It had been many cycles since the beginning of the current Age, and the reports coming out of the Fringe were… unsettling. The Ministry of Abnegation was buzzing with activity, with several of its departments trying to figure out what was wrong. There were reports coming back, but they seemed to be off in some way.
In secret a crew of Ascetics was assembled aboard a corvette due to be sent out to the Fringe. They'd be disguised as a technical crew, as it was uncertain what was happening and if they charged in the whole situation may get unstable, or at the worst it could be hidden.
That corvette would be arriving at Final Respite within the hour, now.
Aboard the corvette the 'technical crew' had stripped off their disguises and was now dressed in the armor of the average sangheili warrior, the blue combat harness.
The Ascetics were an elite organization within the Ministry charged with the maintenance and enforcement of faith within and upon the Covenant, respectively.
The leader of the squad of one dozen Ascetic sangheili, Bilis 'Vususai, affixed his energy sword to his hip, waiting for his squad to finish suiting up. The door was locked, and on occasion the scraping of an unggoy's breathing apparatus as it loped up the hall could be heard. The ship was buzzing with activity as they entered the atmosphere of the planet, cleared by the garrison in orbit to do so.
They left the room after setting a rendezvous point outside of the ship, in a plaza ordinarily reserved for mass prayer when called for by the Prophets. They had a map of the main star port hidden away and had planned their operations on the weeks-long journey.
"Now hear this: give thanks for our safe passage and depart those who would do so, for the ship will leave once refueled," a voice said over the shipwide communications network.
"We must be going," 'Vususai said as the door opened, and he led the Ascetics into the hallway. They kept a loose formation as they traveled through the ship to the hangar bay, where they could disembark.
Final Respite was a cold planet, but a habitable one. The weather was disagreeable to sangheili but the unggoy found it enjoyable, despite the atmosphere requiring them to wear their breathing apparatus. The sky was obscured by low-hanging clouds bearing more snow, which the heated space port melted automatically to keep the ships docked there from freezing up.
Around them, contrary to the claret color of the ships, the architecture was mostly stone. It was the most abundant resource to create shelters with, and using the metal used to build ships to build a colony would've deprived the Navy of resources it needed, rendering the very same colony very poorly defended.
'Vususai's team had scattered across the star port, mingling with the overseers of the dockworkers and asking apparently pertinent questions about the colony, solidifying the illusion that they were a technical team looking for a malfunctioning reactor in the city center.
At the far end of the open cobblestone plaza, also kept clear of snow, the team regrouped, noticing that along the paths through the city an unusual number of holotanks displaying the visage of a prophet were set up.
That would be no cause for alarm, just a show of piety; however, the prophet in question was the High Prophet of Serenity, not one of the current triumvirate. This was not piety, it was heresy. Something was very seriously amiss.
'Vususai turned about upon identifying the hierarch on display, facing his team of sangheili. "Six of you make way to the reactor, to keep up appearances. The remainder will follow me to the city center."
Without words the team acknowledged and split, and 'Vususai watched the other six move up the grey street and out of sight.
The second team had a much easier task. At the center of every city was a temple, where administrative tasks were undertaken and where prayer was conducted every day. That building was built out of the durable metal that the Navy used, and it meant to symbolize the integrity of the faith.
Every path in the city terminated at the temple, also an architectural symbol: though there can be many ways to walk the Path, it will always end at the Journey.
After a short walk, as Final Respite was a relatively small colony, 'Vususai's team arrived at the foot of the temple, guarded by a squad of sangheili soldiers. Many unggoy milled about, moving from place to place. Many bore the scars of miners or constructors, they lived hard lives but 'Vususai felt sure they never doubted their faith. If they did, they would not be alive to walk the streets of the city.
He approached the captain of the guard, walking with the confident stride not attributed to a technician—almost by definition a sangheili rendered invalid by a serious wounding but who did not die or take his own life. They were both renowned for their prowess and reviled for their status as almost without honor.
"Halt," the captain of the guard said. "No such person as yourself shall enter this temple."
"I have urgent business with the city cleric," 'Vususai said, well aware that the guard would not stand down.
"I cannot allow that," the guard replied, and 'Vususai weighed his options. He had to get inside of the building, one way or another. His final resort was the concealed sword on his hip, and he knew he'd be able to cleave his way into the building with that. By then, though, the city garrison would be called forth and would surround the building, and his mission would be a failure.
"Brother," 'Vususai said, noting the sangheili stiffening as he was addressed as 'brother' by one he perceived to be so dishonored. "I am of the Ministry of Abnegation, an Ascetic. We must get within the building."
The sangheili cast an odd glance up at him, clearly contemplating something. 'Vususai's hand found the hilt of his sword just as the other sangheili shoved him back and leveled his weapon on him. "Heretics! Raise the alarm, brothers, there are heretics among us!"
Across the city sirens went off, and the whole area was locked down. 'Vususai and his men drew their blades, igniting them and charging the temple. The captain of the guard fell before he could fire a well-aimed shot, having traded his life for raising the alarm. His men were prepared to stall the Ascetics, who were heavily armored beneath their humble garb.
The five sangheili atop the stairs leading to the temple fell as well, their plasma rifles barely scratching the strong shielding of the Ascetics. Naturally, though, the door was locked by now, the city Cleric was trapped within.
Around the temple holographic screens lit up, flashing into a brilliant blue existence across every flat surface. The face of a san 'shyuum appeared, looking decidedly angry, and it shouted, "Brothers who walk the true Path! Heretics have infiltrated our holy temple, and seek to silence me! They seek to lead our Covenant astray, to consort with those unworthy aliens!"
"What blasphemy is this?" an Ascetic behind 'Vususai asked, re-igniting his energy sword and stepping forward to cleave at the sealed door.
"It is no use, brother, the door is sealed. We must wait for heavier machinery to arrive," 'Vususai said, looking for the nearest flat grey structure, spotting a domicile a short run from the temple. "With me, brothers, come with me!"
He lead the group across the garden before the temple, barren though it was on this freezing planet, and through the doors of the structure. A simple fireplace was centered in the entryway, burning merrily and casting a warm glow on the unggoy crouched around it.
"What wrong?" one of the unggoy grunted, standing to face the sangheili.
"Be seated!" 'Vususai said, pushing past them and finding a way upstairs. "This way!"
The five other sangheili pushed past the unggoy, leaving them with confused looks for a few moments before they went back to warming themselves on the fire.
Upstairs the six sangheili watched the temple. Shortly afterwards a low pitched hum became apparent, and at the far end of the garden a pair of Type-26 assault gun carriages turned the corner and advanced on the temple, escorted by a lance of unggoy lead by a singular sangheili. Decidedly it was a fatally weak response, something 'Vususai would be very unforgiving of.
"Let them get close, and take back the assault guns. We shall use them to cleanse this temple of the sacrilege that has defiled it," he muttered, watching the first responders advance.
"What shall we do afterwards?" another Ascetic asked.
"We shall see what remains to be done. The faith of Final Respite is being threatened by a malicious defiler, who we must silence before anything else," 'Vususai explained. It was unnecessary, his men knew that was their primary mission, and each was prepared to die for the cause. That their commander had not developed a plan after destroying the temple clued them in to the fact that this mission may be their last, and some enjoyed the irony of the planet's name applied to their current situation. This could very well be their final respite from combat.
The unggoy loped ahead, running toward the fallen sangheili outside of the temple, searching for their assailants on all fours. The singular sangheili followed behind, checking windows for snipers, although he ceased his search when he got to the bodies and saw their wounds. They were not dealt death at the hand of a plasma bolt, but on the tip of an energy sword. He got much more wary and ceased to scan windows.
Behind him the two assault guns moved forward, and the nearer of the two parked just under the window, wheeling about to face outward from the temple. As it wheeled, 'Vususai ignited his sword and leapt from the window, aiming directly for the crew compartment with the blade pointed downward. When he landed, the blade drove down and into the unsuspecting driver's head. The compartment opened up as 'Vususai wrenched back on the door.
He swung himself down into the armored vehicle and threw the previous occupant out, with the door sliding closed behind him and the controls lighting up. He saw on the external motion sensors the rest of his team charging the second gun carriage as he wheeled his around to face the temple, charging the plasma mortar.
The second gun carriage fell, and the infantry found themselves outgunned. The unggoy scattered, but the sangheili stood fast and was charged by three Ascetics. He fired madly at the attackers, bringing down the shields of two before the third drove his energy sword into the sangheili's chest. They withdrew as the two guns charged and loosed plasma mortars at the temple, the superheated shots burning into the metal and through it.
"The fools seek to burn me!" the prophet shouted from his video screens throughout the city. "They cannot silence us! Their heresy will not go unpunished!"
Another six targets appeared on the motion sensors, denoting the arrival of the second half of the team of Ascetics. "Master, we've arrived to aid you."
"Excellent," 'Vususai exclaimed, disembarking from the gun carriage and assigning another of his Ascetics to it. He motioned to the other nine. "Four of you wait out here, five follow me. We shall clear the temple."
The five other sangheili fell into step with him as they moved toward the gaping hole burnt through the façade of the temple.
They jumped through the breach, through fire and smoke, landing in a darkened room that was intended to be illuminated with holographs, but due to their fire the holographs had been destroyed. The ground was littered with debris and more than a few bodies, all those of sangheili. The lesser races would not be permitted within the premises, unless these separatists truly had changed things.
As usual with such structures, the most important office was at the pinnacle. They had no intelligence on how many guards to expect, but six Ascetics were enough of a match for double that number of regular infantry.
'Vususai crept through the blackness toward the far end of the temple, guided by a blue glow emanating from it. Once he reached the wall he found a gravity lift on both sides of the path. He motioned the team forward and jumped onto the lift, feeling himself propelled upward in a short corridor of antigravity.
The next floor was guarded by sangheili zealots, something wholly unexpected to the Ascetics. 'Vususai ignited his energy sword and lead the Ascetics against the line of zealots—the numbers were even, six of each side. Their weapons were far more advanced than those they'd encountered downstairs, and tore through the shielding of 'Vususai's men. Two fell before they could close the range.
The zealot nearest 'Vususai saw him coming and leveled his concussion rifle in time for 'Vususai to lop the barrel off with his sword, causing the zealot to throw the now-useless weapon at him, stopping his progress long enough for the zealot to draw its own energy sword and ignite it.
He slashed down at the zealot's leg, but his drive was parried into the ground and he felt the zealot's fist crash into his helmet, sending 'Vususai reeling backward. With a bit of luck he remained on his feet and was able to parry the zealot's blow, giving him a moment to kick the zealot's arm out and slide his blade up the zealot's, slashing it up into his opponent's shoulder, causing him to involuntarily drop his sword.
His sword drove into the zealot's chest, and he looked up to see the state of the battle. Three zealots lay dead, as well as four Ascetics. He had only one man left. 'Vususai activated his communications unit and said, "Destroy the temple, now!"
A zealot turned to face him, no longer observing the duel between the Ascetic and the zealot. 'Vususai ignited his sword and charged to meet him, crossing blades with the zealot, but the duel never started—a plasma mortar slammed into the temple, shaking it violently and throwing the sangheili off their feet.
Metal fell away in bright molten globs, sizzling as it hit the floor. The sangheili would not be distracted, though—the duels resumed amid the second plasma mortar hitting the ground floor.
With a roar the zealot charged 'Vususai, holding its sword low and to the left, slashing diagonally across the Ascetic's front. 'Vususai jumped backward, dodging the blow and driving upward with his own sword, knocking the zealot's further up. In that moment, he lashed out with his foot and kicked the zealot square in the chest, knocking it backward.
Another plasma mortar splashed into the breach, spraying plasma across the room, burning everything and jarring parts of the ceiling loose, including one that fell between 'Vususai and his assailant. The unoccupied zealot had run to the window to try to suppress the gun carriages with a concussion rifle, and he was hit directly with the plasma mortar and smote from existence almost instantly.
"Master, we're under attack from more of the heretics, we cannot bring the building down without risking letting them in behind you," one of his men on the ground announced suddenly as 'Vususai's ears stopped ringing from the near miss. Another round slammed into the ground floor, making the building sway noticeably.
"Fight them," 'Vususai ordered, looking at the zealot lying before him, trapped beneath the fallen rubble. He finished the zealot off and looked for his remaining man. The Ascetic was wounded grievously by plasma burns, his armor charred black and malformed. "Are you able to stand, brother?"
"No, I cannot," the Ascetic wheezed. "… my sword, please."
Despite the debris all across the floor, 'Vususai found the gold hilt of the energy sword and returned to his comrade, pressing it into his hand. "You fought with honor, this day. Walk the Path with that knowledge."
"Thank you," the Ascetic said, losing the battle to remain conscious.
Alone, now, 'Vususai proceeded to the next gravity lift, one that led directly into the Cleric's office. He soared up the tall spire, reaching the bulbous top of the building and coming face to face with a lone san 'shyuum he recognized very well.
"Welcome to my tomb," the Prophet of Serenity said, a malicious grin spreading across his face. "Though it was you who made it so. This could have been a place from where our Covenant would cleanse itself and smite the defiling aliens. Now you've martyred me and increased my influence further than I could ever hope to have achieved through preaching."
"Hold your tongue," 'Vususai said, advancing on the Prophet. "You are no martyr, you are a heretic. Your actions threatened to cast my Covenant into chaos."
"Your Covenant? Do you not see that your Covenant is being corrupted even as we speak? I have watched as they consorted with the very aliens who destroyed countless relics so many cycles ago. That, my young Ascetic, is the true heresy committed today," Serenity argued, his voice silken in its effort to sway the sangheili.
"Be silent, worm," 'Vususai growled. "I will not let your words cast shadows over my faith."
"You would do better than to refer to me as such! Remember your station, sangheili!" Serenity yelled, his façade breaking. "I am the High Prophet of Serenity! You are but dirt beneath my heels!"
The building rocked again, something having exploded on the ground. The metal creaked ominously, and now that he could see the horizon, the Ascetic saw just how badly the building was swaying. It bent at angles he knew had to be near its breaking point.
Silently, he looked up at the Prophet, unsure of what to do. He knew his mission was reconnaissance, but this was an affront to the Gods themselves. He ignited his energy sword, and the san 'shyuum knew he'd lost this contest of wits. Whether it was due to the sangheili's intransigence or to his own failings as a preacher, he would not have time to speculate.
'Vususai grabbed the Prophet and threw him from his throne against the window, where his weak legs gave out and he fell to the ground. He feebly raised a hand toward the oncoming sangheili. "Wait! Do you not see?"
Tired of his words, the Ascetic refused to stop, and drove his blade deep within the Prophet's chest. His body wriggled, rejecting the onset of death but failing to do so successfully, and he rattled his last breath as he lay against the window, motionless.
Outside the battle seemed to stop, and upon looking out the window 'Vususai realized with horror that his assassination had been broadcast live throughout the city mere minutes after he was decried as a heretic. The slackened jaw of the Prophet seemed open in some mockery of his efforts, simultaneously a laugh and an "I told you so."
He had martyred the Prophet, what was more is he had done it live before the entire colony and the garrison in orbit. The situation was grave, and his team would likely not escape alive.
As the building shuddered from another impact, 'Vususai left the pinnacle and lofted down to the second floor on the gravity lift, to the place where his comrades had died. He said a short prayer before turning to the hole the plasma mortar had blasted into the wall and jumping through it, falling one story to the ground and landing on his feet among his remaining men.
"Commander, the whole city appears to be awakening. We've held them off, but lost one of the two gun carriages. The driver escaped unharmed. If we seek to get word of this insurrection off of the planet, we must act now," an Ascetic shouted over the remaining gun carriage's most recent shot. A few shots impacted the ground near them and sizzled.
"Well done, brother. How many are we?" 'Vususai replied, matching his subordinate's tone.
"Our numbers have not changed," his underling answered. "There are eight of us."
"Now we must return to the star port and stow away on the corvette upon which we arrived," 'Vususai announced.
"How shall we do that?" the subordinate asked, ducking as a plasma grenade went off nearby. The gun carriage fired again, with the plasma mortar landing directly in the midst of a lance that had turned the corner. The driver of the remaining gun carriage had found the range to the main entrance to the plaza and was shelling it as soon as anything attempted entry.
"We must lose these pursuers!" 'Vususai shouted, beckoning to the dozens of dead that lie before the temple and the entryway beyond them. "Abandon the gun carriage, as long as it sits there they will not approach. Set its battery to overload. Follow me out of the plaza!"
His Ascetics abandoned the tank as ordered, following him to the same building they'd hidden in before. They passed through the building and he traversed several alleyways, hearing an explosion and a massive crash several minutes after their escape.
They met no one as they ran through the back streets, seeking to get to the star port without obstruction and succeeding in that goal.
Klaxons rang out across the city as their escape was known, and the team of Ascetics knew it would only be a matter of time before the space port was locked down if it wasn't already locked down.
As they arrived on the plaza surrounding the star port, they noticed several circular anti-infantry turrets being set down by drop ships and knew they had but minutes before their escape would be blocked.
'Vususai turned around and looked at his men. They'd accrued a collection of weapons from their fallen opponents—a carbine, two plasma rifles, three plasma pistols, and a concussion rifle. "Pass me the carbine."
With the scope he could see through the snow a little better—only one shade was operable, and that alone couldn't stop all his men. There were barely visible sangheili patrolling the pad, and along the rim were several teams of kig-yar marksmen. Beyond them all was their goal: the corvette. It was readying itself for launch, they were sure. There were only minutes.
Handing the carbine back, 'Vususai turned back to the team. "Try to sneak in. If we're unsuccessful, priority one is the turret. Without it their defenders will fall."
The Ascetics advanced across the plaza, the snow concealing them as it fell in heavier sheets. They reached the launch pad and an unggoy spotted them. "Who you? What you want?"
"We are here to board that ship!" 'Vususai shouted over the wind as it whipped over the raised spaceport.
"City locked down, ship no taking off," the unggoy replied.
"Whether or not it takes off is not our concern, we must board it," 'Vususai replied.
"Well… that okay, go ahead," the unggoy said after thinking for a few long moments.
'Vususai and his men passed by, weapons stowed. They walked at a normal pace, avoiding the attention of the guards. The fact that an unggoy had been left to question passers-by was incredible, and for 'Vususai and the Ascetics, an incredible stroke of luck.
With no alarm raised they boarded the ship and made way to the room they had been in before, meeting no one in the corridors. They had but one more step before they could truly say they escaped. They had to take off.
The eight Ascetics marched to the bridge at the nose of the vessel, passing through the hangar bay unnoticed. The ship had been mostly voided by its passengers and crew, all seeking time on the surface of Final Respite. Those aboard were essential crew only, which meant they were still outnumbered, although it was likely that that was not by as big of a margin as would normally be the case.
The bridge was a wide open space with a large set of view screens projecting images from outside of the bow of the ship.
"Where is the shipmaster?" 'Vususai bellowed into the room, causing the heads of the few sangheili present to raise over their consoles.
"I am he," one sangheili said, his golden armor glittering in the light cast by the view screens.
"We must leave at once. I have information vital to the Ministry of Abnegation that must return to High Charity," 'Vususai said, locking his helmet's eyes to the shipmaster's.
"There is a planet-wide quarantine," the shipmaster replied. "I cannot take off, we would be shot down."
"It is something we must risk," 'Vususai countered, the Ascetic being totally incredulous that the shipmaster was disobeying his order. "Take off."
"I cannot!" the shipmaster replied, taking a more confrontational posture. The Ascetics had advanced across the floor so that 'Vususai no longer had to shout to converse with the shipmaster, but that had also facilitated a fast strike at the shipmaster with 'Vususai's energy sword.
Groaning, the shipmaster fell to the floor. "Make ready to take off, on the authority of the Minister of Abnegation!"
The room went into motion, the seven other Ascetics moving to help the bridge crew ready the ship for launch. The ship was sealed up and the shields raised first, and the engines powered up next. Weapons were left offline- if they were forced into a fight, they were already dead.
The slipspace drive was already spooling up, although a destination had to be calculated still. That was underway.
With a shudder the corvette left the ground, shaking the bonds of Final Respite. A light appeared on the control panel as the video screens showed only sky. They were pressed back into their seats, and loose equipment was shifting rearward.
'Vususai drove his hand into the holographic pad where the light was and a slipspace rupture was torn open, forming a massive shimmering blue-black orb before the corvette, and it raced into it. They immediately left Final Respite behind, streaking away from it toward High Charity.
Behind them the colony was devastated by the slipspace portal, half the city having been scattered through space as it was absorbed into the portal and the other half destroyed by the ensuing wave of air and debris that washed over it after the portal collapsed and sucked matter into the position where it once occupied, filling the void. Final Respite's capital had been savaged, but the outlying villages were intact, as was the orbital garrison.
On top of them, several other planets were broadcast the assassination of the Prophet, and news spread around the Fringe territories quickly that something untoward was happening in the heart of the Covenant. Fleets were mobilized in an effort to defend themselves from any further aggression by who they viewed as heretics.
A message was beamed from High Charity to the Faith and Glorious Redemption, and from there to the Arbiter. His mission was at hand.
A/N:
Happy belated holidays, readers! I forgot to add an Author's Note saying that on the past chapter, and figured I'd just throw it on this one.
Anyways, back to the story. This chapter was something of an experiment. Most are several vignettes melded into one chapter, this one was... one chapter. A solid section of the Divergent Pasts storyline. I was relatively happy with it, and may keep Bilis 'Vususai around, though if you weren't or don't like 'Vususai feel free to say so via PM/Review/Both. I'll respond! I promise!
Thanks as always!
JLake4