Chapter 9
Ninth Age of Reclaimation
UNSC Calendar November 26, 2552
Athenos, capital city, Sangheilios
"Yes, Father it does," Aron replied as he began to explain the recent turn of events. Aron looked at Rick every so often to see if his friend and brother wanted to add anything. Once Aron was finished the room fell silent. Aron took a seat next to Rick and got a drink of Sangheilian brandy.
Breaking the silence Arnad said in a quiet tone, "Are you sure the Council of Scholars isn't trying to make you into a lab experiment."
"With all due respect, Father, they done a DNA test and our races are brothers. The DNA from us was identical except for the Sapien and Reptilian parts," Aron said as he started to grow frustrated. He turned to Rick and continued quietly, "Brother, I may need to show him how connected we are."
Rick handed Aron a small knife and whispered, "Prick your finger with it. It would cause a small cut that would show up on me as well, like it was done today. That should be enough proof."
Aron turned to his father and with the small knife made a small in the palm of his hand. To the dismay of the three other Sangheili in the room Rick had the same cut appear in the palm of his hand also. "How can this be?" Arnad said with a gasp.
"There is something else I want you to see," Aron said as Rick handed him the drawings he had made since he was a child.
Mi'sha looked at the drawings and said with a gasp, "These are you!"
"I know, Mother. When I saw them I couldn't believe it. In fact I was angry. When I first met Rick I felt strange. The Scholars said it was a quickening. If we had been raised together as we should have the quickening would have happened sooner as children. There is something else. The Council of Scholars wants us to stay here. If one of us dies in battle we both die. Remember when I was sick with Knarde's Syndrome?" Aron turned to his mother, "There is documented proof that Rick was stricken with a mysterious illness."
Arnad and Mi'sha looked at each other. Arnad said, "This is a lot to take in one night and it is late. Let us retire for the night and we shall talk more about it tomorrow."
"Yes, Father. But before you go there is one more thing," Aron too a deep breath and continued, "We saw each other as children."
With that the group retired for the evening. Arnad and Mi'sha went to their room. "I just can't believe all this. The Scholars are making our son to be a freak and he is just accepting it," Arnad said as he began removing his armor.
"What if there is something to what the Scholars are saying," Mi'sha said as she tried to make sense of it all, "The Scholars will explain it all tomorrow. You could ask your questions then." She then pulled the covers down on the bed and got in.
The morning brought the smell of a fresh cooked breakfast into Aron's room. He quickly got out of bed and got ready for his day. As he exited his room he was met by Rick, who also was woke by the luscious smells that came from the kitchen. The two went down the stairs to find Mi'sha setting the table. "Have a seat. Your father will be joining us shortly. He had an important holo call he received this morning."
As if on cue Arnad came in and said, "That was the Council of Scholars. They said to meet them at the High Council's chambers something has happened," he turned and took a strip of cooked meat from a plate and continued as he ate the strip, "Well, you two can ride there with me."
Rick and Aron sat at the table and started to fill their plates, Aron was telling Rick what each of the foods were as he licked his mandibles, "We have be'con strips, sasage patties, beaten segg, gravy, shash browns, and cibuits." He then thought to himself, "I have been away too long."
Rick looked at Aron and said, "This looks like a southern breakfast on Earth. All the way to the biscuits. I'm starved."
Aron said as he was starting to eat, "Mother makes the cibuits herself."
Rick said as he took a bite of his meal, "This even tastes like southern cooking. It looks like Bacon, Sausage, Scrambled Eggs, Gravy, Hash Browns, and Biscuits. This is great."
Mi'sha said as she turned a slight shade of purple, "I'm glad you like the cooking. I have to say he has an appetite equal to yours."
As the group finished their breakfast Yahap came in and said, "Excuse me Excellency, but there is a holo call for Master Aron and the Human in your study."
Arnad replied as he wiped his mandibles, "Tell the caller they will be there momentarily."
Aron and Rick finished their meal and then went to the study and on the holo call was Nastar, he said excitedly, "I will be waiting outside the Council chambers. I have come across a major find. It involves the two of you."
"We will be there shortly," replied Aron.
Arnad came into the study and got his holo pad and said, "Time to go."
The three went to the garage and got into the transport. Soon they were going through the beautiful city and arrived at the white marble looking building that housed the Sangheili High Council. The trio was met by Nastar who said, "Excuse me, Councilor. I need to speak with the young ones."
"By all means, I will see you all in the Council Chamber," Arnad said in a tone full of diplomacy.
Nastar looked at the young ones and said, "I can't tell you all of it now, but we have came upon a great find. It involves the two of you and the Ark." With that said and leaving Aron and Rick wondering why Nastar was talking in riddles they all made their way into the Council chamber.
The High Councilor looked at the trio standing at the podium and said, "The Council acknowledges the presence of the High Scholar Nastar."
Nastar said as he cleared his throat, "Thank you, High Councilor." He then proceeded to tell the findings the Scholars had found as well as the Legend of the Aborchrith.
A Councilor stood and said, "Do you have proof that these Humans are what you say? And why hasn't the Ador… whatever you call it isn't something planted be the Humans to try to enslave us as the Prophets did?"
Nastar replied, "The proof is in the DNA sample and results I provided to you. I gave you a sample so you can do your own test if you want. As for the Legend of the Aborchrith it is in our ancient texts. Not to mention our ancient tales were not allowed to be made public by the order of the Prophets. The Council of the Scholars was formed ages ago to preserve them. Some of our ancient tales as well as the tales of the Humans were identical."
The Councilor said as he took his seat, "You make a good argument. But it will take more that tales of magic to convince me."
Arnad, who sat across from the Councilor said, "I heard some of this last night, Aron is my son. There is some truth to what the Scholar said. If you cut one the other gets the same wound."
The High Councilor turned and said, "You may continue."
"In the early hours of the morning a major discovery was made. We discovered a chamber which contained armor for the Aborchrith. One Human and one Sangheili. But the Sangheili armor was for a Sangheili of Aron's size," Nastar said as he turned to Aron, "The only way this chamber can be opened is by the Aborchrith. We have already tried. The Human armor looks like that of the Demon."
"You mean we have had a copy of the Demon's armor and we could have dissected it all along?" the Councilor said as he looked around the room. There were other hushed whispers else where in the room.
"No, it is not the Demon's armor. If all the readings are correct it is more advanced," Nastar said quickly.
Aron growled and said softly to Rick, "Nastar is having a world of trouble."
Rick looked at Aron and said, "I agree."
Nastar said as he turned back to the Council, "The armor is the key to get into the Ark."
"The Ark is destroyed," came a voice from behind them.
"I see the mission was a success, Arbiter," the High Councilor said proudly.
They all bowed as the Arbiter entered the room followed by R'tas Vadum, Usze Taham, N'tho Scraom, and Aron's brother Linad Sajos. "Yes, Truth is dead and the Flood is destroyed. High Charity is lost. It was occupied by the Flood and was destroyed on the Ark," the Arbiter continued with sadness, "But the Spartan was lost."
"The Ark of the Covenant is not the Ark I am speaking of. I am talking of Noah's and Moab's Ark. This Ark is located in Mount Ararat," Nastar said in a voice full of excitement.
"That is on Earth," Rick said in a voice that expressed his excitement and shock.
"Further proof that our races were once Brothers," Nastar said in a matter of fact tone. He continued, "I am asking for permission to do an expedition to the Ark."
The Arbiter said as he looked at his companions, "I say we go. I will lead this mission personally."