kev and Jess as they saw the Glytrol.
"Hello young ones." said Colde approaching the children in the living room.
"Guys, lunch is ready!" shouted Zide from the dining room.
"Let's discuss this over lunch then." said Viper.
* * * * *
"Ok, so the reason I came here." said Viper after drinking a glass of water.
They all finished eating their lunches. N'kev and Jess were playing with Colde at the living room.
"Is that I would like to congratulate you guys for a job well done." continued Viper.
"Well done in what?" asked Stahn.
"For a job well done in your first assignment." said Viper.
"You mean the Vixofi Ruins assignment?" asked Nira.
"Yes." said Viper taking out 5 brown envelopes from his jacket. He handed them each to Zen, Nira, Zide, Stahn and Z'jo.
"This is your paycheck." said Viper. Zen opened his paycheck and counted the money. It was about up to $5000. Zen was surprised at the amount and asked Viper,
"I think you overpaid us." Viper shook his head.
"Don't be surprised Zen. The Canyon Messenger is a newspaper and a magazine. This said magazine gets international meaning it is also sent into Sangheilios. So the job obviously pays well." Zide chuckled.
"Well I'm lucky then to get the job." said Zide.
"Yeah you are. Anyways we've got a new assignment." said Viper.
"Please don't let be old forerunner ruins." said Zen. Viper raised an eyebrow.
"Why?" he asked.
"Well we nearly killed each other due to a misinterpretation of identity." said Zen looking at Z'jo. He just bowed his head.
"What?" asked Viper confused.
"Well Zen, found this ring we nicknamed it the Elite Ring since the wearer can ship-shape into a Sangheili." answered Stahn.
"Can I see it." asked Viper curiously.
"Well you technically can't see the ring since only Creators can see It." said Zen taking the ring out of his pocket.
"Well can I see you transform then." said Viper.
"Wait, you're not surprised by the term 'creator'." asked Z'jo.
"Yeah, we never mentioned this stuff to you before." said Zide looking at Viper curiously.
"Nor did Johnson, John and Cortana; let's just say I heard it somewhere before." said Viper with a smirk. Zen eyed him suspiciously but gave up.
"Ok, this is how it works." said Zen wearing the ring in his finger. A few moments later he transformed into a Sangheili.
"That's a very interesting ring… Well anyways about our new assignment." said Viper. Zen removed the ring and sat down on the chair again, human again.
"Where are we going this time?" asked Nira.
"Guess?" said Viper.
"A beach?" asked Zide.
"Nope." answered Viper.
"A ruin again?" asked Z'jo.
"Nope not this time." answered Viper.
"A forest?" asked Stahn.
"Nope, not even close." answered Viper smirking now.
"Hmm… This seems very hard." said Zen. He thought for a moment.
"I give up." said Zide and Stahn.
"I'm stumped." said Z'jo.
"Ditto." said Nira.
"Zen, are you gonna guess?" asked Viper. Zen shook his head. "I'm stumped."
"Well then." said Viper. He cleared his throat.
"The next location for our assignment is…Bonn Ridge Vineyard."
If you like what you read and want more, please favorite the story and the author,
subscribe for story to story alert and please leave some reviews.