Howdy! One more chapter for ya, probably the last one before I hit the road. Again, suggestions are welcome! :D Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own nothing from Halo.
Chapter Two: The Council's Decision
Dr. Halsey was sleepless, and found herself thinking about the data the young scientist had brought. Though she had managed to refrain from viewing the chip, it had taken all her control to remember Arisaya's warning: if she were caught with the data, the consequences could be dire. It seemed surprising, in a way, that the young girl was willing to risk death to bring her that data.
Now that she though about it, there was something about the woman, almost as if she'd seen her before. An impossibility, of course, but still…Dr. Halsey brushed aside the thought. Maybe she reminds me of someone, but to have met her before is impossible. Until a few days ago, there were no Forerunners left alive. Movement to her left drew her attention to Tom and Lucy, who had apparently been on watch; Chief Mendez was stirring just behind them.
"Were the two of you up all night?" she asked mildly.
"No, ma'am," Tom replied; the ever-silent Lucy merely nodded confirmation, silently supporting Tom's words. "Mark and Ash took the first watch, Linda took the second. Olivia returned in the middle of Linda's, and we have no idea where she had been."
"She was spying on our mysterious ally," Kelly glowered from the corner of the room. She and Fred had been quietly interrogating the young Spartan, and neither one appeared happy with the report, though that may have been due to Olivia having departed without anyone's knowledge or permission. "This Arisaya obviously knows more than she's letting on, especially about Halo." Dr. Halsey had briefed the Spartans on everything Cortana had discovered, as well as her own conclusions, almost as soon as they'd escaped the Covenant on Onyx.
"Any one of the Forerunners could have done that," she reminded them. "We are the strangers here, whereas the ringworlds are part of the Forerunners' history. We also have no idea what the customs are here, and it definitely seems the Covenant are part of this place, so we'll have to tread lightly. Simply put, we're the new children on the playground, and we need to learn to play by their rules for now, until we've won their trust."
The door opened suddenly, sending all of the Spartans into a defensive formation, and the now-alert Chief Mendez in front of Dr. Halsey. Standing in the doorway was a shocked Arisaya, escorted by several armed Forerunner soldiers; Fred recognized Elites and Jackals intermixed with the humans. He also noticed Arnyris in the front, remembering both the soldier and his sneering, disdainful ways from their previous meetings.
"The council wishes to speak with you," Arisaya murmured quietly. "Unfortunately," she said as she shot a glare at Arnyris, "there are those who doubt your integrity, and have requested that you have an armed escort."
"Do you doubt us, Arisaya?" Dr. Halsey asked, a soothing expression on her face.
"No, I do not, but mine is a voice seldom heard, and seldom believed." A sad look crossed her face as she turned away. "The council is waiting. I doubt you will wish to make them wait longer—they are unused to being crossed."
Arisaya scowled as Arnyris caught up with her, leaving the rest of his unit to look after the strangers. What does he want now?
"Arisaya, why do you trust them? Do you have no sense at all?" he whispered urgently.
"Why does it matter, Arnyris?" she shot back quietly. "I have seen no reason not to trust them, and they have carried themselves with more dignity and integrity than I have seen from you since childhood, yet you doubt both me and them in the same breath! If I give them my trust, that should be enough for both you and the council!"
"It is easy to fool someone like you, Arisaya, you are not skilled at uncovering deception." Arnyris' voice was now strangely calm, almost placating, but she heard the insult clearly, whether he meant to say it or not. He's trying to cajole me into silence, she thought in disgust. "They could easily be lying, and because you are so trusting—"
"I do not give my trust so lightly, Arnyris," she scowled. "I believe them when they speak, and they do not seem to be liars, especially not the warriors. For that matter, I saw part of their lives when they wore the circlets: they could not hide that, even if they knew how." She didn't tell him of the dark-haired warrior she'd glimpsed in their memories, or of the horrors she'd seen them suffer. It was for the newcomers to speak of, and then only when they chose to do so.
"Maybe, but I would watch them all the same," Arnyris muttered.
"Your concern is noted, but misplaced. I have no need to fear them, at least no more than I fear you." A small smile lit her blue eyes at Arnyris' stunned look, and she moved back to the newcomers.
"I do not know what will happen, but assume the worst," she murmured softly. Fred and Chief Mendez listened to the girl's words, but it was Dr. Halsey who replied.
"Spoken like a true scientist," she smiled, and then patted the other woman's hand, a gesture as unfamiliar to the Spartans as a friendly embrace. Arisaya smiled slightly, but the faint smile did not quite reach her eyes; she was still worried, and rightly so, about the council's decision.
"Arisaya, step forward." The Council Master's voice carried throughout the chamber, and it carried a weight of command. The young scientist had no choice but to step forward and bear the scrutiny of her entire world; she knew, though, that the alternative could easily have been far greater.
"These strangers, do you trust them?"
"I do, Council Master, and my trust is not something lightly given." As anyone here will know, she thought silently.
"Have you evidence to support your trust in these newcomers?" The old San 'Shyuum's words both shocked and frightened her: how did she answer honestly to such a question? There is no proper answer, she realized, praying that the ancestors would aid her.
"I have seen evidence, but it is not yet time for it to be brought to light," she murmured, her voice barely carrying in the crowded chamber. "When it is time, I will reveal all."
"You mean you will give us no reason to trust these strangers, who ask to see our greatest histories and files?" a Sangheli demanded, a mixture of anger and outrage edging into his tones. Arisaya held her head high, proud and unrepentant, matching the indignant look in the older being in the eyes, unwaveringly holding his gaze.
"You ask difficult questions, and I have no answers for them. What would you have me say? Should I betray confidences that rest in our highest beliefs merely to give you a reason to direct your actions, or should I keep silent and trust that my own integrity will suffice? If any one of you were to find these strangers trustworthy, no one would question it, but since it is one of the lesser beings who trusts them you question everything!" She looked at each of the council members in turn, blue eyes meeting gray or green or black. "I trust them, and that should be enough for any of you. As a scientist it is my duty to question everything until I see proof, and I trust nothing quickly or easily. For them to have earned my trust so quickly should be more than proof enough."
"Arisaya," the Council Master's voice was almost pleading, but Arisaya swore she heard condescension in his tone, "we do not believe you untrustworthy, but we must have some reason to release these files. What reason can you give?"
She glanced back to the strangers, looking for some sign of approval, since she was being forced down a dangerous path: she would have to tell the council what she had seen. The elderly doctor gave her a nod, which was followed by nods from the other two, more commanding men. Looking back to the council, Arisaya held the Council Master's gaze with her own.
"They wore the circlet, and I have seen their pain, their trials, enough to know they are worthy of my trust. But what I have seen I will keep to myself, for now."
Dr. Halsey watched silently as Arisaya debated with the council, proclaiming her trust yet trying to protect their secrets. Definitely a woman of integrity, she mused. ONI could learn a thing or two from her. Finally the Council Master looked at Arisaya, then at Dr. Halsey and the Spartans.
"You may have access to Lady Alaya's research notes, but only those which pertain to the shield-worlds. In time, we may allow you more, but you must first prove yourselves worthy of our trust."
Once the decision had been made, Dr. Halsey noticed Arisaya's face regain some of its color. She bowed respectfully to the members of the council and returned to the back of the room, her blue eyes betraying her considerable relief. She was worried, Dr. Halsey thought. Of course, any sane person would have been, especially if they'd secretly provided files before their distribution had been authorized. Courage and integrity. She could almost have been a Spartan, if she'd been with the UNSC. Once again she found herself wondering where she'd seen Arisaya before. The logical part of her mind declared it impossible for them to have met, but where these Forerunners were concerned, logic seemed to have been twisted into an entirely new concept.
Arisaya approached the group, and the doctor collected her scattered thoughts.
"The council has allowed you to remain in the city, for a time. They still feel the need for you to be watched, so you are to live in my home. I give you my word that you will be treated decently, for a change." The obvious slight on her integrity had hit home, whether she would openly admit it or not.
"Thank you," Dr. Halsey replied kindly. "And what about the others we brought with us?" The girl seemed puzzled at first, then her face brightened a bit.
"Our doctors and scientists are attending them as we speak. It may take some time, but we will have them removed and healthy. I have asked to be notified as soon as they are released." Her blue eyes dimmed a bit. "We as a race have not seen this kind of technology for many millennia, nor had we ever had need of it, but the Ancient Ones left us their wisdom and the means to use their tools. It should not be long before your friends are free."
"I trust you, Arisaya, when you say this. You have more integrity about you than many I have known." Dr. Halsey smiled, and was pleased to see Arisaya smile again. She's a good girl, I think. I daresay we'll get along just fine.